How hard is it to crack 30?

[JulianCrane]

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I am so worried about the MCAT. Knowing my luck, I'll barely be able to crack a 30 on the MCAT. How can I make sure to do so??

 

[oldman]

what can you do?
you can study study study. do practice tests do practice tests do practice tests. stay off sdn sdn sdn

 

[Blitzkrieg]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by oldman:
•what can you do?
you can study study study. do practice tests do practice tests do practice tests. stay off sdn sdn sdn•••••well,

stay on SDN to blow time, but study study study and do tests!

 

[ckent]

Julian, I've noticed all of of your posts that I've read seem to have excessive worries and doubts about your abilities to get into med school. I don't know if you just like to post your anxieties on this website or if you are like this all the time, but if you are like this all the time you might consider finding someone to talk to. Most schools have excellent counseling centers; and pre-medical years can be extremely stressful for some. There was actually a pre-med girl at Wash U in my class who committed suicide a few years ago, so being pre-med at Wash U or any school isn't exactly a stress free. It can't hurt, and it might actually help your academic performance if your anxieties are overwhelming you. If I'm way off base, you can just ignore this post, but I thought that I would post it anyways just in case. :wink:

 

[JulianCrane]

CKent, I'm just fine. I appreciate your post, though. Sure, I am stressed, but I deal with it. I guess it's just the overachiever in me talking. I know I'll be fine in the end. 🙂

 

[ckent]

That's good to hear Julian; some stress is good to keep you motivated, but too much stress definitely adversely effect your performance. In response to your original question, every one of my friends from my year scored above 30. Wash U's pre-med curriculum prepares you well for the MCAT. Don't be too discouraged by your first couple of diagnostic tests either, I got a 19 and 21 on my first two diagnostic tests but I ended up doing fine on the MCAT. Aim to be scoring around 30 or above by the time you get to your last couple of diagnostics and you should score a few points above that on your actual test if you are like most people.

 

[PrincessCKNY]

Don't forget to exercise during the time frame that you are studying. You end up sleeping better at night and the night before the test. It also, for some reason, helps the stuff you are learning sink in better...maybe because of increased blood flow to the brain?

Don't forget what Elle on "Legally Blonde" says, "Exercising gives you endorphins, and endorphins make people happy!" 😀

 

[DW]

I just got my scores back this weekend (35R), and my personal piece of advice is you gotta stay as relaxed as possible for the test. The worst approach is to go in worrying "I have to break a 30". Just log the necessary time to prep for it (which is a lot, granted) and be confident enough so when test day comes you can say you're gonna get the best score you can get. Seriously, I've heard multiple stories of people doing well on their TPR/Kaplan diags up until the tests, and collapsing test day. (And is it just me, or does anyone know a LOT of people who bombed the verbal this year? Seems like I'm the only double digit score i know so far out of my immediate circle.

Study hard, take a review course if only for the practice tests, find some horribly boring periodical like the WS Journal to read a couple days a week to help on the Verbal, and most importantly get enough sleep and dont burn out before the test.

And although I'm not one to talk cause i'm banking on my high mcats to compensate for my GPA, its still only part of your application. Breaking a 30 doesn't mean a darn thing in proving your motivation to become a doctor i feel, and if your a tad sub 30, my best friend last year got into einstein, emory, nyu, waitlisted at duke with a 29. So, hoepfully that helps