People with 40 + MCAT

[BritIndian]

Hello all!

I want to ask all those people who got 40+ on the MCAT, which books and prep materials they used and found most effective!

Thanks

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[CodeBlu]

Why isn't this thread dead yet?

 

[stsa84]

Because somebody keeps the rally alive by bringing it back up to the top of the boards. Nice hit!

 

[thomallama]

Hai guys, be nice.

Kaplan tells you to aim for a 45T

 

[BritIndian]

LOL@ Op is a total tool

Thanks flodhi, appreciate the help

 

[BritIndian]

OP, 40+ is a good goal, but I think everyone here is just trying to make sure you keep in mind that it is not a realistic goal. Obviously your goal should be to get every question right, just understand that it is not going to happen.

People always say on here that a 40+ is possible, as long as you're an excellent test taker, have thorough understanding of your basic sciences, and study extremely hard for the mcat in the months prior to taking it. The thing to understand is that this describes almost everyone who makes above a 34 on the mcat. The mcat is an exam that intelligent, well studied individuals take and end up doing poorly on.

Just because you can make in the top 99.9% on your SAT, or be the top in your class at your university doesn't mean that you'll be that high on the mcat.

Just for the record, I didn't do an amazing job on my SAT. Again the only thing I'm asking about is the best prep material.

Ok, there are plenty of topics on the pros/cons of the various review material (PR, BR, EK, Kaplan, nova). I'll spoil the mystery: there is no review material that will give you some secret key to getting a 40+. Your best chance is to use them all if you really want a 40+.

Fair warning, I too am digressing from the topic...

Just a side note, but one of the major factors in determining whether a person scores a 40+ is simply the brain they were born with. Many of us, even with endless studying and practice test taking, will peak at a number below this. There's no shame in this, as scoring a 40+ puts you in the top 0.5% of MCAT takers. This is not the top 0.5% of all people, but the top 0.5% of those who take the MCAT. While some medical school hopefuls are decidedly dumb, I would think that the average intelligence of those who take the MCAT is a few notches higher than the public in general, and only 5 out of 1000 of these smart test takers score 40+.

That being said, I hope your study time is productive and you reach your personal potential.

Thank you all for your insight,

It's not like I haven't thought of these things, or that I have said that I have the potential, all I'm trying to do is accumulate the right tools for this activity.

Most people have told me how hard it is, how impossible or close to impossible it is, how I shouldn't think about it, I've got some smart alec remarks, some kind ones, few helpful ones. I'm really not concerned about what people think about me, or how they feel I'm being a *****.

Now, telling me that I should use all the books, is as pointless and unhelpful as not saying anything. Most kids in college, especially Internationals , are on a tight budget. Money is short, and so is time. I'm not asking for any "secret", nor am I asking for the easiest way to do something, nor for some magical advice. Just a straightforward fact, which book is concise, to the point, and the best ( closest in content and quality) for the MCAT. I'm not asking for the easiest method or books to understand or remember.

 

[anon747]

.

 

[Doubtnichts]

I got a 46 and didn't even study!

GASP!! You too!?! Only I decided to retake it...still worried that it's not high enough with my 5.0 gpa.

 

[SN2ed]

Biology: 1. EK Bio (for content) + BR Bio (for passages and further topic depth if needed) 2. TPR Hyperlearning, detail oriented 3. Kaplan

Physics: 1. BR 2. Nova 3. TPR Hyperlearning 4. EK/Kaplan

Verbal: 1. EK 101 Verbal 2. TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook 3. BR 4. Kaplan (Avoid if possible)

Organic Chemistry: 1. BR, by far 2. TPR Hyperlearning 3. EK/Kaplan

General Chemistry: 1. BR, by far 2. TPR Hyperlearning 3. EK/Kaplan

Extra Practice Material: 1. TPR Hyperlearing Science Workbook, good source of practice passages 1. AAMC Official Guide to the MCAT Exam (most representative material available) 2. EK 1001 series, helps nail down basics

 

[SN2ed]

SN2ed, I know that there used to be a bunch of EK reps on SDN who answered questions about EK 1001 problems. Do you know what happened to them? Is there a way to encourage them to return to the SDN MCAT Q&A forum?

