SDN FAQ (for all you newbies out there)

[LizardKing]

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I suggest all we veterans to this board compile a FAQ for the newcomers. That way we can best answer your questions in an efficient, concise manner. I have two things to add to this FAQ, everyone else feel free to add more:

1. Will my major affect my chances of getting in?
Probably not. The most important thing is to do well in your major. But if you're a freak who can double major and pull off stellar grades, yes, it will improve your chances. But remember most schools do their first cut based strictly on numbers.

2. Is the August MCAT harder than the April one?
Usually they are about the same. Each testing date, they give out over twenty different test versions of varying difficulty. You are curved against the people with your test form. Because there's so much variability here, the Aug. and April MCATs don't seem to have significant differences overall.

 

[Papa Smurf]

1. Will my major affect my chances of getting in?
Probably not. The most important thing is to do well in your major. But if you're a freak who can double major and pull off stellar grades, yes, it will improve your chances. But remember most schools do their first cut based strictly on numbers.

2. Is the August MCAT harder than the April one?
Usually they are about the same. Each testing date, they give out over twenty different test versions of varying difficulty. You are curved against the people with your test form. Because there's so much variability here, the Aug. and April MCATs don't seem to have significant differences overall.

3. How completely do you have to bubble in your answer on the MCAT for it to count? How far outside the lines can I bubble?
Clearly, there is no right or wrong answer here. Different proctors will tell you different things. However, just to be on the safe side, it is highly suggested that you bubble in at least 80% of the circle if you wish to have your answer counted. Yes bubbling in 79..498976% may save you an extra .00542 seconds over the course of the entire exam, but ask yourselves, is it worth it? As far as bubbling outside the lines is concerned, any stray marks exceeding .04cm when measured with an standard metric ruler will be counted as incorrect!

 

[eagle26]

1. Will my major affect my chances of getting in?
Probably not. The most important thing is to do well in your major. But if you're a freak who can double major and pull off stellar grades, yes, it will improve your chances. But remember most schools do their first cut based strictly on numbers.

2. Is the August MCAT harder than the April one?
Usually they are about the same. Each testing date, they give out over twenty different test versions of varying difficulty. You are curved against the people with your test form. Because there's so much variability here, the Aug. and April MCATs don't seem to have significant differences overall.

3. How completely do you have to bubble in your answer on the MCAT for it to count? How far outside the lines can I bubble?
Clearly, there is no right or wrong answer here. Different proctors will tell you different things. However, just to be on the safe side, it is highly suggested that you bubble in at least 80% of the circle if you wish to have your answer counted. Yes bubbling in 79..498976% may save you an extra .00542 seconds over the course of the entire exam, but ask yourselves, is it worth it? As far as bubbling outside the lines is concerned, any stray marks exceeding .04cm when measured with an standard metric ruler will be counted as incorrect!

4. How important is it that I go to a school that is highly ranked in U.S. News rankings, and what will happen if the ranking slides while I'm there?
It's not important, and if it does slide, you're screwed, so stop obsessing over those damned rankings.

 

[LizardKing]

1. Will my major affect my chances of getting in?
Probably not. The most important thing is to do well in your major. But if you're a freak who can double major and pull off stellar grades, yes, it will improve your chances. But remember most schools do their first cut based strictly on numbers.

2. Is the August MCAT harder than the April one?
Usually they are about the same. Each testing date, they give out over twenty different test versions of varying difficulty. You are curved against the people with your test form. Because there's so much variability here, the Aug. and April MCATs don't seem to have significant differences overall.

3. How completely do you have to bubble in your answer on the MCAT for it to count? How far outside the lines can I bubble?
Clearly, there is no right or wrong answer here. Different proctors will tell you different things. However, just to be on the safe side, it is highly suggested that you bubble in at least 80% of the circle if you wish to have your answer counted. Yes bubbling in 79..498976% may save you an extra .00542 seconds over the course of the entire exam, but ask yourselves, is it worth it? As far as bubbling outside the lines is concerned, any stray marks exceeding .04cm when measured with an standard metric ruler will be counted as incorrect!

4. How important is it that I go to a school that is highly ranked in U.S. News rankings, and what will happen if the ranking slides while I'm there?
A: It's not important, and if it does slide, you're screwed, so stop obsessing over those damned rankings.
B: Try for the top schools, but know that, like this whole med school application process, coming from a middle tier school doesn't mean you can't get that top residency. If that's what you really care about. Go where you won't be miserable.

 

[spicoli]

1. Will my major affect my chances of getting in?
Probably not. The most important thing is to do well in your major. But if you're a freak who can double major and pull off stellar grades, yes, it will improve your chances. But remember most schools do their first cut based strictly on numbers.

2. Is the August MCAT harder than the April one?
Usually they are about the same. Each testing date, they give out over twenty different test versions of varying difficulty. You are curved against the people with your test form. Because there's so much variability here, the Aug. and April MCATs don't seem to have significant differences overall.

