Does living in an affluent zip code hurt your chances for admission?

[FairEver]

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Members do not see this ad.

It has everything to do with your score! There’s a reason standardized tests are tied to socioeconomic status. Think about how access to resources. Think about how not having resources for a long time can make you fall behind. Poorer people since childhood could not afford tutoring, after school programs, or even treating their disabilities(or even getting accommodations). This effect is even more prevalent in college.



No, but that’s a terrible comparison. One is a $350 access code to question bank(not the full prep course) which lasts ONLY 3 months while the other is necessity(most poor folk don’t even get iPhones for that much btw). I know this may be hard to believe, but not everyone has that kind of money to drop on an online learning platform or even anything beyond a necessity like a monthly food budget. Not everyone has reliable WiFi. Not everyone has a reliable device to study comfortably at home. Free resources only take you so far.


You’re using outliers here to justify that poor people just need to suck it up. I can’t tell you why a rich person isn’t scoring high but I can tell you it certainly isn’t from a lack of resources. Rich folk can get private MCAT tutors, prep courses like blueprint, and more without worrying about cost.

I know you’ve probably been thankful for the food in on your table and the roof over your head, but please try to appreciate the fact you have grown up with privileges many of never had.

Sincerely,
SDN’s disabled pauper

You conveniently ignored/omitted all the free resources that I have listed and continue to whine/cry about not having resources. You don’t have to spend more than $300 to score 528. If you don’t have $300, work for a week or two. Actually, $300 is also not necessary.

Please do yourself a favor. Visit Reddit.com/r/mcat and search for threads like “study guide 524, 525, 526, 527, 528”. It will change your mindset completely. Not even one guy would say that they had used expensive tutors or classes. You can also post a thread , “ how low income people scored 524+” ? You will be shocked seeing the responses.

Do not blindly repeat the often repeated empty talking points of people with vested interests, like a parrot. That attitude will take you nowhere. Seek, find and stand with the truth.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

If an adcom were to hear someone expressing similar views about disadvantaged applicants, would it be viewed negatively due to lack of empathy? Or does the concept of philosophical diversity require tolerance of such a perspective? Everyone has a fundamental right to their beliefs, but I wonder where the line would be drawn as to which beliefs will likely have a negative impact on patient care. Do you have any insight?

For anyone reading, the context is on today's date, September 10-11, 2025, with the news context of the murder of Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative influencer speaking at a university.

I think this is a germane topic for all of us in this country, and it has been for any democracy since they were ostensibly created. Admissions committees are designed to build a cohesive student body, but they are not effective gatekeepers. However, I would (hypothetically) ask interview questions about how one has managed a relationship or discussion with someone with diametrically opposite views, given our current context.

People can suppress "improper thoughts" until they feel safe to do so. Example from over 10 years ago...

Dalhousie dentistry students break silence on ‘Gentlemen’s Club’ Facebook scandal | Globalnews.ca

It's been five months since a Facebook group for men enrolled in Dalhousie University's dentistry school was discovered to contain misogynistic and homophobic posts, written about female classmates.

globalnews.ca

 

[Mr.Smile12]

You conveniently ignored/omitted all the free resources that I have listed and continue to whine/cry about not having resources. You don’t have to spend more than $300 to score 528. If you don’t have $300, work for a week or two. Actually, $300 is also not necessary.

Wait... which free resources have you listed? Where is SDN on this list? You don't have a Donor flag on your profile... Stand with the truth? How about placing money where your heart/mouth are? Did I miss this post?

I don't know if you have evidence that your anecdote is typical. I would not consider reddit (or SDN) anecdotes as valid evidence.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Also, while we're talking about free resources: Becoming a Student Doctor is free for anyone who qualifies for FAP, graduated from a US high school from a medically underserved background, or has participated in a pipeline/bridge STEM program.

One of the free resources we promote in the course.

The Empathy Project

The Empathy Project is bringing together leaders in medicine, education, entertainment, and technology to promote a culture of empathy in medicine. The project creates short films that train healthcare providers to be more humane and help empower patients to be effective participants in their own ca

www.empathyproject.com

 

[PickaGodnPray]

You conveniently ignored/omitted all the free resources that I have listed and continue to whine/cry about not having resources. You don’t have to spend more than $300 to score 528. If you don’t have $300, work for a week or two. Actually, $300 is also not necessary.

