Official 7/14/2012 MCAT Thread

[rjosh33]

I haven't seen this date posted yet, but I know I can't be the only one taking it on this day. It's almost exactly two months away, and hopefully everybody's prep is productive so far. I've been doing a lot of practice tests, and, at the advice of others, ordered a quarterly subscription to The Economist to try and help out with Verbal (jury's still out on that one). My target score is going to be tough to reach, and I still have a lot of work to do to get there. We'll see how it goes in about 60 days.

Any other "7/14ers" out there?

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[farnell]

****ing verbal again

10 / 9 / 10

 

[Jepstein30]

wow i'm pretty disappointed

32S

was averaging 36 on practice tests.. hit 40 on the last one I took.

i'll take it but damn that hurts

EDIT: only scored under 32 once. on the very first CBT i took.

 

[JugularVein]

AAMC AVG 10 10 11 (31)
Goal: 31Q
Prediction: 9 9 11 (29)
Actual: 8 10 12 (30Q)

Should I rewrite? Trying to get into a canadian school... (alberta/calgary)

 

[walleyealx]

AAMC Average: 27
Prediction:26-30 (PS:9 VR:11 BS:8)
Goal:28+
Actual: 28O (PS:8 VR:10 BS:10)

28 Was my goal, I hit it, I'm probably not taking this test ever again!

 

[chsreason37]

Same here. 32Q actual. Had been averaging around a 40 or so on the practice exams. Verbal is upsetting.

 

[Jepstein30]

Same here. 32Q actual. Had been averaging around a 40 or so on the practice exams. Verbal is upsetting.

breakdown? mine is even (10/10/12) which is unusual since I never scored below a 12 in PS and averaged a 12 on VR.

gah oh well

 

[rjosh33]

AAMC Average: 13/11/13
Prediction: 14/12/13 -- 39

Actual: 14/11/13 -- 38M

Lol at the M. Whatever though, I was right around where I thought I'd be.

 

[Barley426]

AAMC Average: 36
Prediction: Walking out 38 13P 12V 13B A few days ago 35 12P 10V 13B
Actual: 37Q!! 12P 12V 13B

holy crap!!! so happy!!!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE

 

[Jepstein30]

AAMC Average: 13/11/13
Prediction: 14/12/13 -- 39

Actual: 14/11/13 -- 38M

Lol at the M. Whatever though, I was right around where I thought I'd be.

Good job man.

That was the score I thought I had with BS and PS flipped.

Wonder what went wrong but since I'll never see the test, who knows.

Congrats to all and good luck to all who haven't yet checked.

EDIT: knew i would get a 32.. that's what I set my cutoff as and of course i hit it. oh boy haha

 

[05silvergt]

aamc avg: 26
prediction: 24-28
goal: 25+ (applying mostly DO)
actual: 26L 7/10/9

Needless to say I didn't put much effort into the writing section. However, I felt best about the ps, and it was my worst, go figure.

 

[chsreason37]

breakdown? mine is even (10/10/12) which is unusual since I never scored below a 12 in PS and averaged a 12 on VR.

gah oh well

9 verbal, 11 physical, 12 biological

 

[nabilesmail]

34N 13-9-12

Ugh :[

 

[masroua]

14-8-10 32Q
It is not balanced but I am very happy with it.
Good luck to all of you.

 

[MicroSteph]

10 PS 11 V 10 BS!!!

SO PSYCHED! I met my average!

 

[prexies]

I'll go into more detail because I have nothing better to do now that I'm finished stressing.

Study Material: Mix of Kaplan books and EK, All AAMCs, avg ~31
Study Time: Middle of May until June 9, very little during June because I was a camp counselor, then did all my practice tests in the 2 weeks before the test.
Goal: Realistic:30, Stretch 33
Predicted on test day: 27-29
Actual: 31R (10PS/11VR/10BS)

I am so happy to be finished with this thing. Now time to go drink

 

[Class1P]

LAME I wa shoping for way better,

I took it in April and got: 12,6,11 O -- 29O

I just now got: 10,8,12 P ----30P

Oh well at least I improved and got a 30

 

[rjosh33]

Good job man.