3. How completely do you have to bubble in your answer on the MCAT for it to count? How far outside the lines can I bubble?
Clearly, there is no right or wrong answer here. Different proctors will tell you different things. However, just to be on the safe side, it is highly suggested that you bubble in at least 80% of the circle if you wish to have your answer counted. Yes bubbling in 79..498976% may save you an extra .00542 seconds over the course of the entire exam, but ask yourselves, is it worth it? As far as bubbling outside the lines is concerned, any stray marks exceeding .04cm when measured with an standard metric ruler will be counted as incorrect!

4. How important is it that I go to a school that is highly ranked in U.S. News rankings, and what will happen if the ranking slides while I'm there?
A: It's not important, and if it does slide, you're screwed, so stop obsessing over those damned rankings.
B: Try for the top schools, but know that, like this whole med school application process, coming from a middle tier school doesn't mean you can't get that top residency. If that's what you really care about. Go where you won't be miserable.
C: All schools are pretty much the same. Rankings don't mean squat if you can back yourself up with good board scores. Go to a school that is in a location that you can live in: fun, warm, relaxing, good eats, good entertainment, good people. Something like San Diego or Los Angeles.

 

[Wednesday]

1. Will my major affect my chances of getting in?
Probably not. The most important thing is to do well in your major. But if you're a freak who can double major and pull off stellar grades, yes, it will improve your chances. But remember most schools do their first cut based strictly on numbers.

2. Is the August MCAT harder than the April one?
Usually they are about the same. Each testing date, they give out over twenty different test versions of varying difficulty. You are curved against the people with your test form. Because there's so much variability here, the Aug. and April MCATs don't seem to have significant differences overall.

3. How completely do you have to bubble in your answer on the MCAT for it to count? How far outside the lines can I bubble?
Clearly, there is no right or wrong answer here. Different proctors will tell you different things. However, just to be on the safe side, it is highly suggested that you bubble in at least 80% of the circle if you wish to have your answer counted. Yes bubbling in 79..498976% may save you an extra .00542 seconds over the course of the entire exam, but ask yourselves, is it worth it? As far as bubbling outside the lines is concerned, any stray marks exceeding .04cm when measured with an standard metric ruler will be counted as incorrect!

4. How important is it that I go to a school that is highly ranked in U.S. News rankings, and what will happen if the ranking slides while I'm there?
A: It's not important, and if it does slide, you're screwed, so stop obsessing over those damned rankings.
B: Try for the top schools, but know that, like this whole med school application process, coming from a middle tier school doesn't mean you can't get that top residency. If that's what you really care about. Go where you won't be miserable.
C: All schools are pretty much the same. Rankings don't mean squat if you can back yourself up with good board scores. Go to a school that is in a location that you can live in: fun, warm, relaxing, good eats, good entertainment, good people. Something like San Diego or Los Angeles.
D: See A-C to answer all questions of the type: Hopkins or UCSF (insert your two favorite top 20 med schools here). Remember although it might be tempting to ask your favorite anonymous group of friends to make this important decision for you, technically you are an adult now.

5. The MCAT is hard. You will survive.

 

[ussdfiant]

1. Will my major affect my chances of getting in?

Probably not. The most important thing is to do well in your major. But if you're a freak who can double major and pull off stellar grades, yes, it will improve your chances. But remember most schools do their first cut based strictly on numbers.

2. Is the August MCAT harder than the April one?

Usually they are about the same. Each testing date, they give out over twenty different test versions of varying difficulty. You are curved against the people with your test form. Because there's so much variability here, the Aug. and April MCATs don't seem to have significant differences overall.

3. How completely do you have to bubble in your answer on the MCAT for it to count? How far outside the lines can I bubble?

Clearly, there is no right or wrong answer here. Different proctors will tell you different things. However, just to be on the safe side, it is highly suggested that you bubble in at least 80% of the circle if you wish to have your answer counted. Yes bubbling in 79..498976% may save you an extra .00542 seconds over the course of the entire exam, but ask yourselves, is it worth it? As far as bubbling outside the lines is concerned, any stray marks exceeding .04cm when measured with an standard metric ruler will be counted as incorrect!

4. How important is it that I go to a school that is highly ranked in U.S. News rankings, and what will happen if the ranking slides while I'm there?

A: It's not important, and if it does slide, you're screwed, so stop obsessing over those damned rankings.

B: Try for the top schools, but know that, like this whole med school application process, coming from a middle tier school doesn't mean you can't get that top residency. If that's what you really care about. Go where you won't be miserable.

C: All schools are pretty much the same. Rankings don't mean squat if you can back yourself up with good board scores. Go to a school that is in a location that you can live in: fun, warm, relaxing, good eats, good entertainment, good people. Something like San Diego or Los Angeles.

D: See A-C to answer all questions of the type: Hopkins or UCSF (insert your two favorite top 20 med schools here). Remember although it might be tempting to ask your favorite anonymous group of friends to make this important decision for you, technically you are an adult now.

5. The MCAT is hard. You will survive.