I think the inability to identify errors with confidence in EK 1001 books is a major drawback. It would be great if EK reps were more visible and helpful on SDN, and it would make using the EK 1001 books a less unpleasant experience, IMO.

There was? I never saw any of them, but I rarely go into the Q&A forum. I doubt there's a way to bring them back. I'm guessing they were answering questions before they started charging for their errata forum.

 

[QofQuimica]

OP, most people don't use every prep material known to man, so we won't be able to tell you what the best thing is to use. I mean, I used the Kaplan online course. But most likely, I'd have done just as well with PR, or BR, or EK (not sure they had EK yet in 2004 when I took the test, but let's pretend like they did for the sake of argument). The point is, there are a lot of good resources out there, and studying for exams is an individual thing. We all have different weak areas that need shoring up. In my case, I took physics and biology in 1992, and I was a chemistry instructor for college-level gen chem and organic chem classes at the time that I began my MCAT prep. So obviously, I didn't need to do very much chem review, but I needed quite a bit of work in physiology (much of which I had never learned in the first place) and physics.

Besides having applied to med school with a 43 MCAT myself, I have four years of experience as a student adcom, and I can tell you from both perspectives that adcoms are looking for the whole package. We could fill our entire class every year with people who have 4.0 GPAs and 38+ MCATs, but we don't. Being lopsidedly stellar in one area (MCAT score) but lackluster or deficient in other areas (ECs, LORs, essays, fit with our school mission, etc.) is not what we want. So bottom line is that you don't need a 40+ MCAT score to be competitive for medical school, even as an international applicant. Once you are above the mid-30s, you get diminishing returns for raising your score still further, unless you just want the bragging rights. As others have already said, focus on getting good grades (ideally 3.8+ GPA), and participate in some meaningful ECs (clinical experience, community service, other interests or activities you may have). That will do a lot more to improve your overall competitiveness for medical school than having a 40 MCAT will.

Hope this helps, and best of luck.

 

[Rabolisk]

This is a very important thread and I don't understand why everyone is being so hard on the OP. I know for a fact that if I had used better prep material, I would have gotten 40+ and easily be in Med School. Instead I have to do these petty things called research and volunteering.

 

[Flamen04]

This is a very important thread and I don't understand why everyone is being so hard on the OP. I know for a fact that if I had used better prep material, I would have gotten 40+ and easily be in Med School. Instead I have to do these petty things called research and volunteering.

Petty things? With an attitude like that, no wonder you didn't get in med school

 

[salim271]

Here is a post from someone who got a 44:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8364094&postcount=485

Well, this thread in my mind has now gone from waste of time to bookmarked.... ^^^damn, look at all those people who are better than me, XD.

 

[Donald Juan]

Petty things? With an attitude like that, no wonder you didn't get in med school

I believe he was being sarcastic

 

[tak08810]

I'm really surprised so few of the 40+'s used BR as their main sources, considering how loved it is on here I'd expect a decent percentage. Maybe people should reconsider?

And I find the person who got a 44's story really really hard to believe. 2 months of studying? She never beat a 40 on an AAMC (average looks like a 38) test but she got a 44 on the real thing? Must've been the equivalent to winning the hundred million dollar lottery.

 

[Doubtnichts]

Here is a post from someone who got a 44:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8364094&postcount=485

Wow, you pretty much rock

 

[tak08810]

No, I don't think so. There are plenty of people who got great scores (e.g., 35+) who used TBR books but were not included in the list above because the OP stated she/he was only interested in feedback from people who scored 40+ on the MCAT. TBR has not been popular for as long on SDN as Kaplan, which probably is why there are not as many 40+ posters on SDN who reported having used TBR books primarily.

OHHH I did forget TBR is relatively new. I suppose in a few years we'll have a better idea.

 

[Donald Juan]

I'm really surprised so few of the 40+'s used BR as their main sources, considering how loved it is on here I'd expect a decent percentage. Maybe people should reconsider?

And I find the person who got a 44's story really really hard to believe. 2 months of studying? She never beat a 40 on an AAMC (average looks like a 38) test but she got a 44 on the real thing? Must've been the equivalent to winning the hundred million dollar lottery.

