If competition for medical school has to increase, I’d rather see it show up in MCAT scores rather than GPA, research expectations, or other extracurriculars.

The MCAT is a relatively contained hurdle and a more standardized way to compare applicants. It’s harder to “game” than GPA or activities, which can be influenced by grade inflation, school choice, or nepotism. The EC arms race pushes applicants toward more unpaid work, longer timelines, and increasing pressure to take gap years.

I don’t like that gap years are becoming the norm. Extending an already long training path to becoming a physician just seems ridiculous.

Curious to hear counterarguments.