Importance of MCAT

Ok guys/gals

I know ppl on here freak out about the MCAt. 4 years ago i did the same! I was a SDN person and I was scared.

I still got into a US medical school. i'm not a Under Repre Minority. And I did not take a year off/do research, blah blah.

I'm sure things have gotten 'harder' nowadays, since every year it seems getting into med school is harder. BUT...here's my suggestion:

1)isolate a few schools which you REALLY have a shot at going
2) LET THEM KNOW THAT!
3) be flexible in terms of location. Yes, you may be from teh EAst coast but may have to go to the Midwest. Just do it. You will be a US medical student (which is probably the single factor into getting into a competitive residency down the line).
4)contact deans at the school where you want to go.



Obtain the fire to indure, the mroe ppl say you are a failure. Persist and persevere...that's the key. Ppl will tell you that there's a correlation b/w doing horrible on the MCAt and the USMLE. COMPLETE B.S !! I passed both Steps 1&2 on my first attempt. i'm going into a VERY competitive residency now.

SO it can be done!

 

if you've heard the saying "study hard, but play harder" it is certainly applicable to medical school.

yes, i did study like crazy (not soo much in the beginning which took a toll on my grades) but i also went out/had tons of fun. The other thing is, just because you got in, dont just chill out too much. at some schools you can still fail out.

i am a strong proponent of studyign like mad....but really tk breaks! your attention span is saturated after a hour or so, so tk frequent breaks when studying and things.

the major threat to a student in their first year is BIOCHEM. as much as possible try to brush up or learn teh basics of that before med school. if need be go to a community college and tk a biochem class (which wont count) just to get familiar. I didnt do taht....but hey i think it's a great idea esp since its those ppl that were biochem majors in college that end up doing well in that class for the MOSt part.

the other way to look at it is, just chill the summer before med school...get teh partying and stuff out of you so tht you can be ready.


Good lucK!