No Man's Land?

[barrelgrubber321]

is it possible that there is some kind of admissions no man's land for applicants with a high gpa and low mcat, or vice versa, based on how high the higher number is?

It's no surprise that schools would deny interviews because the lower number is well below their average, but would they ever withhold an interview because the higher number is significantly above their average? Maybe leading them to believe the applicant would go somewhere else?

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[PuzzlesMD]

There may be some levels of 'yield-protecting' going on for someone with a very high MCAT and low GPA. The low GPA; high MCAT thread brought this up last week. I don't think this is the case for a high GPA; low MCAT. While MCAT can get really really high (99th percentile is like 522), GPA stops at 4.0 and a 4.0 is not particularly rare. I am sure you could find 3.95+ GPA students in all medical schools.

 

[Goro]

is it possible that there is some kind of admissions no man's land for applicants with a high gpa and low mcat, or vice versa, based on how high the higher number is?

It's no surprise that schools would deny interviews because the lower number is well below their average, but would they ever withhold an interview because the higher number is significantly above their average? Maybe leading them to believe the applicant would go somewhere else?

Yes and yes

 

[barrelgrubber321]

that's brutal!

so for some high mcat and low gpa applicants you could be in a situation where your mcat is too high for schools that are more appropriate for your gpa and your gpa is too low for schools that are more appropriate for your mcat? is there any remedy for this? maybe very clear fit for a particular school?

 

[candbgirl]

that's brutal!

so for some high mcat and low gpa applicants you could be in a situation where your mcat is too high for schools that are more appropriate for your gpa and your gpa is too low for schools that are more appropriate for your mcat? is there any remedy for this? maybe very clear fit for a particular school?

The “clear fit” is revealed in your total application, not just your GPA/MCAT. The story you weave in your primary and secondaries , your ECs, even your LOR are all part of making schools aware of your “clear fit”. How did you get to medicine? Was this your choice? Have your activities and commitments led you to this point? I’m certainly not saying your stats aren’t important because they certainly are. But sometimes you read about outliers being accepted someplace.