How big is this class again?
Just wanted to answer a couple of questions that I thought could use some clarification or input from a current student. The current class, finishing in a couple of weeks, started at 186. I was told that this is approximately the range that they wanted this program to grow to. So there shouldn't be exponential growth like what has been seen over the past few years. I guess it could be smaller though.
I don't know what the previous years' acceptance numbers have been, but a couple weeks ago I heard from another student that there were about 30 accepted (pre-match and Feb1) to TCOM from MedSci and they were planning on taking another 30, 60 total. So at that point they were about half-way thru with extending offers.
To receive an interview from TCOM all you have to do is apply and be in good academic standing in the program (which means no C's). The admissions committee has access to every test grade applicants make in the program. So they know if your B is an 89.4 or a 80. I think I heard that they rank us, make a list so your 89.4 is better than my 89.3. Class average on tests seem to be in the low to mid B range... but that's me trying to average averages. Seemed to be lower in the fall, spring has been more mid to higher B. Honestly, I don't know if a 3.5 is above or below the average, but if so many people are making As, someone has to be pulling that average down.
However, I can cite multiple examples of the adage: grades aren't everything. Since you're applying to this program, I'm not going to lie to you and say they don't matter. That's not true. As you and I all know, they can keep you out of medical school. But I know many people in the program who have a higher GPA than me in the program, but they haven't been accepted yet. Some I can look at and say, "you haven't been accepted because you're a crappy person and it comes across in simple interactions." Others I look at and say, "the med school application process is kinda a crap shoot."
Oh, and Fall is hard/ miserable.
Again, I'm just a lowly student who hears much of this secondhand. Don't complain to Carla Lee or the admissions office or whoever if I have given you incorrect info.