Is it rude to ask people about their GPA, MCAT, ECs?

[fastboyslim]

---

Members do not see this ad.

it's nice to know where you stand (MCAT wise) compared to your fellow students.

You don't need to ask people to know where you stand. You have your score percentile. You have AAMC stats on average MCAT scores for both accepted and all applicants. You have the MSAR that gives the average MCAT scores for students at each med school.

 

[flip26]

For the MCAT, I just like to know how the other people at my school are doing. They are of course a good chunk of the competition for my universities medical school.

Yes, 1 point does not mean you win, but it's nice to know where you stand (MCAT wise) compared to your fellow students.

Your preprofessional / health advisory office will have those compilations of the stats of your fellow students.

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

Your preprofessional / health advisory office will have those compilations of the stats of your fellow students.

I want names and numbers. That's why I ask the individuals I know.

Most med students will tell you their scores no problem, unless they bombed it. They've already been accepted and are usually more than willing to help.

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

You don't need to ask people to know where you stand. You have your score percentile. You have AAMC stats on average MCAT scores for both accepted and all applicants. You have the MSAR that gives the average MCAT scores for students at each med school.

Yes and asking your friends/acquaintances won't let you know where you stand nationally. I just want to know how I'm doing compared to the people I know and the people at my school.

Of course logically there is no reason to need this information. You can simply look online or in the MSAR and see the averages. But I'm competitive, I want to know how every person I actually know is doing. I'm the same way with classes. I'll tell anyone my grade if they ask, whether i got a 50 or a 100.

I'm also the kind of person that would LOVE to attend a medical school where they post the grades from each test in a public space. I want to know exactly how everyone is doing. I know, I know, I'm crazy. I just love competing.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Yes and asking your friends/acquaintances won't let you know where you stand nationally. I just want to know how I'm doing compared to the people I know and the people at my school.

Of course logically there is no reason to need this information. You can simply look online or in the MSAR and see the averages. But I'm competitive, I want to know how every person I actually know is doing. I'm the same way with classes. I'll tell anyone my grade if they ask, whether i got a 50 or a 100.

I'm also the kind of person that would LOVE to attend a medical school where they post the grades from each test in a public space. I want to know exactly how everyone is doing. I know, I know, I'm crazy. I just love competing.

Before anyone calls this guy a gunner, remember he isn't using the information against anyone.

 

[musings]

I personally don't have a problem with people asking me what I got...

I used to be someone who asked everyone what their grades were because that's what my high school was like. In college, I became really sensitive to people who don't want to share their grades.

I usually don't ask, but I don't think its rude for others to ask me.

Yes I realize that is kind of paradoxical... hmmm

 

[SirGecko]

Yes and asking your friends/acquaintances won't let you know where you stand nationally. I just want to know how I'm doing compared to the people I know and the people at my school.

Of course logically there is no reason to need this information. You can simply look online or in the MSAR and see the averages. But I'm competitive, I want to know how every person I actually know is doing. I'm the same way with classes. I'll tell anyone my grade if they ask, whether i got a 50 or a 100.

I'm also the kind of person that would LOVE to attend a medical school where they post the grades from each test in a public space. I want to know exactly how everyone is doing. I know, I know, I'm crazy. I just love competing.

I think that most people would find that more than a little off putting though. If you know the average why do you need to put specific scores to people you know other than to judge them based off of it. Being competitive in that manner is really never advisable as it doesn't give you any new information and it just puts people off.

Edit: to be clear that doesn't mean that there are not situations where it could be appropriate (like when trying to set up your application cycle and you ask friends for advice). But if you don't need the information running around asking people for it just isn't necessary. If they want to volunteer it fine but most people I think wouldn't appreciate being pressed for grades by their friends.

 

[BrainBuff]

I went to a very competitive high school where there seemed to be an almost - dont ask dont tell- policy about grades or SAT scores (not even between close friends). My parents always found it weird.

Now in college, same bull...(ivy)

 

[stayclassy]

Scores aren't your life. If anyone asks me anything, I'll give them an honest answer. The things you own end up owning you.. you are not your MCAT score!

 

[SirGecko]

Scores aren't your life. If anyone asks me anything, I'll give them an honest answer. The things you own end up owning you.. you are not your MCAT score!

+1

This is also why it is weird to go around asking people though.

 

[mvenus929]

Most of the people who specifically asked me for my MCAT score (what'd you get vs how'd you do) didn't know what it meant when I told them anyway, so I had to sit there and explain the averages for test takers, accepted students, and matriculated students.