Having those paid services is not necessary, but damn does it make a heck of a difference. You also realize even those free services require internet and a computer as well, right? Plus you have to be able to actually have the time to do it, which is obviously impacted for people with jobs to support families or their education. If you give ANYONE a space to study with 8 hours a day of internet, meals, and test resources (free or otherwise) they will do significantly better than someone working full time and having to support themselves financially.

Please do yourself a favor. Visit Reddit.com/r/mcat and search for threads like “study guide 524, 525, 526, 527, 528”. It will change your mindset completely. Not even one guy would say that they had used expensive tutors or classes. You can also post a thread , “ how low income people scored 524+” ? You will be shocked seeing the responses.

You continue to push classist ideology and point to reddit case studies when you should have learned from your own schooling that outliers should not be the entirety of your research and instead you should look at the actual population trends. There is literal research done on this and shows the correlation. If you want an actual experiment, however, I would love for you to pick up two jobs to afford rent and food for your family during this recession while studying for the MCAT and see how your score changes.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

You conveniently ignored/omitted all the free resources that I have listed and continue to whine/cry about not having resources. You don’t have to spend more than $300 to score 528. If you don’t have $300, work for a week or two. Actually, $300 is also not necessary.

Please do yourself a favor. Visit Reddit.com/r/mcat and search for threads like “study guide 524, 525, 526, 527, 528”. It will change your mindset completely. Not even one guy would say that they had used expensive tutors or classes. You can also post a thread , “ how low income people scored 524+” ? You will be shocked seeing the responses.

Do not blindly repeat the often repeated empty talking points of people with vested interests, like a parrot. That attitude will take you nowhere. Seek, find and stand with the truth.

Everything stated is my own opinion, not representative of HPSA/SDN.

The argument suggests that because there are free resources for the MCAT, low-income applicants should get super-high scores on the MCAT. However, applicants often take time off or reduce their work/course hours to study for the MCAT full-time (unpublished HPSA 2024-2025 Applicant Experience Survey). The issue begins to become very uncomfortable when it is insinuated that because there are free resources, people who are low-income and use those resources to prepare for the MCAT should easily get a 525+. So, why don't they?

Again, the internet is not a scientific sample; those who post are going to be more vocal, more supportive, so the "reddit" proof as evidence is still anecdotal. We have an entire forum dedicated to successful DAT test-takers and their preparation methods. You can look at what guides they used and the discipline/use of their materials (which there are fewer resources for them than MCAT). If anything, those discussions should give frustrated test-takers hope they can do it; try some of these strategies others have used and see if they work. None of those testimonials, however, is an effective counterpoint to the statement that test scores are measures of socioeconomic resources and preparation.

Zip codes in the US are directly tied to resources allocated for education and social services, and health outcomes are tied to geography and resource allocation. Watch the video about the 1854 cholera outbreak in Britain, well before Zip codes were created; this is a truth that is over 150 years old, with more evidence on top.

I also think that the argument that "because applicants have free resources" is irrelevant. You could probably take all your medical school prerequisites through virtual MOOCs (massive open online courses) for free back in the old days. Guess what: you hit the barrier of professor letters of recommendation, and it costs money to take a person's course, or it costs time to build a strong relationship that is represented in a letter. We were excited that a positive aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic is the widespread adoption of virtual interviewing. It was argued that this would alleviate the financial pressure of travel, housing, and food when one has to take a PTO day (or lose money if you don't have PTO) for asset-limited, low-income applicants. But we haven't seen a bump up in the number of asset-limited low-income employed (ALICE) or not employed students getting into medical school in the last 3 years. Maybe that's because of the MCAT, or application coaching/prep (reading personal statements or critiquing experiences for W/A), or shadowing (we're back to downplaying virtual shadowing). I haven't even gotten to resource constraints with technology. In other words, you aren't looking at bigger picture issues or effects.

Yes, having free resources is great! We have a library with free access to billions of books; it doesn't mean we all graduate summa cum laude. Some of us older folks here grew up with VCR's; "read the manual" didn't help us learn how to program it or set the damn clock.

