Average GPA for top medical schools

 
Getting into a top medical school in the US can be extremely difficult due to high selectivity rates. Though applications to medical schools in the US are evaluated holistically taking into account work experience and other accomplishments, it cannot be denied that the top two factors on which medical admissions greatly rely include your GPA and your MCAT score.
 

What’s a good GPA to get into a medical school?

The following table gives the mean GPA and MCAT for medical school matriculants (those who got enrolled) as provided by AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges).
 

Average GPA and MCAT for medical school admissions

Intake academic session	Science GPA mean	Non-science GPA mean	Total GPA mean	Mean total MCAT
2017-18	3.64	3.79	3.71	510.4
2018-19	3.65	3.80	3.72	511.2
2019-20	3.66	3.81	3.73	511.5

 

How important is GPA in medical school application process?

From the above table, it is clear that a high GPA is required to get into a medical school. The undergraduate GPA is important as it would help the school gauge whether a student is able to successfully handle the rigour and manage the academic workload in a medical school.

The science GPA matters a lot. Undergraduate coursework in biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics is mandatory.

Your GPA trend would also be taken into account – they would be interested in knowing how your GPA has changed (got higher or lower) over the years. An upward GPA trend would work in your favour.
 

GPA to get into the top medical schools in the USA

Following are the top 10 US medical schools for research and the average/median GPA for each
 

School name	Median undergraduate GPA
Harvard University	3.93
Johns Hopkins University	3.94
Stanford University	3.83
University of Pennsylvania – Perelman	3.90
University of California–San Francisco	3.85
Columbia University	3.85
University of California Los Angeles – Geffen	3.82
Washington University in St. Louis	3.85
Cornell University – Weill	3.85
Mayo Clinic School of Medicine – Alix	3.91
New York University – Langone	3.93

Ranking source: U.S. News ranking 2019
 
Following are the top 10 US medical schools for primary care and the average/median GPA for each

School name	Median undergraduate GPA
University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill	3.70
University of Washington	3.68
University of California–San Francisco	3.85
Baylor College of Medicine	3.92
University of California Los Angeles – Geffen	3.82
Oregon Health and Science University	3.69
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor	3.82
University of Nebraska Medical Center	3.74
University of California—Davis	3.70
University of Minnesota	3.78
University of Pennsylvania – Perelman	3.90

Ranking source: U.S. News ranking 2019
 

Medical school – How to overcome a low GPA or below average GPA

If your GPA is on the lower side, you need to put all the effort you can and excel in the MCAT.

Though the GPA and MCAT score are the top filtering criteria, a few other aspects are also taken into account during the admissions process.

Schools would be interested in viewing your overall profile, so you need to work hard through your undergraduate years.

Getting some practical experience in the field of medicine whether it involves volunteering or interning with a medical practitioner or in a hospital would be an important requirement.

Be involved in extracurricular activities or leadership roles or those involving serving the community.

Schools would like to have candidates who’re genuinely committed to the medical profession and working with people. Try to have some academic research experience.

Each school would have its own admission requirements, so make it a point to check this for each school you’re applying to.

Also, apply early as it increases your chances of being accepted.
 

Medical schools application process

A four year undergraduate degree would be required to apply to a US medical school.

As a part of the primary application, you’d be required to submit a personal statement and letters of recommendation along with your MCAT scores and transcripts.

You may receive a secondary application from the schools where you have applied. This would have essays which you’d be required to fill in.

Applying to medical schools is a tough and highly competitive process. You need to have a dedicated approach and build up a strong profile in order to make it to the top medical schools.

Also work hard and put enough effort in every part of the application so that you come through with flying colours!
 
Also read:
– How to get into the top medical schools in the world
– Medical Schools in USA
– Medical Schools in Canada
– Medical Schools in India
– Medical Schools in the United Kingdom (UK)
– Medical schools in Singapore
– Medical schools in Australia
– Cost of medical school for international students
– MCAT for beginners
– Average GPA for top graduate schools
 
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