The Official May 22, 2015 MCAT Thread

[fenderboi930]

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I think many of you will agree that today is a great day to officially prepare for the May 22nd MCAT!!!

I was against the April 2015 MCAT because a typical 3 month schedule doesn't seem to work for
students and/or working test takers. With a little over 4 months of preparation we can go in with confidence!
It's all new and really scary--so let's kick MCAT butt together!!

I was also wondering, wouldn't many professional MCAT test takers and tutors want to take the MCAT 2015 as soon
as possible (April MCAT) so they can better they're material or teaching? Wouldn't that just destroy the curve?

 

[0_o]

Don't worry I went to Disney yesterday and going again today. Getting a little release.

 

[UCD82]

Taking another 1-2 days off and then I'm diving headfirst into applications. If I can grind out 8hrs of studying a day for months working on these apps is gonna seem like a breeze

Typing this post as I enter grades into the AMCAS. Which is the most the most soul crushingly monotonous thing I have ever done btw.

 

[takeonme]

Typing this post as I enter grades into the AMCAS. Which is the most the most soul crushingly monotonous thing I have ever done btw.

agreed. i had an unbearable time entering in the 60 classes i took

 

[lukester43]

I think it may have been asked earlier, but is it usually recommended to order yourself a copy of your official transcript to help fill in course work to that it for sure matches the official transcript you sent AMCAS?

Side note: I just requested a transcript from my university, and 5 minutes later I received an email from AMCAS that my transcript was received. Anyone else have their transcript request processed so crazy fast?

 

[Sob21]

I think it may have been asked earlier, but is it usually recommended to order yourself a copy of your official transcript to help fill in course work to that it for sure matches the official transcript you sent AMCAS?

Side note: I just requested a transcript from my university, and 5 minutes later I received an email from AMCAS that my transcript was received. Anyone else have their transcript request processed so crazy fast?

Mine took 8 days from the day I ordered it. But it must depend on how fast your institution sends them out, and what kind of mail service they use. I just used my unofficial transcript to put in my classes, didn't think I would need the official.

 

[Lannister]

Does anyone else not remember the exam at all? Like I remember sitting down to start the exam and I remember doing the void question and the survey but the six hours in between are a complete blank. I couldn't tell you what was on that test even if I wanted to.

 

[mdeluxe8]

Does anyone else not remember the exam at all? Like I remember sitting down to start the exam and I remember doing the void question and the survey but the six hours in between are a complete blank. I couldn't tell you what was on that test even if I wanted to.

^^^YES. and the more I think about it the more anxious I get about how I did because I can't remember anything that I even selected.

 

[XxThaDoggxX]

Does anyone else not remember the exam at all? Like I remember sitting down to start the exam and I remember doing the void question and the survey but the six hours in between are a complete blank. I couldn't tell you what was on that test even if I wanted to.

Yeah that was me last test I literally could only remember like 2 questions out of 230

 

[EParker37]

Does anyone else not remember the exam at all? Like I remember sitting down to start the exam and I remember doing the void question and the survey but the six hours in between are a complete blank. I couldn't tell you what was on that test even if I wanted to.

This is exactly how I feel, and its just making me think I must not have done well hahaha

 

[Levrone]

Does anyone else not remember the exam at all? Like I remember sitting down to start the exam and I remember doing the void question and the survey but the six hours in between are a complete blank. I couldn't tell you what was on that test even if I wanted to.

Like 25 min after taking the test I had already repressed all my mcat memories lol

 

[lukester43]

When are you guys shooting to submit your AMCAS?

 

[Flashfan]

When are you guys shooting to submit your AMCAS?

+
The day after my pre-med advisor reviews it.

 

[UCD82]

When are you guys shooting to submit your AMCAS?

Im going to submit my app to one school in early June in order to get my app verified and submit to my other schools when my MCAT is scored on the 30th of June

 

[Hupsty]

Im going to submit my app to one school in early June in order to get my app verified and submit to my other schools when my MCAT is scored on the 30th of June

ditto!

 

[Lannister]

When are you guys shooting to submit your AMCAS?

I'm going to submit to one throwaway school (Mayo, would love to go there but have pretty much zero chance of getting in, so why not) on June 2nd, and then add schools once I get my preliminary scores.

