MCAT vs GRE

[lunaire]

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It's about that time of the year to consider taking the GRE, for backup. So what's the difference between MCAT and GRE? Is one more difficult than the other?

 

[KeyLime]

I have taken both because I thought that I was going to apply to a one-year master's program. They are completely different tests. The GRE has a math section (quantitative) which the MCAT does not have. The verbal section is much different too in that is much more like the SAT. Lots of vocab words and junk like that. It isn't all reading comp like the MCAT. Whether you think that it is easier or harder depends on what you are good at.

With a 36 MCAT, why are you already thinking about other options? Many schools haven't even started to offer interviews yet.

 

[GatorsWearJorts]

the GRE is a joke compared to the MCAT.

 

[thoffen]

the GRE is a joke compared to the MCAT.

Seconded.

 

[deuist]

Like the other posters have mentioned: (1) the MCAT is nothing like the GRE. Prepping for one will not help you on the other. (2) The GRE is very easy. If you're used to taking standardized tests, you should be fine.

The GRE consists of
- high school-level math (really! nothing hard at all)
- reading comprehension and definitions of words
- critical writing section

Overall, the test resembles the SAT (it's by the same company). You can sign up to take the test whenever you want, show up, take a computer-based exam in a cubicle all by yourself, and three hours later you go on with your life as if nothing happened. Since the exam is computer-based, you get your scores for verbal and math instantly---writing comes in the mail six weeks later. Any other questions: see the Kaplan book. It's the best of the series (TPR vs. Kaplan vs. Barron vs. etc...)

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

To do well on GRE verbal you need to know vocab. Analogies, sentence completions. I used a Barrons book and memorized a 3500 word list, and there were still words on my test I had never seen before. The trend of people generally screwing up the verbal on MCAT is also seen in GRE. Only diff is that on MCAT you have 3 other sections to back you up, whereas in GRE you only have 2.

 

[Depakote]

the GRE is a joke compared to the MCAT.

GRE versus the MCAT?

The GRE could win... if it had a knife.

 

[Natural Light]

A big knife

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

maybe if it bit off MCATs ear, or if GRE was a stingray with a giant barb, or if MCAT was skiing and GRE was a big tree...

 

[mshheaddoc]

I understand some of you may be geniuses and the like but I'm really dreading the GRE because of the verbal section. I sucked at anything english related including vocab, analogies and all that other crap. Reading comprehension is fine but the heavy focus on vocab is the bane of my exsistance.

Although the GRE maybe conceptually is an easier exam, remember its also a CAT test so its a little more difficult in that regard.

 

[45408]

an m'fing machete, no less

 

[Natural Light]

I took two practice tests, realized that I needed extensive vocab review and then did nothing but learn and study vocab words for a month. Atferwards, I took a couple more practice tests and then took the real one. Basically, I studied words for over a month. In that sense it was pretty hard, but the quanatative section was nothing compared to the math skills required for the PS and BS and the analytical section seemed much easier than the writing sample.

 

[PsychEpathic]

GRE: Easy. MCAT: Not easy.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

.

 

[Quix]

Perhaps things have changed since I took the GRE (1997), but there was also a logic section (so mathematics, verbal, and logic, total).

 

[stiffany]

I understand some of you may be geniuses and the like but I'm really dreading the GRE because of the verbal section. I sucked at anything english related including vocab, analogies and all that other crap. Reading comprehension is fine but the heavy focus on vocab is the bane of my exsistance.

Although the GRE maybe conceptually is an easier exam, remember its also a CAT test so its a little more difficult in that regard.

Agreed. I'm taking the GRE for the second time next month and while the MCAT verbal section was more of a challenge in patience and seeing how well I could do given my humanities background (kept seeing my scores oscillate all summer - grr!) , the GRE verbal actually scares me. I've never been good at analogies and while I consider myself well-read, all of these esoteric vocabulary words are making my verbal score goal seem further and further away!

 

[NonTradMed]

GRE was way easier than MCAT for me. The quantative section requires a bit of practice but really, most of it is only a slightly harder SAT. The curve is also easier on the GRE. One could spend a couple of weeks prepping for the GRE and do fairly well on it. My roommate did just that, got a near perfect score. The same cannot be said of the MCAT.