40 on the mcat: hardwork of natural intellect?

[AlanG]

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So, what does everyone think about achieving a 40+ score on the mcat. Is this something you can study your way to, or is it alll natural ability?

 

[Rabolisk]

A lot of people get 40s from hard work, but what does that say about them? It says they have to compensate for a disadvantage ie they are average people. Smart people get 40s with 1-2 months studying before and they don't worry about the MCAT because they know they will do well. You can always tell the difference between a hard working person who isn't very bright and a smart person who does some work in classes. They both get similar scores. Personally I only associaciate myself with smart people, but that's just me.

This is too funny.

 

[gettheleadout]

A lot of people get 40s from hard work, but what does that say about them? It says they have to compensate for a disadvantage ie they are average people. Smart people get 40s with 1-2 months studying before and they don't worry about the MCAT because they know they will do well. You can always tell the difference between a hard working person who isn't very bright and a smart person who does some work in classes. They both get similar scores. Personally I only associaciate myself with smart people, but that's just me.

lol good one.

 

[NYR56]

A lot of people get 40s from hard work, but what does that say about them? It says they have to compensate for a disadvantage ie they are average people. Smart people get 40s with 1-2 months studying before and they don't worry about the MCAT because they know they will do well. You can always tell the difference between a hard working person who isn't very bright and a smart person who does some work in classes. They both get similar scores. Personally I only associaciate myself with smart people, but that's just me.

Not sure what you guys are saying is funny about this; it's true.

Although, 40+ with hard work still requires above average intelligence, IMO. If you're average, it's just not going to happen. If you're very smart, you won't need to study hard (and that includes studying during undergrad, which someone incorrectly stated that they had to have studied hard at some point).

Luck is most definitely a factor as well, as scores in that range are typically just one question apart. Unfortunately the MCAT is a relatively narrow exam, and each individual exam tests significantly different topics.

 

[amateur obgyn]

Let's be honest...it's definitely about luck. Well, I'm not sure if you would call it luck, but some topics you just generally know better than others. There is no such thing as a "hard MCAT," only MCAT that doesn't tailor to your individual suits. I know one person who got a 39 on his MCAT (second time), after getting a 24 on his first MCAT, and he told me he worked his tail off but got favorable topics to his strengths on the actual exam. Being smart helps though.

 

[gettheleadout]

A lot of people get 40s from hard work, but what does that say about them? It says they have to compensate for a disadvantage ie they are average people.

Completely unfounded conclusion. I have no idea how you're arriving at this claim but the idea that people who work hard and get 40+ on the MCAT are doing so to compensate for the fact that they are "average" people is asinine. Also, I'd say "A lot of people get 40's" in itself is a stretch. 🙄

Smart people get 40s with 1-2 months studying before and they don't worry about the MCAT because they know they will do well.

This is from your ass, no?

You can always tell the difference between a hard working person who isn't very bright and a smart person who does some work in classes.

Yes, sometimes you do see these two extremes.

They both get similar scores.

BS, and not the Bio section.

Personally I only associaciate myself with smart people, but that's just me.

I'm sure you do...

Not sure what you guys are saying is funny about this; it's true.

Although, 40+ with hard work still requires above average intelligence, IMO. If you're average, it's just not going to happen. If you're very smart, you won't need to study hard (and that includes studying during undergrad, which someone incorrectly stated that they had to have studied hard at some point).

Luck is most definitely a factor as well, as scores in that range are typically just one question apart. Unfortunately the MCAT is a relatively narrow exam, and each individual exam tests significantly different topics.

I see great disparity between what Perimeter said and what you've just said, though you claim to agree with him... I agree that people that get 40's are almost certainly above average intelligence, and that there are definitely superstar intellectuals that have never had to intensely study to excel, and that luck definitely plays a role in getting a 40+.

 

[SteveJMarist]

This is from your ass, no?

I almost **** myself at work when I read this.

 

[Compass]

I almost **** myself at work when I read this.

The quote, it refers to your post as well! 😀

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Why does it matter whether it is talent or study smarts? Doing well on the test once gets you into medical school. You have to do everything again anyways. It's not like the smart people don't learn either. They have to learn the information somewhere.

 

[NickNaylor]

As someone who got a 40+, I will say that, at least in my case, it's a combination of both.

On one hand, I think my test was pretty fluke-like. I wasn't averaging in the 40s, and my verbal score was much higher than anything I was averaging on practice tests or even really expected to score. I definitely think that the specific test one gets has a huge impact on how one approaches the test mentally (i.e., nervous versus confident), and random knowledge questions on BS and PS can make or break you.

On the other hand, I studied my ass off. I felt comfortable with the material and felt confident going into the test. Without that basic knowledge base, I wouldn't have done nearly as well as I did, despite how "favorable" the test may or may not have been.

Hard work paves the way for good fortune. People that score 35+ with no studying are just freaks. I feel quite confident saying that most people who score 35+ "paid their dues" so to speak and were rewarded for it; fluctuations above that threshold are probably due mostly to "luck" on the test.

 

[Perimeter]

I see great disparity between what Perimeter said and what you've just said, though you claim to agree with him... I agree that people that get 40's are almost certainly above average intelligence, and that there are definitely superstar intellectuals that have never had to intensely study to excel, and that luck definitely plays a role in getting a 40+.

Not really. The guy 'NYR' understands what I said, only he has a different way of defining things.
He says very smart, I say smart. He says above average, I say average. He says average, I say borderline ******ed. Same idea..

 

[gettheleadout]

Not really. The guy 'NYR' understands what I said, only he has a different way of defining things.
He says very smart, I say smart. He says above average, I say average. He says average, I say borderline ******ed. Same idea..

By definition that will never make sense.

You're also equating your description of a person who in your words "isn't very bright" to his description of "above average intelligence." Seriously? 😕

Average isn't "borderline ******ed" either, and you seem to be very arrogant.