What is the real GPA med schools are looking for?

[I.G]

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Hi everyone
I was told lots of stories from many different ppl some told me that med' schools wil accept ppl with 3.2 and an MCAT score of 31-33. Others told me completely different things like if I dont have a GPA of 3.6+ I can forget about med schools...
The pre med advisors in my school (Boston University) SUX!!! and don't know anything as they tell me something different every time...
I was wondering if there are ppl here that already got into a med school, and what was their GPAs' and MCAT scores.
I was recently told that med schools now are looking for ppl that has a lot of research in their background and hospital activity, is it true?
Thanks

 

[jmv1083]

http://www.mdapplicants.com/

It's a pretty useful resource, but everyone will acknowledge that it isn't a very accurate sample of med school applicants.

 

[ajt2003]

Hi everyone
I was told lots of stories from many different ppl some told me that med' schools wil accept ppl with 3.2 and an MCAT score of 31-33. Others told me completely different things like if I dont have a GPA of 3.6+ I can forget about med schools...
The pre med advisors in my school (Boston University) SUX!!! and don't know anything as they tell me something different every time...
I was wondering if there are ppl here that already got into a med school, and what was their GPAs' and MCAT scores.
I was recently told that med schools now are looking for ppl that has a lot of research in their background and hospital activity, is it true?
Thanks

Well, the reason you're getting different information is because the process isn't an exact science.

General rule of thumb: the higher your GPA and MCAT, the better!

Seriously though, another big variable is where you want to go - you'll most likely need a 33+, 3.8 if you have your heart set on Cornell or Columbia (for example), but not necessarily scores that high for a lower ranked school.

Most people on this forum have said to shoot for 3.5 GPA and a 30 or better on the MCAT. For more info, check out www.mdapplicants.com. This site can help provide a fuller picture of the application process so you can get a better idea of the stats that got people interviews, acceptances and rejections.

Oh, and my bro went to B.U. - so I can sympathize (through him) with you - the advisors at B.U. aren't the greatest. But, truth is, at this stage of the game it's more about how proactive you are.

G'luck.

 

[avinash]

Hi everyone
I was told lots of stories from many different ppl some told me that med' schools wil accept ppl with 3.2 and an MCAT score of 31-33. Others told me completely different things like if I dont have a GPA of 3.6+ I can forget about med schools...
The pre med advisors in my school (Boston University) SUX!!! and don't know anything as they tell me something different every time...
I was wondering if there are ppl here that already got into a med school, and what was their GPAs' and MCAT scores.
I was recently told that med schools now are looking for ppl that has a lot of research in their background and hospital activity, is it true?
Thanks

4.0 doesnt hurt...haha

seriosuly tho. it really depends on where you want to go for med school

 

[skiz knot]

Hi everyone
I was told lots of stories from many different ppl some told me that med' schools wil accept ppl with 3.2 and an MCAT score of 31-33. Others told me completely different things like if I dont have a GPA of 3.6+ I can forget about med schools...
The pre med advisors in my school (Boston University) SUX!!! and don't know anything as they tell me something different every time...
I was wondering if there are ppl here that already got into a med school, and what was their GPAs' and MCAT scores.
I was recently told that med schools now are looking for ppl that has a lot of research in their background and hospital activity, is it true?
Thanks

You can get in with a 3.2 and good MCAT.
I had 3.2 BCPM, and 34 MCAT, and got many acceptances.
No hospital or volunteer experience, but good research. My advice is to keep trying if it is something you want to do.

 

[SailCrazy]

Hi everyone
I was told lots of stories from many different ppl some told me that med' schools wil accept ppl with 3.2 and an MCAT score of 31-33. Others told me completely different things like if I dont have a GPA of 3.6+ I can forget about med schools...
The pre med advisors in my school (Boston University) SUX!!! and don't know anything as they tell me something different every time...
I was wondering if there are ppl here that already got into a med school, and what was their GPAs' and MCAT scores.
I was recently told that med schools now are looking for ppl that has a lot of research in their background and hospital activity, is it true?
Thanks

It is definitely an inexact science. People get in with below a 3-point. People get in with MCATs in the 20s. Obviously the better these scores are, the better your chances. Most people with high scores get in *somewhere*. Your chances definitely drop as (both) your numbers decrease.

I'd say that the lower your numerical scores, the more you'll want to have very solid ECs, volunteering, research, etc.

In summary: If you want it - go for it. Don't let what other people think get in the way!

 

[DrYo12]

Here's the truth: med schools want to know if you can do the work it would take as a medical student. Your GPA may pulled down due to some bad semesters early on in your academic career, but you may have gotten some really solid grades in your last few years. The trend in your GPA is most important to a majority of schools. As an undergrad (before I had graduated), my advisor told me that there was no way I would be getting into any medical schools. I was crushed and became very discouraged. After I graduated, I began taking classes to raise my GPA and slowly but surely, the number of good grades started to add up. My GPA is still very low, but I have a record of 4 solid years of good grades to back up the notion that I can do the work, which is what medical schools want to know. They want to know that even though the numbers would suggest otherwise, that you're worth taking a risk with.

SailCrazy is right too, in that your ECs and LOR are really important. Research is a good thing to have on your application, but only if you like it. Don't just do research because you think its what you need to do to get into medical school. You may want to try and get involved just so you know what its like, but if it truly doesn't interest you, do something that does. When it comes down to your personal statement and interviews, the medical school is going to want to see that you participated in things you were passionate about, not that you did three years of research but you can't discuss it meaningfully because you actually hated it.

G'luck!

 

[SailCrazy]

SailCrazy is right too, in that your ECs and LOR are really important. Research is a good thing to have on your application, but only if you like it. Don't just do research because you think its what you need to do to get into medical school. You may want to try and get involved just so you know what its like, but if it truly doesn't interest you, do something that does. When it comes down to your personal statement and interviews, the medical school is going to want to see that you participated in things you were passionate about, not that you did three years of research but you can't discuss it meaningfully because you actually hated it.

I would definitely agree that there is no need for 3 years of research experience if you don't enjoy research. However, if you haven't spent a reasonable amount of time doing research, can you really sit in an interview and convincingly say that you don't like it? How about spending at least a semester in 2 different areas? (if you didn't like the first...)

If you did spent 3 years on research that you didn't enjoy, I would hope that you could at least meaningfully discuss what you learned about yourself and what it is about your research that you didn't enjoy. I would also hope that after 3 years you could speak *very* intelligently about what you'd been working on - whether you enjoyed it or not! If not, that is probably a big red flag!

Also, if you have mediocre grades and MCAT, then you probably want to try awfully hard to find some serious volunteer or research experience that you really get in to.

 

[medstyle]

uhhh, you definately can get in with a 3.24. with a 31. heh.

 

[swifteagle43]

uhhh, you definately can get in with a 3.24. with a 31. heh.

It depends on which school but I knew a guy with a 2.98 that got into medical school with an MCAT of 32. I also know a guy with a 3.5 and an MCAT of 31 that applied to a few places and got turned down from all of them!

 

[medstyle]

honestly, i think the "magic numbers" are 3.3 from any school and a 29 or above mcat, or a lower gpa from a top school with a slightly higher mcat. If you have a low mcat, like a 27, you need to have a decent gpa, like a 3.5 from a top school or maybe a 3.7 from a lower one.

some people multiply your gpa by 10 and add it to your mcat, something like a 65 should be ok, as long as you hvae a decent verbal score and gpa is over 3.0.

Thats as close to a formula as you're going to get.

 

[Samus Aran]

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/start.htm