<p>Indeed, interviewers take pride in being able to discern whether someone is being honest at their interview, but I would bet that their success rate is much closer to a coin flip. Anyone can seem sincere for a short duration, especially when they know they’re being observed. Empirically, I can verify this every time I go to a bar on the weekend…</p>
<p>WOW! I cant believe I posted this thread 5 years ago. Well, I am in med school now. At my med school the average mcat is about a 37. And yes, I know multiple ppl who have scored 40s. Boy did I not have a clue about what it took to get in to med school.</p>
<p>I find it interesting that no is asking why someone with a 4.0 GPA and a 40+ on the MCAT would be rejected. Perhaps it is not all about GPA and MCAT score.</p>
<p>For those asking why the MCAT is so tough, one reason is that it is curved and you are scored as compared to others, a self-selected pool of potential med students!</p>
<p>Do we have an exmple of 4.0GPA and 40+ MCAT being rejected from all Med. Schools that he/she applied or it is hypothetical question that has no application / purpose?</p>
<p>To be honest, we live in an arguably meritocratic world. We should distinguish the character from the deed. </p>
<p>If an arrogant jerk received a 45 on the MCAT, by all means, shouldnt he deserve a spot in HMS? He is clearly one of the smartest person of the medical applicant pool. I have a feeling that a 45MCAT and a 4.0 can drool in the interview and still get accepted.</p>
<p>A genius is a genius regardless if he is kind, ******y, arrogant, or mean.</p>
<p>Well, unfortunately a score on the MCAT is not the only thing that matters. A 4.0 and a 45 will get into medical school, but quite honestly if that is all he has he wouldn’t get into a top one. Don’t you think if Harvard wanted they could fill their class with nothing but 40+ scores? They could, easily, but there is such a thing as a uni dimensional candidate. These nothing but numbers applicants aren’t going to be leaders, and a lack of social skills is not going to make schools clamor to get him or her. Angry doctors like House on TV are fun to watch, but in real life even geniuses have to bring something to the table than just sheer intellect and a bad attitude.</p>
<p>I have never heard of 45. Has anybody? I heard that 42-43s are very few in whole country, 40 is pretty much a miracle. D. checked MCAT score in our state (possibly one year data), she said, the highest score was 37.</p>
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<p>Med schools aren’t looking for geniuses. They’re looking for people who would make good doctors. So, no, he wouldn’t deserve a spot in HMS.</p>
<p>There are a lot of good people who among those who do not have HS diploma. Frankly, I do not want kindest person by my side if I am sick, I will take mean geniuse instead. Well, it is very beneficial if geniuse is kind, but usually they are stocked up and not very nice, so be it.</p>
<p>A 45 has been obtained before, but I don’t believe it has happened for some time.</p>
<p>Clearly, admission is not based only on scores and GPA-or even a total of EC’s. That is why the med school interview is so important. This is a service career requiring the ability to interact effectively and sensitively with individuals during highly stressful periods of their lives.</p>
<p>^ Yep, communication skills are top criteria even for geniuses out there.</p>
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I can’t remember if it was Jerome Groopman’s book (How Doctors Think) or Michael J Collins book (Hot Lights Cold Steel) or somewhere else altogether, but one of the authors I read said that in clinical medicine, communication/bedside rapport and clinical judgment/“skill” in helping people are inextricably linked. In other words, the two are not separate things (ie, the good communicator but okay doctor vs arrogant jerk but great doctor duality is not realistic), but that to be a great doctor one needs to be able to relate to or communicate with the patient. Somebody who can communicate is more likely to elicit important cues and information from patients regarding their condition or history, or more likely to take the patient’s concerns into account and such.</p>
<p>I don’t know how true this is, but it made sense to me.</p>
<p>^I support you (see my post #53). Communication skills are the most important.</p>
<p>As they teach you in med school, 80% of the diagnosis comes from the history you take from the patient. Only 20% comes from labs, imaging, physical exam. Hence, it is critical to have to trust and candidness of your patients.</p>
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Also, the test is adaptive.
It’s like if you make 5 free throws in a row, they’ll shrink the hoop and make your shoot from the 3-point line. To score a 45, you ultimately have to make back-to-back baskets from half court, 3 times.</p>
<p>? Are you sure? I’m pretty sure the test is not adaptive. At least not yet.</p>
<p>Guys, guys, guys…
If a kid can get a 45 on MCAT, he’s smart enough to fake “communication skills.”</p>
<p>bdm you’re right. Got mixed up with GRE and GMAT.</p>