Hey everyone, I will be taking the MCAT and OAT in the next year. Are the two tests content relatively the same? I plan on taking a MCAT class during the summer and plan on buying all the study books and programs, will this be sufficient for studying for the OAT also? or should i buy OAT study books and stuff too? 😱😕
Is studying for the MCAT enough?
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If you do rely solely on MCAT study materials, and want to take the OAT too, I recommend doing one or more actual OAT practice tests. For instance, Kaplan sometimes offers free practice tests at universities (visit their website), there is also a Kaplan book (only $20-30 I think) that has a couple full length OAT-specific practice tests (and some extra Q's), and some people have used OAT Destroyer and Achiever, too (I don't know much about those myself).
I do also agree with the above post-- neither (med school vs optometry school) should be the back-up plan for the other, if you've really made up your mind as to which profession you really want to pursue (which you probably should). Best of luck with everything!! Have some fun job shadowing, and see what you end up deciding is right for you. =)
I do also agree with the above post-- neither (med school vs optometry school) should be the back-up plan for the other, if you've really made up your mind as to which profession you really want to pursue (which you probably should). Best of luck with everything!! Have some fun job shadowing, and see what you end up deciding is right for you. =)
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-The MCAT and the OAT are NOT the same. The whole MCAT test is full of reading passages and you have to analyze (and then invent something/think outside of the box) instead of just straight up question/answer like the OAT is. The MCAT tests basic knowledge, but you have to apply it as it relates to a passage.
-As far as study materials, the MCAT books may stress subjects the OAT does/doesn't stress as much and I would also suggest you at least take a look at the opted test to see how much the test formats differ. I used my boyfriend's physics prep book and it helped a lotttt.
If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. Good luck!
True story from one of my ODs:
He had been studying for the MCAT with every intention of applying to med school. His sister was applying to Optometry school. On the day of her OAT, she asked him to drive her there and back. Not wanting to make two trips, he wanted to find something to do in the area during the 4-5 hours. What did he do? He decided, "Sure what the heck, I'll take the OAT with her. Good MCAT practice, right?"
Turns out he killed it and decided to apply to one optometry school. If he made it in, great, if not, back to med school plans. Well, he got accepted and has since been a very happy and excellent OD with a few of his own PPs (his sister did not get accepted to that school, which is the funny part 😛. But they now work together at one of the PPs.). In hindsight, he was very glad he got into optometry instead of medicine because he now realizes how much more suited he is to it.
Disclaimer: This is from back when many opt students were, in fact, med school rejects or whatever. They are cracking down on that now, because most people in his situation do not have such a happy ending. As such, I still recommend you shadow and figure out what you want to do. I just offered this scenario to show that it's not impossible to be a good OD if you were unsure at the start.
Oh and I used MCAT review books with OAT practice tests. Those + my bio degree, and I felt more than adequately prepared. 🙂 Good luck with whatever you decide!
He had been studying for the MCAT with every intention of applying to med school. His sister was applying to Optometry school. On the day of her OAT, she asked him to drive her there and back. Not wanting to make two trips, he wanted to find something to do in the area during the 4-5 hours. What did he do? He decided, "Sure what the heck, I'll take the OAT with her. Good MCAT practice, right?"
Turns out he killed it and decided to apply to one optometry school. If he made it in, great, if not, back to med school plans. Well, he got accepted and has since been a very happy and excellent OD with a few of his own PPs (his sister did not get accepted to that school, which is the funny part 😛. But they now work together at one of the PPs.). In hindsight, he was very glad he got into optometry instead of medicine because he now realizes how much more suited he is to it.
Disclaimer: This is from back when many opt students were, in fact, med school rejects or whatever. They are cracking down on that now, because most people in his situation do not have such a happy ending. As such, I still recommend you shadow and figure out what you want to do. I just offered this scenario to show that it's not impossible to be a good OD if you were unsure at the start.
Oh and I used MCAT review books with OAT practice tests. Those + my bio degree, and I felt more than adequately prepared. 🙂 Good luck with whatever you decide!
The main point here should be that the OAT is just an easier test than the MCAT, in so many different categories. The questions are much more straightforward, the RC and QR sections are vastly simpler.... If someone was sufficiently prepared for the MCAT, I wouldn't suggest ANY additional studying/preparation for the OAT. I guess it couldn't hurt to do one or two practice tests just to get timing stuff down, but I honestly don't think it would be required.
Ok....so my brother took the MCAT and I didnt want to spend another grand on OAT materials so I just studied of his books and flashcards and did fine! The material they cover is generally the same. Just make sure to do the OAT practice exams!
That being said, it is true that the format of the exams are different, so I don't think the MCAT class would benefit you very much.
That being said, it is true that the format of the exams are different, so I don't think the MCAT class would benefit you very much.
