How much should someone avoid the 2015 MCAT?

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jlocker83

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Is the 2015 MCAT going to put me at a significant disadvantage; in terms of taking a test no one knows much about. I'd prefer to take a June 2014 MCAT on one hand, but on the other, I'd like to get in biochem before doing so..which would mean an August MCAT...which means, applying late...

Alternatively, I could take all of the classes I needed (and then some) and take a Jan 2015 MCAT, and apply the first day of the next cycle...what is everyone's thoughts?
 
I could have put off physics for an extra year and that would have forced me to take the new MCAT in the Summer of 2015. I will not be taking biochem either but I will have genetics and cell biology by the time I take it in August '14. I have been told that both of those classes will be very helpful. I agree that I want nothing to do with a test which no one knowns anything about and can't give a good score-bad score type of opinion. I think I have a pretty sweet set up where I can take the exam following a summer of studying, and apply the second AMCAS can release applications the following summer. I recommend taking the current one for sure.
 
IMO it doesn't matter which test you take as long as you prepare well for it. My guess is that they will use the same percentile you are in for your overall score to look for who to interview/accept as they do now, it's just that the numbers will be different.
 
I would avoid the new MCAT..if you can take it before 2015, why not get it done? The prep materials you will find for the current MCAT are much more defined, making it easier to study for it.

I had a sociology experimental section when I took my MCAT earlier this year, and it covered psychology and even statistics! The 2015 MCAT is going to cover a ton of additional information and this can only result in more stress..

It won't be as difficult for younger pre-meds to prepare for the new MCAT because they wil be adding sociology and psychology classes into their curriculum early on (and any other classes they need). However, if you are borderline and are missing some of those core classes, take the current MCAT..

If I were in your position, I would take the exam in June 2014. You don't really need biochem for the current MCAT, just freshen up your bio and orgo knowledge..
 
No one is going to know what to do with the 2015 MCAT (schools included) that first year, much like what happened when the writing section was introduced with the SAT. I don't think it's going to make a huge difference one way or another. You probably just think that it will because it's one of the few things in the process that you can control and have a choice about.

Probably the worst thing you can do is picking a test date that is less ideal (e.g., won't finish pre-reqs, will be taking the test during a particularly heavy semester, etc.) just to avoid the new exam. That doesn't make any sense and will likely have a bigger impact on your score (in a bad way) than the form of the test that you take.
 
Youtube channel KhanAcademyMedicine has flooded my subscription feed with a video on every psychology and sociology topic that will be on the 2015 MCAT. The new mcat really wont be that bad based on the biochem section I had. The biochem was the same info from passage + one fact from knowledge gives answer, and it was fairly easy.

Wait to finish pre reqs. The new test wont be that bad, besides the neurotic pre med being uncertain about a new test they can't control.
 
Doudline said:
... I think that's exactly what he was saying.
Click to expand...

Not exactly. 2015 MCAT takers are in a disadvantage in regards to those who are takinf the earlier versions (shorter exams, clear prep, know what it will be like). No one cares how you fare among others (the score will say).
 
I wouldn't try to "cram" the old MCAT in as a replacement for a more ideal date (be that the current test or the 2015 MCAT). Everyone will be in the same boat and yes, the test is likely more convoluted and difficult , but it's the same for everybody.
 
The test dates for California are almost all completely full now. It looks like everyone is scrambling to take that last administration of the old test.

How are schools going to compare applicants who took the old test vs the new test in the same application cycle though? These first three years are going to be interesting.
 
Why not take the August 2014 exam but still apply during June 2015? Your exam score will still be valid and you get extra study time, old exam, and early application - all wins.
 
I was actually thinking, do you think taking the 2015 exam could actually be better than taking the 2014? Because maybe adcom's will be more forgiving, like they won't weigh the MCAT as heavily for that cycle knowing that it's a new test and people did not know exactly how to prepare for it. And the idea of what a "good score is" might not be clear so maybe people won't be screened out as easily?

I could be completely wrong though lol just speculating 😉
 
kyamh said:
Why not take the August 2014 exam but still apply during June 2015? Your exam score will still be valid and you get extra study time, old exam, and early application - all wins.
Click to expand...

Only disadvantage I see is not being able to retake if OP doesn't receive the score they want. If they retake their gonna be studying for an entirely new test so that would be annoying. Other than that, it's a great idea.
 
an honest practical answer? Schools wont even look at judging based on the new sections.. There is nothing from them to compare it to. When they added the writing section to the SAT years ago, for the most part, colleges still only looked at the Math/verbal and essentially disregarded the writing portion. I wouldn't be surprised if they did the same thing for the first year or two with the sociology and psych sections. (I'd still just take the 2014 test if possible)
 
You don't need biochem for the MCAT. I didn't take biochem and did just fine (along with a lot of other people I know). I would use that time to study for the MCAT and then take biochem in the fall or spring if you really need it (for degree or admissions to school).
 
Lollygag said:
Only disadvantage I see is not being able to retake if OP doesn't receive the score they want. If they retake their gonna be studying for an entirely new test so that would be annoying. Other than that, it's a great idea.
Click to expand...
Actually, January 2015 is the old test still. That's my plan.
 
pretty much you have to study sociology, psychology and biochem in addition to the MCAT 2013-2014 (in reference to science sections)
 
Wow, things changed. I got an A in the biochem class I wasn't going to take and now I'm preparing to take the MCAT 2015 this August.
 
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