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This is detailed stuff about my MCAT day. No specific questions are included. This is more about what to expect on test day. I just got home about twenty minutes ago, so I figured I'd post it while I still remembered.
Originally, my admission ticked said we were going to take the test in a really crappy auditorium, but our group was large enough that we got bumped up to two larger, super-nice auditoriums. They sent us a letter via UPS telling us about the location change.
After eating a hearty breakfast, I arrived at the testing center at around 7:40 am, all the other premeds were hanging around. Two of the proctors came out and told us that we'd be split into two groups by last name and to go to the bathroom while we still had a chance, since once we line up, that's it.
I was pretty far ahead in line. They took my ticket, checked my ID, took a thumbprint and told me my seat number. We had to check our bags at the door. Incidentally, I had an excellent seat, right under a skylight without anyone nearby (I was at the back of the room). The room was comfortable, no extraneous noises or heating/cooling problems. Huge clock on the wall, so my watch was useless.
After sitting for an eternity waiting for the people to finally get organized, we were read directions by the proctor regarding the exam and prepared for the PS. The process of filling out Scantron sheets was never so drawn out. Seriously. You can't go ahead of the proctor, and you're constantly held back from completing the paperwork by the slowest people in the room. You do the same thing for every section, by the end of the day you're pretty good at filling out the same boxes with the same information.
Finally, at around 8:50 we started PS. The exam itself is just like the practice exams. Don't stress, you're not going to get anything that involves some huge equation. For example, instead of memorizing the Doppler equation, just understand that if a sound is coming towards you how the wavelength will change. Know your basic laws, that's it. Definitions - what is pressure? Not complicated, just tricky.
We had a 10 minute break. Yes, the breaks really are 10 minutes. Well, maybe 12 because of some slow guy who has to be told to get his butt into the room. But you get the idea.
VR was the same excruciating Scantron process. If they had the scantron thing down to where it only took the two minutes it should take, then the MCAT would be over by 2 PM. Most of the day is not spent actually taking the exam, just filling out Scantrons. And they aren't even complicated Scantrons, people are just slow.
Finally, a lunch break, around 12:45. The other half of the group (we were separated by last name, remember?) were way behind us. I was going to meet up with my friend for lunch, but he was in the other group, so I just went and got food myself. He was just getting out by the time I returned. Maybe they had the REALLY tricky Scantron sheets!
The writing sample was like a vacation compared to the other sections. No worries about this section. If you speak English, can punctuate and spell, you'll feel pretty good about this one.
We had another 10 minute break, and then the BS. We filled out the paperwork, wich was almost involuntary by now, and the timer started around 3:25. Once again, no super complicated stuff. As far as organic goes, memorizing reactions will not get you very far. Just understand the nomenclature, the basics (Sn, E) and definitions (isomers, chirality, etc.). Biology was all about graph interpretation, BASIC genetics, and physiology. When somebody tells you that it's about concepts, believe them. Rote memorization can get a few of the problems, but not most of them. It's more about applying the stuff you have learned.
After BS, you think the paperwork is done? Oh, no. Time to fill out another Scantron sheet. This time it was all about YOU! How you prepared, how many practice MCATs, etc. This one only takes about 15 minutes. (There goes 15 minutes of my life. I'll never get that back again.)
And then, that was it. "You are dismissed." I came home, and here I am.
Actually, it wasn't that bad. The hardest part was not eating my own leg doing all the paperwork. So my advice to you, if you have never taken the MCAT before and are going to take it in August, don't stress the details. Hit the concepts that people would expect a person who took science in college to know. Practice MCATs do help, but I think once you've done three or four, you pretty much know what to expect.
Good luck to you guys. As for me, I'M FREEE!!! FREEEEEEE!
Originally, my admission ticked said we were going to take the test in a really crappy auditorium, but our group was large enough that we got bumped up to two larger, super-nice auditoriums. They sent us a letter via UPS telling us about the location change.
After eating a hearty breakfast, I arrived at the testing center at around 7:40 am, all the other premeds were hanging around. Two of the proctors came out and told us that we'd be split into two groups by last name and to go to the bathroom while we still had a chance, since once we line up, that's it.
I was pretty far ahead in line. They took my ticket, checked my ID, took a thumbprint and told me my seat number. We had to check our bags at the door. Incidentally, I had an excellent seat, right under a skylight without anyone nearby (I was at the back of the room). The room was comfortable, no extraneous noises or heating/cooling problems. Huge clock on the wall, so my watch was useless.
After sitting for an eternity waiting for the people to finally get organized, we were read directions by the proctor regarding the exam and prepared for the PS. The process of filling out Scantron sheets was never so drawn out. Seriously. You can't go ahead of the proctor, and you're constantly held back from completing the paperwork by the slowest people in the room. You do the same thing for every section, by the end of the day you're pretty good at filling out the same boxes with the same information.
Finally, at around 8:50 we started PS. The exam itself is just like the practice exams. Don't stress, you're not going to get anything that involves some huge equation. For example, instead of memorizing the Doppler equation, just understand that if a sound is coming towards you how the wavelength will change. Know your basic laws, that's it. Definitions - what is pressure? Not complicated, just tricky.
We had a 10 minute break. Yes, the breaks really are 10 minutes. Well, maybe 12 because of some slow guy who has to be told to get his butt into the room. But you get the idea.
VR was the same excruciating Scantron process. If they had the scantron thing down to where it only took the two minutes it should take, then the MCAT would be over by 2 PM. Most of the day is not spent actually taking the exam, just filling out Scantrons. And they aren't even complicated Scantrons, people are just slow.
Finally, a lunch break, around 12:45. The other half of the group (we were separated by last name, remember?) were way behind us. I was going to meet up with my friend for lunch, but he was in the other group, so I just went and got food myself. He was just getting out by the time I returned. Maybe they had the REALLY tricky Scantron sheets!
The writing sample was like a vacation compared to the other sections. No worries about this section. If you speak English, can punctuate and spell, you'll feel pretty good about this one.
We had another 10 minute break, and then the BS. We filled out the paperwork, wich was almost involuntary by now, and the timer started around 3:25. Once again, no super complicated stuff. As far as organic goes, memorizing reactions will not get you very far. Just understand the nomenclature, the basics (Sn, E) and definitions (isomers, chirality, etc.). Biology was all about graph interpretation, BASIC genetics, and physiology. When somebody tells you that it's about concepts, believe them. Rote memorization can get a few of the problems, but not most of them. It's more about applying the stuff you have learned.
After BS, you think the paperwork is done? Oh, no. Time to fill out another Scantron sheet. This time it was all about YOU! How you prepared, how many practice MCATs, etc. This one only takes about 15 minutes. (There goes 15 minutes of my life. I'll never get that back again.)
And then, that was it. "You are dismissed." I came home, and here I am.
Actually, it wasn't that bad. The hardest part was not eating my own leg doing all the paperwork. So my advice to you, if you have never taken the MCAT before and are going to take it in August, don't stress the details. Hit the concepts that people would expect a person who took science in college to know. Practice MCATs do help, but I think once you've done three or four, you pretty much know what to expect.
Good luck to you guys. As for me, I'M FREEE!!! FREEEEEEE!
