Advisors telling me that studying for the MCAT isn't that important

[PreMedStudent55555]

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Going through SDN, I feel like there's this consensus that you should be dedicating a lot of your time to studying for the MCAT and while I agree with this I want some opinions on some advice I got. I've been talking to my faculty advisors as well as some advisors in my school's premed programs for a while now. Whenever I mention taking the summer from Sophomore to Junior year to study for the MCAT while volunteering my advisors react to it like its a horrible idea and keep telling me my pre-reqs prepare me enough for the MCAT and that I don't need to study for it as much as my courses prepare me already. So, I guess what are your thoughts on that? Do any past MCAT takers feel that their pre-reqs prepared them enough for the MCAT and that they didn't need to study for it? I honestly don't even know how react to the advice I was given. I feel like it sounds really stupid but they came from my advisors so I'm just like 😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵

Also side note: They're on a consensus that getting real world experience and building my EC is more important than the MCAT. While I agree real world experience is important and I constantly make an effort in my free time to participate in meaningful ECs, I don't know how I feel about the MCAT being so insignificant in their eyes. I guess I'm just really shocked at the advice they told me about not studying for the MCAT which seems like a very reasonable thing to me...

 

[Goro]

That sound you hear off in the background is Goro's head exploding. Stupidity does that.

Go get a lawyer and sue your advisors for gross incompetence. They are actually doing their best to keep you out of medical school.

Going through SDN, I feel like there's this consensus that you should be dedicating a lot of your time to studying for the MCAT and while I agree with this I want some opinions on some advice I got. I've been talking to my faculty advisors as well as some advisors in my school's premed programs for a while now and whenever I mention taking the summer from Sophomore to Junior year to study for the MCAT while volunteering. My advisors react to it like its a horrible idea and keep telling me my pre-reqs prepare me enough for the MCAT and that I don't need to study for it as much as my courses prepare me already. So, I guess what are your thoughts on that? Do any past MCAT takers feel that their pre-reqs prepared them enough for the MCAT and that they didn't need to study for it? I honestly don't even know how react to the advice I was given. I feel like it sounds really stupid but they came from my advisors so I'm just like 😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵

 

[Lucca]

Do not listen to your advisor.

MCAT is not something you cut corners for. 3 months to study with a smart schedule is typical for the MCAT. There are a few people out there who could probably show up without much prep and still do really well, but if they're smart they will take the time to prep and learn the test and do even better. It's not just about knowing material, it's also about mastering the exam and that takes practice, practice, practice. Moreover, the MCAT covers a broad range of material (albeit shallowly) and in a sense it is impossible to know what you dont know, if you get what I mean. Studying for the MCAT will highlight those weak areas you might not have thought about.

 

[efle]

Do any past MCAT takers feel that their pre-reqs prepared them enough for the MCAT and that they didn't need to study for it?

Absolutely not the case.

The MCAT score is as valuable as your entire undergraduate academic record for this process. Arguably more important in some cases - between a 3.9 / 30 and a 3.6 / 33, I'd rather have the latter.

 

[Joemm426]

I have begun studying for it a year before taking it -- preparation is necessary.

 

[honey0102]

Going through SDN, I feel like there's this consensus that you should be dedicating a lot of your time to studying for the MCAT and while I agree with this I want some opinions on some advice I got. I've been talking to my faculty advisors as well as some advisors in my school's premed programs for a while now. Whenever I mention taking the summer from Sophomore to Junior year to study for the MCAT while volunteering my advisors react to it like its a horrible idea and keep telling me my pre-reqs prepare me enough for the MCAT and that I don't need to study for it as much as my courses prepare me already. So, I guess what are your thoughts on that? Do any past MCAT takers feel that their pre-reqs prepared them enough for the MCAT and that they didn't need to study for it? I honestly don't even know how react to the advice I was given. I feel like it sounds really stupid but they came from my advisors so I'm just like 😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵

Also side note: They're on a consensus that getting real world experience and building my EC is more important than the MCAT. While I agree real world experience is important and I constantly make an effort in my free time to participate in meaningful ECs, I don't know how I feel about the MCAT being so insignificant in their eyes. I guess I'm just really shocked at the advice they told me about not studying for the MCAT which seems like a very reasonable thing to me...

