MCAT Support System

[mixedfire]

Hey all.
I'm not a pre-med student at all - I'm basically here in support of my boyfriend who will be taking the MCAT on April 10th.

I'm trying to find the best ways to be a good support system and also look up ways to make the preparation for the test easier for him. He recently has become more and more nervous over the test and even woke up in the middle of the night from a panic attack.

I'm a journalism student myself and cannot begin to imagine what he is going through so I thought I'd come on here and get advice from people who DO know what it's like.

Here's some thing he's having issues with:
*He's currently taking his last physics class required for med-school and
he's nervous that he has to learn material faster than the class is teaching him to be ready for the April MCAT date.

*His scores have slowly been going up on practice tests. He's taken both Kaplan and Exam Crackers (he also took a MCAT course at Kaplan).
He started in the high 20s, and then got a 32 then a 34.
His last practice test went way down, I think around 24-25?
It crushed him.

*He's nervous that he isn't studying right. He's been studying since October of last year and one of his old friends who took the MCAT studied in less than 3 months and got a 40. He's nervous that he should have instead waited and crammed a few months before. He thinks he's not going to remember material from months ago.

*I believe verbal has been his weakest section because of how the language is sometimes and he second-guesses what he should put down as an answer.

Ok so that's what I've noticed are his problems so far...he studies like a maniac, every single day for 6 hours or so, and he takes 2 practice exams a week (Tuesday and Saturday). Sunday is his off day.

Any advice or suggestions? I feel like all I can do is tell him to be confident but other than that, I don't know what I can do to help or suggest to him.

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[coreankim]

By caring about him enough to join SDN, you are already doing the best you can for him. As you mentioned, MCAT studiers often get very depressed. Sometimes the only thing they need is an encouraging word or two. Just keep showing that you care.

Does he only have time for one shot at the MCAT? If he messes up this time, he can always take it again. Tell him to just think of it as a practice test. Plus, he's still got more than 2 months, which is plenty of time.

Verbal is hard for everyone. He really needs to trust his instincts on this one. Tell him not to second-guess his answers. Once he marks an answer, he just needs to go to the next one. His instincts might sometimes lead him to the wrong answers, but second-guessing them will do nothing but cost him additional time.

As for books - the EK series is standard for everyone, so it's good he's using it. I've heard mixed things about the Kaplan books - I used the Princeton Review books myself.

Lastly, he just needs to be patient about results. What you study today won't result into improved scores overnight. In my experience, we all need a couple of days to really absorb what we learned.

You can PM me for more details on how I studied. I'd be happy to help.

 

[Velocity]

Agree with the above - it's quite impressive that you're going to such lengths to try and help him. He's pretty lucky to have someone like you in his life!

The MCAT is often regarded as a test that can make or break your application. For most of us, it's also the first "extremely long" exam we've ever taken. Many people do stress over it, and I'm not sure that there's a whole lot that can be done to remove that stress. The next best thing is to try and hold his self-confidence and his motivation together.

Everyone studies in different ways. The fact that he began studying so early is quite admirable. It is true that he probably won't remember what he studied all those months ago, unless he has also been reviewing it every now and then. Studying like that isn't a waste, however - if he had hit any concepts that he didn't understand, having that extra time would let him really get it down.

coreankim's advice is also quite good, particularly about the reminder that he can always take the test again. Obviously it's not something you want to do - it's expensive, it's stressful enough to do it once, it takes a lot of effort to prepare for it. But it's a possibility. When I was an undergrad there was a rumor that taking the MCAT more than once would be a black mark on your application. I'm not sure if that belief is still permeated, but it's not true. So definitely, he shouldn't stress about that, and feel that this is the only shot he'll get.

