7/29/11 MCAT Club!

[sweetness34]

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Members don't see this ad.

Though I might start up a club on this date! Good luck to you all!

 

[MT Headed]

BerkReviewTeach, you have a killer program. The biology department at my school teaches to their own tune, and not to the MCAT. As such, I knew that even with my EK Bio I would still have some gaps, if not in knowledge then in practice problems & passages. Therefore, in addition to my 100% EK review I purchased the TBR series for biology, read every single page, did every single passage, and reviewed every single problem. While I was frustrated, swore at TBR, bombed a lot of your passages, and thought your entire system was a crock of sh|t, in the end I did learn a lot (if only from reading your answer explanations) and the results, well they speak for themselves.

Keep up the good work. I heartily endorse TBR Bio.

 

[paul411]

37Q. AAMC 3-11 average was 38.4, my average on 8-11 was a 37.75. I am slightly disappointed but so so so happy I don't need to retake. Hope everyone else is happy 🙂

Don't be slightly disappointed, be appointed! 😛

Great job! 👍

 

[notbobtrustme]

PS=14
VR=13
BS=15
Total: 42M

I'm going to get drunk now, then I suppose I'd better post my study methods on the MCAT 30+ thread. Except for writing, lol.

Also, I finally created an mdapplicants profile.

wow, that's an amazing score. I don't think I could get that with the answer key in front of me lol

 

[SBAKSHI]

OKay, so I didnt have time to post last night (It was 2 am here when I got the score. I cared more about getting a coffee with fam and sleeping then lol)
So, first time I took was in April 9th, 2011 and had a 25Q, 6V, 11P, 8BS. was very disappointed then, but I asked around and immediately found out that I needed to get a jump of at least 3 points to be eligible for it this cycle. So I started on with the stuff, Examcrackers, Kaplan, life was indulged in the same. IN the practice tests, I never ever scored above 30 in the practice exams. In the verbal, I had never achieved more than 8 in the AAMC practice tests.
It is said that the score is exactly in the average of AAMC, the day before the test, the average came to be 26.82! lol, so still went with it.

 

[mattieenigmatic]

33S

12 ps, 11 vr, 10 bs

I'm disappointed by my bio score because I had consistently been practicing in the 11-12 range. Moreover, I felt pretty good about that section when I finished, so I was pretty surprised. Definitely happy with my PS score and VR is fine even though I had gotten plenty of 12s and 13s on my practices.

But I have a question for some of the more knowledgeable folks about the application process. With those scores what are my chances of getting into a top 10? My cumulative GPA is a 3.74 from a very good undergrad university and my science GPA is 3.86. I have some cool experience and its very unique compared to your typical med school applicant.

Its hard to escape the feeling that without an extra 1 or 2 points on the BS, I'm probably gonna have a tough time with the most selective schools. Thoughts?

 

[S6MD]

Its hard to escape the feeling that without an extra 1 or 2 points on the BS, I'm probably gonna have a tough time with the most selective schools. Thoughts?

I don't think you'll get much sympathy, especially since you have a great score. Scroll through this thread and you'll find ppl who would kill for that score.

As for top 10 schools, yeah your BS doesn't help, but if you're as cool as you say you are, you may have a shot.

 

[mattieenigmatic]

I don't think you'll get much sympathy, especially since you have a great score. Scroll through this thread and you'll find ppl who would kill for that score.

As for top 10 schools, yeah your BS doesn't help, but if you're as cool as you say you are, you may have a shot.

Just to be clear, I don't consider my scores to be bad by any stretch of the imagination. I was just a bit disappointed by BS cause I had been practicing better and felt pretty good about that section when I took the actual test.

But yeah, I'm happy with the scores and I know that even if I'm not getting into HMS or JHU, I should still be a strong candidate at plenty of other quality schools.

 

[MarshallW]

9 PS
12 VR
9 PS

30 K 😱
(27 M in May)

I'm a little bugged out by the K writing score, but I knew I screwed up. I deleted an entire essay with 10 min left and attempted to rewrite it. I knew the crap score was coming.

I am hoping that the 12 VR cancels out the K in writing a bit...

 

[collinsc]

Hello all, Long time lurker... first time poster.. How do you explain a bad MCAT score when you've studied so hard and you know you are smart but you just don't get the number you need. What does someone do with themselves when all they want is to become a doctor and it just doesn't seem to be in their cards to happen. I scored nowhere near my practice exams, did so many questions and passages and felt really good coming out of the exam. I just don't know what happened. I did really bad.

