Mcat struggles

[CUTEFEET]

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Hi Everyone!

I was just wondering if I could get some input on the MCAT. I am applying to podiatry school this fall, but am struggling with the MCAT ALOT!!! I am a 3.9 student, but have only been scoring 16 on my princeton review practice exams, which is very discouraging!!! I feel as though I am studying effectively, because I really know the information in the princeton and exam kracker books, so I don't know what I am doing wrong!! Ah, so frustrated! If anyone has any advice on how to improve standardized testing scores I would love any input!!! Thanks early!!

 

[smartman716]

Hi Everyone!

I was just wondering if I could get some input on the MCAT. I am applying to podiatry school this fall, but am struggling with the MCAT ALOT!!! I am a 3.9 student, but have only been scoring 16 on my princeton review practice exams, which is very discouraging!!! I feel as though I am studying effectively, because I really know the information in the princeton and exam kracker books, so I don't know what I am doing wrong!! Ah, so frustrated! If anyone has any advice on how to improve standardized testing scores I would love any input!!! Thanks early!!

Are you just memorizing details or do you really understand the material? Do you get nervous while taking the practice tests? Do you spend too much time initially, while attempting to answer the tough problems? Do you randomly guess towards the end, when time is running out? Are you getting adequate sleep? Are you overloading your system with caffeine? Do you review your notes prior to taking the practice tests? Where are you studying?

 

[CUTEFEET]

Thanks for responding!

I think I have more of a general understanding of all the material-when the exam krackers or princeton review says to memorize certain details I do.

No I never get nervous when taking the practice tests.

I think my timing is pretty good I normally finish the bio and physical science sections with maybe only a minute left over, and then verbal I normally have to guess on one passage at the very end. When I approach all the sections I rate the passages, so the ones I think will be easier I do right away.

I get adequate sleep and I never drink soda or coffee.

I study at a very quiet library most of the time or I study at my house since my roommate is never around. I study about 5 hours and during that time I read the chapters, make flashcards, do the princeton review passages and free-standing questions, as well as the exam krackers questions that are in the text. I also review my practice tests to see why I got questions wrong, but I have not found a pattern in bio and physical sciences. I have found that I struggle with inference and strengthen/weaken questions in verbal.

I make flashcards for every chapter of each section in the TPR and Exam Krackers and I study them every morning and every evening and then 30 minutes before the test I review the cards I struggle with.

I have princeton review classes every evening for 2.5 hours.

 

[PADPM]

At the risk of getting "slammed", you are a 3.9 student, but at what school?

This discussion has been re-hashed in the past, but your grade point average may be a reflection of your education. There is a possibility that you MAY not have learned quite as much as you think?!

There are various levels of quality regarding education and where you received that education, and that MAY be one factor involved in why you're not scoring well on your MCAT's.

 

[CUTEFEET]

I go to the University of Minnesota

 

[shava9865]

What a trainwreck! 3.9 GPA and scoring 16 on the MCAT??? Either you cheat in college or your school has CRAZY grade inflation.

Do us a favor, go into nursing. And your feet aren't cute sorry honey.

This is just rude. If you don't have anything positive or encouraging to say, then do us all a favor and keep your comments to yourself. You're supposed to be a professional...your comments don't really reflect that.

 

[G0dFather]

Thanks for responding!

I think I have more of a general understanding of all the material-when the exam krackers or princeton review says to memorize certain details I do.

No I never get nervous when taking the practice tests.

I think my timing is pretty good I normally finish the bio and physical science sections with maybe only a minute left over, and then verbal I normally have to guess on one passage at the very end. When I approach all the sections I rate the passages, so the ones I think will be easier I do right away.

I get adequate sleep and I never drink soda or coffee.

I study at a very quiet library most of the time or I study at my house since my roommate is never around. I study about 5 hours and during that time I read the chapters, make flashcards, do the princeton review passages and free-standing questions, as well as the exam krackers questions that are in the text. I also review my practice tests to see why I got questions wrong, but I have not found a pattern in bio and physical sciences. I have found that I struggle with inference and strengthen/weaken questions in verbal.

