*Official MCAT January 2017 Thread*

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Singerpremed

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Hi, I know there are many people who are also studying for the MCAT in January and I would like to connect with you guys and get insights. I'm currently taking a live online Kaplan MCAT course. I go to the University of Florida.
 
Haha I'm enjoying it better than last summer! I took the test last june and then lifeguarded for 60 + hours a week for a month and all I could think about was this test. Now I have school to keep me busy, never thought I would be so thrilled to have so much homework!
 
This wait is terrible


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You know, I actually feel super chill. I left feeling great about it overall (OK, C/P was slightly sketchy, but not appalling) and I thought bio had tons of gimmes. So we will see. Easy isn't necessarily better - more people do well so it's harder to score higher.

At this point I only feel antsy when I actually think about it, which isn't that often.
 
You know, I actually feel super chill. I left feeling great about it overall (OK, C/P was slightly sketchy, but not appalling) and I thought bio had tons of gimmes. So we will see. Easy isn't necessarily better - more people do well so it's harder to score higher.

At this point I only feel antsy when I actually think about it, which isn't that often.

The b/b definetly had some gimmes, when i was going through the discrete questions before starting any of the passages I was like "man this is perfect" then some of the passages were brutal


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Congrats to everyone so far! Seeing that the world has indeed not ended due to the difficult C/P and CARS on the 1/19 exam makes me feel better for next week 🙂 Also hoping for a 10 AM release!
 
Got a 511 overall, 127/128/125/131. I am worried about the 125 in bio, that is 56th percentile. But then psych and CARS are 99th and 90th respectively.
I was scoring 507-510 on the practice tests and am happy with my overall score (was aiming for a 510).
Should I retake?
 
Got a 511 overall, 127/128/125/131. I am worried about the 125 in bio, that is 56th percentile. But then psych and CARS are 99th and 90th respectively.
I was scoring 507-510 on the practice tests and am happy with my overall score (was aiming for a 510).
Should I retake?

Retake?! A 511 is plenty good enough especially if you were aiming for 510?


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Congrats everyone! I was scoring 511 on my aamc practice FL, thought i would get a 507 on the real exam and ended up with a 506 (126/128/126/126). I am considering retaking but I will be accepted into my own school with the score I got as I'm in a 3+4 BS/DO program. Not sure what I should do.....any suggestions? Is it worth retaking it to apply out, or should I just take the seat from my own school (Nova Southeastern)? It is a nonbinding program.
 
Dropped ~20 percentile from my scored exams. 511 to 504 (126/122/128/128), ~1-2 point drop in each section from scored. :\

It converts to a 28 on the old scale, so it isn't the absolute worse. However, I'm guessing a 122 in CARS means even low teir MD are probably out (it is below the 10th percentile for my state schools, which have matriculate averages of 29 and 30 on the old scale). It is probably okay for many DO schools (if a 122 in CARS is acceptable), but I'm really not sure I'm ready to go into medicine if this is how much my performance changes on test day... Lot's to think about.

Sorry if this is a bit of a bummer post, but I feel like there should be some balance to the reporting bias on SDN and hopefully others will feel a bit better about their performance.
 
Got a 511 overall, 127/128/125/131. I am worried about the 125 in bio, that is 56th percentile. But then psych and CARS are 99th and 90th respectively.
I was scoring 507-510 on the practice tests and am happy with my overall score (was aiming for a 510).
Should I retake?

I'm in the same boat here...aiming for 512 and got 514 but b/b section is only 126 so I'm really worried about if I should retake or not...

Can someone talk about how much it matters to have a low section score but a okay overall score? Like is there a cut off section score? This is hectic...
 
Dropped ~20 percentile from my scored exams. 511 to 504 (126/122/128/128), ~1-2 point drop in each section from scored. :\

It converts to a 28 on the old scale, so it isn't the absolute worse. However, I'm guessing a 122 in CARS means even low teir MD are probably out (it is below the 10th percentile for my state schools, which have matriculate averages of 29 and 30 on the old scale). It is probably okay for many DO schools (if a 122 in CARS is acceptable), but I'm really not sure I'm ready to go into medicine if this is how much my performance changes on test day... Lot's to think about.

Sorry if this is a bit of a bummer post, but I feel like there should be some balance to the reporting bias on SDN and hopefully others will feel a bit better about their performance.