 

[Glazedonutlove]

I did the same, but all I had to do was upload my picture, enter final grades from this semester and then pay for and submit it. Now I am still trying to decide how I feel about the MCAT.

You're on top of things

But how did you submit already?

 

[carpediem22]

I'm waiting until the release of prelims to submit anything. Just in case. 🙁 Don't think the 2 week delay will make a huge difference.

 

[mcatjelly]

I'm waiting until the release of prelims to submit anything. Just in case. 🙁 Don't think the 2 week delay will make a huge difference.

Same.

 

[reticence]

I'm waiting until the release of prelims to submit anything. Just in case. 🙁 Don't think the 2 week delay will make a huge difference.

Agree 100%.

 

[Glazedonutlove]

wait really? If those prelims are not what you wanted, you would take a gap year?

 

[Jeetu93]

Question: Did anyone that got offered a retake via email that followed through with the instructions get contacted yet?

 

[takeonme]

Question: Did anyone that got offered a retake via email that followed through with the instructions get contacted yet?

im waiting for them to email me damnit. idk if its because we ended late (and on the west coast) 🙁 unless they didnt consider ours a problem??!?!?

 

[Jeetu93]

If you did not get an email the day of your exam, your proctor did not report a problem at your testing center. I would suggest you call them asap to see what can be done.

 

[takeonme]

what?! she was literally on the phone with technical support for like 30 mins and would occasionally pop into the room of anxious and frustrated test takers to let us know she didnt forget about us and she would report it! i tried calling them when i got home (which was too late already plus exam ended close to 4 for me) but i uploaded a test center concern and will have to call on tuesday. did you get yours immediately after? west coast time too?

 

[Jeetu93]

I got an email around 5pm (eastern) that they received info that my test center had technical issues. I finished my exam around 4:30ish. In the email they had the instructions about uploading a complaint and that they would schedule a June 2nd date/void the May 22nd exam. Did all that and no call or email yet 🙁

 

[Shadowade]

I uploaded the file they asked me to formally request a retake. We'll probably hear from them Tuesday after Memorial Day. Now debating if I should take June 2 or 19/20...

 

[gymrat1993]

I uploaded the file they asked me to formally request a retake. We'll probably hear from them Tuesday after Memorial Day. Now debating if I should take June 2 or 19/20...

Did you void your exam or submit it and just making a claim?

 

[Shadowade]

Did you void your exam or submit it and just making a claim?

I couldn't even take it. It took 5 minutes to load and then skipped to the end survey. Never even got to at least see some passages

 

[Dreamstoo]

My test date is in 2 months. I recently took TPR course test 3 today and had a lower score than my previous 2 by 3-4 points. My sciences have been dipping.

For those who have taken the May 22nd test were the TPR course tests helpful? Were they harder than the real MCAT?

 

[EParker37]

You're on top of things

But how did you submit already?

TMDSAS opens may 1st and also allows you to start submitting that same day.

 

[carpediem22]

wait really? If those prelims are not what you wanted, you would take a gap year?

Dude I don't even know. I guess I'll be applying either way regardless, just might have to retake if this doesn't end up as I'm hoping. I'm already taking a gap year next year and won't even be in the country, so it's basically going to be a nightmare if I have to retake. But I still want to wait to apply until I have a sense of how I did. I also am applying MD/PhD, so I still have those 2 essays to write and don't want to rush them.

I just looked on AMCAS and there are so many seats for July... I'm so tempted...

 

[IKnowNothingSometimes]

Dude I don't even know. I guess I'll be applying either way regardless, just might have to retake if this doesn't end up as I'm hoping. I'm already taking a gap year next year and won't even be in the country, so it's basically going to be a nightmare if I have to retake. But I still want to wait to apply until I have a sense of how I did. I also am applying MD/PhD, so I still have those 2 essays to write and don't want to rush them.

I just looked on AMCAS and there are so many seats for July... I'm so tempted...

so many seats in June too....

 

[happyhopefulper]

Thank you! Feels good to be done. The Kaplan tests were definitely not representative, but they still help with being able to critically think about the science topics and practice with terms, equations, pathways, and concepts. Take them with a grain of salt. The review books definitely helped a lot, although the psych/soc book definitely was missing concepts and terms that showed up on the test. Not a lot was missing though. I felt prepared. Use Kaplan's + AAMC's material and you should be fine. Possibly fill in the gaps with Khan Academy's videos on psych/soc. The biochem review was helpful. It taught me all I needed to know about fatty acid synthesis/breakdown, amino acid metabolism stuff, etc. I had taken an advanced biochem class in the fall though, so my understanding of the material was already pretty solid. Kaplan didn't do a terrible job, they just didn't do a perfect job either.