I make flashcards for every chapter of each section in the TPR and Exam Krackers and I study them every morning and every evening and then 30 minutes before the test I review the cards I struggle with.

I have princeton review classes every evening for 2.5 hours.

Great school u attend.... good job on the gpa... u seem to be doing everything rite not much advice that can be offered... perhaps pair up with someone and see how they r doing ... with a 3.9 and a 19 or 20 ( even less) u can still get in so dont go crazy on urself ! Good luck u should be fine!

 

[phillypd]

Hey cute feet,
Listen i had the same problem. It wasn't that i didn't know the info i just could not apply it to the test question proberly. Once i realized that my grades were good and it wasn't my knowledge, i began learning how to actually take the test. I found out from a doctor (MD) that knowing the info is only 40% of getting questions right. The entire 60% was based on test skills and being able to take all you know and present it as a correct answer for a test question. I than was taught how to take the knowledge and apply it to the test... most people do the exact opposite, which is take question asked and apply it to their knowlege... WHICH IS THE WRONG THIS TO DO. Once i got this down to a science i increased my MCAT score by 9 points!!!!! Every school i interviewed at was amazed at my score increase and they all inquired about how i did it...

 

[CUTEFEET]

WOW! What did you learn that helped you to take the knowledge and apply it to the test?

 

[air bud]

norm is just bitter that he finally had to concede the senate seat.

but 3.9 and a 16 just blows my mind

 

[phillypd]

WOW! What did you learn that helped you to take the knowledge and apply it to the test?

Well what i can tell you is this...the physical science section is straight forward, what ever you see or they ask is what you answer...there is no hiden agenda. Verbal is simply a matter of concentration and grasping what you read without letting your mind drift. The VS section is purposely made to be the worst and most boring thing that you ever read...it tests your concentration and understanding...period!!!!!!! The biological section is by no means straight foward! You have to master reading in between the lines of what they are showing you.. For example, you will have a passage on diabetes and insulin. they will show you all this cool stuff with the body that looks real important. But when they ask you the questions..it has very little to do with the picture. I don't know if this makes sense but,,, the questions within the BS are based on knowledge of what something does as a result of what's happening most times...yeah it's good to know about the diabetes but what is the real problem? And if you truely understand the body than how can we fix it? And what functions should take place as a result? These are the type of things you should know. If you had taken a Physiology class you would understand better...because you'll get to know all the surface and non-sufrace problems. In BS it's not what happens but WHY it happens.. If you can take what you know and apply it that way you should be great!!!

 

[podpod]

In BS it's not what happens but WHY it happens.. If you can take what you know and apply it that way you should be great!!!

thank goodness i was able to get in with DAT scores.

 

[phillypd]

thank goodness i was able to get in with DAT scores.

Yeah i heard the DAT is sooooooo much easier....

 

[podpod]

Yeah i heard the DAT is sooooooo much easier....

i think its hard to do a direct comparison but the DAT requires a totally different kind of approach. the test is straight up memorization (reading textbooks and taking notes) for BIO, GCHEM, and OCHEM. PAT doesnt matter for pod school. Reading comp is hard to study for bc it depends if u have a good testing trick/skill. math was useless bc some questions were extremely random so its best to spend time on the q's that u know ull ace

 

[OpusThePenguin]

Hi Everyone!

I was just wondering if I could get some input on the MCAT. I am applying to podiatry school this fall, but am struggling with the MCAT ALOT!!! I am a 3.9 student, but have only been scoring 16 on my princeton review practice exams, which is very discouraging!!! I feel as though I am studying effectively, because I really know the information in the princeton and exam kracker books, so I don't know what I am doing wrong!! Ah, so frustrated! If anyone has any advice on how to improve standardized testing scores I would love any input!!! Thanks early!!

Hey,
So when I was preparing for the MCAT I would have a problem with getting too stressed out or frustrated with the score I wanted to achieve. But once I relaxed a little and realized that I knew the material and it was just a matter of putting it on paper it became simpler. I'm not saying don't study or prepare yourself but don't let it scare you into forgetting everything you know. I think realizing this allowed me to get a higher score than I was aiming for. (Also, and this may sound absolutely stupid, but my friends and I would call it the Mkitty which made it sound way less intimidating and silly.) So goodluck and I hope some of that helped 🙂.