 

[ksmi117]

Most of the people who specifically asked me for my MCAT score (what'd you get vs how'd you do) didn't know what it meant when I told them anyway, so I had to sit there and explain the averages for test takers, accepted students, and matriculated students.

So true. It's quite annoying.

 

[amph119]

Most of the people who specifically asked me for my MCAT score (what'd you get vs how'd you do) didn't know what it meant when I told them anyway, so I had to sit there and explain the averages for test takers, accepted students, and matriculated students.

Person: How'd you do?

Me: 36.

Person: What's the max score?

Me: 45.

Person: You only got an 80%?!

zzzzzzzzz

 

[surftheiop]

I went to a very competitive high school where there seemed to be an almost - dont ask dont tell- policy about grades or SAT scores (not even between close friends). My parents always found it weird.

Now in college, same bull...(ivy)

Really? are you at Yale/Harvard/Princeton?

Im at cornell and talking about grades is really common (atleast in engineering). Maybe has to do with the fact that at cornell a ton of us got rejected from our first choice and the world didnt end so maybe makes us a little more open to talking about grades.

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

I think that most people would find that more than a little off putting though. If you know the average why do you need to put specific scores to people you know other than to judge them based off of it. Being competitive in that manner is really never advisable as it doesn't give you any new information and it just puts people off.

Edit: to be clear that doesn't mean that there are not situations where it could be appropriate (like when trying to set up your application cycle and you ask friends for advice). But if you don't need the information running around asking people for it just isn't necessary. If they want to volunteer it fine but most people I think wouldn't appreciate being pressed for grades by their friends.

Maybe we hang around different kinds of people? Me and my friends are always discussing courses, grades, MCAT scores (even the practice tests), pretty much everything related to school or medical school admissions.

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

Before anyone calls this guy a gunner, remember he isn't using the information against anyone.

Yeah, no way. I'm always willing to help people study or get ahead, and I'm inherently lazy. No gunning of anything here, except video games.

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

I personally don't have a problem with people asking me what I got...

I used to be someone who asked everyone what their grades were because that's what my high school was like. In college, I became really sensitive to people who don't want to share their grades.

I usually don't ask, but I don't think its rude for others to ask me.

Yes I realize that is kind of paradoxical... hmmm

Is that with friends or strangers, are you equally comfortable with both? I really only ask friends, or people I talk to fairly often in class.

 

[sportsfreak]

i don't think its the same for everyone in ivy...high school seems to be what makes people closed or open about scores...I went to a very non competitive high school where everyone grades were public knowledge and from my experience in college the people who came from high schools similar to mine didn't mind at all talking about scores, but people who came from very competitive high schools tend to be a lot more secretive about their scores

 

[musings]

Is that with friends or strangers, are you equally comfortable with both? I really only ask friends, or people I talk to fairly often in class.

to be honest... I don't care WHO asks me my grades... though obvy if its a person I don't know... I'd find it super creepy 🙁

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

to be honest... I don't care WHO asks me my grades... though obvy if its a person I don't know... I'd find it super creepy 🙁

I'm the same way about being asked, I don't care who you are, i'll tell you.

 

[MDman87]

Unless you're very close with the person, do you think it's rude to ask them about what med school they're accepted to, their GPA, MCAT, ECs, and so on?

Yes

 

[235009]

Even as a med student, when pre-meds coming on interview day ask I don't tell them (and when they do ask I know they are the awkward ones...)

👍

great answer

if the only things you know how to talk about with fellow interviewees and med students during interview day are MCAT scores and GPAs then you are in desperate need of a personality and/or social skills.

It's funny how a lot of posters on SDN think that its rude to ask for grade but they will tell a person not to apply.

anonymous internet forum != real life

that said i have never seen someone tell someone else not to apply on SDN...maybe they say "add DO schools" or "take a year off" or something like that

But I'm competitive, I want to know how every person I actually know is doing. I'm the same way with classes. I'll tell anyone my grade if they ask, whether i got a 50 or a 100.

I'm also the kind of person that would LOVE to attend a medical school where they post the grades from each test in a public space. I want to know exactly how everyone is doing. I know, I know, I'm crazy. I just love competing.

this doesn't mean you're competitive it means that you have an inferiority complex or you are a very judgmental person

if you are competitive go play sports. if you are extremely unathletic then go play video games.

Before anyone calls this guy a gunner, remember he isn't using the information against anyone.

of course he is... obviously he uses grades to size up and judge people and i'm sure he sits around with his "friends" who have similar complexes and rants about how dumb others in his class are because they got lower scores

Me and my friends are always discussing courses, grades, MCAT scores (even the practice tests), pretty much everything related to school or medical school admissions.

wow, you guys sound like a FUN crowd 😴

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

this doesn't mean you're competitive it means that you have an inferiority complex or you are a very judgmental person

if you are competitive go play sports. if you are extremely unathletic then go play video games.


wow, you guys sound like a FUN crowd 😴

I like to know how everyone is doing, got to decide if I need to improve my efforts. I can't have an inferiority complex with all of my A's, I couldn't possibly do better .

