Which schools would favor the MCAT over an applicants gpa? And is there a formula system for these schools?
MCAT > gpa
- Thread starter pandemia
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Generally there is no "forumla system" because it's very hard to put numbers on people character, ability, and even knowledge. However, it is true that, given statistics, some medical schools prefer MCAT over GPA. I don't have a list right off the top of my head but I'll rally some up and post after school. I'm in class right now. Shh don't tell anyone.
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Most schools go to a system very close to MCAT + GPA*10 = your score. Each school will have its own 'score' that it looks for as a hurdle, and if you're above that you are fine. Now, if you score on the MCAT falls below 28 or your GPA falls below 3.5, you're looking at almost all MD schools shaking their head at you. As DOCBERT said, it's very holistic. Getting past that hurdle changes everything to who you are as a person, not as a number.
At least this is my knowledge of the subject.
From what I've seen on data sheets is that privates tend to favor MCAT whereas states tend to favor GPA. How true this is, I'm not sure, and the difference is minimal at best. But if you're within range of a school's averages (MSAR, spreadsheets will give you this info) you have a good shot if you're a holistic person.
At least this is my knowledge of the subject.
From what I've seen on data sheets is that privates tend to favor MCAT whereas states tend to favor GPA. How true this is, I'm not sure, and the difference is minimal at best. But if you're within range of a school's averages (MSAR, spreadsheets will give you this info) you have a good shot if you're a holistic person.
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With a 3.0/35 the odds are against you but at almost 200 (white & asian) people get in with stats like that every year.
It seems hard to fathom but more than 1,000 (white) applicants with MCAT <27 get in every year. Of course that's out out 13,00+ so the odds aren't great but it happens.
Applicants are more than numbers but numbers are predictive of whether you have a good shot or are a long shot.
It seems hard to fathom but more than 1,000 (white) applicants with MCAT <27 get in every year. Of course that's out out 13,00+ so the odds aren't great but it happens.
Applicants are more than numbers but numbers are predictive of whether you have a good shot or are a long shot.
What about a white male with GPA 3.6 and a balanced ( 9/9/10) 28 MCAT? An OK shot or a long shot as well?
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https://www.aamc.org/download/157958/data/table25-mcatgpa-grid-white-0911.pdf
Going off of this, you have roughly a 43-44% chance of acceptance. Take that with a grain of salt though--the odds are probably much lower if you live in CA, and probably slightly higher in a few other states.
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Take this with a pile of salt- I'm not even sure how you got this percentage from that chart. Prior to stats, everybody has a ~40% chance of acceptance in regards to number of applicants to seats available. Having a 28 with 2 subscores less than 10 definitely lowers that chance at an acceptance. This isn't stating that it can't be done, but just as LizzyM said above, the odds are against you, but every year people do succeed with these numbers.
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I averaged the two GPA brackets... but yeah, pile of salt is more accurate.
What about NJ resident and their state schools?
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The problem is that most students take most of the pre-reqs during the first 2 years... so, compared with someone else with a 3.53 and s3.43 and no upward trend, you are likely to have done more poorly on the pre-reqs. Furthermore, a s.3.43 puts you well below the curve of people who get admitted to medical school. That said, it isn't as hard to get in with your gpa as it is with a gpa of 2.53 and s2.43.
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Not entirely related but does anyone know what kind of emphasis adcoms put on undergraduate school? I get the feeling it's more of just an interesting fact that will help confirm a decision rather than make a real difference. I have taken over 70 credits at two different universities, one being a top 10 schools and one being a decent public school. The difference in difficulty and required effort is unbelievable, at least in my experience. I have taken pre-req science classes at the easier school and gotten easy As, and then repeat the same classes at the other school and get a B-. That is with much more effort as well as having already learned the material beforehand! Sorry for the semi-rant but it's really just unfair. Maybe this is why they value the MCAT more (do they?), but then again, putting so much value on a single test is also kind of illogical. Eh.
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What stats do you automatically throw away? If you don't mind sharing? I know that a decent amount of statistically underqualified (e.g <27 MCAT) students get in, but I always thought those with low stats were automatically rejected, thus making their ECs moot because no ADCOM saw spent enough time reading the application to see them.
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This depends highly on the school. WashU probably won't look at a 27 MCAT, but there are schools out there that have a median MCAT 29-30, where a balanced 27 is definitely workable, granted you have other things.
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Well that's the whole point. I understand that great ECs can really help applicants with lower stats, but I'm wondering how many of those 3.5/27 students get a real look from an ADCOM.
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Like I said, it depends on the school. The higher the averages, the less of a chance those stats will work. I'm not entirely sure if there are "cutoffs" where schools refuse to look at your application. I believe they exist but only for REALLY low stats (lower than 3.5/27). Also, 3.5/27 would be a pretty long shot. Usually the 27 MCAT is coupled with a 3.8 or the 3.5 is coupled with a 31.
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deleted357625
both are important no formula system
