Is MCAT more important than GPA?
Asked by: scraper | Last update: September 26, 2026Score: 0/5 (0 votes)
Medical schools evaluate both heavily, but the MCAT is generally considered slightly more important because it is completely objective. Since undergraduate grading varies greatly by institution, admissions committees rely on the MCAT to fairly compare applicants nationwide.
How important is GPA vs MCAT?
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.
Is a 3.7 GPA too low for med school?
No, a 3.7 GPA is absolutely not too low for med school. It is a highly competitive, solid GPA that sits right around or slightly below the national average for accepted M.D. students (typically around 3.773.773.77) and well above the average for D.O. programs (around 3.553.553.55).
How bad is a 487 MCAT score?
A 487 MCAT score is considered low, placing you in approximately the 11th–13th percentile of test-takers. It indicates significant content gaps, as the average score is around 501–505 and competitive scores for medical school (MD/DO) are generally 511+.
Can I get into Harvard with a 512 MCAT?
Harvard MCAT Score Range
The vast majority of students admitted to Harvard Medical School achieve an MCAT score in the range of 512 to 528. A perfect score of 528 indicates exceptional aptitude and places the test taker at the top percentile.
THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT than your MCAT, GPA, Board Scores & Class Rank!
What is a top 1% MCAT score?
A top 1% MCAT score is 522 or higher. This represents a performance better than 99% of all test-takers nationwide.
Did Andy Chen take the MCAT 7 times?
Andy Chen took the MCAT seven times—the lifetime maximum limit—before achieving a score of 515 and ultimately being accepted into the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. His journey serves as a widely recognized example of perseverance in the pre-med community.
Is a 512 on the MCAT good?
Yes, a 512 is a very good MCAT score, placing you in approximately the 85th percentile. It is at or slightly above the average for successful matriculants at U.S. MD medical schools and makes you a competitive candidate at a wide range of institutions.
Which female billionaire opens medical school?
Alice Walton, the world's richest woman, has launched the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine in Bentonville, Arkansas, offering free tuition to its first five graduating classes, as reported by CBS News.
Should I retake a 516 MCAT?
A 516 MCAT score is excellent (92nd–95th percentile) and generally should not be retaken. It is competitive for most MD schools; however, if you are aiming for top-tier (T20) schools, are an overrepresented minority (ORM), or had an unbalanced score (e.g., <125 in a section), a retake only makes sense if you are certain you can score 520+.
What is 90% correct on MCAT?
Answering 90% of MCAT questions correctly typically equates to an elite score, placing you in the 98th to 99th percentile of all test-takers.
Is 512 enough to get into med school?
A “good” MCAT score is relative and depends on the medical schools you are applying to. Generally, a score of 510 (78th percentile) or above is considered competitive for many medical schools. However, top-tier institutions often expect higher scores, typically in the range of 515- 520 (90th-97th percentile) or above.
Is retaking MCAT a red flag?
Retaking the MCAT won't automatically raise red flags. In fact, a significant improvement can strengthen your candidacy and show resilience. However, multiple retakes with no improvement—or worse, a lower score—can raise questions about your preparation.
What if my MCAT is low but my GPA is high?
A high GPA with a low MCAT indicates a discrepancy that admissions committees will heavily scrutinize. Your GPA proves you have a strong work ethic and can handle rigorous coursework, but your MCAT may be flagged as a red flag or used as an automatic screening filter.
Can an average person DO well on MCAT?
A 511 on the MCAT currently corresponds to the 81st percentile, meaning that fewer than 20% of testers achieve a 511 or higher. Clearly, scoring well on the MCAT is hard if you do not study properly.
Should I retake a 517 MCAT?
You could improve your score.
Score improvement is, of course, the entire motivation behind retaking the MCAT in the first place. According to the AAMC, test-takers who scored between 472 and 517 the first time saw a median gain of two to three points the second time around.
What would an 80% on the MCAT be?
An 80th percentile score on the MCAT is approximately a 510–511, indicating you performed better than about 80% of test-takers. This score is highly competitive, well above the median (~501), and generally regarded as a strong target for many medical schools, including allopathic (MD) programs.
Is the MCAT harder than the SAT?
Yes, the MCAT is widely considered to be significantly harder than the SAT. While both are standardized tests, the MCAT tests an incredibly vast amount of complex undergraduate science material and requires over double the preparation time.
Should I retake a 518 MCAT?
You scored a 518 or higher.
On top of this, as we discussed earlier, retesters whose initial score was 518 or higher had a median increase of only one point, and some scored as many as four points lower. So, if you fall into this category, retaking the MCAT likely isn't worth the risk.
What is 70% correct on the MCAT?
For instance, if we ask what score is a 70% on the MCAT? This means that your score is in the 70th percentile. In other words, you performed better than 70% of the test takers. In the current testing year, a 70th percentile score equals a scaled score somewhere between 507 and 508.
Is the MCAT pure memorization?
The MCAT is not a memorization test. Let me be more specific: it's much more about recall than it is about recognition. When you're prepping for the Psych/Soc section of the MCAT, you'll learn about different types of memory—sensory, working, procedural, episodic—how memory is stored, and how it's retrieved.
What score is 90% correct on MCAT?
Perfect MCAT score
50th percentile – total score: 501/502; score for each section: between 124-126. 75th percentile – total score: 509/510; score for each section: between 126-128. 90th percentile – total score: 515; score for each section: between 128-130.
What's the lowest MCAT score accepted?
The absolute minimum, hard-cutoff score for most U.S. MD and DO programs is around 490 to 495. However, this is highly contextual, and a score below 500 will make you an extreme outlier at most schools.
What is an Ivy League MCAT score?
Ivy League medical schools require exceptionally high MCAT scores, typically ranging between 518 and 522 (95th to 99th percentile). These competitive programs balance these top-tier statistics with near-perfect undergraduate GPAs and heavily clinical or research-focused extracurriculars.