Oh, and of course I play sports and video games. I love competing at everything.

And fun crowd, **** yeah. I probably put less time into being a pre-med than anyone you know. I'd rather have fun than bury myself in books.

 

[SirGecko]

Maybe we hang around different kinds of people? Me and my friends are always discussing courses, grades, MCAT scores (even the practice tests), pretty much everything related to school or medical school admissions.

My friends discussed coursework but grades? I dunno. I mean I'm an engineer so I didn't hang out with a ton of premeds so maybe that's it? I just find this constant "gaming" of the system off putting. Not everything in life is about being better than your friends.

edit: That said you do better at working the system when you are always working the system. I just don't get how some people actually enjoy doing that. (kind of like being a stockbroker I guess, just trying to make money to make money)

 

[dw2158]

Yes and asking your friends/acquaintances won't let you know where you stand nationally. I just want to know how I'm doing compared to the people I know and the people at my school.

Of course logically there is no reason to need this information. You can simply look online or in the MSAR and see the averages. But I'm competitive, I want to know how every person I actually know is doing. I'm the same way with classes. I'll tell anyone my grade if they ask, whether i got a 50 or a 100.

I'm also the kind of person that would LOVE to attend a medical school where they post the grades from each test in a public space. I want to know exactly how everyone is doing. I know, I know, I'm crazy. I just love competing.

ya know, i almost reacted to this post the way skinMD did, but after thinking about it... good for you, NoMoreAMCAS. you seem very self aware and you know what you want/need to do well. just because i am very different than you doesn't mean i'm gonna start hatin' on ya. 😛

Most of the people who specifically asked me for my MCAT score (what'd you get vs how'd you do) didn't know what it meant when I told them anyway, so I had to sit there and explain the averages for test takers, accepted students, and matriculated students.

haha. that's so true! that's why when people ask me how i did, i say "well." 😎

i don't think its the same for everyone in ivy...high school seems to be what makes people closed or open about scores...I went to a very non competitive high school where everyone grades were public knowledge and from my experience in college the people who came from high schools similar to mine didn't mind at all talking about scores, but people who came from very competitive high schools tend to be a lot more secretive about their scores

disagree. i went to a hippie-dippy high school (a so-so public school in a pretty crazy hippie town) where people were not competitive by any means. but i still find it unnecessary to talk about grades. i guess i never wanted to seem like i was bragging-- in high school or college. it becomes pretty clear (at least in schools that were the size of mine) who's at the top of the class and i didn't want to make it seem like i was rubbing it in anyone's face by saying my exact scores. for me, it has nothing to do with competitiveness and everything to do with politeness.

 

[mw1]

I don't mind if people ask me in context. Meaning, if I tell them I got into some school and they ask how I did in order to compare their own scores to mine to assess their own chances of getting accepted, then I don't mind.

 

[go lakers]

If I even go down that road to ask a friend how they did on the MCAT, I always piggy-back the question with a simpler "Are you happy with how you did?" It gives them a simple YES/NO answer, and they can elaborate if they feel like it.

But in general.. yes, it's rude to ask.

 

[witness23]

theres a time and a place. most of the time i wouldnt mind. if im going out on a friday or saturday night, and you do it during pre-gaming and stuff, I'll still answer but I might find you weird. if you do it in front of a group, I'd still answer but thats just toolish.


i hear people on SDN say stuff like I knew at least 2 of the interviewees published in JBC or had a 40 or a 4.0 or survived cancer or cured cancer or banged pam anderson. i dont get what kinda things they talk about.

i really really hate when applicants talk about other places they interviewed at or have interviews at or the admission policies of schools. usually there are students and hosts close to us and its just awkward. lets just have a regular conversation

 

[URHere]

I'm just going to start by saying that for a good chunk of my life, I thought the way that you seem to. I did well in school, and it was very important to me to be the best at everything all the time.

Then in college, I realized that I was happier being imperfect. It is important to remember that not everyone who performs worse than you is incapable of performing better than you. It may not be wise to gauge your performance by those around you if they study differently than you do. Unless the techniques or the innate intelligence are a match, you will learn very little about yourself based on the performance of others.