I took my MCAT at the end of the summer between sophomore and junior year. I had taken the prereqs-but I definitely studied despite that. I put in a lot of time. Anyone else I know that took the MCAT also put in a lot of time.

It is true that paying attention in courses and doing well can help to prepare you for the MCAT. That said, it is a lot of material-and content review (along with passage and test taking practice) really helped me.

 

[efle]

You know I've seen and heard of a lot of bad advising, on SDN and IRL. But this might just take the cake. It boggles the mind that any pre-med adviser with an internet connection could think the MCAT is not that important and doesn't require a bunch of study time.

 

[oznefu]

Yeah...I would definitely never ask for their 'advice' again. My premed advisors in college were the same. I was 'advised' during my freshman year to just give up since i'll never get into medical school. If I listened I would never have gotten in.

Study hard for the MCAT. It took myself a few months of strict studying to prepare for it.


Sent from my iPad using SDN mobile

 

[Lawpy]

You know I've seen and heard of a lot of bad advising, on SDN and IRL. But this might just take the cake. It boggles the mind that any pre-med adviser with an internet connection could think the MCAT is not that important and doesn't require a bunch of study time.

I am actually interested to know how one becomes a prehealth adviser. Could medical students be useful advisers since they have actually undergone the application process? Because I'm pretty sure medical students make better advisers than the incompetent, catastrophic disasters like OP's advisers.

 

[medtech2MD]

I got the same advice. Stupidly, I listened - and took the old exam after only my sophomore year in undergrad. Literally too embarrassing of a number to mention. Second time around I studied for 5 weeks straight at the start of the summer and got a 511.
Study. I cannot stress that enough


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Jalby]

My god.......

From the time you finish one standardized test you should start thinking about how to study for the next one. I believe those tests are more important than GPA and definitely more important than Extracurriculars. Take the summer off, shadow a doctor half a day a week and study for the MCAT the rest of the time.

 

[dinomite00]

So I may have a different opinion here and definitely thought that my pre-reqs prepared me pretty well as far as content goes. I only did a full content review for ~5 days and felt that was enough. But what cannot be understated is the importance of practice. You need to learn how to take the test, what your strengths and weaknesses are, and where you should be devoting your time and efforts. I did practice problem sets/exams for 3 weeks straight, 10 hours a day and that is what really prepared me for the exam. So while they might be right in that your pre-reqs prepare you as far as CONTENT is concerned, practice is the key to success when it comes to the MCAT imo

 

[Sardinia]

Hi by the end of this semester I will have completed classes: Sociology, Genetics, Psychology, Intro Biology, Gen Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry. Having taken AP Physics, will preparing over this upcoming summer prepare me enough for the 2017 summer MCAT even if I haven't take college physics, biochemistry, and physiology? If not, when do you guys suggest I take the MCAT as I am currently a 2nd semester sophomore and will have finished physics, biochemistry, and physiology by the end of junior year.

- Post created February 2017.
Context: He never took the pre-requisites for physics, biochemistry, and physiology. The professors are stressing that he focus on the course material first before he worries about how it will be tested on the MCAT. A perfectly logical response to someone who hasn't taken the core science classes initially. I have no idea how this entire thread presumed the faculty advisors were advocating for the MCAT to be rushed when they gave out no specific time frame on how long a study plan should be pursued.

 

[Jalby]

- Post created February 2017.
Context: He never took the pre-requisites for physics, biochemistry, and physiology. The professors are stressing that he focus on the course material first before he worries about how it will be tested on the MCAT. A perfectly logical response to someone who hasn't taken the core science classes initially. I have no idea how this entire thread presumed the faculty advisors were advocating for the MCAT to be rushed when they gave out no specific time frame on how long a study plan should be pursued.

Because any reasonable person would have taken those courses before even considering taking the MCAT, so we all assumed the OP was reasonable.

Good catch Sardinia

 

[studentdocftw]

I learned the hard way, and even though I made it to medical school, every interview I went to they asked about my older mcat and what I did differently (increase in 25%). All I did was study enough for the 2nd one, and they could see through my BS excuses. There's no doubt it played a role in my lack of choice for school. Take the mcat seriously and take it once. Safe to say, there's no way in hell I'm making that mistake again.

Edit: Going to leave this here for those who want to rush the MCAT in general. Even if you've taken all of the prerequisite courses, if your practice scores aren't near your target goal, don't take it.