Some of us suspect that the scaling on the actual mcat makes it a little easier to score in the 40's range, where on the practice AAMC's you have to be nearly perfect to score in the 40. I'm not saying it's any easier, just that it might be a little more feasible when you have harder questions but can miss a few and still get a top score.

Obviously this is just speculation, since none of us REALLY know what goes down when they grade the mcat and decide how many questions correct equals a 15, 14, etc. since we can't actually see our raw scores.

 

[CodeBlu]

OHHH I did forget TBR is relatively new. I suppose in a few years we'll have a better idea.

I used TBR... I didn't get a 40... 37s not too shabby either though. The first time around I used TPR and a got a 30. I'm a firm believer that TBR helped me. But I think the actual score improvement came from test strategy and seeing the material in 2 or 3 different ways.

TBR>EK>TPR

 

[salim271]

Some of us suspect that the scaling on the actual mcat makes it a little easier to score in the 40's range, where on the practice AAMC's you have to be nearly perfect to score in the 40. I'm not saying it's any easier, just that it might be a little more feasible when you have harder questions but can miss a few and still get a top score.

Obviously this is just speculation, since none of us REALLY know what goes down when they grade the mcat and decide how many questions correct equals a 15, 14, etc. since we can't actually see our raw scores.

Very true, when you do AAMC practices, you can't take the hardest passage where you missed the most questions and delete it from your score. When they grade your MCAT (fingers crossed ) that just might happen because of the pre-set curve.

 

[MDminded]

Here is a post from someone who got a 44:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8364094&postcount=485

Posts from 40+ MCAT examinees who prepared with Kaplan books:
1. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=6347642&postcount=210
2. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8553718&postcount=566
3. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4017369&postcount=455
4. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4851586&postcount=526
5. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3255506&postcount=335
6. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4270942&postcount=490
7. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3816062&postcount=423
8. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3017549&postcount=292
9. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3229370&postcount=320
10. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=2717980&postcount=244
11. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3014026&postcount=287
12. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3016345&postcount=290
13. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=1940911&postcount=178
14. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5422164&postcount=642
15. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=1932674&postcount=171
16. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5618002&postcount=678
17. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=2717607&postcount=241
18. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=1922836&postcount=156
19. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=1647341&postcount=153
20. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=754891&postcount=70
21. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5521575&postcount=648
22. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5618683&postcount=680
23. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=451963&postcount=27
24. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8364094&postcount=485
25. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8361416&postcount=484
26. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8549258&postcount=561
27. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8121055&postcount=442
28. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8675457&postcount=590
29. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8699271&postcount=597
30. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=9864115&postcount=749
31.http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=10164560&postcount=801
32. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8467136&postcount=528
33. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7232052&postcount=379
34. http://206.82.221.135/showpost.php?p=9607428&postcount=1
35. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5811666&postcount=7

Posts from 40+ MCAT examinees who prepared with TPR books:
1. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8240899&postcount=457
2. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3091733&postcount=307
3. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=1545987&postcount=128
4. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4772039&postcount=520
5. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=6283273&postcount=742
6. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=2731638&postcount=250
7. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5709207&postcount=704
8. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3328799&postcount=339
9. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5619028&postcount=687
10. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5716112&postcount=716
11. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7190119&postcount=367
12. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7813495&postcount=419
13.http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=10272066&postcount=811
14. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4803875&postcount=13
15. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4830612&postcount=18

Posts from 40+ MCAT examinees who prepared with EK books:
1. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4266032&postcount=478
2. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=6347662&postcount=230
3. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3086266&postcount=305
4. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3818289&postcount=428
5. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3825420&postcount=438
6. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4419963&postcount=512
7. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4266482&postcount=480
8. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4911284&postcount=542
9. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5716108&postcount=715
10. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=6284885&postcount=747
11. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5403335&postcount=637
12. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8537675&postcount=559
13. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=9752835&postcount=711
14. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7814014&postcount=420
15. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8441127&postcount=503
16.http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=10548191&postcount=822
17. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=9327199&postcount=642
18. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7445458&postcount=27
19. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7358575&postcount=1

Posts from 40+ with BR books:
1.) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=9193283&postcount=632
2.) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=11019386&postcount=875
3. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=9747078&postcount=1

Posts from 40+ MCAT examinees who prepared with other books:
1.) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=908571&postcount=79
2.) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=1550802&postcount=138
3.) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8869373&postcount=617
4.) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7832677&postcount=427

Someone did their research!

