Did a lot better than you were expecting...

[letaps]

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Hey,

I just wanted to hear from those of you who did a lot better on the real exam than you were doing on the practice exam. If you could post your practice scores and your real score that would be helpful.

Thanks

 

[mike911]

Hey, my practice scores ranged from 22-30. On the real thing i got a 33. Just stay confident and dont freak out. The added stress of teh real thing helps with the focus. Usually i didin't care on the practice tests b/c i knew they were just that, practice. The real thing is different. Go in there with a good attitude and you will kill it.

 

[ksmi117]

I agree with mike. The real test put me in a different mindset. I didn't care much before because it was only practice. And I felt the format was different, especially with the sciences. It was more about whether you can deduce things from the passage, not whether you've memorized them.

My practice tests ranged from 33-37. And I got a 40.

 

[Tutmos]

There are really two types of responses to high pressure tests like this, some people focus and excel under the added weight while many others flounder and crack up. If you're the type that handles pressure well and doesn't fall apart under real circumstances then odds are you'll do as well as your practice or better. On the other hand a substantial pool of people can't handle it and flake under the pressure of the real thing and probably score well below their practice scores. Since this is a scaled test you may get a bump by being one of those that can hack it. I suppose on a miniscule scale AAMC may encourage people to feel pressure to weed out those that can't handle it. The last thing you want is a weak-kneed practitioner that falls apart when he or she is needed most in an emergency.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

with respect, what the real reason you're asking this question?

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

with respect, what the real reason you're asking this question?

Isn't it obvious? He is doing bad on the practice tests and hoping it will just magically increase on the real deal. Posts like this wont help him one bit.

 

[SuperSaiyan3]

Isn't it obvious? He is doing bad on the practice tests and hoping it will just magically increase on the real deal. Posts like this wont help him one bit.

it's a tough world out there Alice.

 

[277190]

Isn't it obvious? He is doing bad on the practice tests and hoping it will just magically increase on the real deal. Posts like this wont help him one bit.

I really want to believe you all when you talk about your scores, but I just can not. To original poster: take everything on the forums with a grain of salt.

 

[277190]

In fact, it is hard to believe anyone who talks about getting 38s-40s on this forum. Why are they still on this MCAT forum? I still need to get that high 30, but once I get it, Im done with the forums.

 

[SuperSaiyan3]

what kind of salt? NH4NO3? KBr? I prefer the classic NaCl table salt.

 

[277190]

NaI only

 

[OPPforlife]

I think at least 80% of the posters on this forum are not lying about their scores. maybe even 90%. This is what you have to realize, only the biggest of the biggest nerds get on SDN to talk about extremely nerdy things like MCAT. I am pretty sure nerds do better on the MCAT than non-nerds. Therefore, it is quite possible that these scores are completely real. However, if you feel jealous that some of these scores are SO much better than yours think about the fact that SDN posters represent like maybe 10-15% of the pre-med population out there. From my past experience there are 3 categories of pre meds.

1) The ones who won't make it. they constitute about 50% of all pre-meds out there. The reason why they wont make it is either because they don't have qualifying grades or are lacking the motivation to become a doctor or both.
2)The ones that may make it, but if they don't, won't be too bothered. These guys are fully capable of doing extremely well on the MCAT and usually have competitive GPA's but are not exactly sure if they REALLY want to be doctors. They constitute about 35% of all pre-meds
3) The ones that WILL make it. These guys knew since college started at least that they want to be doctors. They are smart, have amazing GPAs, and Great MCAT scores. They are about 15% of all pre-meds out there and represent the bulk of SDN posters.


Obvioulsy, all of this is just based on personal observations and not actual experimental data.

 

[Simplify]

Claiming that most people on SDN inflate their scores smacks of jealousy and not much else.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

In fact, it is hard to believe anyone who talks about getting 38s-40s on this forum. Why are they still on this MCAT forum? I still need to get that high 30, but once I get it, Im done with the forums.

good to know you're here just to leech of the info without giving anything back then. you're a true asset.

 

[siliso]

I did better on the real thing than I did on practice exams (4-5 points).
I believe the main reason was that I was taking organic chemistry concurrently with preparing for the exam. By the time of the actual exam I had more concepts to work with. Also it did seem to me that the real thing was mainly critical reading/applying passage information rather than fact recall/calculations, which played to my strengths.

 

[Compass]

My grade increased 4 points with no physical explanation.