Finally, all sorts of funny things can happen on test day. A friend of mine was consistently scoring 32's on his practice test, and on test day he ended up scoring a 38. On the other hand, I was consistently scoring in the low 30's, and on test day I scored... oh, quite a bit lower; lower than I'd ever scored even on a practice test. There's a lot of luck (factors outside of our control) behind this test; by knowing the material better and being in a good mental state, we leave less to luck (or so I think). He's probably going to feel terrible right after his exam finishes, but he shouldn't void his exam - especially not with the level of preparation he's put in.

And if you think the anxiety is bad now, just wait until it's the time that his scores should become available. I was able to sleep soundly on those nights leading up the MCAT and didn't have too many panicky nightmares, but the week that the scores were supposed to be released I began waking up in the middle of the night. I'm really not sure that anything can be done about it, but just a heads-up to you 🙂 I hope all goes well!

 

[mixedfire]

Thanks you two!

I've told my bf, Dallas, the info you too had to say and he's so grateful for it. He's feeling better after his low score he got on Saturday and today, even though he says he felt like absolute crap, he got a 34 on the Kaplan practice test.

He says he now notices he's having issues with physical sciences. Did you all have any problems with that and if so, what helped you with studying it?

Also, one thing I forgot to mention...the reason I think he's also so nervous is because he really wants to get a good score for his dream school, Univ. of San Francisco.
He said it takes a score around 36+ to get in...

However I've always had the belief that it isn't just a high score or grades that gets you anywhere - I believe your personality and what you say and present in interviews would also matter a lot to the school...

We both went to USC as undergrads (I'm still there actually) and I definitely did not have the 4.0 type grades that everyone said I needed to get into that private school...but I don't know if it is right to say that the MCAT score alone makes or breaks you getting into med schools?

 

[golgiapparatus88]

I'll have to show this thread to my gf 😛

I think you should also let him know that although a 36 is definitely possible, getting a 30 or a 31 or a 32 will still get him in to med school. High standards are awesome but if he's waking up from panic attacks, he shouldn't be putting so much stress on himself. Being calm while studying/taking a practice test will do wonders to his scores 🙂

Either way, he's lucky to have you.

 

[Velocity]

We both went to USC as undergrads (I'm still there actually) and I definitely did not have the 4.0 type grades that everyone said I needed to get into that private school...but I don't know if it is right to say that the MCAT score alone makes or breaks you getting into med schools?

Hey, I'm a USC alumni (assuming you mean California and not South Carolina) 🙂 I have to admit, I never had a very good impression of the students in the Annenberg School of Communications (which Journalism is a part of, right?) I guess the people I knew who happened to be in there gave me a pretty bad view of it. You're certainly causing me to rethink that generalization!

You're correct, it definitely isn't true to say that the MCAT can make or break you. If you have a strong GPA (which is now generally regarded as 3.7 or higher; it doesn't matter what your major was) then a mediocre MCAT (which is now 29+, I think?) may be forgiven. If your GPA is a bit on the "low" side (3.2 and higher, let's say) then a high MCAT score (37+) may redeem you. If you have a high GPA and a high MCAT score then you're very likely to get a few interviews, but there's still no guarantee about acceptances. That's partly what makes getting into medical school so anxiety-inducing - there is no such thing as a "safety" school, and very few things are a given.

Also, one thing I forgot to mention...the reason I think he's also so nervous is because he really wants to get a good score for his dream school, Univ. of San Francisco.
He said it takes a score around 36+ to get in...

UCSF is very competitive. All of the UC schools are, from what I hear. I don't really know what to say, other than good luck. I never had the idea to pick out a "dream school" or even a "preferred" school. If I'm accepted to one place and one place only, I'm going there and I won't be complaining. If I'm accepted to two or more, then I'll start to look into which one is more appealing, but... in general, all it takes is one acceptance, and people don't really talk about where they went to medical school like they do about where they went to undergrad. A medical degree is a medical degree, and while not all medical schools are equal, none are considered more shameful or much more prestigious than another. (With the exception of Caribbean schools and schools outside of the USA.)