 

[gettheleadout]

Here is a post from someone who got a 44:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8364094&postcount=485

Jesus Christ.

 

[CodeBlu]

Jesus Christ.

Of course that person is Canadian. Not competing for our American spots.

 

[phltz]

Just studying is very unlikely to get you to a 40+. If you really wanted to get that kind of score (which, honestly, is kind of a silly goal to have), my advice would be to do well in your prereq classes, and then tutor or teach as much of that material as you possibly can. Reading, reviewing, doing practice passages, going through flash cards, etc can only take you so far.

You'll only get so far by repeatedly seeing and doing the right science. What will really put you over the top is repeatedly straightening things out for students who have in some way mis-construed the material. Learning how to do the science right can get you pretty far, but learning how to fix it when it's gone wrong is what will really let you master it.

You school almost certainly has a tutoring center, or some sort of club or organization where you can volunteer your time to help other students. If you really want to get an amazing score on the MCAT, make yourself useful, and go there.

 

[Melomare17]

Someone did their research!

 

[BritIndian]

Thanks SN2ed, Biophilia and QofQuimica, and everyone else!

 

[Sailor Senshi Dermystify]

Here is a post from someone who got a 44:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8364094&postcount=485

Posts from 40+ MCAT examinees who prepared with Kaplan books:
1. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=6347642&postcount=210
2. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8553718&postcount=566
3. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4017369&postcount=455
4. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4851586&postcount=526
5. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3255506&postcount=335
6. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4270942&postcount=490
7. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3816062&postcount=423
8. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3017549&postcount=292
9. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3229370&postcount=320
10. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=2717980&postcount=244
11. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3014026&postcount=287
12. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3016345&postcount=290
13. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=1940911&postcount=178
14. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5422164&postcount=642
15. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=1932674&postcount=171
16. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5618002&postcount=678
17. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=2717607&postcount=241
18. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=1922836&postcount=156
19. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=1647341&postcount=153
20. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=754891&postcount=70
21. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5521575&postcount=648
22. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5618683&postcount=680
23. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=451963&postcount=27
24. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8364094&postcount=485
25. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8361416&postcount=484
26. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8549258&postcount=561
27. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8121055&postcount=442
28. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8675457&postcount=590
29. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8699271&postcount=597
30. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=9864115&postcount=749
31.http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=10164560&postcount=801
32. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8467136&postcount=528
33. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7232052&postcount=379
34. http://206.82.221.135/showpost.php?p=9607428&postcount=1
35. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5811666&postcount=7

Posts from 40+ MCAT examinees who prepared with TPR books:
1. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8240899&postcount=457
2. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3091733&postcount=307
3. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=1545987&postcount=128
4. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4772039&postcount=520
5. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=6283273&postcount=742
6. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=2731638&postcount=250
7. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5709207&postcount=704
8. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3328799&postcount=339
9. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5619028&postcount=687
10. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5716112&postcount=716
11. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7190119&postcount=367
12. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7813495&postcount=419
13.http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=10272066&postcount=811
14. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4803875&postcount=13
15. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4830612&postcount=18

Posts from 40+ MCAT examinees who prepared with EK books:
1. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4266032&postcount=478
2. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=6347662&postcount=230
3. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3086266&postcount=305
4. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3818289&postcount=428
5. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3825420&postcount=438
6. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4419963&postcount=512
7. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4266482&postcount=480
8. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4911284&postcount=542
9. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5716108&postcount=715
10. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=6284885&postcount=747
11. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5403335&postcount=637
12. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8537675&postcount=559
13. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=9752835&postcount=711
14. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7814014&postcount=420
15. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8441127&postcount=503
16.http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=10548191&postcount=822
17. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=9327199&postcount=642
18. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7445458&postcount=27
19. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7358575&postcount=1

Posts from 40+ with BR books:
1.) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=9193283&postcount=632
2.) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=11019386&postcount=875
3. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=9747078&postcount=1

Posts from 40+ MCAT examinees who prepared with other books:
1.) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=908571&postcount=79
2.) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=1550802&postcount=138
3.) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8869373&postcount=617
4.) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7832677&postcount=427

DANG, this was very useful lol Thanks

 

[wittyalias]

I took the princeton review class and studied from the material that they give you. Took regular practice tests, and listened to audio osmosis when I drove on the weekends to see my gf. Certainly wasn't aiming for a 40+ but getting a little lucky helps too.

