Admissions Officers’ Survey Data Snapshot
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MCAT Admissions Insights delivers evidence-based insights, resources, and tools to help you use MCAT scores in ways that align with your school’s missions and contexts. We invite you to join the conversation and share your reactions, comments, and insights with us.
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Note: A total of 116 schools responded to the 2021 Admissions Officers’ Survey (76% response rate). Data shown in top two graphs represent responses to the survey questions: “What are the MINIMUM MCAT total scores/total cumulative GPAs that your committee generally believes represent readiness for your curriculum with academic support or without academic support?” Data shown in the bottom graph represent responses to the survey question: “For each entering class and with the infrastructure you have, about how many students can your school matriculate who may need academic support to be ready for your curriculum?”
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Admissions is not enough: Investing in and building a community of support for students is key to driving inclusive excellence.
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Data Highlights
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- The MCAT/GPA thresholds for students who can succeed with/without academic support are wide-ranging across schools. Overall, schools reported that minimum thresholds for academic readiness with support are lower than thresholds for academic readiness without support.
- An applicant with academic metrics considered ready for success without support at one school may require support at another school.
- The number of students supportable in each entering class also varies across schools, indicating different levels of resources available.
- Schools support their students in many different ways: most widely offered services include wellness and counselling services, Step 1 preparation support, and content tutoring. (Not shown in the figure.)
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Join the Conversation
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- Which survey finding, if any, surprised you? Why?
- How does your school “meet students where they are” and support their success?
- What types of support at your school are key to your students’ success?
- Do different offices in your school—including admissions, curriculum, and student affairs—work together to facilitate better student support? What are some potential challenges?
- How does your school foster a learning culture and provide safety for students to seek help and support when needed?
- Share your feedback or questions for further study.
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Additional Resources
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- Admissions Is Not Enough: The Racial Achievement Gap in Medical Education, by Jones, et al., published in Academic Medicine in February 2021.
- Shifting the Curve: Fostering Academic Success in a Diverse Student Body, by Elks, et al., published in Academic Medicine in January 2018.
- The Diversity and Success of Medical School Applicants with Scores in the Middle Third of the MCAT Score Scale, by Terregino, et al., published in Academic Medicine in March 2020.
- Identifying and Supporting Students to Prevent USMLE Step 1 Failures When Testing Follows Clerkships: Insights From 9 Schools, by Swan Sein, et al., published in Academic Medicine in September 2020.
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