Poor/avg MCAT score but HIGH Step I scores? Possible?

[frenchy]

Hi!

Just wondering if its possible to score high on Step I despite the fact that your MCAT scores were low (30 and below)? Someone told me that Step I alike the MCAT show your test taking skills more than anything and that they do correlate to a certain degree.

Please post your experience!

Thanks!

 

[sixteenstones]

I got a 24R on the MCAT and scored a 230/93 on USMLE I and a 635/94%ile on COMLEX I. I can go just about anywhere. I just hated chem and physics. Bottom line. I am also top 10% of my class.

 

[southerndoc]

Yes, it's possible. I know a couple people who made in the mid 20's and got >230 on Step I.

 

[scootad.]

Definitely possible. MCAT and Step 1 are very very different tests. MCAT is more about abstraction and application and Step 1 is more massive memorization & regurgitation of minutiae. I personally think Step 1 is easier (since I am better at memorizing than abstracting).

Me: mcat = 31 Step 1 = 246

My sister: mcat = 29 Step 1 = 252

 

[Idiopathic]

It is absolutely not possible to do poorly on the MCAT and then rock the USMLE. We all know that the ultimate indicator of one's potential worth as a physician is the MCAT. Haven't you learned that from the MCAT forums? Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying.

(note: this was sarcasm. HOWEVER, when asked to correlate MCAT performance with ANYTHING, the closest correlation can be made between success on the MCAT and success on the USMLE...when considering grades in medical school, success in residency, etc.)

 

[Stinger86]

Less than 30 on the MCAT is low? What a loser I must be.

Anyway, the MCAT is just useless fluff used by admissions committees to make their job easier. Whether you make a 40 or a -5 on it means absolutely nothing as to how you're going to do in medical school and on the boards.

Don't sweat it... read the course textbooks, all the good review texts, and do plenty of review questions, and you'll do fine on the step

 

[Blade28]

Possible. I have a couple classmates who scored between 25-28 on the MCAT, but then proceeded to rock Step 1 (>235).

However, it's more likely that those who scored well on Step 1 also did quite well on the MCAT.