 

[Mad Jack]

Your advisors never made it to medical school. Your coursework is a good foundation for the MCAT, but are not sufficient to qualify as preparation.

 

[Kgizzle]

I would advise you not to listen to your advisors. Also, this story seems fishy.

 

[enchantediris]

- Post created February 2017.
Context: He never took the pre-requisites for physics, biochemistry, and physiology. The professors are stressing that he focus on the course material first before he worries about how it will be tested on the MCAT. A perfectly logical response to someone who hasn't taken the core science classes initially. I have no idea how this entire thread presumed the faculty advisors were advocating for the MCAT to be rushed when they gave out no specific time frame on how long a study plan should be pursued.

To be fair, he said that he took AP Physics, which is solid reason for not taking college physics. You don't necessarily need to take physiology to do well on the MCAT, either (I definitely didn't). Biochemistry, though, should definitely be taken before the MCAT.

 

[reticence]

Absolutely not the case.

The MCAT score is as valuable as your entire undergraduate academic record for this process. Arguably more important in some cases - between a 3.9 / 30 and a 3.6 / 33, I'd rather have the latter.

That's interesting - can you tell what situations a 3.6/33 might be preferable to a 3.9/30? Is it just means/medians school to school or is it the better balance?

 

[Frogger27]

Pre reqs will give you a base that is required before you start studying.. they by no means prepare you for the actual test.. you have to learn HOW the MCAT applies the knowledge/asks questions in order to do well

 

[efle]

That's interesting - can you tell what situations a 3.6/33 might be preferable to a 3.9/30? Is it just means/medians school to school or is it the better balance?

The rarity of a 33 v 30 (~514 v 508) is much higher than a 3.9 v 3.6, and the MCAT is sort of the more "legit" number (unless the person is coming from a very well known/feeder undergrad). By that I mean that many GPAs appear inflated - among the 3.8-4.0 crowd, for example, over 60% of applicants carry below a 510.

 

[reticence]

The rarity of a 33 v 30 (~514 v 508) is much higher than a 3.9 v 3.6, and the MCAT is sort of the more "legit" number (unless the person is coming from a very well known/feeder undergrad). By that I mean that many GPAs appear inflated - among the 3.8-4.0 crowd, for example, over 60% of applicants carry below a 510.

Wow, that's really surprising to hear about all those high GPAs not scoring *that* well on the MCAT. I'd heard of a lower than expected MCAT casting doubt on high-end GPAs but I didn't realize there was that kind of data to back it up.

That's kind of reassuring - I happen in be in that 3.6/33 range and every so often I wonder about how much better the GPA could've been. I honestly thought the separation at those levels of GPA was much bigger than the MCAT points to begin with.

 

[aprilfools]

The rarity of a 33 v 30 (~514 v 508) is much higher than a 3.9 v 3.6, and the MCAT is sort of the more "legit" number (unless the person is coming from a very well known/feeder undergrad). By that I mean that many GPAs appear inflated - among the 3.8-4.0 crowd, for example, over 60% of applicants carry below a 510.

N=1 here but I'm personally sitting at a 3.63/519 and I would have CERTAINLY preferred a 3.83/515 based on how my application cycle is progressing. I realize this may be a bit more polarized than the example you're giving of a 3.6/3.9 and a 514/508, but just my $0.02.

 

[TheRealJohnDorian]

Just playing the devil's advocate here...I kind of see what your advisors are saying in that your pre-reqs should give you the foundation to take the MCAT. Ultimately if you took the courses and understood the material you should understand the basic concepts presented in the MCAT without having to re-teach yourself every concept that could be on the test. That being said, just taking the pre-reqs with no other preparation is not sufficient to get a good MCAT score. When you study for the MCAT, you should be reviewing material, maybe re-learning some concepts you didn't understand in class, and most importantly (imho) learning HOW to take the test. The MCAT is a standardized test just like any learning test taking strategies and the format of the MCAT is almost, if not just, as important as knowing the content. I spent six weeks studying for the MCAT (take that timeline with a grain of salt because I took the old exam) but my point is I spent maybe two weeks reviewing content and a month taking practice exams (in sections, not all at once), becoming comfortable with the format of the exam, and learning test-taking strategies.