Mind the Gap: How First-Generation and International Students Navigate Prehealth Pathways | Student Doctor Network | SDN

The path to health professions is challenging for all students, but for immigrants and first-generation (first-gen) prehealth students, it can feel like

www.studentdoctor.net

From the HPSA 2024-2025 Applicant Experience Survey (not published):
Did you use any independent test prep resources? (N=136, select all that apply, be aware of sampling bias)

Self-studied using AAMC/ADA resources: 75%​

Self-studied using free online resources (Khan Academy, MCAT Self Prep, Jack Westin): 72.8%​

Used daily online questions or flash card programs (Anki, Question of the Day): 68.4%​

Sought free help from online resources (forums, blogs) 52.2%​

Sought help from online influencers (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram): 30.1%​

Self-studied using published guides (Examkrackers, DAT Destroyer, Orgoman): 27.2%​

I paid for or received test preparation from an admissions consulting firm (BeMo award, BluePrint scholarship): 16.9%​

I was eligible for reduced testing costs or preparation materials (FAP): 13.2%​

I paid for or received test preparation from an independent consultant/tutor: 10.3%​

I attended an intensive test-prep "Boot Camp": 5.9%​

I paid for or received test preparation from organizations or professional schools that offered free test-prep materials and mentoring (Association of Black Women Physicians, 15 White Coats, Carmen Reyes/LMSA Scholarship): 0%​

Homework: What do you think the median GPA was for this respondent group?

Compare with the MCAT PMQ (Post-MCAT Questionnaire to test-takers). From the 2020 survey:
PMQ respondents used a diverse set of preparation resources to prepare for the MCAT exam. The preparation resources most commonly reported by respondents were Official MCAT Practice Exams (85.4% of respondents in 2020) and MCAT preparation books published by a commercial company (72.6% of respondents in 2020). Nearly 90% of respondents took a timed online practice exam with scheduled breaks to mimic the exam day to prepare for the exam (89.7% in 2020).

And we KNOW what the median MCAT score was in 2020 (though not of the specific cohort, I trust their sample was more representative of the entire test-taking pool in 2020).

 

[PickaGodnPray]

I also want to add, that I agree we should be able to have conversations like this. It is important to have differing perspectives when it comes to opinions and not be surrounded by groupthink. However, this does not apply when one party is manipulating or ignoring facts supported by data completely. Allowing these people to spread their misinformation is how we have ended up having vaccination rates decline and outbreaks of fully preventable diseases that are tearing through the immune systems of the most vulnerable in our communities (immunocompromised and children) while actively attacking those with neurodevelopmental disability while blaming vaccines and making the poor mother's of these children feel guilt over choosing to vaccinate.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I also want to add, that I agree we should be able to have conversations like this. It is important to have differing perspectives when it comes to opinions and not be surrounded by groupthink. However, this does not apply when one party is manipulating or ignoring facts supported by data completely. Allowing these people to spread their misinformation is how we have ended up having vaccination rates decline and outbreaks of fully preventable diseases that are tearing through the immune systems of the most vulnerable in our communities (immunocompromised and children) while actively attacking those with neurodevelopmental disability while blaming vaccines and making the poor mother's of these children feel guilt over choosing to vaccinate.

Not disagreeing. We have an entire subtopic on "managing misinformation" in Becoming a Student Doctor. Suffice to say, it's easier said than done. One example is pointed out in one of the resources in the course:

Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies | Scientific Proof

Scientists are finally able to prove the health hazards of smoking.

www.pbs.org

I also point out how medical schools are trying to educate students about managing scientific misinformation.

And it also takes a village. 🙂 Again, pointing to the course.

 

[LizzyM]

It has everything to do with your score! There’s a reason standardized tests are tied to socioeconomic status. Think about how access to resources. Think about how not having resources for a long time can make you fall behind. Poorer people since childhood could not afford tutoring, after school programs, or even treating their disabilities(or even getting accommodations). This effect is even more prevalent in college.



No, but that’s a terrible comparison. One is a $350 access code to question bank(not the full prep course) which lasts ONLY 3 months while the other is necessity(most poor folk don’t even get iPhones for that much btw). I know this may be hard to believe, but not everyone has that kind of money to drop on an online learning platform or even anything beyond a necessity like a monthly food budget. Not everyone has reliable WiFi. Not everyone has a reliable device to study comfortably at home. Free resources only take you so far.


You’re using outliers here to justify that poor people just need to suck it up. I can’t tell you why a rich person isn’t scoring high but I can tell you it certainly isn’t from a lack of resources. Rich folk can get private MCAT tutors, prep courses like blueprint, and more without worrying about cost.

I know you’ve probably been thankful for the food in on your table and the roof over your head, but please try to appreciate the fact you have grown up with privileges many of never had.

Sincerely,
SDN’s disabled pauper

And the resource that is, perhaps, most overlooked: time. I routinely see applicants who had their family's support such that they could study full-time for up to 10 weeks. That's maybe $4000-10,000, in lost wages, and the need for someone to pick up the cost of food and shelter/utilities during that period.

 

[misosoop]

You conveniently ignored/omitted all the free resources that I have listed and continue to whine/cry about not having resources. You don’t have to spend more than $300 to score 528. If you don’t have $300, work for a week or two. Actually, $300 is also not necessary.

Do not blindly repeat the often repeated empty talking points of people with vested interests, like a parrot. That attitude will take you nowhere. Seek, find and stand with the truth.

I'm sorry that you are so callous and self-victimizing that you cannot acknowledge the truth of your own privilege. Here's a suggestion--seek, find, and stand with the truth by going out into the community and listening to disenfranchised voices, instead of wallowing in your echochambers. People like you are why non-clinical volunteering is a part of this process--it's not a box to check, but rather so people who otherwise would have no idea what true disadvantage is might catch a glimpse and be a better physician, community member, and person for it.

Spend a term with Americorps, or Teach for America, or serving a homeless shelter in a greater capacity than justing handing out meals with your nose turned up at the poors who "just didn't work hard enough with all their free resources". Lead a free summer program for kids who want desperately to succeed but can't keep up with the summer slide because they need to work for their families or otherwise can't afford extracurricular (or even curricular) enrichment. Then get back to us.

 

[polymerization]

I would (hypothetically) ask interview questions about how one has managed a relationship or discussion with someone with diametrically opposite views, given our current context.

You know, if this thread is any indication, I'd say we're probably not handling it very well.

Then again, I think the point many of us have been trying to make for some time now is that when everything is politicized, it is very easy to reduce even relevant discourse to "political issues." From there, it's easy to come across as fair and balanced by unconsciously sanitizing and obfuscating really abhorrent core motivations as simple differences of opinion.

And that's the rub, right? Once we do that, even outwardly expressing what was once the normative opinion is considered criticism and is subject to tone-policing. It's the same censorship the conservative right has been complaining about under the guise of political correctness a few years ago, only rebranded and wielded against literally everyone else, regardless of persuasion. The new normal is vigorous and unyielding hate speech, with the expectation that the targets of this hostility either submit and agree at best, or tolerate such attacks with one's tail between their legs.

What makes everything harder is that we're not debating the intricacies of ice cream flavors here. We're talking about human worth and potential. How would an admissions committee (or anyone for that matter) expect an applicant to respond to the overt belief in the continued marginalization of what would be our shared future patient population? Would you not want and expect for future physicians to fight for their communities?

 

[misosoop]

I would (hypothetically) ask interview questions about how one has managed a relationship or discussion with someone with diametrically opposite views, given our current context.

What makes everything harder is that we're not debating the intricacies of ice cream flavors here. We're talking about human worth and potential. How would an admissions committee (or anyone for that matter) expect an applicant to respond to the overt belief in the continued marginalization of what would be our shared future patient population? Would you not want and expect for future physicians to fight for their communities?

While I agree with your take of standing against "tolerating intolerance", I think the question posed above is more nuanced (and it's a good question to ask) when considering patients with "diametrically opposite views", not necessarily peers or administration. There absolutely will be patients that are racist, classist, homophobic, and sexist that we need to "manage relationships" with.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

You know, if this thread is any indication, I'd say we're probably not handling it very well.

Then again, I think the point many of us have been trying to make for some time now is that when everything is politicized, it is very easy to reduce even relevant discourse to "political issues." From there, it's easy to come across as fair and balanced by unconsciously sanitizing and obfuscating really abhorrent core motivations as simple differences of opinion.

And that's the rub, right? Once we do that, even outwardly expressing what was once the normative opinion is considered criticism and is subject to tone-policing. It's the same censorship the conservative right has been complaining about under the guise of political correctness a few years ago, only rebranded and wielded against literally everyone else, regardless of persuasion. The new normal is vigorous and unyielding hate speech, with the expectation that the targets of this hostility either submit and agree at best, or tolerate such attacks with one's tail between their legs.

What makes everything harder is that we're not debating the intricacies of ice cream flavors here. We're talking about human worth and potential. How would an admissions committee (or anyone for that matter) expect an applicant to respond to the overt belief in the continued marginalization of what would be our shared future patient population? Would you not want and expect for future physicians to fight for their communities?

I assure you, we are all doing the best we can. Figuring out how we handle our own moral distress and have civil discourse is a hot topic among the faculty in professional organizations I am part of and follow. And this discussion hasn't gotten us into bad catfights of the old internet days (or current reddit days).

No one has a great answer, but this is the blessing and the curse of an open society. We know what the ideals are, and we know we will be sorely disappointed when we fall short. I agree with the philosophy that we cannot make up our own facts or call for someone's extermination to have a thoughtful debate or conversation; unfortunately, enough people are out there who disagree with that.

Yeah, the Empathy Project film is revealing how one can compartmentalize being empathic and civil to others in certain situations...

Came into my inbox just now:

In uncertain times, leaders must lean in to their own humanity

Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, will speak about leadership through connection at Learn Serve Lead 2025: The AAMC Annual Meeting.

www.aamc.org

 

[PickaGodnPray]

While I agree with your take of standing against "tolerating intolerance", I think the question posed above is more nuanced (and it's a good question to ask) when considering patients with "diametrically opposite views", not necessarily peers or administration. There absolutely will be patients that are racist, classist, homophobic, and sexist that we need to "manage relationships" with.

Yes, but there is a difference between those two populations in terms of how physicians should interact with them. A racist/sexist/homophobic/etc patient poses no threat to the overall health of the community. Yeah, a physician has to bear the brunt of slurs, but their role exists in a space where we must provide appropriate treatment and advocacy, regardless of their background/beliefs. However, a racist/sexist/homophobic/etc colleague on a care team DOES pose a threat to the overall health of their community in terms of how they treat patients.

I pose a question: if a fellow resident makes a homophobic comment while rounding in front of other physicians, how do you think they will treat an LGBTQ+ patient behind the closed doors of an examination room? The same could be asked for any of the -ists mentioned above. Whether that bias is explicit or implicit, it will be there, and I would again argue I don't want that physician treating my community.

 

[polymerization]

While I agree with your take of standing against "tolerating intolerance", I think the question posed above is more nuanced (and it's a good question to ask) when considering patients with "diametrically opposite views", not necessarily peers or administration. There absolutely will be patients that are racist, classist, homophobic, and sexist that we need to "manage relationships" with.

I mean, a patient-provider relationship is also a little less voluntary and more bounded than the kinds of conversations we're having here. I can imagine my patient and I having very different ideas about their health goals. Like a patient I had in FM that would drink 7(!!!) double whiskeys a night and felt that 6 was a suitable goal in the setting of end-stage liver disease. But at the end of the day, they have autonomy, and if that's how they want to go out, I'm not losing sleep over it. I have to meet people where they are. (I will also add it is my general approach to patients to simply mirror their own beliefs back at them if and when they express political beliefs. Love Trump? Me too. I see it as a requirement of my work, the same way a psychologist might do so in an attempt to establish a therapeutic relationship.)

I think voluntary association between people outside of a privileged relationship can be a little more tenuous. I'm not servile in the way I would be for a patient. I have broader expectations. I'm not at all pushing back on the reality that unsavory characters exist, I'm saying that a hit dog will holler (as they always have), but we are watching the response to that change in real time.

