Howdy from the new guy!

[Craiggjjames18]

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Hey guys, my name is Craig and I have been a constant creeper of this website for quite some time. This is where I feel at home. There is nothing better than being surrounded by thos who I aspire to be like one day. For starters, I am a student here at LSU in Baton Rouge. I am a freshman. As far as being a pre-medical student, I have not made much progress on the curriculum. The only classes I have under my belt are Intro to Bio I and Inorganic Chemistry I. Well, this week I was walking in the life science building and I had seen a Kaplan flyer advertising a free MCAT practice exam. Well, it was free so I decided to just experiment with it. I took it a few days later and I got my scores--a 13. While I was suprised to have a double digit score, I was very disappointed. This hit me hard like rock because I have been reading about posters getting great scores. My goal seems like a world away!! If I want to have a decent chance at getting into any schools I will need to essentially double my score. That seems to be unheard of! As immature as it sounds, I have begun to question whether or not I am cut out for this. I am just 'getting my feet wet' in the world of medicine and I would love to hear advice from other wiser posters. After all, I admire the successes of the posters on this board and the advice would mean a great deal to me! Well, cheers to a great year on this board! 🙂

Thanks
Craig

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

You took the MCAT with just biology 1 & chem 1. I'd be suprised if you got above a 3 in the physical science section. Anyways... it's not a big deal. You took a practice test which you were completely unprepared for and probably as such were guessing on more than 70% of the answers. If you actually had all the pre-reqs and then had studied for the mcat for around a month or two you'd be scoring probably in the high 20s at least.

 

[Craiggjjames18]

Yep. Well, my breakdown was a 2 on the physical science section, a 4 on the biological section, and a 7 on the verbal. Real eye opener. Nice to have a kick in the butt, right? 🙂

 

[noshie]

I am a freshman. I have begun to question whether or not I am cut out for this.

The best piece of wisdom I can give you is this:

None of us were cut out for medical school when we started undergrad... It's a process, and you will get there, you just have to give it time and never give up. When you start doubting yourself, you set yourself up for failure. You don't have the knowledge right now to do well on the MCAT. It's like taking a calculus test when you are in kindergarten. Of course you are going to do badly. Cut yourself some slack, stay focused on your goal and finish strong. 🙄

Oh, and welcome to SDN Craig! Happy to have you!

 

[JaggerPlate]

The Kaplan MCAT diagnostic tests (or whatever they call it) are notoriously low, and purposely scare the crap out of pre-meds who then sign up for the Kaplan course. I wouldn't necessary be scared off by this. Think of it as a combination of Kaplan wanting you to take its course, and you being very early in the journey. I think my Kaplan diagnostic was a 17 or 18 or something, and I got a 30+ on the test.

 

[fiznat]

Prerequisites for medical school:

-Science classes
-MCAT
-LORs
-Essays
-Shadowing
-Overcome doubts about self worth


Welcome to the long road that is pre-med! There will be lots of times when you will question your ability to do this. I remember feeling like all these hoops they make us jump through tested as much our will to succeed as our academic ability. Stay strong!!

 

[SLC]

Don't sweat it. You need practice to take that test.

Contrary to what many believe, it's not a test of your science knowlege. it's a test of your learning aptitude. Sure, you have to have some science background to do well, but in my view it is your reading comprehension during the associated sections that makes the high score attainable. For example you don't want to waste time imagining about something you may have never heard of. So some basic (but wide ranging) science knowlege is important.

The strategy I found most effective was to step back and relax about the test. Everything you need to know is pretty much there in the passage, it's up to you to be able to think critically and notice it. You practice so that you can read something and know what's important and what's not, and quickly.

Anyway, once I realized this My scores literally doubled with just practice reading and retaining info. I ended up taking the test with two weeks of light practice (after a summer abroad) and I got a 30+, including a 12 in the Bio section.

Disclaimer: I'm not saying don't review sciences before the test, I am saying that killing yourself with Kaplan course materials etc isn't necessary.

Best of luck and keep your head up, at least you're thinking about the MCAT early on. Took me forever to even look into registering for the exam.

 

[Craiggjjames18]

Noshie: Thank you so much for the pointers and the heart-warming welcome. Means a great deal. Nothing better than hearing from someone who has done it before. COngrats on your acceptance as well! Best of luck!

Jagger plate: What you tell me makes sense. I have looked into doing the course, as well. Looks like it will put a strain on my parents' wallet. Congrats on your score. Hearing those kinds of scores are great! Thanks again.