 

[277190]

Claiming that most people on SDN inflate their scores smacks of jealousy and not much else.

Jealousy, you serious? Seriously, none of you guys on this forum are nerds, period. I really do want to believe all the claims of high scores, but psychology studies have revealed that people lie to varying degrees to boost their self-esteem and ego. So I am going to trust that over your aforementioned analysis. 😎
So when most people, and I am not saying all people, talk about their scores, I minus 3-4 points, but really, should it matter what I think?

 

[OPPforlife]

Seriously, none of you guys on this forum are nerds, period.

I wish this was true!!! I really do some times!!

 

[277190]

good to know you're here just to leech of the info without giving anything back then. you're a true asset.

The Official Guide to the MCAT is golden. Make notes on every single thing. The test will come entirely from that list. Review your notes like crazy. After you made GOOD notes, stop going back to the book. You should be able to recall everything from your notes. 🙄

 

[277190]

I wish this was true!!! I really do some times!!

real nerds probably have more AAMC exams that are not released simply due to the fact that they know how to get them. I would not be shocked.

The fact is is that if the AAMC released recent practice exams, everyone would be doing much better on this exam. The AAMC exams we are given are outdated, and easy. I mean I am not that smart, and I got a 41 on AAMC 6. It was complete bs. 6 was very easy. The real test was not like that at all. I am hoping for a 30.👍👍

 

[LostInStudy]

Jealousy, you serious? Seriously, none of you guys on this forum are nerds, period. I really do want to believe all the claims of high scores, but psychology studies have revealed that people lie to varying degrees to boost their self-esteem and ego. So I am going to trust that over your aforementioned analysis. 😎
So when most people, and I am not saying all people, talk about their scores, I minus 3-4 points, but really, should it matter what I think?

LOL. This shows how much you really might know. Don't get me started on whether psychology is a real science or not. A very small portion of it is, but the majority of it (i.e. the part you're referring to) is pseudoscience (read: not very relevant). There is simply no way to empirically measure human emotions and habits such has lying and egotism.

With that said, I don't think most of the people on here lie. Just because you don't really understand it doesn't mean it isn't true. There have been MANY threads debating why SDNer's have such high scores. The conclusion usually is that SDNer's are smarter than the general pre-med population and also care and know a lot more than the general pre-med population when it comes to MCAT prep. As for why some people stay, well we are all aiming to go into a career of helping people so some people might want to HELP out future colleagues. Just because you might not understand it doesn't make them liars.

-LIS

 

[Simplify]

I doubt the people on SDN are much, if any, better applicants than pre-meds as a whole. Scores on SDN appear inflated because people with excellent scores are more likely to share them. People with poor scores are more likely to withhold them. The net result of this phenomenon is that SDN appears to have all of the 30+ scores on the planet. Assumptions based on self-reported scores are hardly valid.

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

I really want to believe you all when you talk about your scores, but I just can not. To original poster: take everything on the forums with a grain of salt.

In fact, it is hard to believe anyone who talks about getting 38s-40s on this forum. Why are they still on this MCAT forum? I still need to get that high 30, but once I get it, Im done with the forums.

I hate to break it to you. We are all just THAT AMAZING.

 

[Spiker]

it is funny that among all those books you got "power eating" lol

 

[Substance P]

I hate to break it to you. We are all just THAT AMAZING.

WTF? 😕 Thanks for the images of you, your car, and your textbooks... By the way, Raven is better bio book than Campbell hands-down. 😉


At any rate, I agree with simplify. I think the real reason scores seem inflated on SDN is people with better scores are going to be more likely to post them. I don't necessarily agree that people on SDN don't have an advantage though, because pre-meds utilize SDN as a way staying informed of the process, which gives them a distinct advantage over those who are less informed- the typical pre-meds.

 

[Substance P]

it is funny that among all those books you got "power eating" lol

He's deadlifting 455 lbs he better be power eating. ha ha.

 

[ksmi117]

In fact, it is hard to believe anyone who talks about getting 38s-40s on this forum. Why are they still on this MCAT forum? I still need to get that high 30, but once I get it, Im done with the forums.

As I was the only one claiming a score that high in this thread, I'll assume this is directed at me. Simple answer: I moderate the forum. It's my job to be here.

 

[Compass]

I hate to break it to you. We are all just THAT AMAZING.

...

Having a guide for Office XP?

