I'm a allopathic student with a 25 MCAT score. Please give me some USMLE advice.

[han14tra]

---

Members do not see this ad.

My exam is on June 24th. So far, I've read BRS physio and BRS path twice. I've also read BRS behavioral science and studied biostats. Right now, I'm on Chap 9 in Clinical Micro Made RS. I do all of the BRS questions and I've done 15% of the UWorld Questions.

I just did a practice UWorld test and got a 55%. I tested myself on behavioral, biostats, pathophysio, physio, and path because that's what I've studied.

I plan on finishing CMMRS this week and taking my first NBME test this Sunday.

Feedback please? Do I need to make any changes? Thanks!😀

PS. The only thing I have left to study is biochem and immuno. Maybe Cell bio/histo if I have time. I'm reserving the entire last 2 weeks for nothing but practice Qs and first aid. I'm also cramming in Pharm those last 2 weeks (using mainly FA, and BRS pharm as a reference). I haven't read first aid at all yet.

 

[han14tra]

Hmm..I don't seem to be getting any views on this topic. Perhaps I'll try posting this in the Allopathic forum. This forum seems to be for specific questions about path, physio, biochem etc. Moderators, please close this thread.

 

[Premedico]

You have to start reading First Aid NOW!! You should have already read it at least once by now.

 

[SeekerOfTheTree]

Why on earth are you not using First Aid? There is gold in that book I tell ya...GOLD!!!!!

 

[DrYoda]

First aid has a good microbio section that IMO makes CMMRS unnecessary. So basically what the other people said FA + Uworld.

 

[winkleweizen]

My exam is on June 24th. So far, I've read BRS physio and BRS path twice. I've also read BRS behavioral science and studied biostats. Right now, I'm on Chap 9 in Clinical Micro Made RS. I do all of the BRS questions and I've done 15% of the UWorld Questions.

I just did a practice UWorld test and got a 55%. I tested myself on behavioral, biostats, pathophysio, physio, and path because that's what I've studied.

I plan on finishing CMMRS this week and taking my first NBME test this Sunday.

Feedback please? Do I need to make any changes? Thanks!😀

PS. The only thing I have left to study is biochem and immuno. Maybe Cell bio/histo if I have time. I'm reserving the entire last 2 weeks for nothing but practice Qs and first aid. I'm also cramming in Pharm those last 2 weeks (using mainly FA, and BRS pharm as a reference). I haven't read first aid at all yet.

first off who cares what your mcat score is. Second, drop everything and just do your best to finish uw (while reading all the questions) and read FA 3X times

 

[MossPoh]

It is a pretty weak correlation between MCAT and USMLE. Your effort through the last two years is a much bigger indicator.

Just keep hammering away and when you think you know it, hammer some more. What else can you do?

I had a 27 on the MCAT. I've made it a personal vendetta against standardized tests at this point. So far, indicators are that I will be in a much higher percentile of test takers for step 1 than I was for the MCAT. I'm not gifted in any way. Just have to work hard and smart.

Lots of first aid, uworld and toss in goljan or whatever else if you have time.

 

[unsung]

First aid has a good microbio section that IMO makes CMMRS unnecessary. So basically what the other people said FA + Uworld.

I disagree. My microbio scores went way up after I read CMMRS. It has good sections on antibiotics too, so it helped my pharm score a bit too.

FA is just a bunch of words to me... I really couldn't retain much out of the micro chapter. Unless I annotate CMMRS into it. lol Yeah... I'm finding FA pretty useless, except for annotating stuff into it. It's like either stuff I already know, or stuff I don't know at all. In either event, not very helpful.

So OP: I feel your pain re: First Aid! I'm done reading most of the organ systems. Still need to get myself to go through micro, biochem, etc.

I would recommend not cramming pharm. There's a lot of stuff there. And it can really help your score! Also, I 2nd the others re: finishing UWorld Qs.

 

[han14tra]

Thanks soo much for advice so far. This is how I'm going to modify my schedule:

Stop reading CMMRS for now. I've gotten through Bacteria so I'm at a good stopping place.

Tomorrow, start reading Path, Physio, and Behavioral Science sections in FA since I've read all the BRS books on those topics. I'm hoping it will help cement it in. Also, keep doing my UWorld Qs.

Once I do that, return to CMMRS and finish it. Do micro UWorld Qs.

Next week, biochem in First Aid and Goljan. Also, Immuno. Do UWorld Biochem and Immuno Qs.

Last 2 weeks: Read FA from start to finish again. This will be the 2nd pass. Really hit the Qs hard in UWorld.

