Lying about stats

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
caseofthemndays

caseofthemndays

Full Member
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2007
Messages
344
Reaction score
0
Members do not see this ad.
Do you think SDNers lie about or inflate their GPA's and MCAT scores for the purpose of intimidating other med school hopefuls? I feel like I've read some really ridiculous stories....
 
\
caseofthemndays said:
Do you think SDNers lie about or inflate their GPA's and MCAT scores for the purpose of intimidating other med school hopefuls? I feel like I've read some really ridiculous stories....
Click to expand...

i thought about that too, which is why i chose not to put any of that stuff on my profile, b/c it really doesnt matter how i did/am doing. in short, i'm sure it happens.
 
caseofthemndays said:
Do you think SDNers lie about or inflate their GPA's and MCAT scores for the purpose of intimidating other med school hopefuls? I feel like I've read some really ridiculous stories....
Click to expand...

Course...don't forget we have the idle 13 year olds here that don't have anything better to do.
 
It's possible. Anything is.

I personally think the MCAT scores might be shifty. People do retake it, so that makes me wonder if they report their best score to make it seem higher. Using the verbal from take 2 and the physical science and biological sciences from take 1
 
caseofthemndays said:
Do you think SDNers lie about or inflate their GPA's and MCAT scores for the purpose of intimidating other med school hopefuls? I feel like I've read some really ridiculous stories....
Click to expand...

Nah. I just think that the people who are most anal about their GPA and MCAT are the ones who are most likely to post often on this board. (Oops. Hopefully this isn't self-incriminating!)
 
No, pre-meds do not lie about anything.

Sincerely,
PreMD86, Chemistry Nobel Prize laureate.

(Gotta give Pandabear credit)
 
caseofthemndays said:
Do you think SDNers lie about or inflate their GPA's and MCAT scores for the purpose of intimidating other med school hopefuls?
Click to expand...
Does it matter? SDN is great for doing casual inquiries and research, but I wouldn't ever base a decision made on something I glossed here.
 
Yeah, in some cases they do. In most cases, though, people with high stats are more likely to post them here, making for a self-selected bias. Check the MSAR, though, and you will see that it is just a fact that schools have pretty high GPA and MCAT matriculant averages.
 
For those who are intimidated by the self-reported stats on SDN, I just checked the mdapps of someone who posted in the CARIBBEAN forum, and they claimed to have a 3.9 and a 37 MCAT. I highly doubt this is accurate
 
query: what possibly can they hope to gain by inflating their stats on an anonymous internet forum?

anonymous virtual admiration?
 
Well, I thought I'd let you know that Haaavard, JHU, WashU, Penn and Cornell have made all of their final decisions for the year. (I have family members in high places.) It turns out that it has been the most competitive year in history, I myself have been rejected at some places with my 4.8GPA, my 44S, and my Pulitzer prize on my article describing my trip saving DABs. Just so you know, all interviewees who are yet scheduled are wasting their time (the schools have an agreement with the airlines) and those who are waiting to hear will only have bad news.

How about we all withdraw our applications now instead of waiting for the bad news to hit. This is the last time we will have the upper hand, and won't it feel just so good to say "No" to Harvard?
 
Picklesali said:
Well, I thought I'd let you know that Haaavard, JHU, WashU, Penn and Cornell have made all of their final decisions for the year. (I have family members in high places.) It turns out that it has been the most competitive year in history, I myself have been rejected at some places with my 4.8GPA, my 44S, and my Pulitzer prize on my article describing my trip saving DABs. Just so you know, all interviewees who are yet scheduled are wasting their time (the schools have an agreement with the airlines) and those who are waiting to hear will only have bad news.

How about we all withdraw our applications now instead of waiting for the bad news to hit. This is the last time we will have the upper hand, and won't it feel just so good to say "No" to Harvard?
Click to expand...

DABs!! That's totally awesome. I haven't heard that acronym for Dying African Babies yet! 😆

And yeah, everyone withdraw your apps. No use wasting your time and letting them play with your emotions! (I'll try to remember this one for my application cycle)
 
Just giving an example of how someone may THINK they can influence others by inflating their stats. Does it work? Meh...
 
Picklesali said:
Well, I thought I'd let you know that Haaavard, JHU, WashU, Penn and Cornell have made all of their final decisions for the year. (I have family members in high places.) It turns out that it has been the most competitive year in history, I myself have been rejected at some places with my 4.8GPA, my 44S, and my Pulitzer prize on my article describing my trip saving DABs. Just so you know, all interviewees who are yet scheduled are wasting their time (the schools have an agreement with the airlines) and those who are waiting to hear will only have bad news.

How about we all withdraw our applications now instead of waiting for the bad news to hit. This is the last time we will have the upper hand, and won't it feel just so good to say "No" to Harvard?
Click to expand...

LOL :laugh:
 
HumidBeing said:
Hey, Pickles, how do you "save" DAB's (Dead African Babies)? Is it by 'pickling' them? Gasp! Your name just took on a whole new meaning.😱
Click to expand...