That was the score I thought I had with BS and PS flipped.

Wonder what went wrong but since I'll never see the test, who knows.

Congrats to all and good luck to all who haven't yet checked.

EDIT: knew i would get a 32.. that's what I set my cutoff as and of course i hit it. oh boy haha

Thanks man. I know you wanted better, but ain't nothin' wrong with a 32, either. Good luck to you and everybody else on the interview trail.

 

[Jzaga053]

I'll go into more detail because I have nothing better to do now that I'm finished stressing.

Study Material: Mix of Kaplan books and EK, All AAMCs, avg ~31
Study Time: Middle of May until June 9, very little during June because I was a camp counselor, then did all my practice tests in the 2 weeks before the test.
Goal: Realistic:30, Stretch 33
Predicted on test day: 27-29
Actual: 31R (10PS/11VR/10BS)

I am so happy to be finished with this thing. Now time to go drink

Hey man, sounds good! What was your average if you dont mind me asking? My average is a 28 on Kaplan and AAMC, Im a little worried as my test is on friday. Any advice? Thanks!

 

[elchupacabra23]

AAMC Average: 12.3/10/13 (3 tests)
Prediction: 2/3/2 plus one point for AAMC feeling bad for me
Actual: 12/10/15 37R


I've followed this thread since I took the test and I just registered for an account to thank you guys for getting me through the last month. From the minute I walked out of the test I felt crushed and I have no clue what happened, but I'm thankful for whatever miracle just occurred (AAMC probably screwed one of you guys by switching your results with me). I know my score is a little unbalanced but at this point I don't care. Anyways just wanted to say thanks again and best of luck to all you guys. Even if you don't like your score just keep your head up and try again.

 

[SoMinty]

AAMC Average: 39.5
Prediction:38-42
Goal:>40
Actual:39o (13/13/13)

 

[Viola05]

.

 

[nabilesmail]

sorry lemme rewrite

AAMC Average: Last 3 tests, 37, 37, 38
Predicted: 14-10-13 (was hoping)
Goal 37+
Actual: 34N 13/9/12

 

[Mar3]

AAMC AVG 10 10 11 (31)
Goal: 31Q
Prediction: 9 9 11 (29)
Actual: 8 10 12 (30Q)

Should I rewrite? Trying to get into a canadian school... (alberta/calgary)

AAMC AVG: 32
Actual: V8/ 9P/ B 12 (29)

totally devastated..... I was also hoping to apply to Calgary.. ( Im from Edmonton)
Do u think the the 8 will do me in? do i still have a chance?..
I know im out of the runnning for US MD but i have decided to look into DO for this application cycle.
Is it to late for DO for this cycle?

 

[Deltama]

Average practice AAMC/TPR test score: 28P
Predicted: PS: 7 VR: 10 BS: 11
Actual: 28O PS: 9 VR: 7 BS: 12

Used TPR, but only took 3 AAMC and 1 TPR test. Not sure if I should retake =\

 

[Brad94]

31R

14 BS / 10 PS / 7 VR

Not extremely happy with the composite... Ecstatic about BS, feel pretty average about PS, and pretty bummed out about my VR...

Unsure if I should retake or not... I really really dont wanna have to go through this again :/

 

[adrogen]

.

 

[prexies]

Hey man, sounds good! What was your average if you dont mind me asking? My average is a 28 on Kaplan and AAMC, Im a little worried as my test is on friday. Any advice? Thanks!

Test
3 (28) 7/12/9
4 (29) 9/10/10
5 (28) 7/11/10
7 (30) 10/11/9
8 (33) 10/11/12
9 (31) 11/11/9
10 (30) 9/11/10
11 (28) 9/11/8

 

[smileyphace]

same i'm having trouble deciding whether to retake or not.