 

[officedepot]

Thanks soo much for advice so far. This is how I'm going to modify my schedule:

Stop reading CMMRS for now. I've gotten through Bacteria so I'm at a good stopping place.

Tomorrow, start reading Path, Physio, and Behavioral Science sections in FA since I've read all the BRS books on those topics. I'm hoping it will help cement it in. Also, keep doing my UWorld Qs.

Once I do that, return to CMMRS and finish it. Do micro UWorld Qs.

Next week, biochem in First Aid and Goljan. Also, Immuno. Do UWorld Biochem and Immuno Qs.

Last 2 weeks: Read FA from start to finish again. This will be the 2nd pass. Really hit the Qs hard in UWorld.

I don't know man. You've only done 15% of uworld questions so far and were 10% below the average on a practice test. You really need to do questions. Do as much as possible in the next few weeks. If you've studied path as much as you have that should be enough to study off from questions. Unfortunately you haven't done first aid yet so I don't know how helpful it'll be at this point. It was high yield for me and most people.

Uworld is also very very high yield. You need to do ALL the questions and study ALL the answers. You need to start this ASAP becuase you only have a good 3 weeks left. You also should do a couple NBME tests - I suggest do one ASAP to see where you are currently score wise. A 25 MCAT is pretty low and is a pretty good predictor of step 1 score. Yeah there are exceptions and working hard year 2 makes up for a lower MCAT score but MCAT measures your ability to do well on standardized tests which step 1 is and people tend to do well on both or poorly on both from what I understand. Regardless that is why you need to start practice questions ASAP at this point. Unless you are super weak on a subject you need to devote most of your time to questions.

Good luck!!

 

[ProtossCarrier]

read FA.

 

[han14tra]

With UWorld Questions, the reason I get them wrong isn't because I don't understand the concept. It's because I can't remember some tiny detail. I can usually narrow it down to 2 answers. So, I think I should be reading FA and doing Qs at the same time to really try to get it to stick. Also, I'm not consistently low on UWorld Qs. I'm in the 75th percentile overall.

However, I will start doing 75 Qs a night from UWorld. That will allow me to get through all of it before my test. The reason I haven't done many UWorld Qs so far is because I've been doing so many BRS questions.

 

[officedepot]

With UWorld Questions, the reason I get them wrong isn't because I don't understand the concept. It's because I can't remember some tiny detail. I can usually narrow it down to 2 answers. So, I think I should be reading FA and doing Qs at the same time to really try to get it to stick. Also, I'm not consistently low on UWorld Qs. I'm in the 75th percentile overall.

However, I will start doing 75 Qs a night from UWorld. That will allow me to get through all of it before my test. The reason I haven't done many UWorld Qs so far is because I've been doing so many BRS questions.

agreed with the tiny detail stuff. However, step 1 is also like that so go figure I guess. Anyway that's good that you've been doing questions. Focusing on uworld and FA at this point is probably your best bet. With 3 weeks that gives you some time to sure up your weak areas too.

I still suggest a NBME practice exam. I also liked the uworld self assessments because you can read all the explanations - though the second one wasn't good with my score prediction at all unfortunately since it was super high haha.

Also give yourself some time off right before the exam. Only some very light stuff. You need at least half a day to get your head straight I would say.

 

[raynor123456]

....You've only done 15% of uworld questions so far and were 10% below the average on a practice test...

He got a 55% on the practice test, which is pretty close to the UW average, not 10% below.

I agree with the people who say UW + FA = gold for the next three weeks.

 

[SlaveOfTCMC]

you must read First Aid.

As I was answer keying the NBMEs, I've noticed a vast majority of questions could be answered straight out of first aid

(if not a direct reference, then "utilizing First AID to eliminate wrong answre choices and then making an educated guess")

Few questions required direct recall from another source, and this was usually physical exam (use Bates) or just something you had to pick up from another source (whether other review books, classwork, or just happened to have come by)


Moreover, the only real use for MCAT scores in prediction, and this is fairly limited, is the verbal score. It's not a reflection of your English. Rather, some say it's an indirect marker of how clearly you will read the question stems on the real test and if you can follow the train of logic.

Nonetheless, although that does have merit, it is still a limited gauge.

 

[Sheldor]

However, I will start doing 75 Qs a night from UWorld. That will allow me to get through all of it before my test. The reason I haven't done many UWorld Qs so far is because I've been doing so many BRS questions.

Just wanted to make sure you knew that this will probably take you at least 4 hours to do all those questions. Uworld is awesome, but when you are doing a block of 46, random, timed it can take 1.5 to 2 hours to review if your fast about it!