However I've always had the belief that it isn't just a high score or grades that gets you anywhere - I believe your personality and what you say and present in interviews would also matter a lot to the school...

That's true, but first you have to get to the interview stage. And in that regard, it's very much a numbers game. I don't think anyone likes that fact, but it's true. If your GPA is too low, your MCAT is too low, and you don't have any political pull/connections, then you're probably not going to get an interview, regardless of how great your essays were and how stellar your letters of recommendation were. (There are always exceptions, but nobody wants to bank on that.)

This may vary school by school, but even the interview isn't as open-ended as you might think. In some schools the interviewers are told to look for specific things. Maybe the school wants people who value research; maybe they want people who are into rural medicine; maybe they want people who are really outgoing. You can be a magnificent person and interview really well, but if you don't meet their criteria then you won't get in (although you might get wait-listed instead of flat-out rejected).

I never really studied the undergrad admissions process in great detail, but it always seemed to me that it was much more open by comparison.

 

[LostInStudy]

Agreed that he's lucky to have you. You're right about the personality and who he is is what matters but to get your foot into the door the get the interview probably does require a 35+. Make sure he knows to use the AAMC exams as his very last exam to practice.

Hope this helps,

-LIS

 

[coreankim]

Thanks you two!

I've told my bf, Dallas, the info you too had to say and he's so grateful for it. He's feeling better after his low score he got on Saturday and today, even though he says he felt like absolute crap, he got a 34 on the Kaplan practice test.

He says he now notices he's having issues with physical sciences. Did you all have any problems with that and if so, what helped you with studying it?

Also, one thing I forgot to mention...the reason I think he's also so nervous is because he really wants to get a good score for his dream school, Univ. of San Francisco.
He said it takes a score around 36+ to get in...

However I've always had the belief that it isn't just a high score or grades that gets you anywhere - I believe your personality and what you say and present in interviews would also matter a lot to the school...

We both went to USC as undergrads (I'm still there actually) and I definitely did not have the 4.0 type grades that everyone said I needed to get into that private school...but I don't know if it is right to say that the MCAT score alone makes or breaks you getting into med schools?

Ah, for the two science sections, all it takes is practice. There is really nothing more to it, other than making sure you understand the concepts and you are not just memorizing anything. A simple example would be the Handerson Hasselbach equation. Of course, you should memorize the equation for quick reference on the MCAT. However, make sure you can derive the equation from scratch - that way, if the MCAT throws an indicator question or something, you have a better chance of tweaking your equation to answer it.

The EK1001 series of questions is good for practice. I personally also went through my textbooks and did some problems to develop my intuition.

As for getting into UCSF - as Velocity mentioned, UCSF is one of the most competitive med schools in the nation. Setting the bar so high can lead to a lot of disappointment, so tell him that med school isn't everything, just like college wasn't everything. Even if he doesn't get into the med school of his dreams, he can still work to get into a good residency. After residency, there's fellowship, and after that, well, there's rest of life. Because this is a lifelong process, he should always focus on trying his best, not on where he'll get in.

 

[mixedfire]

Hey, I'm a USC alumni (assuming you mean California and not South Carolina) 🙂 I have to admit, I never had a very good impression of the students in the Annenberg School of Communications (which Journalism is a part of, right?) I guess the people I knew who happened to be in there gave me a pretty bad view of it. You're certainly causing me to rethink that generalization!

Hahah trust me you have no idea how many times I have been underestimated by many because of being from Annenberg...most of all who underestimate my major have been pre-med/computer science/engineering, etc... And I can get it because there are other people in my school who definitely do not act serious about their major...thinking they're gonna just be the new cute face on TV and that journalism doesn't require any work.

