Schools that de-emphasize stats?

[wisconsin1011]

Can anyone recommend MSTPs that are known to weigh research experience/letters of recommendation/essays/CV more heavily than GPA/MCAT? I am looking to add schools to my list that are willing to overlook mediocre stats in favor of other factors (first author publications, strong letters, compelling personal stories, etc). Of course I haven't even seen any programs with published data for matriculants with GPA < 3.7 and MCAT < 513, but at least some people have to fall below those values to make it the mean.
When I say mediocre, I don't mean <3.0/<510 lol. Let's say minimum GPA > 3.3 and MCAT > 512; although my stats are slightly higher than this, I want to get general advice and make this thread more applicable to more people who may have the same question in the future.
Thanks!

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[sammyers_sm]

Just to clarify, you're asking about MSTPs only right? I.e. don't want any non-NIH funded MD/PhD options.

The general consensus is that with low stats you may have luck with the latter (including partially and fully funded MD/PhDs), but others may be able to provide more insight.

 

[Lucca]

Iowa has lower avg stats for an MSTP. Like the above poster said, there are several funded, non mSTP MD/PHD programs that fit your criteria

 

[wisconsin1011]

Yes, let's limit the discussion to NIH-funded MSTPs. I have heard n=1 anecdotes regarding UTSW, Colorado, Mount Sinai, and Pitt. Can anyone confirm, deny, or add to this list?

 

[bunnyluvr]

I would not put Sinai and Pitt on that list at all, especially Pitt. I also have my doubts about UTSW belonging there. Their averages are decently high. Colorado not too sure about.

 

[wisconsin1011]

@bunnyluvr can you elaborate on Pitt? Their website says that their average is 3.7/514, which is on the low end anyway for a top 15 school, no?

 

[bunnyluvr]

Oh interesting I didn't realize that. Just my general impression of people who I knew getting interviews at Pitt were really high stats applicants. They could be moving to raise their averages who knows

 

[Fencer]

NIH-funded MSTPs are having the same discussion about you... Fully funded Non-MSTPs are the ones who are more likely to take a chance on you. You need to realize that MSTPs have to submit tables 6A and 8A regarding their classes, justifying why they took a risk to reviewers...
Data Tables | grants.nih.gov

 

[wisconsin1011]

@Fencer sorry, not following you, which discussion about me?

 

[Fencer]

.... Let's say minimum GPA > 3.3 and MCAT > 512; although my stats are slightly higher than this, I want to get general advice...

You posted a hypothetical with self-descriptive stats. The admission committees of MSTPs have discussions on what their minimum cGPA & MCAT should be... Their main concern for MSTPs AdComm members is to have a renewal of their grant. Low stats in their matriculants will decrease the enthusiasm of reviewers for providing a good score, which impacts the program's grant renewal. MCAT is no longer reported, but cGPA is...

 

[Microbug]

Can you just come out and say your GPA and MCAT, >3.3 isn’t very descriptive