Thank you for the response!!!! A few more questions for ya.... So do you think the Kaplan Biochem review book by itself was sufficient to study from? Or would you recommend me taking a biochem course before my MCAT? Also, were your scores on the Kaplan tests similar to the practice AAMC test ( I know you said they were not representative of the actual test but were your practice tests scores similar)? And did you use Khan videos for biochem? Sorry for so many questions 🙂

 

[IKnowNothingSometimes]

Thank you for the response!!!! A few more questions for ya.... So do you think the Kaplan Biochem review book by itself was sufficient to study from? Or would you recommend me taking a biochem course before my MCAT? Also, were your scores on the Kaplan tests similar to the practice AAMC test ( I know you said they were not representative of the actual test but were your practice tests scores similar)? And did you use Khan videos for biochem? Sorry for so many questions 🙂

What's your major? If you're not a biomajor or have a firm grasp on human physio (the way one hormone would be affected by something happening to the body and how the body would compensate), biochem (amino acids structure, how it would work in membrane...etc), and research methods/techniques, then I would say wait. It's a lot of biochem/bio, even the questions that aren't bio related have a lot of bio themed passages.

Kaplan is NOT enough. It gives you background and starts preparing you, but it's just memorization. I didn't take the classes but I have the books and I would say that MCAT is a different level of thinking. Kaplan made me feel like I was learning material and memorizing which I needed but I needed a step beyond. So supplementing by using the sample test and other tests out there will definitelu help.

 

[loloschicken]

What's your major? If you're not a biomajor or have a firm grasp on human physio (the way one hormone would be affected by something happening to the body and how the body would compensate), biochem (amino acids structure, how it would work in membrane...etc), and research methods/techniques, then I would say wait. It's a lot of biochem/bio, even the questions that aren't bio related have a lot of bio themed passages.

Kaplan is NOT enough. It gives you background and starts preparing you, but it's just memorization. I didn't take the classes but I have the books and I would say that MCAT is a different level of thinking. Kaplan made me feel like I was learning material and memorizing which I needed but I needed a step beyond. So supplementing by using the sample test and other tests out there will definitelu help.

What practice tests did you (or anyone else who has taken the actual MCAT) use? Which did you find the most helpful (TPR, Kaplan, etc.)

 

[Dreamstoo]

Also if you took TPR exams do you think they were harder in comparison to the real one?

 

[NothingWasTheSame]

wait really? If those prelims are not what you wanted, you would take a gap year?

I'm applying this year no matter what. I'm already in my gap year also. If I dont get the score I would like, I would just retake July.

 

[bee17]

After a weekend of boating, fishing, hammock-napping, drinking, playing cards, and s'more-making, it is time to resume work on AMCAS. Sigh.

I'm so sorry to hear that many of you had technical difficulties! What an awful situation. Best of luck on the retest!

Like some of you have said, I think I am experiencing post-MCAT amnesia. I only remember a few questions. I thought the exam was hard, but then again, I was expecting it to be hard. I feel tentatively confident. Without an established scale from AAMC, it really is impossible to judge how we did at this point.

Of course, because this is SDN, we will proceed to dissect our strategies and projected scores anyway 😀

 

[IKnowNothingSometimes]

What practice tests did you (or anyone else who has taken the actual MCAT) use? Which did you find the most helpful (TPR, Kaplan, etc.)

I used old berkley + part of new kaplan. And then used a combo of old berkley practice, old biochem exams, ek 101 (for verbal since it's pretty much the same), khan academy videos, and new aamc sample test.

In terms of "mcat" thinking, berkley for sure. Khan academy was great in supplementing Kaplan, because kaplan just runs through a bunch of terms and they don't define of them all that well. I've had to wiki some of the terms because I couldn't distinguish it with something else that was similiar they mentioned a paragraph before.

USE THE AAMC GUIDLINES though, no prep book will cover it all, so anything they miss, it's up to you to find it online and learn the concept (not some long ass equation/complex computation).