But its so much work and I definitely put my heart and soul into it. I'm one of the rare few I think who understands journalism is about investigation and research and long hours - not just getting in a suit and being on television. lol =P

UCSF is very competitive. All of the UC schools are, from what I hear. I don't really know what to say, other than good luck. I never had the idea to pick out a "dream school" or even a "preferred" school. If I'm accepted to one place and one place only, I'm going there and I won't be complaining... A medical degree is a medical degree, and while not all medical schools are equal, none are considered more shameful or much more prestigious than another. (With the exception of Caribbean schools and schools outside of the USA.)

Well I think the reason its his "dream school" is because he definitely is interested in research and I remember him saying San Fran would be a great place to start that.

He's definitely not going to die though if he doesn't go there - he's going to apply to a ton of places.

The other problem with his getting into schools he wants is that we plan on living together while he's in med school and I'll be working when he starts school...so the city he chooses has to be a good enough place for me to work as a journalist. =/ so there's a lot of stress there for both of us because the MCAT has a lot of weight on his med school acceptances which in turn has a lot of weight of where i end up working...

i know it may seem silly to follow someone somewhere but we definitely want to stick together and i'm willing to do anything to help him get there...and he in turn wants to get into schools that are in places we'd both be comfortable in...

but its all up to fate i guess. =/

 

[Velocity]

Hahah trust me you have no idea how many times I have been underestimated by many because of being from Annenberg...most of all who underestimate my major have been pre-med/computer science/engineering, etc... And I can get it because there are other people in my school who definitely do not act serious about their major...thinking they're gonna just be the new cute face on TV and that journalism doesn't require any work.

You got me - I was in engineering 🙂 I think almost everyone in engineering had a sufferers' complex of sorts, though - we all felt that we were in the hardest program possible, yet became bitter because other people weren't all that impressed or sympathetic. We tended to pick on the business majors the most, though.

I also dated a girl who was in journalism, when she had just transferred to USC. I remember her being really upset because she had received a D on one of her class assignments. She showed it to me, and I was sort of blown away - her writing was terrible Not such a good sign for someone aspiring to something where written communication is key!

But its so much work and I definitely put my heart and soul into it. I'm one of the rare few I think who understands journalism is about investigation and research and long hours - not just getting in a suit and being on television. lol =P

Well, good on you and keep it up! You sound like a sincere person, which is seemingly all too rare these days (regardless of which field you look at). I'm glad that there are people like you to defy the stereotype. Has it been said too many times now that your boyfriend is a really lucky guy?

The other problem with his getting into schools he wants is that we plan on living together while he's in med school and I'll be working when he starts school...so the city he chooses has to be a good enough place for me to work as a journalist. =/ so there's a lot of stress there for both of us because the MCAT has a lot of weight on his med school acceptances which in turn has a lot of weight of where i end up working...

i know it may seem silly to follow someone somewhere but we definitely want to stick together and i'm willing to do anything to help him get there...and he in turn wants to get into schools that are in places we'd both be comfortable in...

but its all up to fate i guess. =/

Doesn't seem silly to me. I met my girlfriend (now wife) at USC. When we both applied to medical schools, we knew we might be separated for four years. It was a really unpleasant thought. She ended up being accepted somewhere, I ended up being accepted nowhere, and I scrambled to find something near her. Luckily it all worked out for us, for now.

Everyone has different values. For some people, their career is more important than anything else. I'm of the opinion that if you find someone who seems compatible and oriented enough that you could happily spend the rest of your life with them, that's more important than a high-power career. Ideally we wouldn't have to choose. (And of course, you don't want to find yourself in a position where you hate your job - that'll erode your relationship.)

This time of life is sort of unpleasant. I think of it as growing pains - you're transitioning into really being a full-fledged adult, but not everything transitions into place at the same time. As a result there's a lot of uncertainty, anxiety. I look forward to the day when my wife and I are happily planted and working stable jobs, in a house that we plan to live in for the rest of our lives, but who knows - maybe that sort of stability never really comes.