 

[Paisley Jane]

You could take a class. I took a Kaplan MCAT class and raised my score 9 points.

 

[air bud]

i took the kaplan course too. It is meant to teach you how to take the test, not the answers. if you have actually gotten the grades you said and deserved to get them, then you should have the knowledge to do well, and learning how to take the test may help.

 

[CUTEFEET]

Thank you for all of your suggestions!!! I have taken all of them and my score has improved DRASTICALLY!!!! 🙂

 

[uvapod]

Hi I am a rising 4th year student at UVA and am applying to podiatry school this September and I was wondering what my chances were of getting in. I have a 2.6 gpa (2.8 science). Im taking the Mcat in August. I have lots of extracurriculars and lots of clinical experience and research and have shadowed two podiatrists that are both giving me a recommendation. I also am currently retaking the second part of orgo that I got a D in the first time I took it. What do you guys think? Also UVA is a high ranked school (#23 I believe in the nation, #2 for public schools), does that have any factor on my acceptance?

thanks

 

[ThetaChiNAU]

.

 

[hightower]

Yes, take the Kaplan course. As has been said it teaches you how to take the test. Sure, you must know your basic sciences going into the test but overall the MCAT is not so much testing your science knowledge as it is testing your critical thinking skills. Sure, there are discrete questions that you know or don't know and you have to have a grasp on everything across the board in order to answer the questions, but equal in importance is figuring out what the question is asking and pulling out the relevant data you need. Sometimes the questions don't refer to the passage and that is what you have to figure out by understanding what they are asking for. Anyway, the MCAT is a critical thinking test. Invest the $1800 bucks or whatever for the Kaplan course, in the end it will pay off for you.

 

[dropfoot]

For what it's worth, i found the Princeton review practice tests to be much more difficult than the actual MCAT. If you want a confidence booster, take a AAMC practice test (however i found them much easier than the actual MCAT).

 

[AttackNME]

Dont take classes, lectures are a waste of time. You only need to focus on one thing and that is practice. I bought all of the berkeley review books and they have practice sessions for every subject. Just do one session a day and you'll zip through 1,000 questions in 2 months (that's what I did). 2 weeks before my MCAT day, I went through 4 paid AAMCAS practice mcats because those are the closest practice to the real thing. I have a 3.3 gpa and a 32 mcat (but I failed the writing part haha)

 

[pod11]

I just graduated with a BA in biology 3.5 nonsci gpa and 3.1 sci GPA. I took the mcat twice, the first time I got a 21 I took examkrackers and took 4 AAMC exams. The second time I took the mcat I did even worse even though I studied so much more the second time around. I got a 19 with studying from princeton review, kaplan and examkrakers and got a private tutor, did all the AAMC exams. I think the AAMC exams are so much easiar than the real MCAT. I was scoring above 30s on all the practice AAMC exams, or maybe I just got nervous. I'm planning on taking the MCAT again for the third time this January and hoping to apply after I take this one. I just don't understand what more I can do. I'd really appreciate any help

 

[GoLakers310]

Dude, getting 16 on the practice tests mean nothing. I think I got around 20 or even low 20's when I first took my couple practice tests. After two to three months of solid studying, my scores jumped to 30's. Keep practicing and you should improve, esp the Science sections. Verbal, haha... it is all luck, concentration, speed-reading, etc. No excuse for anything less than 10's on the Science sections though...

 

[NAVYLABTECH08]

GPA and MCAT are not related!!! GPA is nice, but no indicator of how well you will do on your mcat. 40% of mcat is the comp knowledge and 60% is knowing how to apply the knowledge. A 16 means hope for you. Your comp knowledge has guided you to a 16. However, you did not know how to apply it at all. You probably over thought questions and I'm sure VS was hard for you. out of 40%, you are prob around 35 or so needed to score >30 on mcat. Unfortuntaley, out of teh 60% of applications, you are aound 10% or so. This screams MCAT PREP CLASS!Take a prep class and give yourself 3-4 months of MCAT-mania and I bet you could score a 30 on that test. 3.9 + 30 = 100% acceptance into any pod scool you want as long as you interview well!