I want my baby back, baby back, baby back...
 
decafplease said:

DABs!! That's totally awesome. I haven't heard that acronym for Dying African Babies yet! 😆
Click to expand...
Credit for the DABs line (and term) go to PandaBear. For what it's worth.
 
I was told recently by an M3 that his classmate and friend had made up almost all of his EC's on his AMCAS.
 
Yea...adcoms know that people make the ECs sound better than they really are... I doubt they put much weight into it...unless you have letters of rec to back them up.
 
na, pre-meds are all honest and caring people who would never do such things.
 
I doubt people lie about their stats, why would they? I think the sample is just biased upwards. People with higher MCAT and gpa are more likely to start an mdapps and be on SDN.

Think about it why would you lie about your stats? To discourage the other *above average* candidates from applying? That's not going to work. People with an mdapps are good applicants and are applying to med school anyway, nothing will change that. If there are people lying about their stats to discourage others, well, it's just a waste of time.

Plus, you can easily tell the difference between a "massaged" app versus a truly good/unique one. Just do a search on mdapps for matriculants at top 25 schools with GPA<3.5, you'll see some great people.
 
lemon tree said:
query: what possibly can they hope to gain by inflating their stats on an anonymous internet forum?
Click to expand...

Yeah exactly.
What's the point of lying about your stats? My motivation for posting my stats was because I was UNSURE about my application. I wanted people's comments and advice on how I should proceed from here. You can't do that effectively if you lie, and if you do, then you probably have other problems you should deal with (like self esteem. 😛)

anonymous virtual admiration?
Click to expand...
I bet some people do this! Then they probably realize that the compliments they are getting are fake and meaningless and become more sad then when they started lying.
 
For those with 44 MCAT score...and a 4.5 GPA (obviously inflated), they more than likely lacking in people skills. Although there is the rare genius who pops up with people skills (my best friend in med school in TX is one of them). Once you have your M.D. it won't matter what your GPA was or what your MCAT score was. What will matter is what your patients think about you. Those with extremely high scores are probably going to live in the lab for the rest of their lives...and come on...that is boring. At least I think so. Kudos to those who enjoy it and are helping create new drugs etc...but I certainly couldn't do it. Your GPA and MCAT may get you an interview, but if you are looking at programs whose main focus is to put out good practicing physicians, GPA and MCAT will NOT get you in, personality and an ability to communicate well with others is what will. Good luck, and don't be discouraged!

And that's only if they aren't lying...if they are...then that's really sad...
 
I am so glad that someone else said that. I think that there are too many people here with >3.7 GPAs. Granted, nerds with no lives or jobs get >3.7 GPAs. However, most of us work and have families. Most of us are lucky to get GPAs between 3.0-3.5. Also, go to school MCAT/GPa sites. The averages are a lot closer to 3.0-3.5 than to >3.7 for most schools. Also, the MCAt scores are closer to 28-30 than >35. I think that every individual should do their best (A, B, or C) and try to rock the MCAT. With as many MD/DO and caribbean schools out there, you should get in somewhere!
 
NAVYLABTECH08 said:
I am so glad that someone else said that. I think that there are too many people here with >3.7 GPAs. Granted, nerds with no lives or jobs get >3.7 GPAs. However, most of us work and have families. Most of us are lucky to get GPAs between 3.0-3.5. Also, go to school MCAT/GPa sites. The averages are a lot closes to 3.0-3.5 than to >3.7 for most schools. Also, the MCAt scores are closer to 28-30 than >35. I think that every individual should do their best (A, B, or C) and try to rock the MCAT. With as many MD/DO and caribbean schools out there, you should get in somewhere!
Click to expand...

there was a survey of SDNers a couple of months ago and they are skewed way high on the MCAT range. MUCH higher than the average.

i believe that because this place is way too depressing to be unless you have 32+.
 
NAVYLABTECH08 said:
I am so glad that someone else said that. I think that there are too many people here with >3.7 GPAs. Granted, nerds with no lives or jobs get >3.7 GPAs. However, most of us work and have families. Most of us are lucky to get GPAs between 3.0-3.5. Also, go to school MCAT/GPa sites. The averages are a lot closer to 3.0-3.5 than to >3.7 for most schools. Also, the MCAt scores are closer to 28-30 than >35. I think that every individual should do their best (A, B, or C) and try to rock the MCAT. With as many MD/DO and caribbean schools out there, you should get in somewhere!
Click to expand...


The average GPA for a non-URM matriculant to a US MD school in 2007 was 3.75 non science, 3.63 science, 3.69 overall. The average MCAT score was 31.2.