1/28 tester here. What do you attribute your drop to? Lack of sleep/nerves/illness, or just the difficulty of the exam itself?
 
1/28 tester here. What do you attribute your drop to? Lack of sleep/nerves/illness, or just the difficulty of the exam itself?
ill say he panicked the test was very stressful from what i have heard, Once you lose your cool it can hurt you.
 
Hope you're not a troll, or trying to humble brag.

If you're NOT Canadian, then you do not retake a 514.

I'm so sorry if I sounded like I'm bragging...I was just worried about the low section score and it's my first time browsing this forum so I don't know how things are...

Thank you for your answer though!
 
I'm in the same boat here...aiming for 512 and got 514 but b/b section is only 126 so I'm really worried about if I should retake or not...

Can someone talk about how much it matters to have a low section score but a okay overall score? Like is there a cut off section score? This is hectic...

I think that while a 126 section score isn't ideal, IIRC it's around a 9-10 so it's not exactly a dealbreaker, either. I definitely understand the uncertainty and turmoil surrounding your score, though! Retaking a 514 would probably not be the best idea because of the possibility of decreasing your score, so it's probably not worth trying to balance out your B/B score. Congrats on exceeding your goal score 🙂
 
I think that while a 126 section score isn't ideal, IIRC it's around a 9-10 so it's not exactly a dealbreaker, either. I definitely understand the uncertainty and turmoil surrounding your score, though! Retaking a 514 would probably not be the best idea because of the possibility of decreasing your score, so it's probably not worth trying to balance out your B/B score. Congrats on exceeding your goal score 🙂

Thank you so much!!
 
Disappointed with the score but was expecting something like this.
April 2015: 509 (131/122/129/127)
January 2017: 511 (130/124/128/129)
I got 507 (130/121/130/127) on AAMC FL1 and 506 (128/123/129/126) on AAMC FL2.
I'm an international student (non-Canadian) and English is my third language.
I really worked hard to improve CARS. I don't think if I could improve further. Should I apply anyways or retake?


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Disappointed with the score but was expecting something like this.
April 2015: 509 (131/122/129/127)
January 2017: 511 (130/124/128/129)
I got 507 (130/121/130/127) on AAMC FL1 and 506 (128/123/129/126) on AAMC FL2.
I'm an international student (non-Canadian) and English is my third language.
I really worked hard to improve CARS. I don't think if I could improve further. Should I apply anyways or retake?


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I would take it and run... lol
 
Disappointed with the score but was expecting something like this.
April 2015: 509 (131/122/129/127)
January 2017: 511 (130/124/128/129)
I got 507 (130/121/130/127) on AAMC FL1 and 506 (128/123/129/126) on AAMC FL2.
I'm an international student (non-Canadian) and English is my third language.
I really worked hard to improve CARS. I don't think if I could improve further. Should I apply anyways or retake?


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that's a great score, proud of u
 
516 (131/126/129/130) 95% and lol on CARS. My AAMC practice exams were 511-513. Good luck to everyone else. I hope your scores bring you joy and nothing else!
I hope I match you haha I get mine next Tuesday! FL 1: 512 FL 2: 513 and 82% on Official sample. Did you take the sample test?
 
Exam 1/19: 526 (132, 131, 132, 131)

Practice ones:
Next Step Diagnostic test: 514
Next Step Exam 1: 516 (130, 128, 129, 129)
AAMC Practice Exam 1 : 520 (129, 130, 131, 130)
AAMC Practice Exam 2 : 521 (130, 130, 132, 129)
Omg, those verbal scores! Are you natural reader or what? Any tips to share on verbal and gratz.
 
I hope I match you haha I get mine next Tuesday! FL 1: 512 FL 2: 513 and 82% on Official sample. Did you take the sample test?
Yes I took the sample and I don't quite remember the percentage (somewhere in the 80's) but I know I used a score converter and it put me at a 515
 
Yes I took the sample and I don't quite remember the percentage (somewhere in the 80's) but I know I used a score converter and it put me at a 515

Same the converter put me at like a 515 uggh this wait is crazy haha. If I scored same as you I would die from happiness!
 
Some really great scores guys, exciting! 6 more days til I find out... AAMC #1 - 512, AAMC #2 - 517, hoping for 512+ on the real deal. Chem/phys felt hard, but we'll see. Just need over 510 to be confident I have a future career in medicine and don't have to live in parents basement the rest of my life
 
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