Bottom line, take what your advisor says with a grain of salt. I'm sure most of them mean well, but if I followed the "advice" my advisor gave me I would never have applied to medical school.

 

[Lawpy]

N=1 here but I'm personally sitting at a 3.63/519 and I would have CERTAINLY preferred a 3.83/515 based on how my application cycle is progressing. I realize this may be a bit more polarized than the example you're giving of a 3.6/3.9 and a 514/508, but just my $0.02.

Yeah unfortunately lower GPA/higher MCAT applicants are in a special disadvantage since some schools shy away in interviewing applicants with MCATs above their 90th percentiles due to past trends of such applicants ditching them for better schools. And these applicants are at a disadvantage at schools with high MCAT medians because their GPAs are on the low side and these schools can afford to be selective on who they can interview.

 

[efle]

N=1 here but I'm personally sitting at a 3.63/519 and I would have CERTAINLY preferred a 3.83/515 based on how my application cycle is progressing. I realize this may be a bit more polarized than the example you're giving of a 3.6/3.9 and a 514/508, but just my $0.02.

I'd have a hard time believing it would have gone significantly better with a 3.83/515, though. That is, the fact that it's been rough luck with a 3.63/519 is very, very unlikely to be due to your numbers.

 

[aprilfools]

Yeah unfortunately lower GPA/higher MCAT applicants are in a special disadvantage since some schools shy away in interviewing applicants with MCATs above their 90th percentiles due to past trends of such applicants ditching them for better schools. And these applicants are at a disadvantage at schools with high MCAT medians because their GPAs are on the low side and these schools can afford to be selective on who they can interview.

I'm honestly 100% convinced that this is what has happened to me this cycle. I'm not saying there is nothing on my app that can be improved, but by all accounts I should be fairly above-average in competitiveness. The reason I don't have an acceptance yet (4 II's-->3 WLs/1 that I haven't heard back from) is certainly because of my top-heavy school-list, but I think the reason I only got 4 II's to begin with is due to exactly what you described. No bites at all from top schools but an high amount of outright rejections from a smattering of lower/mid tier and/or "low-yield" schools.

I'd have a hard time believing it would have gone significantly better with a 3.83/515, though. That is, the fact that it's been rough luck with a 3.63/519 is very, very unlikely to be due to your numbers.

I am confident I would have had bites at at least one of the "top-tier" schools I applied to if I had had a 3.83/515 as opposed to a 3.63/519. I may still be in the same boat of not having an acceptance yet, but I really do think I would have gotten more interviews.

 

[honey0102]

Maybe I need to start the 10 biggest mistakes a premed advisor makes.

Once, a pre-med advisor told me that a 4.0 is necessary to get into medical school and that a B+ in one class was a serious concern. It was quite literally the only non-A grade on my transcript. Lol, if you start that list of 10 biggest mistakes a premed advisor makes, I think this might be one of those!
With all honesty, grades are important, undoubtedly, but I don't think someone is ruled out just for a single non-A grade

 

[mwsapphire]

You know I've seen and heard of a lot of bad advising, on SDN and IRL. But this might just take the cake. It boggles the mind that any pre-med adviser with an internet connection could think the MCAT is not that important and doesn't require a bunch of study time.

Some people have this attitude for the SAT, but that' understandable ( in my opinion, I realize some people think that's not true). But the MCAT is literally as important as your entire undergrad career.
To the OP: You're plan sounds awesome, I actually plan on doing the same thing.

 

[mwsapphire]

I got the same advice. Stupidly, I listened - and took the old exam after only my sophomore year in undergrad. Literally too embarrassing of a number to mention. Second time around I studied for 5 weeks straight at the start of the summer and got a 511.
Study. I cannot stress that enough


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

But the scores will be averaged D: I would have studied longer than three weeks for the second score, to make sure its astronomically high.
I wish you the best of luck ( status says pre medical).

 

[mwsapphire]

To be fair, he said that he took AP Physics, which is solid reason for not taking college physics. You don't necessarily need to take physiology to do well on the MCAT, either (I definitely didn't). Biochemistry, though, should definitely be taken before the MCAT.

But many Bio students don't actually take physiology,and learn it purely through self-study.
God, this advisor is a *****.

 

[mwsapphire]

Maybe I need to start the 10 biggest mistakes a premed advisor makes.

