CASPER last year and this year

[Heyigotnoclue]

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Re-applicant here. Last year I scored in the 4th quartile and this year I scored in the 2nd quartile. Very frustrating since not much changed from last year to this year, except that I acquired a lot more clinical and non-clinical experiences. I am still the same individual. Will the schools that I applied to last year that required the exam be able to see the old score? If there is this much variability in the score from one year to the next, it makes me wonder about its validity.

 

[arian2001]

Hello, this score is evaluated based on participants, maybe we had more well informed participants last year. This year everything is different

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Past scores are not usually included in the data stream from Acuity Insights (though that could have changed). Sorry about the bad luck. Read our SJT experience surveys. While most people with 4Q scores tend to stay there, there is always a risk to drop.

 

[PickaGodnPray]

Re-applicant here. Last year I scored in the 4th quartile and this year I scored in the 2nd quartile. Very frustrating since not much changed from last year to this year, except that I acquired a lot more clinical and non-clinical experiences. I am still the same individual. Will the schools that I applied to last year that required the exam be able to see the old score? If there is this much variability in the score from one year to the next, it makes me wonder about its validity.

Casper, like any other situational judgement exam, is not valid or accurate by any means. There is so much grey area when it comes to ethics of any kind that cannot be captured on a 1-9 scale or in a 5 minute free answer response. Casper alone is just a glorified typing exam while Preview is an invasion of privacy by giving up full control of one's personal computer. The fact they try to say that scores do not typically change much despite myself scoring in every group but the 1-25% over 4 years says it all. I would love to know what data they actually have to prove this exam is anything but another way to take 150$ off premeds.

 

[Heyigotnoclue]

Casper, like any other situational judgement exam, is not valid or accurate by any means. There is so much grey area when it comes to ethics of any kind that cannot be captured on a 1-9 scale or in a 5 minute free answer response. Casper alone is just a glorified typing exam while Preview is an invasion of privacy by giving up full control of one's personal computer. The fact they try to say that scores do not typically change much despite myself scoring in every group but the 1-25% over 4 years says it all. I would love to know what data they actually have to prove this exam is anything but another way to take 150$ off premeds.

I was also disappointed when I learned I would need to take it again as a reapplicant. My question is what possible reason could they have formulated for that one. I've not become a psycho over the past 12 months. I also took the AAMC PReview exam this year. The requirements were crazy. I emptied a closet with no windows and took the exam in there. I question where we have gone as a society with all this. Healthcare is fractured and now getting into healthcare programs is fractured too.

 

[PagingDrDisco]

I took CASPer and PREview for the first time this cycle and I did fairly well. I think that the descriptions for the exams are misleading, saying that they're designed to evaluate you beyond your academic merits. They definitely have specific answers they are looking for and they require studying and prep just like any other exam. You can't just take it and expect to do well because you're a good person.

I studied for CASPer for two weeks and studied for PREview for about a week and did a lot of research prior to taking either. I did horrible on my PREview practice exams and scored really well on the real exam despite the proctor interrupting me via voice mid exam saying he could not see my face because I was leaning in to read the questions. I also ran out of time during my CASPer practice exams multiple times. It's harder than people portay it to be.

I get how frustrating that can be but don't sweat it. I know plenty of people who scored 1st or 2nd quartile on CASPer and got in to plenty of schools. It's great if you do well but I've heard a lot of people say it's kind of just a last resort comparison tool if you end up on a waitlist with someone really similar to you as an applicant, which is very rare. Keep your head up! You did 4th quartile last year that means it's in you! You could always discuss this in a secondary about academic adversity or failing to achieve something you really wanted and pull in that 4th quartile score. Use it to your advantage!