New vs Old MCAT: What should I do?

[ready2go2]

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Hello!
I am graduating Class of 2016 undergrad and have thinking about this dreaded new 2015 MCAT and how I can avoid that biotch because well lets face it, the premeds of 2016 are just guinea pigs. Plus I would really like the crazy amount of prep material ( several full length test, courses designed for the current MCAT etc) that comes with taking the old MCAT.


This requires some cramming of courses to get the deadline and would like you guy's opinions on whether I should go ahead and try to cram some courses in the next two semesters and take it Summer 2014/ Fall 2014 or just buckle up for the unknown ride that is the 2015 MCAT.


I've already taken Bio 1 and 2 Gen chem 1 and 2 Orgo 1 and Statistics.

Leaving me with Orgo 2, which for sure I will be taking this coming semester, the Physics series and calculus 1.

Do you think this would be a good idea? Or am I in over my head?

Lastly I am 1000% sure that I will be taking a gap year. Does this change your opinion on what I should do for my particular situation?


Thanks in advance.

 

[mdambitions]

I would wait and take the new test. Studying for the MCAT is awful as it is, without cramming 3 classes of material you've never seen before.

Though they are adding the social science/psychology section, they aren't getting rid of the physical science or biologic science sections. I would assume that all the same prep material and questions would still be very useful.

True, you might not have a lot of new prep material, but nobody else will either, and the test is standardized. Since you're probably taking a gap year, you don't want your score to expire, and if you wait, more prep material may be published before you take it. Good luck!

 

[rolliespring]

I would say take the new test. According to what my premed advisor said most schools will be getting rid of the old MCAT and accept the new one during that application cycle. Some schools might not even accept the old MCAT anymore the year after the new test is out. Especially if you're taking a year off, it's more likely they won't accept the old test. But I think this really depends on the school, confirm this with someone else.

I'm more interested in how to prepare for the new test.

 

[supermintyfresh]

Hello!
I am graduating Class of 2016 undergrad and have thinking about this dreaded new 2015 MCAT and how I can avoid that biotch because well lets face it, the premeds of 2016 are just guinea pigs. Plus I would really like the crazy amount of prep material ( several full length test, courses designed for the current MCAT etc) that comes with taking the old MCAT.


This requires some cramming of courses to get the deadline and would like you guy's opinions on whether I should go ahead and try to cram some courses in the next two semesters and take it Summer 2014/ Fall 2014 or just buckle up for the unknown ride that is the 2015 MCAT.


I've already taken Bio 1 and 2 Gen chem 1 and 2 Orgo 1 and Statistics.

Leaving me with Orgo 2, which for sure I will be taking this coming semester, the Physics series and calculus 1.

Do you think this would be a good idea? Or am I in over my head?

Lastly I am 1000% sure that I will be taking a gap year. Does this change your opinion on what I should do for my particular situation?


Thanks in advance.

Echoing what many others said already, the majority of medical schools only accept MCATs at most from 3 years ago, so you would be cutting it close with your gap year. Don't worry about being a guinea pig -- everybody else is too!

 

[Juxxtaposition]

I would say take the new test. According to what my premed advisor said most schools will be getting rid of the old MCAT and accept the new one during that application cycle. Some schools might not even accept the old MCAT anymore the year after the new test is out. Especially if you're taking a year off, it's more likely they won't accept the old test. But I think this really depends on the school, confirm this with someone else.

I'm more interested in how to prepare for the new test.

Could someone provide a source?

 

[487806]

I would say take the new test. According to what my premed advisor said most schools will be getting rid of the old MCAT and accept the new one during that application cycle. Some schools might not even accept the old MCAT anymore the year after the new test is out. Especially if you're taking a year off, it's more likely they won't accept the old test. But I think this really depends on the school, confirm this with someone else.

I'm more interested in how to prepare for the new test.

Your premed advisor is an idiot by all means. If a student takes a 2014 MCAT but decides to take a gap year, adcoms will still accept the old MCAT scores, since they are more used to it. The new MCAT can be compared by using percentiles.

 

[askamsky51]

Your premed advisor is an idiot by all means. If a student takes a 2014 MCAT but decides to take a gap year, adcoms will still accept the old MCAT scores, since they are more used to it. The new MCAT can be compared by using percentiles.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was an unspoken bias favoring the old. Doc's are some of the most resistant people to change I know. They'll hang on to what they know as long as they possibly can.