PLEASE DO THAT.

 

[efle]

Some people have this attitude for the SAT, but that' understandable ( in my opinion, I realize some people think that's not true). But the MCAT is literally as important as your entire undergrad career.
To the OP: You're plan sounds awesome, I actually plan on doing the same thing.

The two are not comparable in this sense. The SAT is designed so a brilliant student with little or no prep can score top percent or two, it does not require years of background in half a dozen topics

 

[PreMedStudent55555]

Because any reasonable person would have taken those courses before even considering taking the MCAT, so we all assumed the OP was reasonable.

Good catch Sardinia

I never said I was going to take the MCAT after my Sophomore Year and rush it. But I guess this is something I need to get some insight on. My plan was to study this summer for the MCAT just to familiarize myself and review the subjects I've already known and then lightly review over Junior Year and then study during the summer more intensely from Junior to Senior Year and take the MCAT on the August of Junior Year. Afterwards submit my AMCAS as early as possible the summer I graduate from my undergrad. Does this plan sound unreasonable?

- Post created February 2017.
Context: He never took the pre-requisites for physics, biochemistry, and physiology. The professors are stressing that he focus on the course material first before he worries about how it will be tested on the MCAT. A perfectly logical response to someone who hasn't taken the core science classes initially. I have no idea how this entire thread presumed the faculty advisors were advocating for the MCAT to be rushed when they gave out no specific time frame on how long a study plan should be pursued.

In regards to timeline, they suggest I prepare for the MCAT the summer of my senior year and take the MCAT August of that month and then submit my AMCAS that summer which I also found weird because I thought the time of submitting your AMCAS was a pretty decent factor into getting interviews. They responded with that it's not that big of a deal if you submit late August...

 

[honey0102]

I never said I was going to take the MCAT after my Sophomore Year and rush it. But I guess this is something I need to get some insight on. My plan was to study this summer for the MCAT just to familiarize myself and review the subjects I've already known and then lightly review over Junior Year and then study during the summer more intensely from Junior to Senior Year and take the MCAT on the August of Junior Year. Afterwards submit my AMCAS as early as possible the summer I graduate from my undergrad. Does this plan sound unreasonable?



In regards to timeline, they suggest I prepare for the MCAT the summer of my senior year and take the MCAT August of that month and then submit my AMCAS that summer which I also found weird because I thought the time of submitting your AMCAS was a pretty decent factor into getting interviews. They responded with that it's not that big of a deal if you submit late August...

Adcoms please correct me if I'm wrong but, I think it's honestly best to submit your AMCAS in June. So take your MCAT in May, submit AMCAS in June

 

[PreMedStudent55555]

Adcoms please correct me if I'm wrong but, I think it's honestly best to submit your AMCAS in June. So take your MCAT in May, submit AMCAS in June

Yeah, that is pretty much my plan but I'd be taking my MCAT approximately a year before I apply as I'd take the MCAT august of my Junior Year and submit my AMCAS May of Senior Year.

 

[PreMedStudent55555]

My faculty advisor and my premed advisors. They're on consensus on a lot of things which I began to question hence why I wanted some outside insight and made this thread. My school has multiple advisors so that why I use "they"

 

[mw18]

Okay if they were saying not to spend your entire summer between sophomore and junior year studying when you plan to take the MCAT the NEXT summer (between junior and senior) then there's some merit to that. Knowing the stuff cold helps, but there is always some (see also: a huge) aspect of cramming involved with the 4-6 weeks before your test. I agree with them that the summer before the sunmer you take your exam could be better spent. Not saying you shouldn't/couldn't review, just saying it isn't actually necessary and your time may be better spent relaxing or building your app. Some may disagree.

Now, it is absolutely the most important thing you can do to take a block of weeks (4-6 should do, some prefer longer) and study as hard as you can for the actual test. I was a strong undergrad student, but didn't retain all that much and had never seen the MCAT style question before and I went up 13 points (out of 45) from Kaplan diagnostic at the beginning to the real thing. Prereqs don't prepare you for the actual test.