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2007/mcatgparaceeth07.htm
 
some probably do lie, but I think alot of them tell the truth, because most people who don't do as well don't post...

however... I have no problem telling people what my grades are :hardy: freshman, 3.165 GPA first semester. i r smart 👍
 
NAVYLABTECH08 said:
I am so glad that someone else said that. I think that there are too many people here with >3.7 GPAs. Granted, nerds with no lives or jobs get >3.7 GPAs. However, most of us work and have families. Most of us are lucky to get GPAs between 3.0-3.5. Also, go to school MCAT/GPa sites. The averages are a lot closer to 3.0-3.5 than to >3.7 for most schools. Also, the MCAt scores are closer to 28-30 than >35. I think that every individual should do their best (A, B, or C) and try to rock the MCAT. With as many MD/DO and caribbean schools out there, you should get in somewhere!
Click to expand...
No the averages really aren't. It's about a 3.7 (overall) and a 31.

EDIT: nvm, someone else posted the AAMC link.
 
NAVYLABTECH08 said:
I am so glad that someone else said that. I think that there are too many people here with >3.7 GPAs. Granted, nerds with no lives or jobs get >3.7 GPAs. However, most of us work and have families. Most of us are lucky to get GPAs between 3.0-3.5. Also, go to school MCAT/GPa sites. The averages are a lot closer to 3.0-3.5 than to >3.7 for most schools. Also, the MCAt scores are closer to 28-30 than >35. I think that every individual should do their best (A, B, or C) and try to rock the MCAT. With as many MD/DO and caribbean schools out there, you should get in somewhere!
Click to expand...


Grumble grumble... It is possible to get well above a 3.7 even with MULTIPLE jobs and a "life." ... grumble grumble.
 
to the op

doubt it....
 
caseofthemndays said:
Do you think SDNers lie about or inflate their GPA's and MCAT scores for the purpose of intimidating other med school hopefuls? I feel like I've read some really ridiculous stories....
Click to expand...

Yes.

A more important question: who cares?

It's not like the SDN forums have any bearing on acceptance to medical school.
 
Old Grunt said:
Yes.

A more important question: who cares?

It's not like the SDN forums have any bearing on acceptance to medical school.
Click to expand...

Maybe the reason why it's getting harder and harder to get into medical school these years are because adcoms spend their time reading these forums! 😛
 
NAVYLABTECH08 said:
I am so glad that someone else said that. I think that there are too many people here with >3.7 GPAs. Granted, nerds with no lives or jobs get >3.7 GPAs. However, most of us work and have families. Most of us are lucky to get GPAs between 3.0-3.5. Also, go to school MCAT/GPa sites. The averages are a lot closer to 3.0-3.5 than to >3.7 for most schools. Also, the MCAt scores are closer to 28-30 than >35. I think that every individual should do their best (A, B, or C) and try to rock the MCAT. With as many MD/DO and caribbean schools out there, you should get in somewhere!
Click to expand...

That's a pretty ignorant statement. I have a 3.9 GPA, so you're telling me that I simply must not have a life or a job because of my GPA? I guess when they were passing out common sense, they ran out before they got to you.
 
caseofthemndays said:
Do you think SDNers lie about or inflate their GPA's and MCAT scores for the purpose of intimidating other med school hopefuls? I feel like I've read some really ridiculous stories....
Click to expand...

Do you think Willie Nelson smokes pot?
 
For sure, some people do (I do not).
I do not care anyway. The site is a good sourse whatsoever.
You could always check MSAR that has better statistics.
And filter the info - if someone says she was accepted to some school before the application process started, that's definetely BS.
Also, don't trust all MDApps profiles. 🙂 🙂
 
caseofthemndays said:
Do you think SDNers lie about or inflate their GPA's and MCAT scores for the purpose of intimidating other med school hopefuls? I feel like I've read some really ridiculous stories....
Click to expand...

Whether another person lies or tells the truth about their GPA/MCAT score really doesn't affect you one way or the other. It's your work that will be evaluated so why would you be "intimidated" by something that you read on an Internet message board. Either you are competitive or you are not competitive with the self-reported grades of others not making any difference.

Either you apply and get in or you apply and don't get in. If you let something that you read on a message board stop you from making application, then you definitely will not get into medical school. Run you own race and take care of your own stuff without regard to others. In short, don't let anything you read on the Internet get into your head. Unless you have a means of verification of veracity, Internet postings are irrelevant.

The other thing to think about is when you compare yourself to other people, you see what you want to see. If you are feeling inferior,then everyone else is going to seem superior. If you feel superior, then everyone else will seem inferior. In short, this stuff is useless.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

kv11
UIC Stats
Replies
6
Views
2K
AsclepiusAdvisingLLC
AsclepiusAdvisingLLC
R
  • Question Question
High stats, only one interview
Replies
21
Views
5K
RoMan1516
R
E
does psych stats count for stats req for texas med schools?
Replies
0
Views
489
Eliana7864
E
C
waitlist stats
Replies
5
Views
3K
GoSpursGo
GoSpursGo
K
Accidentally lied on application
Replies
3
Views
983
PickaGodnPray
PickaGodnPray
Top