MCAT and USMLE!??

[Disenchanted 1]

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Ok, is there positive, negative, or no correlation at all!!

 

[thackl]

Ok, is there positive, negative, or no correlation at all!!

This info is on the AAMC website. It's been a while since I looked, but I remember a weak positive correlation.

 

[lindyloohoo]

there's actually some "unscientific" info on this in the usmle forum. someone has correlated q-bank scores, NBME practice test scores and MCAT scores with USMLE scores (all of this info was voluntarily posted by those who have taken step 1 recently). As it's turned out so far, MCAT has the least correlation of the three factors (about .2 or .3; can't remember) and the NBME practice tests have had the highest correlation (like .7 or something)
Thank god this is the same way it was for me because my MCAT left a LOT to be desired. 😀

 

[Bevo]

I suck at this stuff...but...

a .2 or .3 correlation = statistically insignificant I believe.
.9 or higher = highest correlation and statistically significant.

.7 is a weak link, but still shows some correlation?

Basically, I think there is no good single predictor of USMLE performance.

I think the highest might actually be you're 2nd year of MS course grades.

Doesn't matter anyways, might give yourself a false sense of security.

 

[WatchingWaiting]

Maybe the fact that 30% of osteopathic first-time Step I test-takers, as compared to 9% of allopathic first-time Step I test-takers fail the exam and the fact that osteopathic matriculants have, on average, a 5 point lower MCAT score than allopathic matriculants, indicates a higher correlation between the MCAT and the USMLE than some around here would like to believe? Maybe the fact that this is a self-selected group of ostepaths makes the actual difference even bigger?

http://www.usmle.org/news/2002perf.htm

 

[Bevo]

I think they're other variables you have to include when comparing osteopaths and allopathic students.

1. Not every osteopathic student takes it
2. All DO students prepare for teh COMLEX and not for the USMLE. The tests are supposed to be equivalent but I think they stress different subjects.
Plus they build up to take the COMLEX, not teh USMLE. So many of them take the USMLE after they take the COMLEX. They're performance is going to lowered and they will have lost some knowledge since then.
With any test, the reproducibility is going vary.
I got an 85 on my micro exam 3 weeks ago, if I took it now I doubt Id get over a 60.

If you're going to compare allopathic students pass rate of the usmle, you're better off comparing it to osteopathic students and there 1st time pass rate of the comlex.

And since you can't have allopathic students sitting for the COMLEX, we have no idea how allopathic students would fair if the tables were turned (so to speak.)

Basically, I think brining in osteopathic student pass rates of teh USMLE is about as useful as bringing in the mcat scores, college undergrad science grades, etc.

 

[Cowboy DO]

Maybe the fact that this is a self-selected group of ostepaths makes the actual difference even bigger?

http://www.usmle.org/news/2002perf.htm

I already replyied to this exact same post in another thread, but i wanted to bring up one more point. 892 is a little less than half of the DO's that graduated that year. Hardly substantiating that this "self selective group" are better students than those who dont take the USMLE.