MSAR MCAT Median Question

[narutoverse13]

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This is going to be a dumb question, but if the median MCAT for a medical school is like a 512, does that mean 50% of those accepted had an MCAT below a 512 and 50% had an MCAT above a 512?

 

[neurophilic]

This is going to be a dumb question, but if the median MCAT for a medical school is like a 512, does that mean 50% of those accepted had an MCAT below a 512 and 50% had an MCAT above a 512?

you got it

 

[efle]

no, because some had a 512

 

[CommyO]

50% below. 50% 512 or above

Edit: Didn't see median but read mean. Refer to post below

 

[UBLI-EINSTEIN]

This is going to be a dumb question, but if the median MCAT for a medical school is like a 512, does that mean 50% of those accepted had an MCAT below a 512 and 50% had an MCAT above a 512?

"Median" is not "mean".
You're correct if you're talking about "mean".
But the MSAR showed "MEDIAN"
Assuming you accept 5 students, and according to the ranking of MCAT, the score of the 3rd highest student will be counted as Median MCAT.
Let's say if students' scores are 511, 511, 511, 511, 513. The median will be 511.
So, you are wrong. Not necessarily 50% of those accepted had an MCAT below 512. This is absolutely INCORRECT.

 

[Lawpy]

This thread needs more @Matthew9Thirtyfive @freak7 @libertyyne

 

[efle]

"Median" is not "mean".
You're correct if you're talking about "mean".
But the MSAR showed "MEDIAN"
Assuming you accept 5 students, and according to the ranking of MCAT, the score of the 3rd highest student will be counted as Median MCAT.
Let's say if students' scores are 511, 511, 511, 511, 513. The median will be 511.
So, you are wrong. Not necessarily 50% of those accepted had an MCAT below 512. This is absolutely INCORRECT.

It's def not correct for mean lol

like for the same set you gave, 80% there is below the mean

 

[UBLI-EINSTEIN]

It's def not correct for mean lol

like for the same set you gave, 80% there is below the mean

Oh, my mistaken. you are correct.

 

[neurophilic]

"Median" is not "mean".
You're correct if you're talking about "mean".
But the MSAR showed "MEDIAN"
Assuming you accept 5 students, and according to the ranking of MCAT, the score of the 3rd highest student will be counted as Median MCAT.
Let's say if students' scores are 511, 511, 511, 511, 513. The median will be 511.
So, you are wrong. Not necessarily 50% of those accepted had an MCAT below 512. This is absolutely INCORRECT.

This is a technicality. From what I understand the OP was asking if the median is the middle score. If we assume that most of the scores of matriculates are normally distributed with a significant range (and most schools are according to MSAR) then *roughly* 50% of the class will have scores below the median MCAT. Yes it could be 30% or 20% or any other percentage under 50 but for simplicity's sake its probably best to just say that its the middle score and that's that. Using the inter-quartile range would probably be more useful to OP.

 

[efle]

This is a technicality. From what I understand the OP was asking if the median is the middle score. If we assume that most of the scores of matriculates are normally distributed with a significant range (and most schools are according to MSAR) then *roughly* 50% of the class will have scores below the median MCAT. Yes it could be 30% or 20% or any other percentage under 50 but for simplicity's sake its probably best to just say that its the middle score and that's that. Using the inter-quartile range would probably be more useful to OP.

Honestly I think everyone understood and we're just being difficult

How someone in the top 15% on the MCAT can be unsure what a median is though, and find it easier to ask SDN than to google the definition, that's a mystery

 

[bbbcccppp]

I can think of 4 intelligent and valid reasons


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

no, because some had a 512

If the population size is an even number, then the median will be half the sum of the two middle numbers. So in that case, 50% would be above and 50% would be below.

#technicallycorrect #bestkindofcorrect

edit: this is tongue in cheek. Obviously if the two middle numbers are the same, that doesn't work.

 

[stickgirl390]

If you go to the MSAR and select a specific school, you can scroll down to the acceptance data and see the full scale of MCAT scores for those accepted. There are two blue bars that better show the distribution of MCAT scores. It also notes the highest and lowest scores accepted for that data.