The only advice I can give is the advice I'm living - keep your eyes open and seize opportunities as they come your way. Keep the big picture (what's important) in mind, too. Your health and your relationships are far more important than something like how much money you make, in my opinion, even though it's easy to forget that at times.

At the very least, I hope things work out well for the two of you!

 

[Dyingduck]

My only advice is that the MCAT is a test of confidence.

So let him know that.

 

[mixedfire]

Hey it has been awhile since I posted on this topic but I have a few more MCAT questions that seem to be plaguing my BF and I thought I'd get all of your advice about it.

Dallas (my BF) right now is getting an average of 32-34 on his practice exams. He's taking the April exam and has been studying since October...
He wonders if when you take the MCAT, your score is usually what you got on the practice exams?

In my understand of any exams, I would think your average is what you're going to get...but I don't know if the MCAT works funny in any way?

Also, his current issue is passages. He has most of his concepts down and has been improving in all areas (physics, bio, verbal) but what he keeps getting stuck on is understanding a passage...

Is there any advice any of you can give as far as passages...ways to find key words or ways to understand the material better in the short amount of time given??

Also he's had an interesting thing happen lately where on his practice exams, he scores 80-90% right on the HARDEST questions but when it comes to the easiest ones, he misses them all.

 

[Velocity]

Hey it has been awhile since I posted on this topic but I have a few more MCAT questions that seem to be plaguing my BF and I thought I'd get all of your advice about it.

Dallas (my BF) right now is getting an average of 32-34 on his practice exams. He's taking the April exam and has been studying since October...
He wonders if when you take the MCAT, your score is usually what you got on the practice exams?

Welcome back!

The way that the MCAT scoring system works is interesting. There are what I like to think of as "pools" for each score. I'm going to make up some numbers here: If there are 45 questions per section, getting anywhere from 20 to 25 of them right might give you a 10 on a section, while getting 26 to 30 might give you an 11. The reason why it's interesting is that as you get higher, the pool decreases. For example, getting anywhere from 38 to 41 questions right might give you a 13; getting 42-43 questions right might give you a 14. Once you break past that "general pool" of average scores, it is much, much easier to score much higher because a single question could literally be the difference between scoring one whole point higher on a section.

Partly because of this, some people score around their average, and some get really lucky. A friend of mine was scoring in the range of 31 to 33 pretty consistently, but come test day he scored a 38. He received a string of questions from a topic area that he was very strong in, and that probably helped him quite a bit.

In my opinion, if you're able to score in the low- to mid-30's pretty consistently, you could very well get a score much higher depending on luck. People make a big deal about the ultra-high scores, but in my opinion there's a lot of luck involved in getting there. Anyone who can score in the mid-30's is largely equal with someone who scores into the upper 30's or 40's, in my mind. (There are some people who can consistently score in the 40's, and those people probably have an even better grasp of the material and the exam - I don't mean to diminish their abilities, but for the majority I think that what I said holds true.)

I can't really help with the rest - read quickly but don't stress about the timing too much and passages shouldn't seem like a huge deal. Don't read for a thorough understanding, just get a feel for the information that's there, know where things are, and then go to the questions. Reference the passage and re-read it more carefully if a question references something from within it.

 

[Flapjacks]

Give him sex whenever he takes a study break.

 

[mixedfire]

Thanks Velocity...

and uh no worries Flapjacks - I keep him quite satisfied. =P

 

[NickNaylor]

I'll say this about exam scores: there are many factors that come into play that determine your score independent of studying. Fatigue, mood, what you ate... all kinds of little things. Obviously you want to have a consistent testing experience and want to see upward trends (which your bf seems to have), but one anomalous score shouldn't be a huge deal. My practice scores have ranged from 29-37. And no, that 29 wasn't the first score I got; the first time I took an MCAT I got a 34, and after a good chunk of review I fell to a 29.

In short, let him know he's doing fine. If he's seeing a generally upward trend, his strategy is working. Just stay on the grind and finish strong in the next month.