MCAT scores are one of the most important components of your medical school application. All U.S. medical schools require the MCAT, and most weigh it heavily when making admissions decisions.
The MCAT is standardized, unlike GPA, which can vary across schools and majors. It allows admissions committees to compare students more fairly by assessing science knowledge, reasoning skills, and academic readiness on the same scale. A strong MCAT score can even help balance out a lower GPA.
According to research from the AAMC, MCAT performance, science GPA, and cumulative GPA are consistently ranked as the top three factors when deciding which applicants to interview.
While the MCAT is critical, it’s just one part of a holistic review. Schools also consider your experiences, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and interviews. Still, aiming for a competitive MCAT score gives you a strong advantage.
You can find average MCAT scores for each school in our resource: Average GPA and MCAT Score for Every Medical School in the US