AA Applicants...are they truly comparable?

[PerolaNegra]

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Is the MCAT and GRE truly comparable? I hate to ask this but is one seen as more "easier" than the other or are the both equally comparable? Would you relate it to SAT vs ACT?

Has anyone taken both? Which would you recommend? I wanted to take GRE but since Case Western does not take it I might opt for MCAT. I haven't completely decided yet.

Thanks.

 

[bradt9881]

The general GRE I found was easy, testing you only on general math and verbal skills. The MCAT tests you on specific biological and physical science and is much harder. Completely different really, one is more like an aptitude test on par with the SAT, the other is like a cumulative final from hell for two semesters of chemistry, physics and biology, plus English combined....

 

[KNC]

The general GRE I found was easy, testing you only on general math and verbal skills. The MCAT tests you on specific biological and physical science and is much harder. Completely different really, one is more like an aptitude test on par with the SAT, the other is like a cumulative final from hell for two semesters of chemistry, physics and biology, plus English combined....

I concur........

 

[PerolaNegra]

^^Thanks guys.


😡 @ Case Western. I feel obligated to apply there. I do not think I can afford to not apply there since there are so few schools with so many qualified applicants. Why Case insist on being different, I do not know.

 

[RT2MD]

^^Thanks guys.


😡 @ Case Western. I feel obligated to apply there. I do not think I can afford to not apply there since there are so few schools with so many qualified applicants. Why Case insist on being different, I do not know.

The nice thing about the MCAT is that there is a finite list of information (although it may seem more infinite than anything). I recommend getting on http://www.e-mcat.com/ and taking the FREE practice test. This will give you an idea of the MCAT. You can also get on the AAMC site and look through the lists of possible topics.

Good, concise, review materials exist and it really isn't that bad. I think that the MCAT gets a bad rep. It is only a test, almost completely multiple choice. When I took mine I was in and out in just over 3.5 hrs. If I decide on the AA route, I will only be applying to UMKC, so I have to have the MCAT.

I have never taken the GRE, however, so I can't even begin to compare the two.

Best of luck to you in your decisions!

 

[PerolaNegra]

The nice thing about the MCAT is that there is a finite list of information (although it may seem more infinite than anything). I recommend getting on http://www.e-mcat.com/ and taking the FREE practice test. This will give you an idea of the MCAT. You can also get on the AAMC site and look through the lists of possible topics.

Good, concise, review materials exist and it really isn't that bad. I think that the MCAT gets a bad rep. It is only a test, almost completely multiple choice. When I took mine I was in and out in just over 3.5 hrs. If I decide on the AA route, I will only be applying to UMKC, so I have to have the MCAT.

I have never taken the GRE, however, so I can't even begin to compare the two.

Best of luck to you in your decisions!

Thanks for the information! Extremely helpful. I guess I am just scared of the MCAT. Not to say that the GRE is easy (I would not know since I have yet to take it). And thanks for the luck. Good luck in deciding between MD and AA! (I'm bias so I say go for the AA 😉).

I have another question for anyone that can answer. If (and that's a big "if") I take both the GRE and MCAT, am I obligated to send the schools both scores? Or may I send either/or? I would want to send the best scores afterall. Thanks.

 

[RT2MD]

Thanks for the information! Extremely helpful. I guess I am just scared of the MCAT. Not to say that the GRE is easy (I would not know since I have yet to take it). And thanks for the luck. Good luck in deciding between MD and AA! (I'm bias so I say go for the AA 😉).

I have another question for anyone that can answer. If (and that's a big "if") I take both the GRE and MCAT, am I obligated to send the schools both scores? Or may I send either/or? I would want to send the best scores afterall. Thanks.

Please stand by for the most informational post EVER!!!!!
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Not a clue.

 

[PerolaNegra]

Please stand by for the most informational post EVER!!!!!
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Not a clue.

Lol.

 

[Marine1]

I sent in the GRE because it put me in the 98th percentile...the MCAT had me in the 70th percentile...my background is in math and physics, so I maximized the quantitative part of the GRE (literally) and the physical sciences section of the MCAT. Pick a strength and go for it.

 

[PerolaNegra]

I sent in the GRE because it put me in the 98th percentile...the MCAT had me in the 70th percentile...my background is in math and physics, so I maximized the quantitative part of the GRE (literally) and the physical sciences section of the MCAT. Pick a strength and go for it.

Thanks Marine1 for the info' and advice!

 

[njbmd]

Is the MCAT and GRE truly comparable? I hate to ask this but is one seen as more "easier" than the other or are the both equally comparable? Would you relate it to SAT vs ACT?

Has anyone taken both? Which would you recommend? I wanted to take GRE but since Case Western does not take it I might opt for MCAT. I haven't completely decided yet.

Thanks.

I took both and found that they are not comparable in terms of "easier" versus "harder". Both ask you to be able to problem-solve, which is often lost on folks who are used to being tested in their regurgitation of knowledge abilities. Neither of these exams relate to SAT/ACT which are more regurgitation-type tests.

If your education was the traditional U.S. undergraduate, then you will need a bit of prep for both of these exams. If your reading and writing skills are poor (many students have this problem), you need to do a bit of brush-up for both.

Go to your local public library and check out a test prep book for each of these exams. You can get the basic idea of how they test from that experience and make your own decisions.

There are folks who will tell you that the MCAT was the hardest exam that they ever experienced. In my case, I say that the oral General Surgery board exam was my most difficult exam to date and MCAT pales in comparison to USMLE Step I with USMLE Step I paling in comparison to General Surgery Boards.

In short, hard versus easy are relative and subjective. Both of these exams are quite doable if you have prepared properly.

 

[PerolaNegra]

I took both and found that they are not comparable in terms of "easier" versus "harder". Both ask you to be able to problem-solve, which is often lost on folks who are used to being tested in their regurgitation of knowledge abilities. Neither of these exams relate to SAT/ACT which are more regurgitation-type tests.

If your education was the traditional U.S. undergraduate, then you will need a bit of prep for both of these exams. If your reading and writing skills are poor (many students have this problem), you need to do a bit of brush-up for both.

Go to your local public library and check out a test prep book for each of these exams. You can get the basic idea of how they test from that experience and make your own decisions.

There are folks who will tell you that the MCAT was the hardest exam that they ever experienced. In my case, I say that the oral General Surgery board exam was my most difficult exam to date and MCAT pales in comparison to USMLE Step I with USMLE Step I paling in comparison to General Surgery Boards.

In short, hard versus easy are relative and subjective. Both of these exams are quite doable if you have prepared properly.

I agree. Anyways, if I feel capable enough to be an AA surely I can take whatever test needed [provided I prepare properly as you stated]. Thank You for your comments.