Avoiding 2015 MCAT...

[Bazinga786]

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Hey everyone!
I'm currently finishing up my first semester at college. If I want to take the MCAT the summer after my sophomore year I would HAVE to take this new, mysterious test. However, I'm thinking about teaching myself (or taking a course on) OChem and physics over the summer or something, so I could take the MCAT on January 2015 or earlier. What do you guys think, or is there anyone else here thinking about doing the same thing?


P.S. If I plan to take the new MCAT, I would have to cram psych, sociology, and biochem (along with Ochem and Physics) my last semester of sophomore year to take the MCAT on August. Which would... Suck.

Edit: Also I heard the new MCAT is a few hours longer, which is another reason I want to avoid it.

 

[slopes23]

I haven't looked into it so don't quote me but isn't the 2015 MCAT being administered starting January 2015?

 

[yoyohomieg5432]

why not take MCAT towards the end of junior year?

not a good idea to rush the MCAT just to avoid the 2015 if you go in not as preparedas you should and do bad on the test

 

[Remy LeBeau]

I think taking the test with only self instruction in physics and organic is a bad idea. Your best bet is to take your time preparing and take the new test.

 

[DokterMom]

The downside risk of taking the 'known' test under-prepared (as you will be if you don't have the underlying coursework) is greater than that of taking the 'unknown' test adequately prepared. The new MCAT will be every bit as 'unknown' to the other test takers as it is to you, so relatively speaking, you won't be at a disadvantage. I understand each test administration is independently normed -- please correct me if I'm wrong on that.

 

[nemo123]

The downside risk of taking the 'known' test under-prepared (as you will be if you don't have the underlying coursework) is greater than that of taking the 'unknown' test adequately prepared. The new MCAT will be every bit as 'unknown' to the other test takers as it is to you, so relatively speaking, you won't be at a disadvantage. I understand each test administration is independently normed -- please correct me if I'm wrong on that.

I thought each exam is compared to exams done previously and normalizing scores to how people did on previous exams.

 

[gyngyn]

I thought each exam is compared to exams done previously and normalizing scores to how people did on previous exams.

The items are tested for their ability to differentiate stronger from weaker students. This is done by using historical data.

 

[Nena01]

Hey everyone!
I'm currently finishing up my first semester at college. If I want to take the MCAT the summer after my sophomore year I would HAVE to take this new, mysterious test. However, I'm thinking about teaching myself (or taking a course on) OChem and physics over the summer or something, so I could take the MCAT on January 2015 or earlier. What do you guys think, or is there anyone else here thinking about doing the same thing?


P.S. If I plan to take the new MCAT, I would have to cram psych, sociology, and biochem (along with Ochem and Physics) my last semester of sophomore year to take the MCAT on August. Which would... Suck.

Edit: Also I heard the new MCAT is a few hours longer, which is another reason I want to avoid it.

I'll second what someone else asked, why do you have to take it summer after sophomore year? There's nothing wrong with taking it Feb or April of Junior year and still applying that summer.

Honestly, what you are thinking is a terrible idea. Maybe teaching yourself organic could somehow work (since there isn't much of it). However, physicis is a significant part of the physical sciences section and you must have a thorough understanding of those concepts. Not only that, but you have to be able to solve problems fast. It would be really hard, maybe impossible, to teach yourself two semesters worth of physics while still taking other courses.

Don't try to rush through this process. Plan your last semester of sophomore and first semester of junior year to include those sociology and psych courses you will need. Take physics and biochem courses, and THEN take the MCAT.

The 2015 MCAT is not going to kill you, everyone will be in the same shoes and medical schools will take into account that you're taking a new test. You're better off doing that, than trying to take the current MCAT and underperform.

 

[487806]

Hey everyone!
I'm currently finishing up my first semester at college. If I want to take the MCAT the summer after my sophomore year I would HAVE to take this new, mysterious test. However, I'm thinking about teaching myself (or taking a course on) OChem and physics over the summer or something, so I could take the MCAT on January 2015 or earlier. What do you guys think, or is there anyone else here thinking about doing the same thing?


P.S. If I plan to take the new MCAT, I would have to cram psych, sociology, and biochem (along with Ochem and Physics) my last semester of sophomore year to take the MCAT on August. Which would... Suck.

Edit: Also I heard the new MCAT is a few hours longer, which is another reason I want to avoid it.

I understand. The new MCAT sucks in all ways but I don't think you can pull of that stunt successfully, unless you:

1. Had substantial AP placement and know your gen chem/physics/bio requirements cold.
2. Taken organic chemistry and did well in your freshman year.

Based on this post, it seems that you didn't satisfy the above two criteria, so it's really risky to cram prereqs in the last minute AND do well on the MCAT. Don't risk it. Take the new MCAT and prepare for it accordingly. The best way to prepare is to know the concepts in all your prereqs (including psych/soc/biochem) cold so you can focus on the applied aspect of it. Think of it this way, you're one of the first group of people to tackle the new MCAT, so you won't be scaled against.

 

[Life Sucks]

Take a new test with an unknown benchmark, or an old one? To me, the new one may give you a cushion with more subjects to cushion a bad section. Haaa, nah!

 

[Jabawocky]

Take a new test with an unknown benchmark, or an old one? To me, the new one may give you a cushion with more subjects to cushion a bad section. Haaa, nah!

This may be a good idea. Admissions committees may give the first year of applicants some cushion on what kind of MCATs they take since its the first time its been implemented. Thats just a thought though.

 

[Bazinga786]

Thanks for the replies! I'm doing fairly well in bio and chem so far, but for ochem and physics... I don't have college-level background of those. The reason I want to take the MCAT right after sophomore year is because the classes will be fresh in my mind, and I'll have the summer to prepare for it. Taking it the end of junior year seems so late to me. I'm just the kind of person that likes to get testing like this over with, haha. And I wouldn't be worrying about doing work for other classes while studying in the summer as well. But thanks for your advice! I might just take the new MCAT since everyone will be in the same boat. The longer test makes me a little bit anxious though.

 

[Nena01]

Thanks for the replies! I'm doing fairly well in bio and chem so far, but for ochem and physics... I don't have college-level background of those. The reason I want to take the MCAT right after sophomore year is because the classes will be fresh in my mind, and I'll have the summer to prepare for it. Taking it the end of junior year seems so late to me. I'm just the kind of person that likes to get testing like this over with, haha. And I wouldn't be worrying about doing work for other classes while studying in the summer as well. But thanks for your advice! I might just take the new MCAT since everyone will be in the same boat. The longer test makes me a little bit anxious though.

With good prep you should be able to master the info for the new MCAT, and you'll feel much more confident during the test knowing you took the required courses.

Trust me, your level of anxiety would be way higher trying to take the current MCAT without having taken the prereqs. It's hard enough scoring well on this exam even after taking the classes and reviewing for weeks..

 

[Life Sucks]

With good prep you should be able to master the info for the new MCAT, and you'll feel much more confident during the test knowing you took the required courses.

Trust me, your level of anxiety would be way higher trying to take the current MCAT without having taken the prereqs. It's hard enough scoring well on this exam even after taking the classes and reviewing for weeks..

Not only that, psychology and sociology aren't that bad. Now I heard that...biochemistry will be on it? Now I can't wait to take that course. Our professor supposedly teaches it at a Ph.D level.