- Joined
- Jan 18, 2008
- Messages
- 144
- Reaction score
- 0
I'm just wondering what med school are known to be less stat hungry and accept students with a wider range of GPAs & MCATs b/c they value the individual more and look more into the PS or interview?
What med schools care care more about the individual vs stats??
- Thread starter sweetsaja
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2005
- Messages
- 5,830
- Reaction score
- 3
Generally, your state school. Also, it does depend on what else you bring to the table. If you've got tons of great research, that could balance a less than average gpa. Ditto with amazing ECs, or some very unusual background/experience.
You could also do a search on mdapps and put in the gpa you're considering and see where people got accepted last year.
EDIT: Ah, I see you just changed your question to refer to both gpa and MCAT. There are certainly some schools that are MCAT-crazed (Wash U) vs. other top schools that are more accepting of a 29-30 MCAT (Mayo). However, where they're willing to accept an average stat, they're generally looking for something else to bolster it. I tend to think that schools that proclaim they focus on "fit" are the ones you're looking for. I only know about the ones I've applied to. Of those, I'd say most of my interviews were at schools that felt I'd be a good fit. While there are many factors at play, I think that my 30 MCAT (or rather, my 8 in PS) definitely narrowed my appeal to many other schools. Just apply broadly, and in particular, apply to those schools that are local, or that have a mission/focus that appeals to you.
You could also do a search on mdapps and put in the gpa you're considering and see where people got accepted last year.
EDIT: Ah, I see you just changed your question to refer to both gpa and MCAT. There are certainly some schools that are MCAT-crazed (Wash U) vs. other top schools that are more accepting of a 29-30 MCAT (Mayo). However, where they're willing to accept an average stat, they're generally looking for something else to bolster it. I tend to think that schools that proclaim they focus on "fit" are the ones you're looking for. I only know about the ones I've applied to. Of those, I'd say most of my interviews were at schools that felt I'd be a good fit. While there are many factors at play, I think that my 30 MCAT (or rather, my 8 in PS) definitely narrowed my appeal to many other schools. Just apply broadly, and in particular, apply to those schools that are local, or that have a mission/focus that appeals to you.
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2006
- Messages
- 652
- Reaction score
- 1
WashU doesn't care about stats...
My interviews were very heartfelt and went along the following lines:
Me: Why do you cry?
Interviewer: You mean people?
Me: Yes.
Interviewer: I dont' know. We just cry. You know, when it hurts.
Me: Pain causes it?
Interviewer: No, it's when there's nothing wrong with you, but you cry anyway. You get it?
Me: No.
My interviews were very heartfelt and went along the following lines:
Me: Why do you cry?
Interviewer: You mean people?
Me: Yes.
Interviewer: I dont' know. We just cry. You know, when it hurts.
Me: Pain causes it?
Interviewer: No, it's when there's nothing wrong with you, but you cry anyway. You get it?
Me: No.
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2006
- Messages
- 416
- Reaction score
- 2
HASTA LA VISTA....
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2006
- Messages
- 5,649
- Reaction score
- 7,670
HAaaa..!!
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2005
- Messages
- 1,436
- Reaction score
- 4
I think GW and Mayo, two schools that could have higher stats but instead look for other factors.
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2007
- Messages
- 813
- Reaction score
- 0
Georgetown. There's a pretty wide range of numbers. They like people with well-rounded, humanitarian backgrounds. Your essay on your secondary will most likely make or break your interview invite.
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2006
- Messages
- 671
- Reaction score
- 2
I agree with the Creighton part (can' speak for the Temple).
I think that the schools that have interviewed me should all get the nod here...my stats are on the low end, but I have to say I'm pretty interesting and have a unique background that I think appealed to them. Here is the list:
NYMC
Temple
Wright State
Saint Louis
Michigan State
It also seems that schools like VCU, U of Vermont, and Tulane truly value fit over high numbers. I applied to these three as well, but apparently I was less of a fit than some other people. Fit can be crucial when you have low numbers!!! If you have an urban background, applying to schools with a rural focus will probably not get you very far, and vice versa. Save yourself the cash when applying, and truly figure out if YOU fit the school. If you don't at all, and you have lower stats, it's pretty much a guarantee that there will be no interview invite for you!
NYMC
Temple
Wright State
Saint Louis
Michigan State
It also seems that schools like VCU, U of Vermont, and Tulane truly value fit over high numbers. I applied to these three as well, but apparently I was less of a fit than some other people. Fit can be crucial when you have low numbers!!! If you have an urban background, applying to schools with a rural focus will probably not get you very far, and vice versa. Save yourself the cash when applying, and truly figure out if YOU fit the school. If you don't at all, and you have lower stats, it's pretty much a guarantee that there will be no interview invite for you!
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2007
- Messages
- 748
- Reaction score
- 1
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2007
- Messages
- 21,728
- Reaction score
- 3,122
Jeff I heard looks at you as a whole.
Re College mentioned: Advisor was telling me a story about an alumni of our school. The alum was "very" interesting, had a GPA on par with X School's, but wasn't getting any interview love. The advisor was at an adcom meeting (whole premise was looking at an individual, not their stats) on X's campus and spoke to someone on the adcom about this applicant. Adcom straight up told my advisor it was because of the MCAT. So who knows. Kind of like lying thru the teeth.
