Lower MCAT Medians?!

[Cyberdyne 101]

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Sooo, apparently, MCAT medians at some of the more selective schools have dropped a bit.
Source: US News Compass (not actually public info, so I can't reveal the details).

It's only data for one year, so it may just be a short term aberration. Or perhaps the AAMC's MCAT goals are actually being instituted. Regardless, it's refreshing to see such a shift in the stats arms race.

 

[Astra]

at one the schools I interviewed at, they said their MCAT average has dropped due to the new exam but starting next year, they expect the median to be similar to the old mcat. So maybe other schools are still adjusting?

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

at one the schools I interviewed at, they said their MCAT average has dropped due to the new exam but starting next year, they expect the median to be similar to the old mcat. So maybe other schools are still adjusting?

Interestingly, there has also been a drop in old MCAT medians as well at some schools. Though this could be attributed to having a smaller pool of applicants with the old score.

You're probably right though. The percentiles will probably mirror what we've been accustomed to within a few cycles.

 

[efle]

You would think that the paucity of official AAMC practice tests for the new MCAT would drop the medians for a few years or so. Interesting that that hasn't been the case yet.

It's a curved/scaled exam !

Without posting any info that will get me in trouble, I'd add to the OP that it is only certain schools that seem to treat the MCATs different, but in some cases it looks pretty significant. A few top schools have new MCAT medians that are the equivalent of 3-4 points lower. For example, admitted medians 38 old, 517 new (equivalent to 35). Other places have maintained them very close together, for example 35 old, 517 new (equivalent to 35).

I am very eager to see the MSAR update, and to see how medians behave in the next couple years.