MCAT more important at UC's?

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whyme

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i know everyone says that GPA, MCAT, ECs, and recs and the whole package is important, but are MCATs a lot more important for getting a secondary at UC schools and eventually an interview?

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MCATs are not more important, lastly I heard, but many UCs have cutoffs for GPA and MCAT to get a secondary. However, I have also heard they will overlook a really low MCAT score if you have something else that stands out on your application.
 
Yeah, it's really an issue of cutoffs, but I don't think the UCs make the actual cutoff numbers known, usually.
 
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I would actually have to say the UC's tend to focus much more on MCATs. If you go to the berkeley webpage and check out the average stats for people going to the UC's they are all around 35-39 on their mcat...and these are AVERAGES!

I will post a link in a bit...
 
<a href="https://career.berkeley.edu/MedStats/MedStats.stm" target="_blank">General Link Page for Medical School Stats from berkeley</a>

And here's the most interesting part..LOOK AT THESE STATS!

<a href="https://career.berkeley.edu/MedStats/19972000top20.stm" target="_blank">Link to stats of top 20</a>

Top 20 Medical Schools & California Medical Schools - Graduating Seniors 1997-2000

Applied Accepted Matriculated Average for All Accepted Average for UR Accepted
School (ranking) Class All UR1 All UR1 All UR1 MCAT GPA MCAT GPA
Baylor University (11)
2000 32 1 3 0 0 0 35 3.88 -- --
1999 26 0 1 0 1 0 X2 X -- --
1998 29 2 6 2 2 1 38 3.88 37 3.80
1997 44 4 2 0 0 0 39 3.92 -- --
Case Western Reserve University (17)
2000 43 3 1 0 1 0 X X -- --
1999 53 1 1 0 1 0 X X -- --
1998 52 2 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- --
1997 56 4 1 0 1 0 X X -- --
Columbia University (6)
2000 42 1 3 0 0 0 36 3.83 -- --
1999 48 5 5 2 1 0 33 3.62 31 3.40
1998 53 4 3 0 1 0 38 3.96 -- --
1997 58 3 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- --
Cornell University (11)
2000 74 3 3 0 1 0 35 3.89 -- --
1999 93 6 1 0 1 0 X X -- --
1998 98 6 1 0 0 0 X X -- --
1997 121 9 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- --
Drew University of Medicine/UCLA
2000 35 2 1 1 1 1 X X X X
1999 39 3 1 0 1 0 X X -- --
1998 30 6 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- --
1997 39 4 3 1 2 0 27 3.42 19 3.00
Duke University (3)
2000 70 2 1 0 1 0 X X -- --
1999 70 4 7 1 1 1 36 3.87 29 3.81
1998 52 6 1 0 0 0 X X -- --
1997 73 2 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- --
Harvard University (1)
2000 87 2 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- --
1999 82 6 3 0 2 0 36 3.96 -- --
1998 50 8 2 1 2 1 33 3.93 33 3.87
1997 38 4 1 1 1 1 X X X X
Johns Hopkins University (2)
2000 86 2 3 0 0 0 34 3.88 -- --
1999 35 1 4 0 4 0 33 3.86 -- --
1998 42 3 2 1 0 0 36 3.93 X X
1997 34 4 1 1 0 0 X X X X
University of Southern California
2000 140 5 10 1 1 0 34 3.80 X X
1999 125 7 15 2 7 1 34 3.72 31 3.64
1998 148 12 24 5 5 1 35 3.77 35 3.77
1997 137 9 19 0 4 0 35 3.79 -- --
Loma Linda University
2000 51 2 1 0 1 0 X X -- --
1999 36 3 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- --
1998 57 3 2 0 1 0 36 3.80 -- --
1997 60 5 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- --
Mayo Medical School (15)
2000 35 1 2 0 1 0 38 3.81 -- --
1999 34 1 1 0 0 0 X X -- --
1998 32 3 1 1 0 0 X X X X
1997 29 2 1 0 0 0 X X -- --
Northwestern University (20)
2000 103 3 8 0 3 0 36 3.69 -- --
1999 86 2 3 0 1 0 35 3.84 -- --
1998 95 9 4 1 0 0 37 3.87 X X
1997 83 4 6 1 2 0 34 3.87 X X
Stanford University (9)
2000 112 4 3 0 1 0 33 3.95 -- --
1999 114 7 4 0 1 0 34 3.88 -- --
1998 135 11 2 0 0 0 35 3.77 -- --
1997 113 11 3 0 1 0 33 3.84 -- --
University of California-Davis
2000 145 6 13 0 7 0 35 3.76 -- --
1999 128 7 7 1 3 0 34 3.71 X X
1998 145 12 6 1 1 0 35 3.77 X X
1997 137 10 11 0 5 0 36 3.75 -- --
University of California-Irvine
2000 142 5 8 1 1 0 37 3.82 X X
1999 127 7 11 1 2 0 34 3.83 X X
1998 140 12 13 2 4 1 35 3.78 36 3.82
1997 134 9 14 2 3 1 34 3.77 30 3.66
University of California-Los Angeles (14)
2000 144 5 12 2 11 2 34 3.77 29 3.54
1999 136 8 6 1 0 0 35 3.84 X X
1998 151 13 10 2 6 1 35 3.87 32 3.80
1997 135 11 6 0 2 0 36 3.82 -- --
University of California-San Diego
2000 144 5 17 1 7 0 34 3.83 X X
1999 132 7 16 0 7 0 34 3.83 -- --
1998 152 13 20 2 7 0 36 3.81 35 3.84
1997 135 10 8 0 4 0 38 3.84 -- --
University of California-San Francisco (7)
2000 137 4 7 0 7 0 34 3.91 -- --
1999 129 7 12 1 11 1 34 3.86 X X
1998 140 13 15 0 12 0 35 3.86 -- --
1997 124 11 10 1 10 1 36 3.81 X X
University of Chicago-Pritzer (17)
2000 86 2 2 0 0 0 33 3.98 -- --
1999 79 5 1 1 0 0 X X X X
1998 89 6 1 0 0 0 X X -- --
1997 87 7 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- --
University of Michigan (9)
2000 88 3 6 0 1 0 36 3.87 -- --
1999 73 4 6 2 2 2 34 3.70 28 3.40
1998 84 6 4 0 1 0 37 3.90 -- --
1997 84 8 8 1 3 0 35 3.58 X X
University of Pennsylvania (4)
2000 75 1 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- --
1999 77 3 1 0 0 0 X X -- --
1998 99 11 4 1 0 0 38 3.93 X X
1997 83 7 3 1 3 1 34 3.63 X X
University of Texas Southwestern (17)
2000 9 0 2 0 0 0 35 3.74 -- --
1999 4 0 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- --
1998 9 0 1 0 1 0 X X -- --
1997 18 1 1 0 0 0 X X -- --
University of Washington (11)
2000 35 1 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- --
1999 36 2 2 1 0 0 29 3.72 X X
1998 31 2 1 0 1 0 X X -- --
1997 26 4 1 1 1 1 X X X X
Vanderbilt University (16)
2000 38 1 9 0 3 0 33 3.84 -- --
1999 48 2 5 0 1 0 33 3.70 -- --
1998 50 3 6 0 3 0 34 3.74 -- --
1997 46 6 2 0 0 0 33 3.75 -- --
Washington University (4)
2000 63 0 3 0 2 0 36 3.91 -- --
1999 70 4 7 0 2 0 37 3.87 -- --
1998 54 5 4 0 1 0 38 3.89 -- --
1997 61 5 3 1 1 0 36 3.82 X X
Yale University (8)
2000 71 1 1 0 0 0 X X -- --
1999 32 2 1 0 0 0 X X -- --
1998 43 1 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- --
1997 39 1 1 0 1 0 X X -- --
 