 

[mmcoffee]

Does anyone else not remember the exam at all? Like I remember sitting down to start the exam and I remember doing the void question and the survey but the six hours in between are a complete blank. I couldn't tell you what was on that test even if I wanted to.

I thought I had forgotten everything. Well, until this morning when I woke up all sweaty and my brain realized I picked the wrong answer to something and decided to let me know. Scumbag brain.

 

[XxThaDoggxX]

I thought I had forgotten everything. Well, until this morning when I woke up all sweaty and my brain realized I picked the wrong answer to something and decided to let me know. Scumbag brain.

This is so me for the April exam...I could barely remember but like a few questions and all but 1 I could remember I realized I had picked the wrong answer to :/

 

[Dreamstoo]

I thought I had forgotten everything. Well, until this morning when I woke up all sweaty and my brain realized I picked the wrong answer to something and decided to let me know. Scumbag brain.

I wish they would just let you know your percentage right before you left the test center. I'm sure people have lost sleep thinking about the exam while they have to wait for their scores.

In terms of forgetting everything lol it seems for the old MCAT, people only remember that "one" brutal passage on their exam. I know someone who did very well on his MCAT but lost sleep over a bio passage that threw him off.

 

[mmcoffee]

I wish they would just let you know your percentage right before you left the test center. I'm sure people have lost sleep thinking about the exam while they have to wait for their scores.

In terms of forgetting everything lol it seems for the old MCAT, people only remember that "one" brutal passage on their exam. I know someone who did very well on his MCAT but lost sleep over a bio passage that threw him off.

I'm trying not to visit this thread much until June 12th since I'm stressing myself out, but it's obviously not working 😛

 

[hopeS.O.]

I'm trying not to visit this thread much until June 12th since I'm stressing myself out, but it's obviously not working 😛

Same. But I've worried so much that I went ahead and re-registered for June 20th, just in case. It makes me feel both better and worse. 🙁((

 

[mmcoffee]

Same. But I've worried so much that I went ahead and re-registered for June 20th, just in case. It makes me feel both better and worse. 🙁((

Think I may do July. Stay positive, view it as an opportunity to excel 🙂

 

[hopeS.O.]

Think I may do July. Stay positive, view it as an opportunity to excel 🙂

Oh yeah, I tell myself over and over again that it's just for the worst case scenario: i.e. If average percentile isn't 70+ and any of my percentiles aren't below 50 in the range, I'm letting it go. I think that's safe, right, for Texas. The reason I registered for June 20th is because as a Texas resident, I need to submit TMDSAS as soon as possible.

 

[EParker37]

Oh yeah, I tell myself over and over again that it's just for the worst case scenario: i.e. If average percentile isn't 70+ and any of my percentiles aren't below 50 in the range, I'm letting it go. I think that's safe, right, for Texas. The reason I registered for June 20th is because as a Texas resident, I need to submit TMDSAS as soon as possible.

It could be, we honestly don't have any point of reference for this year. I do know that the AAMC has stated that they are recommending that the adcoms look at students from the 50th percentile and higher, and not rely on just top 1/3 scores. This is due to a few studies the AAMC conducted showing that success on step one and graduating medical school has a threshold prediction percentile on the MCAT, being around the 50th percentile, anything higher isn't a statistically significant predictor of future success. Whether that makes any actual difference will have to be seen, since we are all in the dark.

 

[carpediem22]

Same. But I've worried so much that I went ahead and re-registered for June 20th, just in case. It makes me feel both better and worse. 🙁((

The reasons I haven't done this are:

1) $300 down the drain? Yeah can't swing that.
2) If I have to study for + take this thing again my delta G will be so negative that I will probably spontaneously explode.

 

[Glazedonutlove]

The reasons I haven't done this are:

1) $300 down the drain? Yeah can't swing that.
2) If I have to study for + take this thing again my delta G will be so negative that I will probably spontaneously explode.

Lmao

 

[irishnerd26]

My test date is in 2 months. I recently took TPR course test 3 today and had a lower score than my previous 2 by 3-4 points. My sciences have been dipping.

For those who have taken the May 22nd test were the TPR course tests helpful? Were they harder than the real MCAT?

I felt the TPR course tests were very specific for certain things, a lot of calculations that just aren't necessary. Also, my 2nd practice test I went down by like 8 points so don't worry at all.