But to answer your original question, I do think that it is rude to specifically ask someone for his/her scores. It isn't the act of asking that is rude...it is the response that comes afterwards. You will inevitably respond positively to the person with a high score, and with some level of judgment or pity for the person with the low score. That can be very insulting and unwise - I have known people with lower scores who have beaten out people with higher scores in the med school game. There are layers to every person, and by asking for someone's scores you aren't really learning much about your own chances, or theirs.

PS - I always answer this question when people ask me, but I always realize how little I relate to a certain person when they ask (even when I have a score to be proud of).

 

[DocDrakeRamoray]

I think it inappropriate to ask if they are not your friends. Next time I'm sure they will avoid talking to you.

 

[Lukkie]

i like to intimidate people... i tell them i got a 38 my first time but retook it and got a 41, cause only URMs get in with a 38. i also had a 3.98 gpa, knocked down from perfection because i got a couple A-'s one semester since i was spending a lot of time assisting surgeons performing cataract surgeries on children in tanzania. my work there also led to a couple first author pubs in Science as well as ~40 abstracts. that experience also taught me another langugage, swahili, and my total is up to 6 languages with full fluency, which helps my volunteering as a translator for foreign dignitaries visiting our hospitals and institutions.

 

[surftheiop]

Anyone else think that an internet forum is an odd place to ask what you can/can't ask friends? If they are really your friend you would know how they would feel about being asked and would decide accordingly.

 

[fastboyslim]

i like to intimidate people... I tell them i got a 38 my first time but retook it and got a 41, cause only urms get in with a 38. I also had a 3.98 gpa, knocked down from perfection because i got a couple a-'s one semester since i was spending a lot of time assisting surgeons performing cataract surgeries on children in tanzania. My work there also led to a couple first author pubs in science as well as ~40 abstracts. That experience also taught me another langugage, swahili, and my total is up to 6 languages with full fluency, which helps my volunteering as a translator for foreign dignitaries visiting our hospitals and institutions.

lol!

 

[ChubbyChaser]

I think its very rude unless you are close friends of course. I was actually at an interview and one interviewee came up to a small group of me and a few other interviewees and asked "so what were your guys Gpas and MCats?""
...I looked at him and asked "You're kidding right? You arent really asking that?"...

What a tool.

 

[circulus vitios]

I'm also the kind of person that would LOVE to attend a medical school where they post the grades from each test in a public space. I want to know exactly how everyone is doing. I know, I know, I'm crazy. I just love competing.

Ahaha, I had some classes like that in high school. It was always fun hear people yell out "wow, which ******* got a 50%" or whatever.

 

[Blesbok]

If they were accepted to a school that you want to go to and you ask them for future reference with the appropriate "If you don't mind me asking..." then I don't think it is too bad. If they aren't in yet and you are trying to compare yourself to them, then yes it is rude.

 

[phillypd]

I always asked people what they got...........and i don't feel it's rude to ask at all.....how else are you suppose to find out? If a person chooses not to answer....fine so be it. If they give their stats, that's great to. But it really drives me crazy when a person acts like your asking for their SS# because your asking for a MCAT score or GPA. I have no problem giving my stats or letting someone know how i managed to improve my score....
People only ask because they want to gage their own efforts and know where they stand....once you get to med school you'll see that this is something so minor to worry about.

 

[phillypd]

if some people want to start making remarks b/c of what they think is the norm...that's their problem. Schools tend to accept a lot of people with diff stats...to mix it up a little. By law they have to include a little bit of the entire spectrum...I have a friend who is a 3rd year at Jeff...his mcat was in the high 20's not the best but he got in....and i got friends who have scored in the 30's and can't get in the door...it happens. Nothing is normal....some people get in b/c of who they know, and others work really hard to get there...most MD schools (not all) start at 24 mcat...for the disadvantaged students and go up from there... they have to do that..so the person that you maybe sitting next to may have a 24 mcat and a 3.4 gpa .....And just cause a person has stats that are lower than normal doesn't mean they are any less capable of being a great doctor...lots of people with low stats who went to carib schools...are in top positions at hospitals....and you would never know where they went to school....at the end of the day an MD is a MD or DO is DO.....you'll be called doctor regardless

 

[dw2158]

if some people want to start making remarks b/c of what they think is the norm...that's their problem. Schools tend to accept a lot of people with diff stats...to mix it up a little. By law they have to include a little bit of the entire spectrum...I have a friend who is a 3rd year at Jeff...his mcat was in the high 20's not the best but he got in....and i got friends who have scored in the 30's and can't get in the door...it happens. Nothing is normal....some people get in b/c of who they know, and others work really hard to get there...most MD schools (not all) start at 24 mcat...for the disadvantaged students and go up from there... they have to do that..so the person that you maybe sitting next to may have a 24 mcat and a 3.4 gpa .....And just cause a person has stats that are lower than normal doesn't mean they are any less capable of being a great doctor...lots of people with low stats who went to carib schools...are in top positions at hospitals....and you would never know where they went to school....at the end of the day an MD is a MD or DO is DO.....you'll be called doctor regardless

the bolded is news to me. care to elaborate? also, what do you have against a simple period?