Seriously?

SERIOUSLY?

-4 points for that.

+2 for the Java book, though I would have preferred something along the lines of Savitch's guide instead.

 

[Hemichordate]

I hate to break it to you. We are all just THAT AMAZING.

How much were you really lifting in that pic?

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

Count the plates. Not that hard mr pre med.

 

[TRN1983]

I really want to believe you all when you talk about your scores, but I just can not. To original poster: take everything on the forums with a grain of salt.

Why not? If I could do worse than expected, why can't they do better than expected? After I finished my studies, I scored 3x36 and got 1x35. Test day I got a 33. I could have just as easily have had a good test and got a 39, it doesn't take many questions on the MCAT to adjust your score pretty drastically.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

Count the plates. Not that hard mr pre med.

Dude, you're friggin' strong. A little angry, hostile, and negative at times, but you're strong.

 

[TRN1983]

Count the plates. Not that hard mr pre med.

No need to be a jerk to him. Not everybody knows what plates weigh by looking at them.

To anybody wondering, it is 455lbs. The big plates are 45lbs each, and the smaller ones on the ends are 25lbs each. It's a pretty decent pull... 👍

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

Having a guide for Office XP?

Seriously?

SERIOUSLY?

-4 points for that.

+2 for the Java book, though I would have preferred something along the lines of Savitch's guide instead.

Whoa whoa. Chill. I never paid for that or even opened it for that matter. It just found its way in my shelf over the years.

BUT, there is a lot of stuff in Office most people don't know. Like for example, have you mastered vlookups and pivot tables?

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

I'm glad we derailed the original thread which is pretty useless. Here is a handy dandy weightlifting chart that shows where you are at based on body weight.

http://www.crossfit.com/cf-journal/WLSTANDARDS.pdf

 

[TRN1983]

Pivot tables are sweet. Never used vlookups though... what are they?

 

[ksmi117]

Ok, people. Let's cut out the hostility. Not cool. For that matter, let's get back to the main point of this thread. We don't need this to become a thread for bragging or a thread for attacking people (or talking about anything random thing we want).

Yes, it's obviously possible to do both better and worse, but the power of positive thinking can't be overlooked, IMO.

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

Ok, people. Let's cut out the hostility. Not cool. For that matter, let's get back to the main point of this thread. We don't need this to become a thread for bragging or a thread for attacking people (or talking about anything random thing we want).

Yes, it's obviously possible to do both better and worse, but the power of positive thinking can't be overlooked, IMO.

I agree with the positive thinking and the self fulling prophecy part.

I think people need to realize that variation inherently exists between different tests with different problems. Assuming your knowledge is constant, your score can swing both ways with the mean at the center of a normal distribution. And because you can not predict where you land on the distribution (better vs worse), the only thing you can change is increasing mean. What does this lead to? Studying.

 

[Substance P]

I'm glad we derailed the original thread which is pretty useless. Here is a handy dandy weightlifting chart that shows where you are at based on body weight.

http://www.crossfit.com/cf-journal/WLSTANDARDS.pdf

Crossfit is awesome, but very very intense.

Do you know if the numbers in that table are a one-rep-max.

I agree with the positive thinking and the self fulling prophecy part.

I think people need to realize that variation inherently exists between different tests with different problems. Assuming your knowledge is constant, your score can swing both ways with the mean at the center of a normal distribution. And because you can not predict where you land on the distribution (better vs worse), the only thing you can change is increasing mean. What does this lead to? Studying.

The Self Fulfilling prophecy is induced by others and their expectations on an individual. Not by the individual alone.

Example:

Student A - receives an high marks on an assessment exam, thus the teacher treats the student like an intelligent student, leading to a higher confidence and more nurturing of the student and eventually to better grades and exam performance, even if the initial "assessment exam" was not accurate but purported to be.

Student B - receives poor marks on the assessment exam and is treated as a poor student leading to a decreased performance in school.

 

[LostInStudy]

Personal Motivation >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> outside expectations.
However, even though we shouldn't let them, many times others expectations effects our personal motivation.
Other times our personal motivation can't be touched. So a student who does poorly on Exam 1 but has great untouchable personal motivation will know he is better and strive to do better next time and will. If this same student does very well, then he will strive to keep up the awesome work next time.
Untouchable personal motivation = win-win situation for said student.

Just my opinion,

-LIS

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

Crossfit is awesome, but very very intense.

