Interesting question regarding GPA/undergrad/MCAT

[osprey099]

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I've noticed that everyone seems to have differing opinions regarding the importance of undergrad institution in terms of getting into med school. Can you guys offer your opinion on this scenario that I made up? I am interested to see what you all think:

Please rank the following four students (A-D) from 1-4 (1 being most likely to get into med school and 4 being least likely (speaking relatively) to get into med school): (Assume all 4 students have relatively similar EC's/LORs/everything else)

Student A: 3.6 gpa, top 20 undergrad, 31 MCAT
Student B: 3.9 gpa, state school, 31 MCAT
Student C: 3.6 gpa, top 20 undergrad, 33 MCAT
Student D: 3.9 gpa, state school, 33 MCAT

 

[aSagacious]

From best to worst (IMO):

D
C
B
A

 

[wololololololo]

If poster is from top 20 undergrad: C>A>D>B

If poster is not: D>B>C>A

 

[lolcat]

I agree with Saggy.

D would be first, simply because they have the highest MCAT score and GPA. C would be next because they went to a top 20 undergrad, and most med schools will give some leeway in terms of overall GPA. But the fact that D has a 3.9 in the first place will put them before C... not sure if that makes sense lol. Same goes for A and B.

 

[Person0715]

Do premeds from top 20 undergrads not get GPAs higher than 3.6?

 

[Charles Darwin]

Do premeds from top 20 undergrads not get GPAs higher than 3.6?

No.

 

[Musclemass]

There are hundreds and hundreds of state schools - some are terrific, far more are mediocre or worse. Great students (and great future doctors) graduate from many of them, as do many unsuccessful applicants.

The subjective assessments and personal/institutional biases or objectives that go into decisions vary widely. I don't see where there's an answer to your question. With whatever sensible rational you'd use for different ranking scenarios, you'd find someone on an adcom somewhere who'd agree with each. And disagree with each.

 

[Guy Montag]

Agree with Saggy.

An exception may be with a top school well-known for deflation; Princeton and Cornell are good examples. Especially if the 3.9 was from low tier/unranked state school, i.e. Idaho State instead of UC-Santa Barbara or Rutgers, the 3.9 may not "win". It's such a subjective process in the end though...(I was screened-in at UCLA OOS with a sub-3.5 GPA, but screened out at Wake, a school ranked much lower)