Fiznat: Stay strong? That i can do! haha thankss 🙂

 

[Craiggjjames18]

SLC: Congrats on your score as well! Gosh, these 30s are encouraging me more and more. Thanks again! means soooo much to me.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Jagger plate: What you tell me makes sense. I have looked into doing the course, as well. Looks like it will put a strain on my parents' wallet. Congrats on your score. Hearing those kinds of scores are great! Thanks again.

Just as an aside ... do your research beforehand. I took the Kaplan course (like you said, huge financial investment), and it really did NOT work for my learning style. Took the test, and was not happy with my scores. The second time around, I self studied with Berkeley Review, Exam Krackers, and a select few Kaplan books (ignoring their 'tips and tricks') and did much, much better.

However, I've had friends who have stuck with the Kaplan methods and done pretty well too. It's all subjective, but do some research and think about how you learn before committing to a course, and like others are saying, taking a lot of practice tests is key!

 

[group_theory]

The fact that you took the time to sit down and take the diagnostic test, instead of using your free time to do what other college students normally do, speaks to your dedication to the pursuit of medicine (hope it doesn't become an obsession 😛)

With one semester of biology and one semester of chemistry, and no "prep" or practice or previous exposure to the MCAT, I would be extremely surprised if you scored above a 5 on any of the science section.

With time, as you take more classes, explore more opportunities, meet new and exciting friends (whether students, grad students, professors, doctors, etc), you will gain knowledge, experience, maturity, and all that other jazz that medical school look for.

In the meanwhile, in between studying, assignments, volunteering, clubs, etc - make sure to enjoy yourself and have fun. While your goal is to become a physician, please take time to enjoy the ride 🙂

And welcome to SDN 😀

 

[swimchick]

Just as an aside ... do your research beforehand. I took the Kaplan course (like you said, huge financial investment), and it really did NOT work for my learning style. Took the test, and was not happy with my scores. The second time around, I self studied with Berkeley Review, Exam Krackers, and a select few Kaplan books (ignoring their 'tips and tricks') and did much, much better.

However, I've had friends who have stuck with the Kaplan methods and done pretty well too. It's all subjective, but do some research and think about how you learn before committing to a course, and like others are saying, taking a lot of practice tests is key!

I felt this was worth repeating....

I took a Kaplan course for one of my MCAT exams and, like Jagger, found it didn't work to my learning style at all. I felt like the course focused too much on the "tips and tricks" of the exam. Many of my friends succeed with Kaplan, but it just wasn't for me.

For my 3rd MCAT, I took a Princeton Review course and supplemented with Exam Krackers. TPR worked much better for me and EK was good for breaking down more complicated topics (I also recommend EK's Audio Osmosis if you can get your hands on it). Definitely take some time to evaluate your learning skills before dropping money on a review course. I think both Kaplan and TPR allow you to sit in on a class for free and I recommend you do that.

Don't worry so much about your diagnostic score. I think I scored an 18 on my first practice exam, and that was after I completed all the pre-reqs.

Getting in to medical school is a crazy journey but, if you allow it, the journey can be a lot of fun. I've experienced some heartbreak and a lot of stress but quite honestly, I wouldn't change anything 🙂

Best of luck to you!!

 

[JaggerPlate]

found it didn't work to my learning style at all. I felt like the course focused too much on the "tips and tricks" of the exam.

This was essentially my issue as well.

 

[Sinfest]

Welcome! As cheesy as it sounds, if medicine is what you really want don't ever give up! Your diagnostic score is not indicative of anything, so don't let it get to you. Best of luck with everything.

 

[ShyRem]

And so begins the marathon journey with but one step..........

Remember to stop and smell a couple of roses along the way. Don't be a one-note. Develop some good outside interests. Learn how to cook, how to fix your car, live on a tight budget (unless you happen to be rich). Learn how to whittle, develop good fitness habits that will be easy to keep, and start giving back to the community early. Start getting some medical experiences - even if it's just volunteering at the local free clinic once a month. Learn how to take BPs, pulses, and volunteer at a local health fair. Become a CPR instructor. Do SOMETHING that shows you have been exposed to medicine. Go build houses for habitat for humanity. (you don't really have to do all of these things - these are merely suggestions.)

There is a lot you can set in motion now that will make your life more fulfilled and the application season a bit easier.

 

[Craiggjjames18]

Thank you guys.....and gals! Never knew the medical community could be so accepting. Thanks a great deal, everybody! Best wishes to you all 🙂