Is MCAT or GPA more important?

Asked by: Timmy Bailey  |  Last update: March 14, 2022
Score: 4.2/5 (36 votes)

MCAT scores are more important than grades in most circumstances. Both, along with clinical/research experience, major, strength of undergraduate university

undergraduate university
Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. ... For example, in the United States, an entry-level university student is known as an undergraduate, while students of higher degrees are known as graduate students.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Undergraduate_education
, and other factors regarding the application. A high GPA with a low MCAT suggests someone doesn't have the background needed for medicine.

Is MCAT score or GPA more important?

A high MCAT score can bring up a lower GPA – and vice versa – but only to a certain extent. A low score on either will draw red flags, making you unlikely to be accepted. Other schools look at your objective factors as a checklist, meaning there is no real difference between a 3.9 GPA and a 3.6 GPA.

Does med school care more about GPA or MCAT?

In other words, students with higher GPAs and MCAT scores have a better chance of getting into medical school. On the other hand, it's really difficult to get into medical school with a low GPA. The lower the GPA, the higher the MCAT score needed to get into medical school, and vice-versa.

Does MCAT correlate with GPA?

Remember, when it comes to medical acceptance rates, there is also a correlation between your GPA and your MCAT score. The lower your GPA is, the higher your MCAT score needs to be in order for you to have a chance to get accepted.

Can a high GPA make up for low MCAT?

The most traditional strategy for outweighing a low MCAT is having a very high GPA. These two application elements are often considered in relation to each other. So having a high GPA can truly save a lower MCAT score!

What’s a Good Enough MCAT Score?

29 related questions found

Is a 3.4 GPA good for med school?

While you can still get into medical school with a low GPA, it's a lot more difficult, and all other areas of your application need to really stand out. If your GPA falls between 3.4-3.6, you can still get accepted, but in these cases, a good MCAT score can improve your chances of acceptance.

Should I retake a 509 MCAT?

So, a 509 MCAT score will put you a good place to get accepted in one of those schools. Retaking the MCAT likely wouldn't benefit you in this situation. The same goes for other medical school-heavy states, such as California or Texas.

Can a 3.3 GPA get into med school?

Can I get into med school with 3.3 GPA? Based on your MCAT ratings and if you go to allopathic or osteopathic schools, the chance of going into medical school with a 3.3 GPA is 39.5 percent to 56.7 percent. However, a 3.0 GPA, particularly without a stellar MCAT ranking, will not get you into most med schools.

Should I retake a 512 MCAT?

If you were averaging 510-512s on your practice AAMC exam but scored much lower on test day, this is a good reason to retake the MCAT. The lower score is more likely due to nerves, pressure, lack of sleep, or sickness than lack of knowledge and ability.

Can you get into med school with a 3.2 GPA?

A2A. Unfortunately, a 3.2 GPA is way too low for medical school acceptance. Even if you have a stellar MCAT score, there are others who have stellar GPAs plus stellar MCAT scores. Medical school is extremely competitive these days.

Is a 525 MCAT good?

Attaining a score of 525 on the MCAT means you performed in the 100% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred. For example: 131 (C/P) 132 (CARS) 131 (B/B) 131 (P/S).

Is a 4.0 GPA good for medical school?

"However...they don't need to have a 4.0.” While perfect grades are not required for medical school admission, premeds "would want to be in the mid-3.0 range and higher to feel relatively competitive," Grabowski says. Still, it is possible to get into med school with a mediocre or low GPA.

Is 507 a good MCAT score?

A score of 507 is very respectable. It puts you in the 76th percentile of all test-takers, which is a decent place to be. However, it's not the highest score around.

Is 490 a good MCAT score?

The answer depends on several factors including what type of medical school (MD vs DO vs Canadian) you're interested in, and most importantly, your individual section scores. Attaining a score of 490 on the MCAT means you performed in the 20% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred.

Is 518 a good MCAT score?

Scoring a 518 on your MCAT is quite good. In fact, it puts you in the 97th percentile. To put it into perspective, a perfect score on the MCAT is a 528. That's the highest that you can get.

Should I retake a 520 MCAT?

Assuming a strong GPA and extracurricular profile, scoring a 518 or above will help you be competitive for the highest-tier schools, even if their average matriculant MCAT score is a 520 or 521. With scores at this level, an MCAT retake is not necessary because schools will consider you to be academically elite.

Is 520 a good MCAT score?

The total maximum score you can get on the MCAT is 528. So, a score of 520 is a very strong score! It puts you in the top 98th percentile of all MCAT test-takers. To put the score into perspective, the median MCAT score for matriculants in the 2019-2020 academic year was 511.5.

Should I retake a 508 MCAT?

If their scores are below the average of their safety schools, they should usually retake the test. The average MCAT score matriculants in the most recent application cycle was about 510 to 511. Generally, Ken would recommend students who got lower than 508 to retake the test.

Is a 3.7 GPA good for med school?

Your goal is to get a 3.7 or better.

You want to be right in the middle of the average GPA for matriculants (people who have a 100% success rate of getting in), not just for applicants (who, remember, have a 41% success rate). A 3.7 means getting A's in 70% of your classes (with nothing lower than a B in the rest).

Can I get into med school with a 2.7 GPA?

Many medical schools have a cut-off for GPAs below 3.0. The average GPA at most MD medical schools ranges from about 3.7 to 3.9. The average GPA at most DO medical schools ranges from about 3.4 to 3.6.

What is the GPA for 75%?

2.0 GPA = 75% percentile grade = C letter grade.

Should I retake the MCAT if I got a 510?

Figure out what your individual goal is, if you really only wanted to get into Harvard, then yes, if you got a 510 you absolutely have to retake the MCAT. But if you're more happy with a wider range of schools, then maybe with your GPA and your MCAT, you don't need to retake the test.

What MCAT score do I need with a 3.4 GPA?

Myth 2: A high MCAT score will make up for my low GPA, or vice versa. Fact: This myth is true at a certain level but only in extreme cases. For example, a student who has a 3.4 GPA (which would be considered a low GPA by premed standards) but a 519 MCAT has a decent chance of getting into an allopathic medical school.

What percentile is 505 on MCAT?

Attaining a score of 505 on the MCAT means you performed in the 70% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred.