GRE vs. MCAT? (and how to study for them...)

[jessikt]

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Hey again, sorry for all of the threads! I'm just kind of all over the place and trying to find out as much information as possible. 🙂

I am very far away from applying to Vet school but I have a few questions about the admission exams.

One of the schools I would be thinking of applying at (Ontario Veterinary College) seems to only accept MCAT scores while the other (Atlantic Veterinary College) only accepts GRE. Is this common? Have some of you taken both tests in order to apply to multiple schools?

Also, since I will be doing a Communication degree with a minor in Biology, and as of right now my only background in science and math is from Grade 11, how will I begin to study for these entrance exams? (Although I do not know much about either, but the MCAT is quite science and math-oriented, right?)

Would I have to complete my pre-req science and math classes in order to learn enough to begin studying for these exams? Or is it possible to learn on your own with the aid of books and other outlets?

Thanks so much AGAIN! All of the replies I've gotten so far have been a ton of help! 🙂

 

[parietal]

The GRE, which is required by nearly all veterinary colleges, does not require advanced study at all. It is basically a somewhat more advanced version of the SAT. The math section is said to be easier than the math on the ACT, if you took that. The verbal section gives people a few more problems, but it just requires practice and a strong vocabulary. So you can take it any time, and there probably is an advantage in taking it soon when high-school math (arithmetic, algebra I and geometry) is still fresh in your mind.

I was not aware any veterinary colleges would not accept the GRE, but if you have your heart set on the one that will not, you have a much tougher test ahead of you. The MCAT absolutely should not be taken until after you've had a full year of organic chemistry. (A friend of mine tried to take it after just a month of O-Chem and struggled, to put it mildly.) It's a test of your scientific knowledge as well as your verbal reasoning and requires a LOT of preparation. Most pre-med advisors recommend a prep course if you can afford one.

 

[Sweetcaroline14]

Hello! Its always good to have a plan, so getting as much info as you can is a great idea! 🙂 I would suggest taking your prereq's first, as it would not be "impossible" but unlikely that you would do well on the MCAT without college level chemistry and organic. If you want to get a jump on things, I would get a GRE study guide or some vocab word cards or interactive CD and flip through them over the years as you finish your classes. Most vet schools in the US want the GRE. Research the schools you want to apply to in the future. Then you can make a list of similarities for prereqs as well the GRE requirement. The AVMA website along with the Purdue press book were great in helping me decide what schools met my needs along with what schools required specific classes. All the schools required the GRE. I hope I was of some help. I say, map out what classes you need, when they are offered, how long you would need to study for the GRE/MCAT and when you plan to apply. Then, you can just go by your agenda and be a competative applicant! Good Luck!!

👍

Hey again, sorry for all of the threads! I'm just kind of all over the place and trying to find out as much information as possible. 🙂

I am very far away from applying to Vet school but I have a few questions about the admission exams.

One of the schools I would be thinking of applying at (Ontario Veterinary College) seems to only accept MCAT scores while the other (Atlantic Veterinary College) only accepts GRE. Is this common? Have some of you taken both tests in order to apply to multiple schools?

Also, since I will be doing a Communication degree with a minor in Biology, and as of right now my only background in science and math is from Grade 11, how will I begin to study for these entrance exams? (Although I do not know much about either, but the MCAT is quite science and math-oriented, right?)

Would I have to complete my pre-req science and math classes in order to learn enough to begin studying for these exams? Or is it possible to learn on your own with the aid of books and other outlets?

Thanks so much AGAIN! All of the replies I've gotten so far have been a ton of help! 🙂

 

[XORD]

hi, i want to ask, which one is easy to score up,between GRE and MCAT, im real bad in math ie, i usually end up with A- or B+, verbal is horrible, but ,good in sciences, but if i study hard, i can do decent in MATH,so anyone can suggest me which one will be good for me, to have decent score, and get into masters , or medical. my GPA is 3.6,and have a good pottential of learning, but im scared bcause i dont want to get stuck in these competetive xams, just wana croos this part. which one will be easy to have a career with GRE or MCAT.