 

[han14tra]

UWorld destroys my confidence. I studied FA, BRS Path, and BRS Physio. I decided to take a 60 Q practice test in Cardio (which I had just studied in FA today). I got a 59% and the avg was 48%. Am I going to bomb Step 1? What's a good UWorld score?

 

[raynor123456]

UWorld destroys my confidence. I studied FA, BRS Path, and BRS Physio. I decided to take a 60 Q practice test in Cardio (which I had just studied in FA today). I got a 59% and the avg was 48%. Am I going to bomb Step 1? What's a good UWorld score?

If you're above average, I think it's fair to assume that it's unlikely that you're going to bomb.HOWEVER, that doesn't mean you should ease up. Use the NBME's to guage your progress.

 

[raynor123456]

..Moreover, the only real use for MCAT scores in prediction, and this is fairly limited, is the verbal score. It's not a reflection of your English. Rather, some say it's an indirect marker of how clearly you will read the question stems on the real test and if you can follow the train of logic.

Nonetheless, although that does have merit, it is still a limited gauge.

Verbal is the worst predictor. Bio was the best. Verbal was so bad, in fact, that on it's own there is really no good predictive value at all.

I will never understand how verbal earned this mystical reputation as being the "smart persons" subject. It's silly--it's the well-read person's subject. Everyone I've ever met who has been a book-worm does well in Verbal. However, people who had strong Verbal and weak sciences have consistently had much more difficulty in med school than people who had strong sciences and weak verbal.

What I find most amazing about this is that a huge group of well-educated, smart people don't seem to acknowledge the obvious and logical truth, that people who are strong in biology do well in medical school, which is basically advanced studies in human biology.

/rant

 

[deleted116380]

Forget the MCAT. The second you got into med school, it didn't mean a damn thing from then on. No one will talk about your score or even ask and it's not a predictor of USMLE performance. First 2 year grades + effort in your 5 or so weeks off is how you do. Not some dumb verbal passage from like 3 years ago.

 

[SlaveOfTCMC]

Verbal is the worst predictor. Bio was the best. Verbal was so bad, in fact, that on it's own there is really no good predictive value at all.

I will never understand how verbal earned this mystical reputation as being the "smart persons" subject. It's silly--it's the well-read person's subject. Everyone I've ever met who has been a book-worm does well in Verbal. However, people who had strong Verbal and weak sciences have consistently had much more difficulty in med school than people who had strong sciences and weak verbal.

What I find most amazing about this is that a huge group of well-educated, smart people don't seem to acknowledge the obvious and logical truth, that people who are strong in biology do well in medical school, which is basically advanced studies in human biology.

/rant

Don't have a cow man...

Critical thinking and ability to sift through junk as quickly as possible is a vital key for problem solving. Being a physician is one half knowing basic science and one half problem solving (including the clinical aspects)

While it is true the rare individual who scored high on the verbal section and bombed the sciences will not do as well, that person is the exception, not the rule.

If basic science were all there was to being a doctor, then we should all be Ph.Ds.

Back to the OP's question at hand:

Whatever you do, don't lag behind.

The worse mistake you can make is to think you are still in college.

 

[raynor123456]

Don't have a cow man...

Critical thinking and ability to sift through junk as quickly as possible is a vital key for problem solving. Being a physician is one half knowing basic science and one half problem solving (including the clinical aspects)

While it is true the rare individual who scored high on the verbal section and bombed the sciences will not do as well, that person is the exception, not the rule.

Misinformation is a pet peeve of mine. Honestly, I think it should be something that we all collectively abhor (think: misinformation about vaccinations and our resultant reduction in herd immunity that's leading to peds deaths).

Look for yourself. Verbal is a hideous predictor of how a person will perform on Step. I could go on about how stupid VR is and how illogical it is to use it to compare applicants for hours (and yes, I did fine on it), but I'll just give you the facts for your own edification and leave it at that so that this thread can get back on track.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12377692?dopt=AbstractPlus

 

[aphios5]

Misinformation is a pet peeve of mine. Honestly, I think it should be something that we all collectively abhor (think: misinformation about vaccinations and our resultant reduction in herd immunity that's leading to peds deaths).

Look for yourself. Verbal is a hideous predictor of how a person will perform on Step. I could go on about how stupid VR is and how illogical it is to use it to compare applicants for hours (and yes, I did fine on it), but I'll just give you the facts for your own edification and leave it at that so that this thread can get back on track.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12377692?dopt=AbstractPlus

Please forgive me if I've missed something and feel free to set me in the right direction, but the very study you cite, states to the contrary: in general VR is not a strong predictor, but the best predictor overall in the given variables......?

