<p>Newmassdad, perhaps I am off on this, but don’t stratospheric MCAT scores mitigate lower GPAs? According to: [Medical</a> College MCAT-GPA Grid | Admission Sync](<a href=“http://admissionsync.com/2008/01/25/medical-college-mcat-gpa-grid/]Medical”>http://admissionsync.com/2008/01/25/medical-college-mcat-gpa-grid/), the average MCAT score for Wash U Med is now a 37, and in 2003 or 2004, it was probably about a 36. So if someone applies with a 40 or 41 MCAT (a very, very good MCAT score - one few Chicago students can probably attain), wouldn’t that allow for a 3.5 or 3.6 GPA? </p>
<p>I just don’t know whether the data you provide is inconsistent with my impressions. In the data you provided, those with low gpas generally had very, very strong MCATs (36+). </p>
<p>In law, if a Chicago undergrad has a 3.4 GPA, but a LSAT 3 or 4 points ABOVE many schools’ averages (say, a 175 LSAT score), then sure, this student still has a great chance at a great law school. </p>
<p>Please, note, just as Chicago’s avg. LSAT score is lower than every single one of Chicago’s peers, I’m operating on the same assumption for medical school. </p>
<p>Finally, idad, I absolutely agree. Why doesn’t Chicago just have this information public, so everyone can see it? For both law and medical school, this should be available. My hunch is, in the ever-aware world of the internet, this info would only damage Chicago’s reputation. All my friends who looked at the med school placement list found it to be a sobering affair, and after looking at Chicago’s pre-law stats, I walked away disappointed as well. </p>
<p>Of course, please keep in mind, I attended Chicago years ago. I sincerely hope this has changed today. What idad’s son said, however, (that a certain professor will only give out about 7 As in a given quarter), rings very true to my time as an undergrad at U of C. In a class of say, 90, where maybe only 5-7 As will be given out, getting a superb grade is simply shooting for the moon. It doesn’t happen, and I still feel this sort of rigor is punishing, not rewarding. In contrast to this, in the humanities and social sciences, I’d imagine close to 30% (not 8%) of the grades are firmly in the A range.</p>