So sorry for the buzzkill, but I just wonder if anyone else has been in the same boat.

I feel exactly like you do. You're not alone. I don't know what to do.. just feel so deflated :/

Oh yes. I'm completely there with you guys. This was my first time taking it. I know that I did it to myself because I really didn't get to study the way I wanted to but it still hurts really bad especially since I'm an MSTP hopeful. Just feels like I wasted my money taking it (which I don't have much of it) and I'm frustrated because I know that I can do way better than that. I was really looking forward to applying this cycle...

After bawling my eyes out and mourning, I just realized that it just wasn't meant to be and this time I should study differently. I just have to keep the faith and not let beat me down. I definitely am looking to knock it out of the park in January though (I hope). Just get yourself around a bunch of supportive people and you'll feel better. At least, I'm not the only one who feels like crap after bombing.

 

[rockafella12]

I hope so man. Sorry to hear that though. So I saw in your earlier post that you didn't have to pay for the applications. I think since you didn't, you should withdraw your MD app as a whole and go DO route. I think if you put some more hard work in, you'll be able to improve your scores. My friend went from a 19 to a 27. If you can do that, I think you'll have a chance at state school and def. DO. But you should save your MD app because if you don't get in, you'll have to rewrite personal statement and secondaries and you shouldn't reuse them for the same schools. They don't really like that. But its all up to you. Go through with DO if you don't have to pay for them, otherwise just maybe pick only a few with the lower MCAT averages and retry next year.

Thanks for the advice. Ugh, the pain...

 

[S6MD]

PS: 12
VR: 12
BS: 11

35Q!

Up from a 26R on 5-20! Now THIS is my potential. Retaking this test was stressful, but one of the best decisions I've made so far. Good luck and congrats to everybody who got the score that they wanted. To those who didn't, look at my situation and take solace. It's certainly possible if you work your ass off.

Woah, don't think I saw this on Tuesday. Nice jump. I was sitting at a 26 from 5/20 as well. 9 point jump? Sick!

 

[vairules]

Thanks man, congrats to you as well. Just goes to show that we were correct in our diagnosis - the 5/20 test was just a fluke, and our practice score range was indeed fairly accurate.

 

[ThereSheGoes]

Thanks man, congrats to you as well. Just goes to show that we were correct in our diagnosis - the 5/20 test was just a fluke, and our practice score range was indeed fairly accurate.

just curious..can you be more specific as to what happend 5/20 and how you feel it differed this time around. terrific jump 🙂 wondering if i will have the same success!

 

[AvarysDad]

9 PS
12 VR
9 PS

30 K 😱
(27 M in May)

I'm a little bugged out by the K writing score, but I knew I screwed up. I deleted an entire essay with 10 min left and attempted to rewrite it. I knew the crap score was coming.

I am hoping that the 12 VR cancels out the K in writing a bit...

This is what I am hoping for 27O in May hoping to jump to a 30. Verbal was my strongest as well. Good job on breaking 30!!! 18 more days to wait for me!!

 

[vandyam]

Late, as usual, but I was getting married.

Last one: 7vb/7ps/8bs (22P)
This one: 10vb/8ps/7bs (25R)

Shame for the drop in bs. Still ~5 points below my average, but at least DO schools might glance at me now. Fingers crossed. I hate that test.

 

[paul411]

Late, as usual, but I was getting married.

Congratulations.

 

[ACA]

long time lurker.... finally joining. I'm so confused. Took the MCAT april 2009 and got 29R (10PS/8VR/11BS).. retook it again 7/29/11 with y'all and got 29Q. SAME DISTRIBUTION. I studied 100x harder than before, and felt so much more ready...😡

I don't know what to do.. I am thinking of retaking again, but I am afraid i might not show improvement.. 29 is not horrible.. but it's not great either.. and to top things off, I am an international student.. I've heard of horror stories about international students and getting admission to allo schools.

I have a pretty impressive EC and I am doing MPH now. What do you guys reckon? Any advice will be appreciated...

 

[kkw002]

Hi everyone,

Congratulations to those of you who did well on the test. I totally failed the PS section (got a 5 T_T) and was wondering if you guys can share how you prepared for that section. I used examkrackers and TBR books and did AAMC practice tests, with avg of 8 in PS (not a good avg but I still did not expect a 5). I pretty much had to guess on that whole section because i simply did not understand what the questions were asking. I felt that the wording of the PS section of this test was so much different from the practice tests I have been doing, but it seems like many of you felt it was very straightforward, so I would like to find out what I can do to prepare for my next test. Thank you so much for all your help!