Page 3: "...It appears from the beta coefficients presented that it was the UGIVR score that added the improvement in prediction. However, since the undergraduate mean MCAT scores were entered in blockwise fashion, one can not interpret the individual UGI-score betas. This study did show a greater correlation between individual MCAT-VR scores and USMLE Step 1 performances than would be expected, and we are not sure how to interpret this finding. In general, previous studies with other data demonstrated less correlation of the MCAT-VR score with performance on a science-laden exam such as USMLE Step 1. Our data suggest that perhaps schools should pay more attention to the Verbal Reasoning section score in the selection process, particularly if it has better correlation with performance in the later years of medical school...."

 

[raynor123456]

BIG RED LETTERS ARE UNECESSARY

You didn't read what you quoted. Note the key word "expected" in the following partial sentence: "...greater correlation between individual MCAT-VR scores and USMLE Step 1 performances than would be expected". It also said "pay more attention to [VR]", not pay more attention to VR THAN BS and PS.

It was recently proven that Wikipedia is as accurate as the Encyclopedia Brittanica, and with that in mind here is their interpretation of that same study:

"The Biological Sciences section most directly correlates to success on the USMLE Step 1 exam, with a correlation coefficient of .553 vs .491 for Physical Sciences and .397 for Verbal Reasoning.[2] Predictably, MCAT composite scores also correlate with USMLE Step 1 success.[3]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_College_Admission_Test#cite_note-1

 

[yamaraja808]

Forget the MCAT. The second you got into med school, it didn't mean a damn thing from then on. No one will talk about your score or even ask and it's not a predictor of USMLE performance. First 2 year grades + effort in your 5 or so weeks off is how you do. Not some dumb verbal passage from like 3 years ago.

You sir are my inspiration! 👍

 

[aphios5]

BIG RED LETTERS ARE UNECESSARY

You didn't read what you quoted. Note the key word "expected" in the following partial sentence: "...greater correlation between individual MCAT-VR scores and USMLE Step 1 performances than would be expected". It also said "pay more attention to [VR]", not pay more attention to VR THAN BS and PS.

It was recently proven that Wikipedia is as accurate as the Encyclopedia Brittanica, and with that in mind here is their interpretation of that same study:

"The Biological Sciences section most directly correlates to success on the USMLE Step 1 exam, with a correlation coefficient of .553 vs .491 for Physical Sciences and .397 for Verbal Reasoning.[2] Predictably, MCAT composite scores also correlate with USMLE Step 1 success.[3]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_College_Admission_Test#cite_note-1

I quickly chose a color, very arbitrarily when responding to your post...

...in essence, thank you for your response, however, I find that your "big red letters" are bigger, more red and more obnoxious than mine were...wow, chill out - it's really not that serious...

 

[quepatho]

Bio or verbal, who cares?

Either way, where's the 247 med friends says I should be making based on my MCAT? That's all I want to know.

Somehow my practice tests disagree...😉

 

[SeekerOfTheTree]

I can't read. I got a 1 on Verbal.

 

[MossPoh]

Most people narrow uworld questions down to 2 answers. Doing more of them trains you to pick up those stupid details. Also, many of the more important fine details are explained in the answers. It is the difference between using uworld as an assessment and using it as an educational tool.

You have to have a solid basis obviously, but just reading FA isn't that helpful unless you do have a solid understanding or clinical picture in your head of many of the things.

It is all about repetition. If you like MRS for microbio then use it. The microbiology section of FA is near the bottom for me personally. I feel like it is missing just enough information to leave me frustrated. I have microcards that I used throughout the year, as well as MRS and the combo was golden for me. I really like microcards, excluding the few outdated facts. I can slide a few of them in my pocket and go eat or stare at randomly during dead time. They have nice little vignettes and pretty good pathophysiology stuff. I also like how they don't really lump things together. Each bacteria/virus/fungus gets its own little A couple you struggle with? Just take those out and look at those.

Now, I'm not sure I'd recommend throwing down cash on them for such a short time period but if you know someone who has them, it may be worthwhile to check out.

MCAT means next to nothing. All the analayses have their little flaws. The correlation is ridiculously low for my school. (We have a guy that actually cranks out nearly every statistic possible. He has to be a huge baseball fan with the stuff he comes up with)

Never use things in your past as an excuse. The only thing that does is set yourself up for failure and leave you with a convenient little out. You've survived this far, so you obviously have the capacity to succeed on the exam. Don't bog yourself down with a million things. Get really good at the big things and then sprinkle the little in.