MCAT 2015: Podiatry

SDN Members don't see this ad. (About Ads)

So you've probably all heard that the MCAT is getting a major overhaul for the 2015 test. This includes more biochem, psychology, sociology, and some other topics the current MCAT doesn't cover.

How will this effect pod schools? Will this force pod schools to make psych and soc to be prerequisites? Will average MCAT scores drop if they don't - leading to worse admissions standards?

Maybe it's time to get a PODCAT (lol)?! What are your thoughts?

I think pod schools will follow exactly what med schools do.

Although there is a lot of controversy over whether or not pods are physicians or just simply healthcare providers, it is my understanding that pod schools are trying more and more to mirror their medical school counterparts.

Whether or not you agree with the above (not sure if I do), is one thing but several pods have told me that this is what pod schools are trying to do.

I'm planning on taking the mcat April 2013. According to the AAMC, the writing section will be removed (YES! ) and an un-scored, voluntary trial section will take its place. "Examinees that volunteer to participate, and put forth a good faith effort, will be compensated." hmmmmm wonder what they mean by that????

Originally Posted by frankcfromny

I think pod schools will follow exactly what med schools do.

Although there is a lot of controversy over whether or not pods are physicians or just simply healthcare providers, it is my understanding that pod schools are trying more and more to mirror their medical school counterparts.

Whether or not you agree with the above (not sure if I do), is one thing but several pods have told me that this is what pod schools are trying to do.

As a whole, podiatry schools will always mimic the admission criteria of medical schools. Doesn't necessarily mean they will get the same quality student but the criteria will be exactly the same.

My guess - schools and admissions will continue to focus on and weigh most heavily on the things that they know. They can add as many new sections as they want, but unless they blend them into the current sections, P/B/V will stay king.

Pod schools will continue to use the MCAT. Pick your reason: its expensive to setup and administer a test, parity in applicants, or the fact that it would be a roadblock to a field that appears to already have difficulty recruiting (some schools still accept the DAT after all).

Originally Posted by heybrother

P/B/V will stay king.

So you think they will just disregard the behavioral science section altogether?

Originally Posted by fbtmof

I'm planning on taking the mcat April 2013. According to the AAMC, the writing section will be removed (YES! ) and an un-scored, voluntary trial section will take its place. "Examinees that volunteer to participate, and put forth a good faith effort, will be compensated." hmmmmm wonder what they mean by that????

Same here, its no concern for me. Haha that probably means if you do bad, we won't tell anyone.

Originally Posted by MaxillofacialMN

So you think they will just disregard the behavioral science section altogether?

Isn't the written section already essentially discarded? Perhaps its a point of pride for people with a high score, but my first writing score was awful and no one ever said a word to me about it.

I'm sure that the MCAT administrators will rapidly have sufficient MCAT test takers to work out the statistics for the new sections, but the old PBK numbers are solid. They know what they mean and they know what they are getting.

Last comment - weak comparison - stroll over to the osteopathic forum and read the threads about whether DOs should take the USMLE along with the COMLEX. I believe a frequent theme is that residencies are familiar with the USMLE, but often don't know what a good COMLEX score is.

Originally Posted by heybrother

Last comment - weak comparison - stroll over to the osteopathic forum and read the threads about whether DOs should take the USMLE along with the COMLEX. I believe a frequent theme is that residencies are familiar with the USMLE, but often don't know what a good COMLEX score is.

Taking the USMLE allows DO students to apply for allopathic residencies. DO students can't apply for allopathic residencies with their COMLEX score.

But MD students are not allowed to sit for the COMLEX at all. So in this respect DO students "appear" to have an advantage in that they can take the USMLE and open up more opportunity by being able to apply to allopathic residency programs (along with applying to osteopathic residency programs with their COMLEX score).

I say "appear" because who knows if DO students still face bias from the allopathic community. Especially when applying for allopathic residency positions. That's something a DO student would have to clarfiy.

Originally Posted by Ankle Breaker

DO students can't apply for allopathic residencies with their COMLEX score.

Maybe all of the times somebody said "COMLEX" will bring a DO or 2 over to this thread. But I was told by a buddy who's registered for both exams that he may cancel his USMLE test date since there apparently are allopathic residency programs who will take DO grads with just a COMLEX score now...I thought that was interesting.

Back to the original questions. Pod schools will do whatever MD/DO programs do. I wouldn't be surprised to see new pre-reqs added. I also wouldn't be surprised if they stayed the same. There are plenty of subject already on the MCAT that aren't covered by pre-reqs (physics 3, biochem, phys that is not part of your first year of introductory biology, etc.) IMO opinion, based on the vague description of the "new" material in the MCAT, you'd be better off teaching yourself from a study guide/prep course than trying to take the years worth of psych/humanities/etc. that it would take to cover the scope of available new questions

Plus, it's still the MCAT...they don't care if you've had any exposure to the subject at hand. The answer is usually rather simple and can often be found either in the passage or by eliminating the other choices. The hard part is figuring out what they're really asking with each question.

Originally Posted by dtrack22

Maybe all of the times somebody said "COMLEX" will bring a DO or 2 over to this thread. But I was told by a buddy who's registered for both exams that he may cancel his USMLE test date since there apparently are allopathic residency programs who will take DO grads with just a COMLEX score now...I thought that was interesting.

Sorry, the "COMLEX magic" worked again, so I will briefly take this thread off the main topic. There are many allopathic residencies, mostly Primary Care, that take DO students with only a COMLEX. To take or not to take the USMLE is a question every rising second year DO students, such as myself, have to answer.

Thanks MakesSense. My buddy wants to do EM, so I'm guessing some of those allopathic programs take the COMLEX as well?

Don't worry about getting away from the main point. You deviated because of my comment/question and you took it in a productive direction...which is more than we can say for most threads in this forum

Originally Posted by dtrack22

you took it in a productive direction...which is more than we can say for most threads in this forum

Hey! That's why I hang around! You never know what you'll find in a thread labelled "Podiatrist Salary"

Originally Posted by dtrack22

Thanks MakesSense. My buddy wants to do EM, so I'm guessing some of those allopathic programs take the COMLEX as well?

Don't worry about getting away from the main point. You deviated because of my comment/question and you took it in a productive direction...which is more than we can say for most threads in this forum

From what I have heard from some of my classmates interested in EM, some allopathic programs do take the COMLEX. Of course, your buddy needs to check with the Program Director of the particular program(s) that he is interested in.