Do you know if the numbers in that table are a one-rep-max.




The Self Fulfilling prophecy is induced by others and their expectations on an individual. Not by the individual alone.

Example:

Student A - receives an high marks on an assessment exam, thus the teacher treats the student like an intelligent student, leading to a higher confidence and more nurturing of the student and eventually to better grades and exam performance, even if the initial "assessment exam" was not accurate but purported to be.

Student B - receives poor marks on the assessment exam and is treated as a poor student leading to a decreased performance in school.

Those numbers are 1 rep maxes.


Other comment:

There are some truths to that, I read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. However, the response from the outside environment is pretty constant. It is the individual contribution and mindset that matters the most.

 

[Substance P]

Those numbers are 1 rep maxes.


Other comment:

There are some truths to that, I read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. However, the response from the outside environment is pretty constant. It is the individual contribution and mindset that matters the most.

Ahh, I heard that was good. That's the next one on my to read list.

As an aside, you can run this situation under controlled conditions and it works. I'll see if I can remember the name of the original article that discusses this set-up, it was almost exactly as I outlined above. Outside experiences within your environment do influence people and their perceptions whether we want them to or not.

 

[TRN1983]

And because you can not predict where you land on the distribution (better vs worse), the only thing you can change is increasing mean. What does this lead to? Studying.

And that's what everyone needs to consider when they study and take their practice AAMC's. You want to do better than a modest goal consistently so that you can be confident you'll at least do as well as you "need" to.

 

[Tutmos]

I'm not that impressive. Let's see how my scores come out. If they suck, as I expect, I won't post them and will quietly consider what to do next.

 

[277190]

As I was the only one claiming a score that high in this thread, I'll assume this is directed at me. Simple answer: I moderate the forum. It's my job to be here.

I was not directing it at you. I just feel like a lot of people may be misrepresenting their scores in general, but then again, maybe I am just mad because I want to get that 41 or 45, and I can't get it YET.

😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

 

[277190]

And that's what everyone needs to consider when they study and take their practice AAMC's. You want to do better than a modest goal consistently so that you can be confident you'll at least do as well as you "need" to.

How did you find the time to body build? I never stepped in the gym at my school. Not that it matters (well actually it might for me), but when do you all think the AAMC will release new exams coming from say 2007 to 2008?

 

[277190]

Crossfit is awesome, but very very intense.

Do you know if the numbers in that table are a one-rep-max.




The Self Fulfilling prophecy is induced by others and their expectations on an individual. Not by the individual alone.

Example:

Student A - receives an high marks on an assessment exam, thus the teacher treats the student like an intelligent student, leading to a higher confidence and more nurturing of the student and eventually to better grades and exam performance, even if the initial "assessment exam" was not accurate but purported to be.

Student B - receives poor marks on the assessment exam and is treated as a poor student leading to a decreased performance in school.

Every time people study for the MCAT, they become philosophical, and start reading into all this positive thinking ideas. Its funny really, not that there is anything wrong with those ideas.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

How did you find the time to body build? I never stepped in the gym at my school. Not that it matters (well actually it might for me), but when do you all think the AAMC will release new exams coming from say 2007 to 2008?

I have a premed friend who is a body builder. He goes to the gym about three times a week, but he also watches what he eats very carefully. No fried stuff. I don't have that discipline.

 

[labellefille]

i spent this year playing professional sports, getting my master's degree, and studying for the MCAT. believe me, if you're motivated and organized, you can do a lot.

just saying. lifting a few times a week is admirable, but it isn't THAT impossible.

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

How did you find the time to body build? I never stepped in the gym at my school. Not that it matters (well actually it might for me), but when do you all think the AAMC will release new exams coming from say 2007 to 2008?

Its because I graduated 3 years ago, and I am currently working for a drug company. What else am I going to do with all this time and money? Working as an Engineer is not that hard, at the end of the day, I am not brain hurt. Since I have a chemE degree, I have a strong background in physics, math, bio, chem, ochem. I got a 31 on my practice test without ever studying. Most of the gaps are in biology and ochem which I took 7 years ago.

When I was in school, I didn't work out consistently as I do now. Typically exams would throw me off schedule. Working out doesn't take that much time. 30 minutes at 3x per week is plenty if you are doing the Starting Strength program. Working out also also improves your posture and body language so during this interview you don't look like a slouching energy less blob.