AAMC Average: 35
Prediction: 33-36
Goal:35+
Actual: 11/11/11 33O

I was fairly happy with verbal and PS considering I thought I completely bombed it but was disappointed with my BS as I usually average a 13. I had 34 as my cutoff for retaking as I had never got below that on any test but now I'm wondering whether I should just settle for the 33.

 

[itsneverlupus]

AAMC Average: 36 (12.2 PS/11.4 VR/12.4 BS); took tests 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, and 11
Materials used: Kaplan subject books (from an old Kaplan course), EK1001 series, AAMC practice tests
Prediction: anywhere from a 33 to a 39
Goal: 36+
Actual: 37N! (10 PS/12 VR/15 BS)

I was retaking from a 32 (July 2010) - so relieved to be done with this!!

ETA: AAMC 11 was very predictive for me (although I screwed up the real PS a little): 37 - 12 PS/11 VR/14 BS

 

[nsjoseph]

aamc avg: 28-29
prediction: 28-29
goal: 30
actual: 30 Q 9 PS 11 VERB 10 BIO


cant say im surprised with my PS score because i thought that was the hardest section on the whole exam and 9 was the lowest i ever score on practice. 10 on bio is about right I usually got 11 on practice but this Bio had a couple of hard passage but i thought I had gotten an 11. Verbal absolutely surprised me I never got above a 9 on verbal only when i took passages untimed did i get an 11. Needless to say im happy with my score and probably will not be retaking. THE NIGHTMARE IS OVER.

 

[Ineedhopenow]

PS/VR/BS

AAMC 11- 7/7/12 - 26(ran out of time on PS...restructured strategy)
AAMC 3- 12/10/10 - 32
AAMC 4- 12/8/10 - 30
AAMC 5- 10/5/13 - 28
AAMC 7- 13/9/10 - 32
AAMC 8- 12/10/11 - 33
AAMC 10- 11/7/10 - 28
AAMC 9- 12/7/13 - 32

Physics Assess- 77% Chem Assess 87%
Biology Assess- 83% O.Chem Assess- 85%

Average AAMC- 30
Goal- 30 or above
Predicted- 27 (10/9/8) and cried afterwards
Actual MCAT- 30Q (11/10/9)
THANK YOU GOD!!! TOOK ME 3 TRIES BUT FINALLY DID IT WITH HELP FROM ABOVE.

 

[hallowmann]

AAMC Average: 34.5
Actual: 31M (11/10/10)

Nice! You improved! Congrats! Definitely not a 9, and not a K .

 

[smacs10]

Good news

 

[cmelliott1]

Typical p score: 11/6/10
Average: 26-27
Prediction- 27
Actual:30. 11/10/9

What happened????
How to be this lucky: no clue

 

[smileyphace]

AAMC Average: 36
Materials used: Kaplan subject books (from an old Kaplan course), EK1001 series, AAMC practice tests
Prediction: anywhere from a 33 to a 39
Goal: 36+
Actual: 37N! (10 PS/12 VR/15 BS)

I was retaking from a 32 (July 2010) - so relieved to be done with this!!

Congrats! what did you do your second time around for the 5 point score improvement?

 

[degi]

i took the mcat a total of 4 times over the last 4 years. The first 3 times i got a 22. The first time i got a 4 on the verbal and didn't stray far from that score the 2nd and 3rd try. My advisers told me that i probably have a reading disability....

Well f*** them all!

I just got a 31q

i gave up a lot to take this exam a 4th time. But, it was worth it.

 

[itsneverlupus]

Congrats! what did you do your second time around for the 5 point score improvement?

Thanks! I think the best thing for me was taking good notes while doing content review, doing LOTS of problems in the EK1001 books on subjects where I was weak, and spending a lot of time going over both my correct and incorrect answers on practice tests. I went through each test afterward and made sure I understood the explanations or logic for every problems, and I looked up stuff online if I still wasn't sure after reading the AAMC explanation. I also found the AAMC Self-Assessments helpful for getting more practice material. However, I think the biggest factors that helped me in biological sciences were the anatomy and physiology course I recently took and all the scientific articles I read for my job (research assistant).