 

[MD Odyssey]

40+ generally does correspond to a depth of knowledge beyond the MCAT prep curriculum, really exceptional intelligence, and a bit of luck. Even though all of the learning goals assayed in the exam are within the curriculum, there's a point of view where with difficult questions are possible with an ideal MCAT prep, but much easier if you have a deep understanding. Although biochemistry isn't on the exam per se, or deep molecular genetics, there are concerns of those disciplines that highlight and condition understanding of the core knowledge that give a person a much better sense of the test writers' intentions for the difficult questions on the exam. Reactions among carboxylic derivatives is an important part of organic, but if you've had biochem, for example, you understand why the MCAT loves to test on it. Reading journal articles to train your mind to snap into comprehension is good. You might look into pleasure reading really old edition of Stryer's Biochemistry, the old editions are much shorter and inexpensive, and Linus Pauling's General Chemistry. Those are two of the best works I can think of for training the mind to a deeper scientific conception without too much trouble and a lot of enjoyment.

John has a great point here. Understanding the basic sciences at a deep level takes a long time and a lot of exposure. That sort of deep understanding also comes by teaching. My guess is that the majority of people that score above a 40 have had a lot of experience teaching the material to others.

 

[paul411]

Lot more 40+ scores using Kaplan that I expected.

 

[muhali3]

I'm aiming for a 36+. I summarized the advice from everyone in the 30+ thread who scored above a 36 and found that the only things they had in common were that:

1) The large majority used most/all of the AAMC practice tests
2) Many used Kaplan Qbank material (FLs, topicals, sectionals)

The actual content review material varied greatly.

 

[MD Odyssey]

I'm aiming for a 36+. I summarized the advice from everyone in the 30+ thread who scored above a 36 and found that the only things they had in common were that:

1) The large majority used most/all of the AAMC practice tests
2) Many used Kaplan Qbank material (FLs, topicals, sectionals)

The actual content review material varied greatly.

I question your method a bit. Far more MCAT takers use Kaplan materials, when compared to BR, EK, and TPR. Also, EK is relatively new and BR seems to be somewhat unknown outside SDN circles. I think that in order to show a causal link between Kaplan materials and extremely high MCAT scores, you would need to show that without using Kaplan, it is impossible (or nearly impossible) to get a high score. I think all you have found is a correlation.

The real conclusion to draw from the 30+ thread are probably the following:

• Content review is probably secondary to timed practice FL
• AAMC exams are the most valuable for practice
• Virtually everyone does content review and practice exams for 2-3 months
• Doing well in pre-reqs is mandatory
• People lie about their MCAT scores on the internet

I think any conclusions beyond these are probably suspicious.

 

[muhali3]

I do think it is a correlation.

But the main thing was that there was pretty much no correlation with the review material used and the MCAT score.

 

[sejin8642]

I question your method a bit. Far more MCAT takers use Kaplan materials, when compared to BR, EK, and TPR. Also, EK is relatively new and BR seems to be somewhat unknown outside SDN circles. I think that in order to show a causal link between Kaplan materials and extremely high MCAT scores, you would need to show that without using Kaplan, it is impossible (or nearly impossible) to get a high score. I think all you have found is a correlation.

The real conclusion to draw from the 30+ thread are probably the following:

• Content review is probably secondary to timed practice FL
• AAMC exams are the most valuable for practice
• Virtually everyone does content review and practice exams for 2-3 months
• Doing well in pre-reqs is mandatory
• People lie about their MCAT scores on the internet

I think any conclusions beyond these are probably suspicious.

I think the reason why many people use Kaplan (secondly TPR) is because of marketing. Kaplan and TPR are pretty big companies known to produce many other test prep materials including MCAT.

 

[paul411]

I think the reason why many people use Kaplan (secondly TPR) is because of marketing. Kaplan and TPR are pretty big companies known to produce many other test prep materials including MCAT.

I agree. I remember Kaplan and TPR marketed themselves quite aggressively on my college campus