 

[efle]

I'm honestly 100% convinced that this is what has happened to me this cycle. I'm not saying there is nothing on my app that can be improved, but by all accounts I should be fairly above-average in competitiveness. The reason I don't have an acceptance yet (4 II's-->3 WLs/1 that I haven't heard back from) is certainly because of my top-heavy school-list, but I think the reason I only got 4 II's to begin with is due to exactly what you described. No bites at all from top schools but an high amount of outright rejections from a smattering of lower/mid tier and/or "low-yield" schools.



I am confident I would have had bites at at least one of the "top-tier" schools I applied to if I had had a 3.83/515 as opposed to a 3.63/519. I may still be in the same boat of not having an acceptance yet, but I really do think I would have gotten more interviews.

I cannot think of a single top program that cares more about a 3.8 than a 37

Have you posted your school list and where you interviewed anywhere? This sounds like a very odd cycle

 

[aprilfools]

I cannot think of a single top program that cares more about a 3.8 than a 37

Have you posted your school list and where you interviewed anywhere? This sounds like a very odd cycle

At some point awhile back but I can't actually find the thread now which makes me think it may have gotten deleted. Regardless I'll PM you if you'd be interested in checking out whats up with my cycle.

 

[Joemm426]

I am actually interested to know how one becomes a prehealth adviser. Could medical students be useful advisers since they have actually undergone the application process? Because I'm pretty sure medical students make better advisers than the incompetent, catastrophic disasters like OP's advisers.

You probably get promoted after working another administrative job, or perhaps you have a degree in education or counseling...

 

[prehealthadvisor55]

Your advisors never made it to medical school. Your coursework is a good foundation for the MCAT, but are not sufficient to qualify as preparation.

Most pre-meds haven't either....

 

[Mad Jack]

Most pre-meds haven't either....

Many people on this board have, myself included among them. And many of those who haven't have at least taken the MCAT. These advisors have generally done neither, and are often wholly unqualified, leading to very poor suggestions.

 

[prehealthadvisor55]

Ok...I have to jump in here. I'll be the first to agree that a lot of people put into a "pre-health advisor" role don't really know what they're doing. It's typically up to the advisor to seek out information on all 9-10 of the health profession processes. So keep that in mind. I came to SDN to expand my knowledge base to best serve my students. I've taken plenty of crap from others on here but it's fine. I know I'm doing my job. Have I personally gone through the process of applying? Technically no. But have I worked others through it hundreds of times to see what's successful and what's not? Yes. Have I talked to deans and admissions reps from the schools that most of my students apply to? Yes. Have I gone to conferences and sough out information to best serve my students? Every single day. I want to make sure I'm giving my students the best advice. And to be perfectly honest I don't know how a sophomore who hasn't gone through the process can say they can do a better job, but I digress. Also that's not directed at any one person in particular...just something I see repeatedly on SDN.

All that said, pre-health advisors are usually working about 3 different jobs in one. Regular advising, pre-health advising, committees, etc. Not all seek out pre-health advising either. Some get it attached to their job, which drives me crazy too. As someone who has found this field very rewarding, it is frustrating to see others who don't care. So I get that.

I am actually interested to know how one becomes a prehealth adviser. Could medical students be useful advisers since they have actually undergone the application process? Because I'm pretty sure medical students make better advisers than the incompetent, catastrophic disasters like OP's advisers.

On that note, med students don't have time to be pre-med advisors. It takes a lot of time and effort, even when done poorly. There's no way a med student could keep up with it.

All this is to say, yes, some advisors are awful. And that sucks. But you can help them by providing them with information too. That's all I'm saying.

 

[Dr. Stalker]

Going through SDN, I feel like there's this consensus that you should be dedicating a lot of your time to studying for the MCAT and while I agree with this I want some opinions on some advice I got. I've been talking to my faculty advisors as well as some advisors in my school's premed programs for a while now. Whenever I mention taking the summer from Sophomore to Junior year to study for the MCAT while volunteering my advisors react to it like its a horrible idea and keep telling me my pre-reqs prepare me enough for the MCAT and that I don't need to study for it as much as my courses prepare me already. So, I guess what are your thoughts on that? Do any past MCAT takers feel that their pre-reqs prepared them enough for the MCAT and that they didn't need to study for it? I honestly don't even know how react to the advice I was given. I feel like it sounds really stupid but they came from my advisors so I'm just like 😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵

Also side note: They're on a consensus that getting real world experience and building my EC is more important than the MCAT. While I agree real world experience is important and I constantly make an effort in my free time to participate in meaningful ECs, I don't know how I feel about the MCAT being so insignificant in their eyes. I guess I'm just really shocked at the advice they told me about not studying for the MCAT which seems like a very reasonable thing to me...