Re College mentioned: Advisor was telling me a story about an alumni of our school. The alum was "very" interesting, had a GPA on par with X School's, but wasn't getting any interview love. The advisor was at an adcom meeting (whole premise was looking at an individual, not their stats) on X's campus and spoke to someone on the adcom about this applicant. Adcom straight up told my advisor it was because of the MCAT. So who knows. Kind of like lying thru the teeth.
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2007
- Messages
- 836
- Reaction score
- 2
VCU, at least for getting an interview. I have an embarassingly low uGPA (but a solid MCAT and a master's degree, life experience, blah blah blah) and VCU was the only allo (other than my state school) to show me interview love. And it was very early interview love, too. Still haven't been accepted by them yet, so who knows for sure....
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2008
- Messages
- 192
- Reaction score
- 0
I'm pretty sure that schools like Harvard, Hopkins or Penn don't care any less about the individual than other schools. I mean, 3.9/40 students can get rejected easily despite their numbers. Anyone who has a good shot at any of these schools are already superstar students.
I think ALL medical schools just about care about the individual.
I think ALL medical schools just about care about the individual.
That's not really following what the OP was asking. Of course, if you have perfect numbers but suck at life you still aren't 'in' for an acceptance. The OP was asking what schools don't use the numbers to screen out whose file they are actually going to read. The odds of getting into Harvard or Hopkins WITHOUT stellar numbers are dismal...they likely won't ever have a human read through the file to see what else is there. Not all schools only read the files that pass the high bar set by the adcoms with regards to numbers. Those are the schools being asked about.
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2006
- Messages
- 1,102
- Reaction score
- 1
Well, I am one of those applicants (like scowdeva) with an interesting background but some subpar stats (mcat in my case). I think that if you are in this type of situation, it is best to apply mostly to schools that are not in the USNews top 20 as these do tend to have the highest numbers and also the greatest emphasis on research (unless this is what makes you unique). I have found on my interviews that each school has a different personality and it is hard to know beforehand what will be a good fit from an applicant's point of view.
My basic advice would then be to go off of geography as a good starting point, make sure that the schools you choose are mostly close to your stats and then choose some additional reach schools along with a few that you are very competitive at (whether that be D.O. for you--if you agree with the philosophy--or caribbean...whichever floats your boat).
My basic advice would then be to go off of geography as a good starting point, make sure that the schools you choose are mostly close to your stats and then choose some additional reach schools along with a few that you are very competitive at (whether that be D.O. for you--if you agree with the philosophy--or caribbean...whichever floats your boat).
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2007
- Messages
- 4,826
- Reaction score
- 493
yeah, I'd definitely say VCU isn't stats-hungry
Are you serious...
This is just weird
One of my friends said that an interviewer at University of Louisville COM asked him "If you were a cell, what type of cell would you be?
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2007
- Messages
- 2,760
- Reaction score
- 4
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2004
- Messages
- 2,923
- Reaction score
- 9
Oh, they are, but all med schools want the same students and they all take what they can get. This whole thing about schools that look at the individual is a fallacy. All schools want interesting students, but first they want students who will do a good job, as evidenced by their previous academic performance. If your record isn't so good, you're not looking for some beneficent school with Christlike adcoms who really care about your beautiful essay, you're just looking for a school at the low end of the competitiveness spectrum, a school that can't get students of the quality of those at Harvard, UCSF, or Wash U.
A school like VCU, in other words.
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2009
- Messages
- 75
- Reaction score
- 0
It's a movie quote. 😉
As for the cell question...that is indeed a very strange question. I'd probably have to go with Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium, though, because it sounds so cool. 😀
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2009
- Messages
- 75
- Reaction score
- 0
Are you implying that VCU is a mediocre school, or are you just being matter-of-fact? It looks pretty good to me; if I continue with my pre-med ambitions then I'll probably apply.
Since you're listed as a medical student and your location is listed as Richmond, I suspect you may well yourself be a student there, and thus I wonder if you're really defaming it. 🙂
do they care less about age and personality?
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2004
- Messages
- 2,923
- Reaction score
- 9
It's hard to answer that. I think "mediocre" has a more negative connotation than is appropriate here. VCU is a perfectly fine school. (Yes, I'm an M2 here.) I'm not thrilled with everything about it or with medical education, but I've learned a lot here and I believe my clinical training in the next two years will be excellent.
I wouldn't want to compare it to other medical schools, since, you know, I haven't gone to those schools.
However, it is true that our average MCAT and GPA is at the low end of the spectrum. Someone made a comment above to imply that this is somehow a choice of the school, that they do not want people with higher numbers. This is not the case. Our averages have been going up, and the administration is very excited about that every year.
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2009
- Messages
- 75
- Reaction score
- 0
I notice that VCU will not accept a student that was expelled from a medical school elsewhere. I know that not all medical schools have this policy; I may be wrong but I think U of M is willing to take on previously expelled students.
Anyways, do most medical schools share VCU's policy?
Anyways, do most medical schools share VCU's policy?
- Joined
- May 27, 2008
- Messages
- 3,280
- Reaction score
- 82
Well, I would definitely generally agree with this, except for a few cases. For example, everyone agrees that Mayo seems to look for a certain combination of traits that can't be easily quantified. CCLCM for example might prefer someone with a very heavy research workload but less impressive gpa over someone with perfect stats but little research background. Same for Stanford, which has as one of its main "scoring criteria" for applicants "number of papers published". Also a school with a very strong primary care focus might prefer someone with a strong primary care interest. Something like UCLA-Drew would prefer someone with a commitment to the underserved over someone with a lot of basic science research. And so on.