 

[misosoop]

Yes, but there is a difference between those two populations in terms of how physicians should interact with them. A racist/sexist/homophobic/etc patient poses no threat to the overall health of the community. Yeah, a physician has to bear the brunt of slurs, but their role exists in a space where we must provide appropriate treatment and advocacy, regardless of their background/beliefs. However, a racist/sexist/homophobic/etc colleague on a care team DOES pose a threat to the overall health of their community in terms of how they treat patients.

I pose a question: if a fellow resident makes a homophobic comment while rounding in front of other physicians, how do you think they will treat an LGBTQ+ patient behind the closed doors of an examination room? The same could be asked for any of the -ists mentioned above. Whether that bias is explicit or implicit, it will be there, and I would again argue I don't want that physician treating my community.

I mean, a patient-provider relationship is also a little less voluntary and more bounded than the kinds of conversations we're having here. I can imagine my patient and I having very different ideas about their health goals. Like a patient I had in FM that would drink 7(!!!) double whiskeys a night and felt that 6 was a suitable goal in the setting of end-stage liver disease. But at the end of the day, they have autonomy, and if that's how they want to go out, I'm not losing sleep over it. I have to meet people where they are. (I will also add it is my general approach to patients to simply mirror their own beliefs back at them if and when they express political beliefs. Love Trump? Me too. I see it as a requirement of my work, the same way a psychologist might do so in an attempt to establish a therapeutic relationship.)

I think voluntary association between people outside of a privileged relationship can be a little more tenuous. I'm not servile in the way I would be for a patient. I have broader expectations. I'm not at all pushing back on the reality that unsavory characters exist, I'm saying that a hit dog will holler (as they always have), but we are watching the response to that change in real time.

Yeah, that was my point, and why I think the question posed is worth discussing, both during training and in the interview process. The ability to differentiate between the two types of relationships and understand how to approach those patients within the professional bounds of our role is something worth investigating when considering applicants.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Across my social media feed, suggestions of non-profit orgs:

Home

Braver Angels is a citizens’ organization uniting red and blue Americans in a working alliance to depolarize America

braverangels.org

BridgeUSA – Youth movement to fight political division.

BridgeUSA is a multi-partisan student movement that champions viewpoint diversity, responsible discourse, and a solution-oriented political culture

bridgeusa.org

 

[polymerization]

Yeah, that was my point, and why I think the question posed is worth discussing, both during training and in the interview process. The ability to differentiate between the two types of relationships and an understanding of how to approach those patients within the professional bounds of our role is something worth investigating when considering applicants.

Sure, it's a fair question to get in the interview, I'm not debating that piece. Part of my frustration lies in that there's an obvious correct answer and anyone being earnestly considered by a stateside medical school is, on the whole, likely not to be an idiot. This is breaking the fourth wall a bit, but like, I'm sure @FairEver is aware that their opinions are highly inflammatory and do not reflect well on them as a person. I'm sure they do not behave this way in real life, or express these beliefs in mixed company.

What is so interesting about this conversation we're having now is that we cognitively know and expect there must be modern robber barons out there, applying to medical school. You look at the statistics and you just know on a factual basis that they're out there. It's just so uncommon to see the mask slip in a professional environment.

But here... well, here we get to talk to them above and beyond "bro honestly what is the matter with you, why are you the way that you are" and expand into a discussion about what is tolerable in the profession we're all building together. In a way, I commend @FairEver for being brave enough to be the person they really are, however wretched those innards may be. It's live proof that the boogeymen we imagine are real people, real threats we really need to manage as stewards of the privilege to care for the most vulnerable. It's a great example why not just anybody could or should be a physician, and why our admissions processes cannot and should not devolve into something plainly technocratic/metrics-based.

 

[FairEver]

Having those paid services is not necessary, but damn does it make a heck of a difference. You also realize even those free services require internet and a computer as well, right? Plus you have to be able to actually have the time to do it, which is obviously impacted for people with jobs to support families or their education. If you give ANYONE a space to study with 8 hours a day of internet, meals, and test resources (free or otherwise) they will do significantly better than someone working full time and having to support themselves financially.