 

[Cautionary Tail]

hi, i want to ask, which one is easy to score up,between GRE and MCAT, im real bad in math ie, i usually end up with A- or B+, verbal is horrible, but ,good in sciences, but if i study hard, i can do decent in MATH,so anyone can suggest me which one will be good for me, to have decent score, and get into masters , or medical. my GPA is 3.6,and have a good pottential of learning, but im scared bcause i dont want to get stuck in these competetive xams, just wana croos this part. which one will be easy to have a career with GRE or MCAT.

For me, I'm sure the GRE would be easier, as I have difficulty retaining chem and physics long term. Looks like you're pre-med and not pre-vet, though... which is a different ball game. I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that for med school, the only option was the MCAT.

 

[Coquette22]

Edited to remove because I totally failed to notice that the OP was from 2008.

 

[twelvetigers]

If you want to be a physician, take the MCAT. If you want to be a veterinarian, take the GRE. If you just want to know which one is easier... well...I'm not sure it's relevant.

(Also, I know a few Canada vet schools want the MCAT - just generalizing.)

 

[LittleWiz]

This is a GRE-related question.

I know the GRE website does not specifically say the GRE covers trigonometry, but I'm trying to decide whether or not taking trig will help me with the GRE. Do you guys think it will?

 

[AuRevoirFinance]

This is a GRE-related question.

I know the GRE website does not specifically say the GRE covers trigonometry, but I'm trying to decide whether or not taking trig will help me with the GRE. Do you guys think it will?

I don't think so at all. Granted there are triangles flying out the patootie on the GRE but it's geometry-style questions, not sine-cosine-tangent type questions.

 

[Cautionary Tail]

I don't think so at all. Granted there are triangles flying out the patootie on the GRE but it's geometry-style questions, not sine-cosine-tangent type questions.

Ditto. Loads of geometry, mercifully, no trig.

If you want to review concepts for the quant, I highly recommend the flash card set that has the series of concept cards. It covers everything, with examples. This is the only way I (having been out of HS math for a decade- and I wasn't great at it then, either) was able to do a passable job on that section. I managed to up my quant score 130 points from what I'd gotten on the Princeton Review site's practice GRE with just two days of reviewing the concept cards. (Note: I don't recommend waiting until two days before the GRE to panic and buy them... bad move on my part. 😉)

 

[LittleWiz]

Ditto. Loads of geometry, mercifully, no trig.

If you want to review concepts for the quant, I highly recommend the flash card set that has the series of concept cards. It covers everything, with examples. This is the only way I (having been out of HS math for a decade- and I wasn't great at it then, either) was able to do a passable job on that section. I managed to up my quant score 130 points from what I'd gotten on the Princeton Review site's practice GRE with just two days of reviewing the concept cards. (Note: I don't recommend waiting until two days before the GRE to panic and buy them... bad move on my part. 😉)

Yay no trig!
Who was the company that made you flashcards you purchased?

 

[Cautionary Tail]

Yay no trig!
Who was the company that made you flashcards you purchased?

I'm almost positive I used the Barron's cards below... unfortunately, I gave them to my brother post-GRE (no plans to retake), and he's presently unreachable in Hawaii... but I think he may have left the box (which he's using to hold other stuff) at my parents', so I'll check when I go over today.

http://www.amazon.com/Barrons-Flash-Cards-Sharon-Weiner/dp/0764140566

Pretty sure those are the ones, though. 🙂

 

[LittleWiz]

Thank you!

 

[XORD]

For me, I'm sure the GRE would be easier, as I have difficulty retaining chem and physics long term. Looks like you're pre-med and not pre-vet, though... which is a different ball game. I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that for med school, the only option was the MCAT.

im planning to do double major, but dnt wana risk my current schedule..thats why want to confirm.its like, i want to know in which field people usualy succeed. i mean most people (average people) easily pass which test , MCAT VS GRE. in getting into any career.in my case i have more talents in sciences,and do average on math. but the point here is .eventhough have more skill in sciences,and i cudnt make it, on other side, inspite of having less skill in math and rest i meay succeed in test like GRE