MCAT Dictionary :: Does One Exist?

[To be MD]

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I realize this may be a silly question, but does an MCAT dictionary (a dictionary or encyclopedia of MCAT terminology) exist? And, if it does, could you please tell us where to find it?

There are many things the AAMC on its outline says you need to know and many bold terms in Kaplan/EK/TPR implying the same.

My problem is: there is no universally accepted AAMC definition to what each of these terms mean. Example: Behavioral Learning is a term defined by EK in their psychology book, but where can one find an exact definition for what that means in accordance with what the AAMC thinks it should mean?


This would be an excellent resource (if it does not already exist) for anyone studying for the exam. Examples: how does the MCAT define competitive inhibitor, positive reinforcement, or Ksp .... Shouldn't these "need to know" terms be compiled in one place and have one agreed upon definition? Has anyone done this yet?

**please note the three bold terms above serve as examples; I am not asking for help for these terms.**

 

[TheRealCookieMonster]

I realize this may be a silly question, but does an MCAT dictionary (a dictionary or encyclopedia of MCAT terminology) exist? And, if it does, could you please tell us where to find it?

There are many things the AAMC on its outline says you need to know and many bold terms in Kaplan/EK/TPR implying the same.

My problem is: there is no universally accepted AAMC definition to what each of these terms mean. Example: Behavioral Learning is a term defined by EK in their psychology book, but where can one find an exact definition for what that means in accordance with what the AAMC thinks it should mean?


This would be an excellent resource (if it does not already exist) for anyone studying for the exam. Examples: how does the MCAT define competitive inhibitor, positive reinforcement, or Ksp .... Shouldn't these "need to know" terms be compiled in one place and have one agreed upon definition? Has anyone done this yet?

**please note the three bold terms above serve as examples; I am not asking for help for these terms.**

So the tldr answer is NO. There is not a dictionary.
The long answer is that nearly all of these definitions can be found 99.9% correct on the Khan Academy and from the AAMC.

 

[To be MD]

Maybe, but in those cases, you have to watch 10 minute long videos in order to get the "meat & potatoes" that I'm looking for.

What an unfortunate thing it is to not have such a resource. Even a wiki with each term and a picture would be just limitlessly helpful.

I feel a good reason why people do so poorly on this test and why scores vary so much is because the knowledge the AAMC says you need to know as a baseline is not clear, well organized, nor easily accessible by everyone.

 

[TheRealCookieMonster]

Maybe, but in those cases, you have to watch 10 minute long videos in order to get the "meat & potatoes" that I'm looking for.

What an unfortunate thing it is to not have such a resource. Even a wiki with each term and a picture would be just limitlessly helpful.

I feel a good reason why people do so poorly on this test and why scores vary so much is because the knowledge the AAMC says you need to know as a baseline is not clear, well organized, nor easily accessible by everyone.

This is exactly right. They leave it up to you to learn the material and hunt down answers and definitions (imagine going back to when we only had libraries 😵). Just like medicine in the real world. It's not on accident. Although, I'm sure we will eventually have an exhaustive list of terms and their definitions. If you're desperate, you might try quizlet.com they aren't official but still good. Remember the best way to study for this exam is not conent review... imo.

 

[To be MD]

This is exactly right. They leave it up to you to learn the material and hunt down answers and definitions (imagine going back to when we only had libraries 😵). Just like medicine in the real world. It's not on accident. Although, I'm sure we will eventually have an exhaustive list of terms and their definitions. If you're desperate, you might try quizlet.com they aren't official but still good. Remember the best way to study for this exam is not conent review... imo.

There's a difference, to me, between "learning to be independent" by making students go on scavenger hunts for these definitions and having drastically different scores resulting from different levels of access to those definitions--largely based on financial resources.

In my opinion someone, for example, who has funds for a full Kaplan course, the books, and organized definitions, etc., should not have a better chance to do well on the test than someone who just has internet access at a public library. And the fact that we don't have this resource adds to the problem: financial over personal merit.

Once in medical school, everyone's on the same playing field, with largely the same resources available. But before medical school, an MCAT wiki or dictionary would dampen the effect that money has to do with whether or not you get the shot at becoming a doctor and make things more clear for everyone.

It is akin to a long standing fraternity on campus having access to all the old exams for an Organic course. While the frat boys have an easier time in the class because of their social (and financial) capital, anyone not in the 'boys club' has to scramble.

Maybe I should start it.

 

[ZPakEffect]

There's a difference, to me, between "learning to be independent" by making students go on scavenger hunts for these definitions and having drastically different scores resulting from different levels of access to those definitions--largely based on financial resources.

