Final Recommendations for the 2015 MCAT Exam - AAMC's ...

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Fairness andBias7. Since there are mean differences between groups on the MCAT, why not drop the MCATand rely on college grades instead?College grades show mean differences between groups similar to the differences on the MCAT. Soreplacing MCAT with grades would not be a way to eliminate group differences.Medical schools do indeed give considerable attention to grades, in addition to MCAT scores andother factors. It is a misconception that MCAT scores alone drive admissions decisions.Grade point average reflects differing patterns of course-taking across students, different levels ofcourse difficulty across institutions, and differences in instructor grading standards. In contrast, theMCAT offers a common basis for comparison across all applicants.8. Do mean differences serve as a barrier to admission for groups with lower mean scores?No. Medical school admission relies on a holistic integration of multiple factors, not just the MCAT,and admission rates are similar across groups.(detail: proportions admitted by group are White: 46%; Black: 39%; Hispanic: 46%; Asian: 42%;Native American: 44%.)If the MCAT were used alone as the sole basis for admissions, it would indeed be a barrier. Forexample, we estimate that the Black acceptance rate would be less than half of the current rate (16%instead of 39%) if the MCAT were used alone.46