MCAT expiration

[osjx-82]

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Is there a good reason why some medical schools won't consider MCAT scores more than 2-3 years old?

I'm pretty sure the 2001 MCAT wasn't THAT different from the 2002 MCATs

 

[Fermata]

Because the level of competition fluctuates throughout the years(you are scored versus everyone else).

 

[beep]

And because you'll forget things and it will no longer reflect your level of preparation for med school.

 

[Singing Devil]

And because you'll forget things and it will no longer reflect your level of preparation for med school.

I actually think that this is the major reason, not that competition changes.

Having taken a fair amount of actual medical school coursework, I have been surprised by the amount of knowledge of physics, organic chem, bio, and gen. chem that is needed at a basic level in order to be up to speed in medical school. I have tutored students in the medical school biochemistry, and if someone's background is not strong in chemistry or mathematics, for instance, picking up enzyme kinetics or stoichiometry is not easy.

Same goes with physics/bio and physiology, in which you study fluid flow, pressure/volume relationships, electricity and current, etc.

People need to have the coursework somewhat recent to keep from lagging behind the rest of the students in classes where extra time spent for background is just not feasible.

 

[buddyLembek]

Is this all true? My deal is that I took the MCAT this past spring 2004. I am finishing my senior year now and I was going to work for a year then apply not this summer but next summer. So I guess all things considered I would be applying in the summer of 2006 with an MCAT from 2004. Will this hurt my chances or what. I was planning on working in a hospital for a year because sometimes Im not 100% about medicine, and considering the threads about med students wanting to quit and hearing all these doctors telling me not to do it, I wanted to see for myself what it would be like to work full time for a year in a hospital, not just volunteer or shadow for a bit. Thanks for any replys.

 

[wantobemd]

Is this all true? My deal is that I took the MCAT this past spring 2004. I am finishing my senior year now and I was going to work for a year then apply not this summer but next summer. So I guess all things considered I would be applying in the summer of 2006 with an MCAT from 2004. Will this hurt my chances or what. I was planning on working in a hospital for a year because sometimes Im not 100% about medicine, and considering the threads about med students wanting to quit and hearing all these doctors telling me not to do it, I wanted to see for myself what it would be like to work full time for a year in a hospital, not just volunteer or shadow for a bit. Thanks for any replys.

I would go ahead and apply next summer to schools that will let you defer for a year. That way you know you are in and won't have to worry about it. Many people get accepted and defer a year to travel or work. That also gives you the chance to make sure medical school is what you want to do. As for everyone saying they want to quit-I think that is pretty normal for M1. It is really stressful and some days you just want to bury your head in the sand.

 

[priyanka]

And because you'll forget things and it will no longer reflect your level of preparation for med school.

I don't think so. Its not like all tha material you study for MCAT is the basis of all the classes you take in your med school years. MCAT tests reasoning and how well you can apply what you learnt. Your score indicates your ability of doing the same and that is what the adcomm is trying to see. So it is the competition that matters because the averages are slightly different both times of the year and between successive years.

 

[priyanka]

I actually think that this is the major reason, not that competition changes.

Having taken a fair amount of actual medical school coursework, I have been surprised by the amount of knowledge of physics, organic chem, bio, and gen. chem that is needed at a basic level in order to be up to speed in medical school. I have tutored students in the medical school biochemistry, and if someone's background is not strong in chemistry or mathematics, for instance, picking up enzyme kinetics or stoichiometry is not easy.

Same goes with physics/bio and physiology, in which you study fluid flow, pressure/volume relationships, electricity and current, etc.

People need to have the coursework somewhat recent to keep from lagging behind the rest of the students in classes where extra time spent for background is just not feasible.

Each one of us, when we get into med school too, we'll have to go over the stuff we learnt long back. The material almost does not change except for the new research. If you have learnt a certain thing once, I think it means that you understand the concept and you can apply it. If you tend to forget a detail, you can always go back to it. Otherwise, it would be like you are vommiting all the information you learnt as an undergrad, in med school and have no clue of the concepts involved.