STEM GPA, Cumulative GPA, and MCATs

[bakarian7]

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Hey, I just finished my senior year and am about to start working in a lab for the next two, but I intend to apply to medical school in the 2019-2020 cycle. I was a non-STEM major with a pretty good Cumulative GPA and a decent-okay STEM GPA (above an A- overall, below an A- but well above a B+ for STEM). My MCATS are solid, but I plan to retake them to bump them about 5-8 points. I was curious how big a deal gpa, STEM, and MCATS are in terms of med-school acceptance. Will my low STEM GPA hurt me, and if I do well in the MCAT science portion, will that help? Not that it necessarily matters, but my weakest STEM courses were the traditional hard ones, and math.

 

[Asacrusader]

From what I've been told your MCAT and science GPA are the two most important things in your application (overall GPA is right behind them). I've heard adcoms are more lenient on the CARS section of the MCAT but the more even your score is the better! MCAT and GPA are both important but don't forget to volunteer and work on your extracurricular activities too. Med schools look for the whole package not just numbers! Good luck with the 2019-2020 cycle.

 

[Catalystik]

Hey, I just finished my senior year and am about to start working in a lab for the next two, but I intend to apply to medical school in the 2019-2020 cycle. I was a non-STEM major with a pretty good Cumulative GPA and a decent-okay STEM GPA (above an A- overall, below an A- but well above a B+ for STEM). My MCATS are solid, but I plan to retake them to bump them about 5-8 points. I was curious how big a deal gpa, STEM, and MCATS are in terms of med-school acceptance. Will my low STEM GPA hurt me, and if I do well in the MCAT science portion, will that help? Not that it necessarily matters, but my weakest STEM courses were the traditional hard ones, and math.

Are you including Technology and Engineering classes in your STEM GPA? MD med schools mainly want to know the BCPM GPA (Bio, Chem, Physics, math) and DO schools the same but without the math.

If your BCPM GPA is 3.65 or better, it won't hurt you.

 

[bakarian7]

Are you including Technology and Engineering classes in your STEM GPA? MD med schools mainly want to know the BCPM GPA (Bio, Chem, Physics, math) and DO schools the same but without the math.

If your BCPM GPA is 3.65 or better, it won't hurt you.

Its just below 3.60, massive red flag?

 

[Catalystik]

Its just below 3.60, massive red flag?

No.

 

[bakarian7]

Its just below 3.60, massive red flag?

Or, i guess, should I try and post-bac it up? My school and lab are ivy league, not sure if that matters either, but I could imagine post-bacs standing out for that reason.

 

[Catalystik]

AMCAS Matriculant Mean stats in 2017:

cGPA 3.71 +/-0.25
BCPM GPA 3.64 +/-0.31
MCAT 510.4 +/-6.6

Any number that's low can be compensated for with another that is higher. Or by terrific ECs. Keep in mind these numbers are across all schools from highly-selective to less so. So picking a schools list that accords with your stats would be important to success. The MSAR has each school's matriculant information and is an essential resource to deciding where to apply.

 

[Deleted member 737595]

AMCAS Matriculant Mean stats in 2017:

cGPA 3.71 +/-0.25
BCPM GPA 3.64 +/-0.31
MCAT 510.4 +/-6.6

Any number that's low can be compensated for with another that is higher. Or by terrific ECs. Keep in mind these numbers are across all schools from highly-selective to less so. So picking a schools list that accords with your stats would be important to success. The MSAR has each school's matriculant information and is an essential resource to deciding where to apply.

Is the plus or minus one standard deviation?

 

[Goro]

Hey, I just finished my senior year and am about to start working in a lab for the next two, but I intend to apply to medical school in the 2019-2020 cycle. I was a non-STEM major with a pretty good Cumulative GPA and a decent-okay STEM GPA (above an A- overall, below an A- but well above a B+ for STEM). My MCATS are solid, but I plan to retake them to bump them about 5-8 points. I was curious how big a deal gpa, STEM, and MCATS are in terms of med-school acceptance. Will my low STEM GPA hurt me, and if I do well in the MCAT science portion, will that help? Not that it necessarily matters, but my weakest STEM courses were the traditional hard ones, and math.

Retaking a solid MCAT score is a sign of hubris and poor judgement.

 

[Catalystik]

Is the plus or minus one standard deviation?

The +/- is the standard deviation.

 

[bakarian7]

Retaking a solid MCAT score is a sign of hubris and poor judgement.

In general, I'd agree, but my CARS and Psych scores did most of the lifting, I think in my case proving my science credentials would be good. My MCAT was solid, but not a standard deviation above the median.

 

[Goro]

In general, I'd agree, but my CARS and Psych scores did most of the lifting, I think in my case proving my science credentials would be good. My MCAT was solid, but not a standard deviation above the median.

And what makes you think you're going to score a standard deviation above the median?

 

[bakarian7]

And what makes you think you're going to score a standard deviation above the median?

I'm saying there is room for useful and beneficial improvement.

 

[Goro]

I'm saying there is room for useful and beneficial improvement.

Most people who retake only go up a point or two, stay the same or even go down.

AMCAS also urges med schools to average scores, because the data on med school performance shows that the avg is more accurate than the top or bottom score.

But I perceive that you're intent on doing this, so report back when you have your new score.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

In general, I'd agree, but my CARS and Psych scores did most of the lifting, I think in my case proving my science credentials would be good. My MCAT was solid, but not a standard deviation above the median.

Why don’t you give us a score and a breakdown instead of vague generalities?