A closer look: More than scores: Grad school admission is a package deal

Despite common misconceptions, a student’s GMAT, LSAT or
MCAT score is not the only determining factor in his or her chances
of being admitted to a graduate school. 

Test scores are just one part of the whole admissions
package. 

Most directors of graduate admissions indicate that exam scores
are necessary in the application process because they allow
admissions counselors to compare applicants more fairly. 

Lily Fobert, director of admissions at UCLA’s David Geffen
School of Medicine, said the Medical College Admission Test acts as
leverage between students’ GPAs from schools with varying
levels of difficulty.

“But there is no special formula (we use to evaluate an
applicant). We look at the MCAT in conjunction with their grades
and coursework,” Fobert added.

Since there are regularly 5,000 to 6,000 applicants for UCLA
medical school’s 121 open spots, Fobert said a competitive
score would require at least 10 out of a possible 15 points on each
test section.  

Similarly, the UCLA School of Law considers Law School Admission
Test scores as well as an applicant’s cumulative grade point
average, extracurricular activities, and letters of
recommendation.

Last year there were well over 7,000 applicants, of which just
over 900 were admitted for the 2003-2004 year.

The admissions board tries to review the application package and
the person as a whole, weighing the student’s LSAT score and
cumulative grade point average equally, said Karman Cheng,
assistant director of admissions at the UCLA School of Law.

“We understand that a student might have had a bad day
(when taking the LSAT), or a bad quarter which brought down his
GPA,” Cheng said. “We try to look at the whole
person in the admissions process.”Â 

Likewise, the UCLA Anderson School of Management considers the
Graduate Management Admission Test as only one part of the
application, said Craig Hubbell, Associate Director of Admissions
for Anderson School of Management. Other parts of the application
include the candidate’s academics and work experience.

“There is no easy answer to a question (regarding the
weight of the GMAT scores in the admissions process),”
Hubbell said.

But he did indicate that 80 percent of the graduate students at
the Anderson School had GMAT scores ranging from 650 to 730, out of
a possible 800.

Work experience is not required for admission to either the UCLA
School of Law or the Anderson School, because many applicants are
right out of college.

But work experience may be carefully considered, especially if a
candidate is applying one or more years after graduation. 

The UCLA School of Law may evaluate non-traditional
applicants’ work experience more heavily than coursework or
grades because work experience would be a more recent
representation of the applicant, Cheng said.

Agreeing with Cheng, Hubbell said, “We understand that
some people have lots more experience than others, but we do accept
candidates right out of college, as long as their overall package
is compelling.”