Lower GPA, higher MCAT?

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After seeing BlakeDrake's thread describing essentially the opposite scenario, I figured I'd make my own. Does a higher MCAT (32) help offset a lower 3.2 cGPA/3.15 sGPA/3.33 SMP GPA?

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Wasn't that the guy with the 3.4 GPA/19 MCAT? The equivalent "other way" GPA/MCAT combo would be more like 2.8/28 than 3.2/32. 32 is about median for matriculated MD students, while 2.8 is about a SD below the 10th percentile.

The problem with a low GPA/high MCAT is that it indicates a lack of effort or inability to apply oneself.

3.2/32 is good for DO. Very iffy for MD.
 
Gotcha, thanks for the insight.

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Honestly, I believe that MCAT carries majority weight when applying to med schools then GPA and then EC's and LOR's. With that MCAT and GPA I would apply to top DO schools and low tier MD schools. I really do not think getting accepted into a pretty good school will be difficult with a 32 MCAT score.
 
I had a 23 on MCAT, and a 3.0 undergrad GPA. Then I went back pre-med at community colleges and got a 3.7/3.8ish fpr 2 years. Thus my undergrad GPA became a 3.3 I'm a 2nd yr DO student right now.
 
Indygirl7 said:
I definitely disagree about the mcat carrying the majority of the weight. That is not correct at all. Low sGPA is a huge red flag that you can't handle the coursework and don't have the work ethic for medical school. I'm a DO student and not on admissions or anything but I'd personally guess a high GPA and mediocre MCAT would be preferable to a low GPA and high MCAT.
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There are a lot of factors that go into GPA. The first 3 years of college I messed around and my GPA was 2.5. When I changed my goal to become a doctor, my GPA shot to 3.75 junior and senior year. However, 3 years of crap grades brought my GPA down significantly and I was only able to get it up to 3.4. That doesn't mean I don't have strong work ethic. I went to ucla and still was able to pull good grades.
 
wh2k13 said:
After seeing BlakeDrake's thread describing essentially the opposite scenario, I figured I'd make my own. Does a higher MCAT (32) help offset a lower 3.2 cGPA/3.15 sGPA/3.33 SMP GPA?

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Even if you had a 24 I'd bet you'd get in if you applied to 15-20 schools. You can likely get in applying to far less. I don't get the paranoia on here sometimes.
 
Now, as the OP I might be a bit biased but I've always heard the idea that MCAT is more important since its a national, standardized that puts everyone on an equal playing field whereas GPA depends on school, major, difficulty, etc.

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wh2k13 said:
Now, as the OP I might be a bit biased but I've always heard the idea that MCAT is more important since its a national, standardized that puts everyone on an equal playing field whereas GPA depends on school, major, difficulty, etc.

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Honestly I think GPA is bull. It's based on where you go to school and your major. Someone that goes to a small school and majors in dance is gonna get a 8.0 GPA and be able to invent the wheel with all the extra time in the process, yet the guy who goes to a tough school and is a science major is gonna struggle. However, when you go to apply to med school, the emphasis they give to school and major is slight.
 
Kanyesadouche said:
I had a 23 on MCAT, and a 3.0 undergrad GPA. Then I went back pre-med at community colleges and got a 3.7/3.8ish fpr 2 years. Thus my undergrad GPA became a 3.3 I'm a 2nd yr DO student right now.
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Did you get in with the 23 MCAT?
 
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jonnythan said:
Well he went back and did 2 years of grade repair, so it's not unreasonable to think he may have retaken the 23...
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Sorry for the late response. Grade repair is exactly what I did. I was a Business Undergrad. My guess is my MCAT was probably among the lowest in the class. I got in with my 23, but I kind of had a rockstar app in everything else. My letter of recommendation was glowing (and you really cant plan it that way, you just have to hope the Doc is cool.) I'm also a combat vet and I wrote about that. I also got nothing but As and Bs at Comm College (which isnt that hard) but I had to take my Orgo's at a big University and my B's were a gift from God there.