i have just an average MCAT score and i got secondaries from all the UCs.

so if they do have a cutoff, it's probably low.
 
I don't know if you realized this or not, but the list says that for top 10 schools you have to muster up 3.80 GPA from Berkeley. This is SCARY...
 
but you have to remember to take these number averages with a grain of salt.

applications consist of WAY more than numbers.

not to mention, i strongly believe that these averages are probably manipulated anyway.
 
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> 3.95 GPA at Stanford!!!
 
Scoob-

I am SOOOOOO glad I didn't see this page before I applied because it would have scared the s*** out of me! :D
 
What's the deal with Drew/UCLA in 1997 :confused: :confused: :confused:

27 MCAT ???????? and 19 for URM ?????

Nineteen???

What's up with this ?? :confused:
 
In response to the original poster: UC's do have cutoffs but they're very low. It's not as bad as you think. I have a 30R and I received secondaries from all UC's (that's 9V, 11P, 10B). So as you can see: even with my pathetic MCAT, I was still able to get secondaries from all UC's. Although, I did have a 3.89 GPA but I don't think it's that high. If UC's do indeed have a high cutoff, it's probably post-secondary. That's why UC's don't interview that many applicants, as opposed to schools like Columbia.
 
very interesting, and somewhat disheartening, information. thanks for the link, scooby
 
holy damn.
MCAT N of Cal applicants
35+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;96
30-34 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 208
25-29 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 117
20-24 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 21
&lt;20 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;5
 
Important Factors, my opinion, (in descending order)

1. State residency
2. US residency
3. URM status
4. GPA/MCAT
5. ECs
 
i don't believe there is any rhyme or reason with getting into a UC med school.
A friend of mine personally knows a chap who got into UCI with a 26 MCAT. I have a 36 MCAT and didnt even interview at even one measly UC

And yes, my gpa e.c. letters of rec were fine and dandy

its no problem, i'm still headed somewhere that i'd like to go...but still..

THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON WITH UC APPLICATIONS

JUST FILL THEM APPS OUT AND CLOSE YOUR EYES AND WISH FOR THE BEST!
 
what does ur1 stand for??
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by jux212:
•what does ur1 stand for??•••••Go to the link and it will be explained.

The 1 is supposed to be a superscript and UR stands for UnderRepresented minority applicants...
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by Cambrian:
• It's not as bad as you think. I have a 30R and I received secondaries from all UC's (that's 9V, 11P, 10B). So as you can see: even with my pathetic MCAT...•••••since when is a 30 on the MCAT pathetic?? Silly cambrian! :p

the only cutoff I have heard of is for the verbal section, supposedly anything below and 8 will not do for UCs... but I know someone who got less than an 8 who interviewed at several UCs... there goes that theory. :rolleyes:

There really seems to be no rhyme or reason with the UC admissions process, just put togther the best app that you can, cross your fingers and hope for the best. :)

Good luck.
 
i just wanted to hear about some exceptions that would cheer me up. i'm happy i don't go to berkeley!
 
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