 

[paul411]

Hi everyone,

Congratulations to those of you who did well on the test. I totally failed the PS section (got a 5 T_T) and was wondering if you guys can share how you prepared for that section. I used examkrackers and TBR books and did AAMC practice tests, with avg of 8 in PS (not a good avg but I still did not expect a 5). I pretty much had to guess on that whole section because i simply did not understand what the questions were asking. I felt that the wording of the PS section of this test was so much different from the practice tests I have been doing, but it seems like many of you felt it was very straightforward, so I would like to find out what I can do to prepare for my next test. Thank you so much for all your help!

An 8 average on practice means that you probably didn't understand the content very well. TBR is supposed to be an excellent resource for physical sciences. I recommend you go through it again and do it slower this time and make sure you understand everything before you proceed.

 

[DrRedhead]

I still haven't gotten mine. Should I start to freak out yet?!

 

[paul411]

I still haven't gotten mine. Should I start to freak out yet?!

Call the AAMC tomorrow and see what's up.

 

[DrRedhead]

Ugh. So, somehow I ended up with two AAMC ID's. Not really sure how since you have to register with your social... but I plan on calling and getting it sorted out tomorrow I guess.

That being said, my score was

V:10/S PS:7 BS:8

Sigh. So, I think I am going to apply to my state school, a couple of others and then DO schools.

 

[bruna88]

Hi everyone,

Congratulations to those of you who did well on the test. I totally failed the PS section (got a 5 T_T) and was wondering if you guys can share how you prepared for that section. I used examkrackers and TBR books and did AAMC practice tests, with avg of 8 in PS (not a good avg but I still did not expect a 5). I pretty much had to guess on that whole section because i simply did not understand what the questions were asking. I felt that the wording of the PS section of this test was so much different from the practice tests I have been doing, but it seems like many of you felt it was very straightforward, so I would like to find out what I can do to prepare for my next test. Thank you so much for all your help!

I've taken the test twice, 7/30/09 and then 7/29/11. I got a 9 in PS my first time after taking a TPR class, reading over the material a few times, and doing some practice tests. This time, I completely changed how I studied. Instead of reading material over and over, I did many, many practice questions--at least several hundred, including as many practice tests as I could get my hands on. I got a 12 in PS this time around. I would suggest practicing as many types of questions you can with as many resources as possible. I have TPR books, but I checked out a couple Kaplan books from the library and did those questions too. Practice passages tend to be more helpful than stand-alone questions, but I recommend doing both just to get a feel for all the types of questions they could ask.

Good luck!

 

[sparkle248]

I'm a strong believer that the more you study for this exam, the higher your score. But I studied hard all summer and only increased by one point overall. Some people (like myself) are just not meant to do insanely great on this test.

 

[Missions740]

Hi everyone! This is my first time posting on the site, but I have been watching and reading the blog for the past two months.

First of all congratulations to all who reached their goals or surpassed them! I know that the MCAT is a LOT of work!

My breakdown went as follows:

Physical science 10
Verbal reasoning 11
Biological Sciences 12
Writing R

This gave me a 33 R which I was ecstatic since was the highest I scored on the practice tests! I know this is not the high thirties, but I was extremely pleased!

I took the most inexpensive way possible. I bought the Princeton Review books, and watched many KHAN ACADEMY videos. If you haven't used his free website before they are a life saver. I haven't made anything less than an A in any class since I discovered them (including organic chemistry 1 and 2 as well as physics 1 and 2).

Anyway I just thought I would share my experiences CONGRATULATIONS to all know that it is over!!!

 

[Missions740]

repost

 

[Missions740]

Long time lurker on the boards, but saw all the great scores posted for our test date and figured I would contribute. Used the 3 month SN2ed method with the Berkley Review and supplemented it with online Khan Academy videos.

PS: 11 VR:11 BS: 12 34R! 😀

Was super excited about this b/c a 34 was the highest score I had gotten on the AMCAS practice tests. To be honest, I would have been stoked for a 28 after feeling like I got raped on the PS, but I'll take the 34 😛

My best friend took it this date as well and also did well, but I will let him decide if he wants to post or not because I know he lurks here too.

Congrats to everyone who hit and exceeded their expectations! This really goes to prove that hard work really does pay off!

Whats up bra! I just poster my stuff!