Another thing to think about--> I truly am a 2nd yr student right now, so I'm studying for Boards. Buuut, its freaking tough. Remember, when you take Boards, your score is not out of a certain amount, ie. 600/800. Rather, you are compared to everyone who took it and assigned a forced distribution score. So, if you are stupider than everyone else, guess where we end up? That goes in to what kind of Doc you get to become. Just something to think about, particularly when you pay off your 1/4 million dollars in debt. And remember, if you are busting your ass now next to people who arent, once you get into med school, they start busting their ass, and you kind of fall behind.
 
I just took the MCAT and my GPA is not so great but I'm at a community college and I'm trying to raise GPA and do the core classes for med school, if I apply to a do school will they average my GPA or would they just focus on my core classes and the grades
 
DaBEARZ said:
I just took the MCAT and my GPA is not so great but I'm at a community college and I'm trying to raise GPA and do the core classes for med school, if I apply to a do school will they average my GPA or would they just focus on my core classes and the grades
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Probably all of the above.
 
Does anyone know of anyone that has got into an MD or DO school without a degree, and only did the core classes?
I took my mcat june 21 of this year, and what did people think about the exam
 
I got in first application cycle with 2.8/30.

MCAT is most important in my experience. Tons of folks have good GPA, and some schools are harder than others so GPA may or may not be a good indicator of student aptitude.

MCAT is standardized, and in DO schools it's not common to see applicants with higher MCAT score. Some schools average mid to upper 20's.
 
SLC said:
I got in first application cycle with 2.8/30.

MCAT is most important in my experience. Tons of folks have good GPA, and some schools are harder than others so GPA may or may not be a good indicator of student aptitude.

MCAT is standardized, and in DO schools it's not common to see applicants with higher MCAT score. Some schools average mid to upper 20's.
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Gotta agree. DO schools seem to have trouble attracting the lower GPA/ higher MCAT demographic (~3.0-3.4/32+). The opposite seems much more common.
 
I have a 3.9 overall gpa from my Masters of Science. I have a 3.4 overall science gpa and a 489 (124 on CARS) on the new MCAT. URM. Attended very highly ranked schools. Six years of research experience. 2 years clinical experience. Lots of volunteering. Do I have a chance?
 
ilovescience0 said:
I have a 3.9 overall gpa from my Masters of Science. I have a 3.4 overall science gpa and a 489 (124 on CARS) on the new MCAT. URM. Attended very highly ranked schools. Six years of research experience. 2 years clinical experience. Lots of volunteering. Do I have a chance?
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ilovescience0 said:
I have a 3.9 overall gpa from my Masters of Science. I have a 3.4 overall science gpa and a 489 (124 on CARS) on the new MCAT. URM. Attended very highly ranked schools. Six years of research experience. 2 years clinical experience. Lots of volunteering. Do I have a chance?
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You've posted in like 6 threads. No you don't, your MCAT is far too low and needs a retake. It's like the equivalent of like a 19 and that's being a little generous. URM helps but it can only take you so far. You are a serious risk to fail the boards.
 
ilovescience0 said:
I have a 3.9 overall gpa from my Masters of Science. I have a 3.4 overall science gpa and a 489 (124 on CARS) on the new MCAT. URM. Attended very highly ranked schools. Six years of research experience. 2 years clinical experience. Lots of volunteering. Do I have a chance?
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Don't hijack other threads. Start your own.
 
ilovescience0 said:
I have a 3.9 overall gpa from my Masters of Science. I have a 3.4 overall science gpa and a 489 (124 on CARS) on the new MCAT. URM. Attended very highly ranked schools. Six years of research experience. 2 years clinical experience. Lots of volunteering. Do I have a chance?
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You keep posting this all over. Start your own thread.

That being said with your MCAT, no you do not have a shot at all.

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