 

[Nandrolone]

OMMMMMMMGGGGGGGG ****KK YESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

AAMC Avg: 31.5
June 21 MCAT: 34T (V:8/PS:13/BS:13)
July 14 MCAT: 36S (V:10/PS:13/BS:13)

 

[epersonne]

9-8-8-L. Ugh, what should I do?

 

[Barley426]

So it looks like we had a much better turnout on verbal, at least of those that are SDNers and are willing to report it.

I'm so happy...

 

[AppleCat3]

11, 11, 14 for a 36. Q on writing, but I got a T before, so whatever. I'm trying not to be terribly disappointed or sign up for a retake. Can't afford to keep taking MCAT's.

 

[markjohn]

11, 11, 14 for a 36. Q on writing, but I got a T before, so whatever. I'm trying not to be terribly disappointed or sign up for a retake. Can't afford to keep taking MCAT's.

AAMC average: 12/11/13 (36Q)
Prediction: 10/12/11 (33R)
Actual: 11/12/11 (34R)

what a prediction.

 

[hallowmann]

9-8-8-L. Ugh, what should I do?

Are you applying this cycle? If I were you, I would devote a solid 2-3 months for just studying for the MCAT and retake it. Don't worry if you have to take a year off and do research/volunteer. If you can bring it up to a 30 or even a 28, you'd be in a much better position. Don't sweat it, options are there, and average ages for matriculants is like 24-25, so don't worry about it if you get delayed a bit, its a drop in the bucket.

 

[MicroSteph]

Congrats, everyone! Lots of 30+ers here!

 

[onepiece6001]

9 PS/6 V/11 BS D:
Writing Sample: Q
Darn verbal. I didn't think it was going to be that bad.
Honestly thought BS was the hardest section but apparently not..

First time writing but definitely going to rewrite next year. Any suggestions on how to improve on verbal?

 

[turmoil]

Pulled off a 32: 11 PS/ 11 VR/ 10 BS

I was averaging about 30 on my practice exams, but I am not complaining. Funny thing is that VR was my weakest practice area and was unsure of it coming out of the exam.

Glad to be done with this step

 

[lonelybiscuit]

AAMC average: 31.5
2 months of studying after the end of the semester with just EK, and a thrilling 10 day trip out of the country right before to destress.
I really didn't want to predict or else I'd drive myself crazy.

Actual: 33S! (12P, 9V, 12B)

What a surprise and a relief. lol at the writing, I didnt prepare for it at all, and honestly I thought my essays were crap. But guess not! Time to write secondaries and prepare for my final semester of undergrad!

 

[mtremblay]

AAMC avg: 31 (range 36-28)
Predicted: 9-9-12 (30)
Actual: 32O (11P, 8V, 13B)

Not too happy with the verbal but considering my native language is french I'll take it..I guess. I was scoring anywhere from 7-12 in my practice tests so this one was basically hit or miss (more of a miss right now if I may say so myself). I don't have time to retake it so let's just hope my GPA and ECs get me through!

Congrats to everyone who did well!!!

 

[HalMoose88]

Has anyone re-taken the MCAT in a 3 week period? I'm thinking about re-taking in September but don't know if that's adequate time from now until September 6th to review/ study or even a good idea? I got a 26 on this July MCAT. Thanks!

 

[amazingbeard]

6/25- AAMC 3: 12/11/12 (35)
6/27- AAMC 4: 11/11/13 (35)
6/29- AAMC 5: 11/10/12 (33)
7/2- AAMC 7: 13/13/13 (39)
7/6- AAMC 8: 11/11/12 (34)
7/9- AAMC 9: 13/11/13 (37)
7/10- AAMC 10: 10/13/11 (34)
7/12- AAMC 11: 11/14/11 (36)

AAMC Avg: ~11.5/11.8/12.1 (35.4)

Actual:
Jan 28, 2012: 10/8/10 (28Q)
July 14, 2012: 11/12/11 (34P)

The improvement greatly exceeded my expectations. Relieved it's over. Good luck everyone!