 

[Myuu]

the bolded is news to me. care to elaborate? also, what do you have against a simple period?

Ellipses are where it's at... Didn't you know...?

 

[AfroMaestro]

Yeah, i keep it to myself unless i'm either
1) Seeking your help & advice, at which point i tell all AND included the sub-text
or 2) We're tight and competing (friendlily of course).
Yes, that's right...friendlily.

 

[phillypd]

the bolded is news to me. care to elaborate? also, what do you have against a simple period?

Well in case you haven't noticed, most schools have a post-bac or an advanced entry program for those who did not meet the requirments in undergrad. Thus, these programs allow people to retake courses or sit for a particular program; and as long as you meet the min, you are admitted. In lots of cases, schools have multiple programs. For those with high MCATS and low GPA's there is a program. For those with low MCAT and low GPA there are other programs. Usually with the ladder, the min is 8's across the board which = 24
Oh and to guju doc, I totally understand your point😉
Also, most people across the board who do not meet the req with low GPA and MCAT are usually under-represented and disadvantaged students. This is the reason they ask it on the application. This is why they ask do you want to be considered under-represented, so those with the lower scores or gpa's can possibly be put into a school that either A: normally wouldn't accept them, or B: they can be put in a program that is more geared towards their issues and concerns.

 

[dw2158]

Well in case you haven't noticed, most schools have a post-bac or an advanced entry program for those who did not meet the requirments in undergrad. Thus, these programs allow people to retake courses or sit for a particular program; and as long as you meet the min, you are admitted. In lots of cases, schools have multiple programs. For those with high MCATS and low GPA's there is a program. For those with low MCAT and low GPA there are other programs. Usually with the ladder, the min is 8's across the board which = 24
Oh and to guju doc, I totally understand your point😉

🙄

first of all, there has been some discussion on here recently about post-bacc and SMP programs (which i assume is what you're referring to with the low GPA/high MCAT business). if you read it, you'd learn that there are very few programs (if any) that guarantee admission. some promise interviews.

secondly, and more importantly, that doesn't mean they are required by law to do anything. i thought you were perhaps referring to some affirmative action thing. but nevermind.

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

Ahaha, I had some classes like that in high school. It was always fun hear people yell out "wow, which ******* got a 50%" or whatever.

Lol, that's hilarious. I would love that, it would really put the pressure on.

 

[LadyLightning20]

where are all the brown people at? you know those indian "aunties" and "uncles" want to know your score.


one of them even went up to my parents and was like I heard your son got a 24 on the MCAT, is he going into podiatry?

needless to say, i actually rechecked my MCAT score the next day to make sure that it wasnt a 24

I know this is from like 6 months ago but I'm Indian and this made me bust out laughing for like 5 minutes. I, too, have many aunties and uncles wanting to know what's happening. I love rolling admissions...I am still telling them that I just haven't submitted all my applications yet (even though I just got my first acceptance). That way I don't have to deal with anyone comparing me to my cousins or asking me how many interviews I have or where I'm going to go.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

It's rude. Why would they want to know? What information could they possibly gather from knowing my or anyone else's personal GPA or MCAT? Absolutely nothing. Everyone knows there are people who get into MD programs with average GPAs and average MCAT scores. AMCAS shows for the 2008 matriculating classes, people with 2.4-4.0 GPAs and 5-14 to 39-45 MCAT scores got into medical school. So its pointless in being a "self-informing pre-med" acting as if what one is doing is actually useful. It's not. If you ask me, pre-meds asking each other about their GPA/MCAT is just pre-med nerds being nerds. They're just trying to see if they can see themselves as being better than you. Get a life. 🙄

 

[Dr McSexy]

I could care less what other people's scores are. I personally only know the scores a few of my friends.

 

[bannie22]

first time i was asked this today
glad i was asked, because i like talking to ppl who are just natural ard u and not overly sensitive... its just a score...

 

[caseofthemndays]

I don't think it's rude at all to ask.

 

[caseofthemndays]

If they were accepted to a school that you want to go to and you ask them for future reference with the appropriate "If you don't mind me asking..." then I don't think it is too bad.

This. I would want to know how far away I was in terms of grades from acceptable range