In my opinion someone, for example, who has funds for a full Kaplan course, the books, and organized definitions, etc., should not have a better chance to do well on the test than someone who just has internet access at a public library. And the fact that we don't have this resource adds to the problem: financial over personal merit.

Once in medical school, everyone's on the same playing field, with largely the same resources available. But before medical school, an AAMC wiki or dictionary would dampen the effect that money has to do with whether or not you get the shot at becoming a doctor and make things more clear for everyone.

It is akin to a long standing fraternity on campus having access to all the old exams for an Organic course. While the frat boys have an easier time in the class because of their social (and financial) capital, anyone not in the 'boys club' has to scramble.

Maybe I should start it.

Quit whining. I am a first a generation immigrant to this country from a third-world country where I lived in a hut made of bamboo with no indoor plumbing. I spent practically zero dollars on my MCAT preparation and scored in the 100th percentile on the MCAT.

I've never heard of anyone needing a dictionary for the MCAT. The MCAT is about concepts, not memorizing terms. If you need to look things up, there's always Wikipedia, which is free last time I checked.

 

[TheRealCookieMonster]

Quit whining. I am a first a generation immigrant to this country from a third-world country where I lived in a hut made of bamboo with no indoor plumbing. I spent practically zero dollars on my MCAT preparation and scored in the 100th percentile on the MCAT.

I've never heard of anyone needing a dictionary for the MCAT. The MCAT is about concepts, not memorizing terms. If you need to look things up, there's always Wikipedia, which is free last time I checked.

I mean yeah... I wasn't gunna be this harsh, this is true, if you really wanna be a doc, do the work regardless of the circumstances. That said, please don't be rude... The fact that you had to struggle to get where you are doesn't change anyone else's life or perspective. And it is entirely possible that an MCAT dictionary will allow someone who otherwise wouldn't have done well on the MCAT to do well and make a very real contribution to medicine. Just because it's never been done or you have never heard of it, doesn't make it an issue not worth confronting. If you'd like to share a method of cheep MCAT prep that's great but please remember being from a third world country and having an identity that comes from a very real struggle doesn't give you a pass to be condescending.

 

[To be MD]

Quit whining. I am a first a generation immigrant to this country from a third-world country where I lived in a hut made of bamboo with no indoor plumbing. I spent practically zero dollars on my MCAT preparation and scored in the 100th percentile on the MCAT.

I've never heard of anyone needing a dictionary for the MCAT. The MCAT is about concepts, not memorizing terms. If you need to look things up, there's always Wikipedia, which is free last time I checked.

I'm not whining; I'm saying it'd be a good resource to have for people--especially those who come from low income backgrounds--and it is unjust that the have-nots have more difficult time taking on the exam.

Congratulations on your score. You're the first person I've heard of that got 100%ile with wikipedia and next to no money invested... not to mention from the developing world too. Bravo!

I'm hoping for an MCAT-wikipedia, which is streamlined and not for the level of understanding of the general public. You can, for example, spend an hour reading the Freud wikipedia page without knowing what you need understand about him the MCAT. Free & concise.

Again, it is something I'd have to do myself. We'll see.

 

[ZPakEffect]

I mean yeah... I wasn't gunna be this harsh, this is true, if you really wanna be a doc, do the work regardless of the circumstances. That said, please don't be rude... The fact that you had to struggle to get where you are doesn't change anyone else's life or perspective. And it is entirely possible that an MCAT dictionary will allow someone who otherwise wouldn't have done well on the MCAT to do well and make a very real contribution to medicine. Just because it's never been done or you have never heard of it, doesn't make it an issue not worth confronting. If you'd like to share a method of cheep MCAT prep that's great but please remember being from a third world country and having an identity that comes from a very real struggle doesn't give you a pass to be condescending.

This is the kind of millennial self-affirming pablum that turns so many members of this generation into a bunch of invertebrates. Let's call a spade a spade. Anyone who lives in the United States and has the privilege to be able to go to school here is immensely fortunate compared to billions of other people on this planet. If tens of thousands of people have been able to succeed on the MCAT enough to get into medical school year after year without any sort of "MCAT dictionary," then the OP is not some special, delicate flower who needs to be coddled. And he or she is definitely not disadvantaged in any way, as he or she seems to be suggesting.

 

[ZPakEffect]

I'm not whining; I'm saying it'd be a good resource to have for people--especially those who come from low income backgrounds--and it is unjust that the have-nots have more difficult time taking on the exam.

Congratulations on your score. You're the first person I've heard of that got 100%ile with wikipedia and next to no money invested... not to mention from the developing world too. Bravo!

I'm hoping for an MCAT-wikipedia, which is streamlined and not for the level of understanding of the general public. You can, for example, spend an hour reading the Freud wikipedia page without knowing what you need understand about him the MCAT. Free & concise.