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The Material for the MCAT is more comprehensive and in depth. The OAT is more focused on spefic items(from what my kaplan isntructor told me)... so you would definitely get pretty much all of the information you would need... the only thing is that the OAT does emphasize some things that the MCAT does not such as optics in physics. but like the previous messages said i would def try and take as many practice OAT's to see what parts of the OAT your comfortable with and what parts maybe the MCAT prep didnt prepare you well enough for.
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Studying the material wont hurt, as topics will over lap for sure.
You still may want to take practice OAT on the opted website and stuff just because you want to be comfortable with the test.
Also, in regard to other stuff on this thread...yes, while i agree that Optometry and Medical school should not be "back ups" for each other, there are people who feel equally comfortable with both. I dont think there is anything wrong with someone who wants to apply to both as long as their reasons are valid (as in your not thinking "backup" just to get a doctorate).
As i have talked to many people about this, i believe as long as your reasons are valid, it is ok to apply to both.
Im sure many people in the past have applied to both, and got accepted to both.
You still may want to take practice OAT on the opted website and stuff just because you want to be comfortable with the test.
Also, in regard to other stuff on this thread...yes, while i agree that Optometry and Medical school should not be "back ups" for each other, there are people who feel equally comfortable with both. I dont think there is anything wrong with someone who wants to apply to both as long as their reasons are valid (as in your not thinking "backup" just to get a doctorate).
As i have talked to many people about this, i believe as long as your reasons are valid, it is ok to apply to both.
Im sure many people in the past have applied to both, and got accepted to both.
I agree with Inh and Eyenstein. When it comes to knowing what kind of career you want to pursue, some people are certain it is a specialty, others just want to be in a certain industry. The short window of admissions means if you're unsure of pursuing a certain health care career, you have to take all of the tests before you have done any shadowing.
My friend is an excellent example. Her whole life she has wanted to help people in health, and went from physical therapy to physician's assistant, medical doctor to dentist, even optometry! She pursued all tests (maddeningly, of course!) until she had a wonderful shadowing opportunity that sealed her career goals.
Some people just like to interact with patients and enjoy the experience of being able to help, irregardless of the capacity or technique they use. If you are this kind of person, then I would encourage you to apply to all health fields possible because losing a person who cares about people in this industry is a greater loss than someone who matches up perfectly on paper but would otherwise forgo patient interactions.
My friend is an excellent example. Her whole life she has wanted to help people in health, and went from physical therapy to physician's assistant, medical doctor to dentist, even optometry! She pursued all tests (maddeningly, of course!) until she had a wonderful shadowing opportunity that sealed her career goals.
Some people just like to interact with patients and enjoy the experience of being able to help, irregardless of the capacity or technique they use. If you are this kind of person, then I would encourage you to apply to all health fields possible because losing a person who cares about people in this industry is a greater loss than someone who matches up perfectly on paper but would otherwise forgo patient interactions.
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yes, definitely. I think the poster might have been confused with the DAT, there is no physics on that
I haven't read the entire thread so I may be repeating someone else but I took both the MCAT and the OAT over the summer/fall. I took a summer MCAT study course and I felt it over prepared me for the OAT. Having said that, the OAT is a very differently structured test, so don't go into it blind, you definitely need to take some practice tests on it. Also there is a whole section on Ochem on the OAT where on the MCAT I think only 10% of it is Ochem, so you need to study that a little more. The OAT also has the quantitative section so practicing math definitely helps. Aside from that, the verbal sections and every other bio section you will study for the MCAT will make you feel like the OAT is a piece of cake. This was all my experience at least, hope it helps and good luck!
Hi. Sorry to reference such an old post, but I am really curious by what you mean when you say they are "cracking down on that now." Are opt schools researching to see if you took the MCAT also? I don't understand how that would happen. Can they even get that info if you (obviously) never send them your MCAT scores? I may be taking the MCAT and OAT because I am still deciding between the two (I know I should decide beforehand, but that's another story). Should I be concerned?
Sorry to reply to such an old post, but as I asked another poster, how would the Opt schools know if I applied to Med schools also?? I am like you described, someone who feels comfortable with both professions, and so I may end up applying to both while making a final decision. Do Opt schools check with Med schools or AAMCAS to see if you have applied? Can that info even be released without my permission? Just trying to determine if I should really be concerned about this
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They wouldn't know unless you decide to release the test scores to them, otherwise I'd think that be a gross invasion of privacy.
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But they will ask if you have applied to any other professional graduate programs, and unless you lie to them, they will know you are also applying to medical schools, and they will want an explanation. I don't think that will be detrimental, as long as you explain that you are interested in multiple things, and not that Optometry is your backup. Schools (as well as the rest of us) don't want people who are using their profession as a backup. Medicine and Optometry are very different fields. It's like comparing apples to oranges. I considered medicine for about 8 seconds, and decided I would not enjoy that career, as I'm sure most medical doctors would agree that they would not enjoy Optometry.