You continue to push classist ideology and point to reddit case studies when you should have learned from your own schooling that outliers should not be the entirety of your research and instead you should look at the actual population trends. There is literal research done on this and shows the correlation. If you want an actual experiment, however, I would love for you to pick up two jobs to afford rent and food for your family during this recession while studying for the MCAT and see how your score changes.

This is my last reply in this thread. I don’t want to get into endless arguments and tire out others. If you want to continue the discussion, please send a direct message.

Let’s see. Even if there are plenty of free resources available, you don’t have the time to make use of them. Isn’t it? Here are a few questions. 1. How did you find the time for classes, homework, exams, extracurriculars, research etc? 2. Why don’t you stay home with your parents for 6 months and prepare for the MCAT? 3. If you can’t manage your time to prepare well for the mcat, how are you going to survive medical school, prepare for STEPs and further extracurriculars? 4. Isn’t it better idea to give up your medical seat to someone who can excel in all those for the benefit of the patients? Please don’t take it personally.

I am not talking about a few outliers ,buddy. Almost 100% of the students who score 524+ don’t use any tutors or courses for prep. At least half of them do have full time jobs. Tutors and Prep courses are actually waste of time. No tutor is going to sit with you while taking the test. After doing undergrad for 4 years and covering all the pre reqs, if you need some tutor with superpower and secret methods to explain the concepts to you, you are not going to survive the medical school or STEP exams. Are you going to need a tutor while in medical school and prepare for STEP exams as well?

I give a damn about so called studies that are done by vested interests with a preconceived agenda. It’s all garbage. Even one poor student can score 520+ with free resources, it proves that those studies are garbage. Let me repeat, there are thousands of students from very poor families (especially Asian Americans) and poorest third world countries score 520+ easily. All you need is brain power and a burning desire to work hard, without looking for excuses.

I trust the feedback/input from the thousands of REAL students who accomplished something, than some stupid studies from invisible people who have no honesty or clue. BTW, I am also from a very poor background and I have accomplished a lot in my life.

Bye. You are welcome to message me directly anytime

 

[Mr.Smile12]

This is my last reply in this thread. I don’t want to get into endless arguments and tire out others. If you want to continue the discussion, please send a direct message.

Let’s see. Even if there are plenty of free resources available, you don’t have the time to make use of them. Isn’t it? Here are a few questions. 1. How did you find the time for classes, homework, exams, extracurriculars, research etc? 2. Why don’t you stay home with your parents for 6 months and prepare for the MCAT? 3. If you can’t manage your time to prepare well for the mcat, how are you going to survive medical school, prepare for STEPs and further extracurriculars? 4. Isn’t it better idea to give up your medical seat to someone who can excel in all those for the benefit of the patients? Please don’t take it personally.

I am not talking about a few outliers ,buddy. Almost 100% of the students who score 524+ don’t use any tutors or courses for prep. At least half of them do have full time jobs. Tutors and Prep courses are actually waste of time. No tutor is going to sit with you while taking the test. After doing undergrad for 4 years and covering all the pre reqs, if you need some tutor with superpower and secret methods to explain the concepts to you, you are not going to survive the medical school or STEP exams. Are you going to need a tutor while in medical school and prepare for STEP exams as well?

I give a damn about so called studies that are done by vested interests with a preconceived agenda. It’s all garbage. Even one poor student can score 520+ with free resources, it proves that those studies are garbage. Let me repeat, there are thousands of students from very poor families (especially Asian Americans) and poorest third world countries score 520+ easily. All you need is brain power and a burning desire to work hard, without looking for excuses.

I trust the feedback/input from the thousands of REAL students who accomplished something, than some stupid studies from invisible people who have no honesty or clue. BTW, I am also from a very poor background and I have accomplished a lot in my life.

Bye. You are welcome to message me directly anytime

I see you leave without citing your sources for "real students" aside from the internet. Making statements in absolutes does not reflect true scientific thinking. As I mentioned before, the poster argues that, "we have a library with a billion books, why didn't you graduate SCL?" Again, no evidence, no respect. I even cited the PMQ, which I'd rather trust as they include thousands of real students. Again, what was their median MCAT?

I appreciate this person left this thread. I was looking forward to all of the posters "free resources." Let's close this discussion, please.

 

[deleted1224323]

This thread has ran its course.

Someone should lock it now.