FACT: Advisers have never been admitted to medical school, nor have they applied. Most advisers know next to nothing. In fact, my undergraduate has a medical school, yet our pre-med office only hosts Caribbean MDs to give pre-med students talks/guidance because, according to MY advisers all MD, do, foreign are the same top-tier-education.

As an unsuccessful applicant with killer ECs, I can attest to the importance of the MCAT. My gpa was extremely competitive, my LoR were flawless, and my interviewing skills were above average. Yet that didn't land me an acceptance. Post-interview and ultimately rejection, the schools that did interview me told me my MCAT held me back.

Look.
EVERY SINGLE PREMED DOES....
1. Research
2. Volunteering
3. Shadowing
4. Clubs
5. TA

Shocker. Every single pre-med does all of those. But, did you know not every single pre-med has a competitive MCAT score. Every SINGLE point on your MCAT puts you ahead of 100s of other applicants to a school of medicine. Its really easy and fun to "do stuff." Nobody likes the idea of being cooped up in a library studying for 500 hours for some stupid test. You'd rather be an EMT or on the floors as a medical assistant, I know, been there, done that. Medical schools MUST admit students based on their prehealth experiences and activites, but also, more importantly, on his/her grades. Can you seriously admit a future doctor who got the 30th percentile MCAT coupled with a 3.1 gpa, but did 4k volunteer hours? As passionate as he/she is, that ain't gonna cut it for med school!

Tl;dr; your adviser is wrong, go study for your mcat.

 

[aprilfools]

Loling at the juxtaposition of the last two posts

 

[prehealthadvisor55]

I know I'm helpful for my students. I also know how much different it is to be working with 1000 students versus only focusing on your own application. We have a lot of valuable information to share and we get much closer to adcoms than you do in your process.

I'm sorry some of you have had bad experiences. But 1. not everyone wants to be a doctor, and that's ok. The way many on here look down on anybody who doesn't have a calling for that is astounding and appalling. And 2. not all advisors are the same. We come from varied backgrounds and experiences, so to write off advisors as a group is disappointing. That's all I'm saying.

 

[mwsapphire]

The two are not comparable in this sense. The SAT is designed so a brilliant student with little or no prep can score top percent or two, it does not require years of background in half a dozen topics

That's what I meant. But, SAT vocab and test-timing should still be practiced.
I literally didn't finish one of the English sections on the SAT, but I knew plenty of smart 4.5+ plus people who got mediocore SAT scores, and plenty of not-super smart people who studied super hard for it and scores 2100+.
But the MCAT, even a genius can get below a 500 if they don't take it seriously.

 

[cactusman]

That's what I meant. But, SAT vocab and test-timing should still be practiced.
I literally didn't finish one of the English sections on the SAT, but I knew plenty of smart 4.5+ plus people who got mediocore SAT scores, and plenty of not-super smart people who studied super hard for it and scores 2100+.
But the MCAT, even a genius can get below a 500 if they don't take it seriously.

It sounds like you're equating high school GPA with test-taking intelligence. I did very well on the ACT with minimal prep even though I was outside my school's top 10%, and it's possible that many of your "not-super smart people" were similar.

I'm also not sure about below a 500 for a "genius." For a fast reader with good reading comprehension, isn't most of the required content covered in the passages?

 

[Lawpy]

On that note, med students don't have time to be pre-med advisors. It takes a lot of time and effort, even when done poorly. There's no way a med student could keep up with it.

All this is to say, yes, some advisors are awful. And that sucks. But you can help them by providing them with information too. That's all I'm saying.

The fact remains that medical students are more informed on admissions than prehealth advisers in general. There are certainly prehealth advisers who are physicians and former adcom members. There are also prehealth advisers and committees who are intimately connected with adcoms at several schools and thus are valuable resources. Unfortunately, these prehealth advisers seem to be in the minority, and this could be attributed to lack of university resources.

Whatever the reasons, nothing justifies having horrible and incompetent prehealth advisers. I would rather have no prehealth adviser at all and do my own research (like visiting SDN) than have an ignorant and malicious one.