<p>Is a B average at a top liberal arts college in your pre-med science classes going to make it impossible to get into a decent med school? (Assuming you have appropriate MCAT scores)</p>
<p>I know getting a B in high school was pretty terrible, but college standards seem slightly different. Many more students get B's than A's. How does this sort of GPA affect med school admission?</p>
<p>3.0 GPA is going to be a hard sell. 3.5 is doable though.</p>
<p><3.0 – not competitive anywhere
3.0-3.4 – below average for applicants; not competitive for MD; somewhat competitive for DO (but DO stds have been steadily rising)
3.4-3.6 – below average but definitely possible to get in; somewhat competitive at some MD programs
3.6-3.8 – above average; competitive at most MD programs
3.8+ – highly competitive but with diminishing returns (i.e., 4.0≥3.8>3.6>>3.4)</p>
<p>[Table</a> 24: MCAT and GPA Grid for Applicants and Acceptees to U.S. Medical Schools, 2005-2007 (aggregated) - FACTS - AAMC](<a href=“http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/table24-mcatgpa-grid-3yrs-app-accpt.htm]Table”>http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/table24-mcatgpa-grid-3yrs-app-accpt.htm)</p>
<p>On this table you can see med school acceptance rates for applicants with different GPAs and MCAT scores in 2005-2007.</p>
<p>For example, applicants with a GPA of 3.0-3.19, and MCAT scores of 30-32 had an acceptance rate of almost 35%. So far from impossible. </p>
<p>If your MCAT scores are higher, chances of acceptance will go up. Med schools will consider your undergrad school. (they know which schools have grade inflation and which ones don’t). If your application/resume includes other unique experiences that make you stand out, if you are applying to lower ranked med schools, if you interview very well. . .all these things will increase your chances. </p>
<p>FWIW, I know a guy with a 3.0 and just average MCAT scores who was accepted by multiple medical schools. . . and not all lower-ranked ones. But he had all of the above factors in his favor–top undergrad school, unique resume/experiences, excellent personality/interviews.</p>
<p>Of course, it’s important to remember that some/many of the low score/gpa’s are also hooked or candidates with unique characteristics, which could mean an Olympic Champion, or published author, four years in the service in Iraq, or son/daughter of the Dean…so, while the 35% may be statistically correct, what we don’t is what else such applicants bring to the table.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Any time the acceptance rate drops to below 40% (the overall avg), know you’re a ways behind the 8-ball. Most likely those 35% were extraordinary in a number of other ways. GPA & MCAT aren’t everything. Not even every 4.0/40 gets in (something like 7% of students at that level don’t get in anywhere).</p>
<p>My guess is that a significant number of SMP or post-baccs are included in the lower GPA/accepted stats as I believe the GPA listed in the AMCAS GPA which just includes UG.</p>