Reworking the MCAT, from critical thinking to memory!

[MCAT guy]

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So everyone says that medical school is conceptually easier than difficult undergrad classes.

Shouldn't the MCAT therefore be a memory test to better figure out who would excel in medical school?

Like multiplying the material by say 10 times and then testing random facts?

I'm not a hater of the MCAT, it isn't the weak part of my app. Just was thinking about how the test relates to med school yo.

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

i think MCAT Guy should be a mod, or something. his posts are always light, entertaining, and packed with a special flair. MCAT Guy, FTW.

 

[randomb]

I mean, they already kind of do that. The MCAT is a really easy test, but your score goes down fast if you just get a few questions wrong. Basically, they test how thoroughly you can study the subjects more than how good your critical thinking is.

If they wanted people who could practice truly rigorous science and extremely complex analyses (such as math majors and physics majors), they could easily make the MCAT 10x harder and allow you to make 10x as many mistakes to get the same score... But Albert Einstein probably wouldn't make that much of a better doctor than your average 3.7 GPA/32 MCAT guy, so what's the point of finding Einstein's?

 

[VikingLegacy]

baleeted

 

[bacalaca]

Well if that's the case, they might as well make it 8 hours long like it used to be, because doctors work long hours and need to display endurance.

I'd like that because I am proud of my endurance.

Don't worry, step 1 is 8 hours, step 2 is 8 hours also.

 

[VikingLegacy]

baleeted

 

[Astarael]

So everyone says that medical school is conceptually easier than difficult undergrad classes.

Shouldn't the MCAT therefore be a memory test to better figure out who would excel in medical school?

Like multiplying the material by say 10 times and then testing random facts?

I'm not a hater of the MCAT, it isn't the weak part of my app. Just was thinking about how the test relates to med school yo.

I suppose I could be wrong, but I think that the MCAT is, in general, meant to screen for people who would make good doctors. While memorization is a skill that is useful in medical school, I think the critical thinking that is tested by the MCAT is definitely a desirable quality in a doctor.

 

[MCAT guy]

i think MCAT Guy should be a mod, or something. his posts are always light, entertaining, and packed with a special flair. MCAT Guy, FTW.

I can't disagree with this man's comments yo.

 

[MCAT guy]

I suppose I could be wrong, but I think that the MCAT is, in general, meant to screen for people who would make good doctors. While memorization is a skill that is useful in medical school, I think the critical thinking that is tested by the MCAT is definitely a desirable quality in a doctor.

Good point. Maybe the current system is best?

 

[Iso4ane]

The MCAT already tests memorization. If you take a class with TPR and/or Kaplan, the amount of material covered is quite a bit. And why do you think Ochem and biochemistry are required/recommeded course list. Those are the two of the more memorization intensive science courses out there, that not only rely on rote memorization, but application as well.

For example, in one of my gen. ed courses this semester, we had to memorize the the places of ~35 countries, mind you that I was never really good at geography, it took me about three repetitions, and ten mintues, to correctly place 30+ countries (my first try was like <5 right.) So rote memorization is relatively easy.

Ochem on the other hand, is slightly more difficult, you remember all the reactions you want, but if the teacher throws at you a weird problem, that you can't figure out, you'll never get it right, regardless if you knew all the reactions. Case in point, there were some kids in my ochem class who knew the reactions like the back of their hand, but when it came to synthesis problems, they couldn't do it. I on the other hand knew most of
the reactions, but I could the synthesis problems, I might have missed some smaller points here and there for not knowing the reactions perfectly, but over all I did better.

So, the bottom line is that I think since med school looks at these classes and the MCAT, that med schools, are not only looking for someone who can memorize everything but apply it as well.

Think about it, doctors do it all the time, they have this wealth of knowledge, but they have to know how to use it if they want to treat a patient.

 

[kevster2001]

Don't worry, step 1 is 8 hours, step 2 is 8 hours also.

8 hours max. If you're quick, you can get out of there way sooner

 

[MCAT guy]

So rote memorization is relatively easy.

Tell this to M1/M2 students.

Ochem on the other hand, is slightly more difficult, you remember all the reactions you want, but if the teacher throws at you a weird problem, that you can't figure out, you'll never get it right, regardless if you knew all the reactions. Case in point, there were some kids in my ochem class who knew the reactions like the back of their hand, but when it came to synthesis problems, they couldn't do it. I on the other hand knew most of
the reactions, but I could the synthesis problems, I might have missed some smaller points here and there for not knowing the reactions perfectly, but over all I did better.

Which is opposite of medical school.

So, the bottom line is that I think since med school looks at these classes and the MCAT, that med schools, are not only looking for someone who can memorize everything but apply it as well.

Think about it, doctors do it all the time, they have this wealth of knowledge, but they have to know how to use it if they want to treat a patient.

I think the last part is probably true.👍

 

[slick27]

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