 

[487806]

I wouldn't be surprised if there was an unspoken bias favoring the old. Doc's are some of the most resistant people to change I know. They'll hang on to what they know as long as they possibly can.

And that's very good news for the old MCATers applying 2016 and later. 👍

The MCAT was scored out of 45 for quite some time now. Plus, the new MCAT won't be into effect until Spring 2015, so Jan 2015 is the old MCAT.

 

[rolliespring]

Your premed advisor is an idiot by all means. If a student takes a 2014 MCAT but decides to take a gap year, adcoms will still accept the old MCAT scores, since they are more used to it. The new MCAT can be compared by using percentiles.

That's why I said confirm this with someone else. I'm sure adcoms will accept old scores, but in the end they will have to accept the new one eventually. And how long this time frame will be is uncertain.

 

[487806]

That's why I said confirm this with someone else. I'm sure adcoms will accept old scores, but in the end they will have to accept the new one eventually. And how long this time frame will be is uncertain.

😕 I never said the new scores won't be accepted. I just said your premed advisor is an idiot when he/she said that adcoms will throw away the old MCAT scores and replace them with new MCAT scores when the 2015 MCAT gets rolling. The 3-year limit still applies.

Man, I wish colleges hire premed advisors who have actually been through the process (or at least know the process well) instead of hiring a bunch of idiots for the job.

 

[rolliespring]

😕 I never said the new scores won't be accepted. I just said your premed advisor is an idiot when he/she said that adcoms will throw away the old MCAT scores and replace them with new MCAT scores when the 2015 MCAT gets rolling. The 3-year limit still applies.

Man, I wish colleges hire premed advisors who have actually been through the process (or at least know the process well) instead of hiring a bunch of idiots for the job.

Of course the new scores will always be accepted. But what I'm saying is what my advisor said needs to be confirmed.

That's why I'm on SDN😎

 

[487806]

Of course the new scores will always be accepted. But what I'm saying is what my advisor said needs to be confirmed.

That's why I'm on SDN😎

In general, SDN >>>>> premed advisors.

 

[RCPreMD]

In general, SDN >>>>> premed advisors.

truth

 

[ready2go2]

Thanks guy, I think I'll take the new one. I was just worried because I was looking at older threads where people recommended avoiding the 2015 test at all cost if possible.

 

[A7X]

Thanks guy, I think I'll take the new one. I was just worried because I was looking at older threads where people recommended avoiding the 2015 test at all cost if possible.

I heard the biochem questions are monstrous. Main reason to avoid it.

 

[487806]

I heard the biochem questions are monstrous. Main reason to avoid it.

Specifics? I'm actually curious if that's really the case.

 

[Badger MD]

Just stumbled across this thread and had a couple of random questions:

Do we know how the score will be formatted for the new MCAT? Still the standard 45? Or will we be looking at something else?

And are the new scores going to be directly comparable to the older scores so that when students are picking which schools their score is competitive at, there won't be cases like "Well, the school's average on the old MCAT was a 31, but what is that on the new MCAT?"

 

[ready2go2]

Just stumbled across this thread and had a couple of random questions:

Do we know how the score will be formatted for the new MCAT? Still the standard 45? Or will we be looking at something else?

And are the new scores going to be directly comparable to the older scores so that when students are picking which schools their score is competitive at, there won't be cases like "Well, the school's average on the old MCAT was a 31, but what is that on the new MCAT?"

There are 4 sections each worth 15 points so total is 60 not 45.

And I guess the schools will look at percentiles instead of scores for the first couple years after 2015.

 

[darklabel]

I heard the biochem questions are monstrous. Main reason to avoid it.

Specifics? I'm actually curious if that's really the case.

I took the Jan test and took the experimental section in good faith, and yeah, it was hard.

I got around the ~50 percentile, but I haven't taken a Biochem course in a long time (Hell, I even forgot the 20 a.a.'s structures already).

Op, I'm going to go against the grain here and say, if you're taking practice tests and averaging 31+, definitely take the old exam if possible.

 

[487806]

I took the Jan test and took the experimental section in good faith, and yeah, it was hard.

I got around the ~50 percentile, but I haven't taken a Biochem course in a long time (Hell, I even forgot the 20 a.a.'s structures already).

Op, I'm going to go against the grain here and say, if you're taking practice tests and averaging 31+, definitely take the old exam if possible.

Wow, that's much worse than I thought. OP, I concur with taking the old MCAT if possible.