Again, it is something I'd have to do myself. We'll see.

I doubt you have heard of very many people. From your posts, it seems as if you have a serious lack of perspective and think that you should have things handed to you, or that the playing field should be completely leveled just for your sake. No, I did not just use Wikipedia. I borrowed TBR from a friend and used that. Why don't you start networking with other pre-meds at your institution, make some friends, and maybe you can do the same thing I did?

 

[To be MD]

I doubt you have heard of very many people. From your posts, it seems as if you have a serious lack of perspective and think that you should have things handed to you, or that the playing field should be completely leveled just for your sake. No, I did not just use Wikipedia. I borrowed TBR from a friend and used that. Why don't you start networking with other pre-meds at your institution, make some friends, and maybe you can do the same thing I did?

I don't quite understand the hostility, but, again, it is not only for my sake but for others.

I am fortunate enough to have a set of books, and I already graduated. I have no pre-med buddies besides people I've connected with on this forum.

Again, I'm really glad you did well. I'm sure you're wicked smart and a hard worker. It is my goal that the free resources from excellent websites like KhanAcademy are made into a wiki/textbook-esque, easy-to-use webpage that anyone can access.

Also I am not demanding such a resource exist. As I have already said twice now, it would be on me to make (or at least organize) it if I can, hopefully in between med school and acceptance.

 

[ZPakEffect]

I don't quite understand the hostility, but, again, it is not only for my sake but for others.

I am fortunate enough to have a set of books, and I already graduated. I have no pre-med buddies besides people I've connected with on this forum.

Again, I'm really glad you did well. I'm sure you're wicked smart and a hard worker. It is my goal that the free resources from excellent websites like KhanAcademy are made into a wiki/textbook-esque, easy-to-use webpage that anyone can access.

Also I am not demanding such a resource exist. As I have already said twice now, it would be on me to make (or at least organize) it if I can, hopefully in between med school and acceptance.

You're still operating under the mistaken assumption that the MCAT is a test of knowledge of various terminology. It is not. It is a test of conceptual understanding, critical thinking, and test-taking skills. I advise you not to waste your time making a resource that would waste other students' time as well. The secret to doing well on the MCAT is to do as many practice passages and questions as possible until you can achieve your maximum score. An "MCAT dictionary" would be a waste of time.

 

[TheRealCookieMonster]

This is the kind of millennial self-affirming pablum that turns so many members of this generation into a bunch of invertebrates. Let's call a spade a spade. Anyone who lives in the United States and has the privilege to be able to go to school here is immensely fortunate compared to billions of other people on this planet. If tens of thousands of people have been able to succeed on the MCAT enough to get into medical school year after year without any sort of "MCAT dictionary," then the OP is not some special, delicate flower who needs to be coddled. And he or she is definitely not disadvantaged in any way, as he or she seems to be suggesting.

According to you... you are making groce assumptions about other peoples lives. Of which you have no real knowledge or understanding outside of money and location, if that. Because lots of people have succeeded doesn't mean the system couldn't use improvement. For example, the fact that people graduated universities before community colleges were available doesn't make having them redundant. Just because you and ten thousand other people did it, doesn't mean we can't improve access to medical school with more resources. The AAMC contracted the khan Academy for exactly this reason. Because the reality is that as we improve access to resources we will also improve the diversity of perspectives and experiences in our medical schools (because people who couldn't hack it without an MCAT dictionary or a community college are now able to succeed). This is valuable to patents in a number of ways... and that's the only objective of our endeavour here.

 

[TheRealCookieMonster]

OP just so we're clear Zpak is correct when he says do practice don't waste time on content review. Like thousands and thousands of questions. The only "content review" you do is when you're correcting questions.

 

[Mimi Em]

OP just so we're clear Zpak is correct when he says do practice don't waste time on content review. Like thousands and thousands of questions. The only "content review" you do is when you're correcting questions.

I wouldnt say the ONLY time you do content review is when "correcting questions". It all depends on how much time you devote to studying for the MCAT. If you only have a few months, the yes, just do thousands of questions (if you can get your hands on thousands of questions).

If you have longer to study for the exam, and it has been awhile since you took Bio, OChem, whatever; then do a content review. If you dont know meiosis perfectly (for example) then review that content.

With that said, dont spend too much time in content review BC that can kill you. YOU HAVE TO DO PRACTICE QUESTIONS, but Im sure OP already knows that.

Every person is different with various learning styles, backgrounds, time to devote to studies. There is no "one size fits all" IMO. Do what works for you. There are some general guidelines if you want a good score, but the beauty of human ingenuity is that we can come up with some pretty amazing solutions to problems given a motivation to do so. If an MCAT dictionary sounds good to you, it may sound good to somebody like you. Do you boo boo!