Who else is going to cram their prereqs into the Freshman and Sophomore years just so they can take the 2014 'retro' MCAT without all of the extra crap the AAMC wants to add?
So ah, class of 2013, how 'bout that new MCAT?
- Thread starter eGatsby
- Start date
More social sciences like econ, more psychology, less o-chem, less physics. No more writing portion 🙂mad: I'm good at writing), extended the test to 7 hours; designed to give a 'holistic' evaluation of a premedical student.
http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/4/11/students-mcat-new-more/
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2011
- Messages
- 116
- Reaction score
- 0
I don't know crap but to be honest, I was kinda happy to see less physics. I have no idea why they removed the writing portion and I like how psychology would be intergrated in (I plan for that as my major but as of now I have no actual idea.)
But what would this mean exactly? Would it be harder or easier with the writing portion excluded and less emphasized physics, o-chem? Would people have better chances of getting into med school (more people qualifying and getting in/waitlisted) or will med school be a hard ass on the new test, should it be proven easier?
These are just my anxious-driven questions based on that single article. It has it's pros and cons but my true concern is the grading and what med schools will do with the MCAT weighing (i.e rise the requirement from 30+ to 35 or some crap). If the case is really that they'll up their requirement (for a lack of a more accurate word ) to a higher MCAT score, making it even harder for the people taking the 2015 revised verison, then I'd definitely try to get my pre-reqs in early. But only if I know I'll handle them crammed.
I'd rather have a bit of a falter MCAT score than fluking my sGPA because I crammed them in during freshman and sophomore year. I could always fix my MCAT score, but not so much my GPA.
That's just my opinion really. I don't know much about the current MCAT but I do know that a bad MCAT could be fixed much easier than a bad GPA.
Edit: Here's an article from Kaplan that explains a bit about what's being added and why:
http://press.kaptest.com/press-rele...m-with-big-implications-for-medical-education
Does this mean that psychology will be another pre-req?
But what would this mean exactly? Would it be harder or easier with the writing portion excluded and less emphasized physics, o-chem? Would people have better chances of getting into med school (more people qualifying and getting in/waitlisted) or will med school be a hard ass on the new test, should it be proven easier?
These are just my anxious-driven questions based on that single article. It has it's pros and cons but my true concern is the grading and what med schools will do with the MCAT weighing (i.e rise the requirement from 30+ to 35 or some crap). If the case is really that they'll up their requirement (for a lack of a more accurate word ) to a higher MCAT score, making it even harder for the people taking the 2015 revised verison, then I'd definitely try to get my pre-reqs in early. But only if I know I'll handle them crammed.
I'd rather have a bit of a falter MCAT score than fluking my sGPA because I crammed them in during freshman and sophomore year. I could always fix my MCAT score, but not so much my GPA.
That's just my opinion really. I don't know much about the current MCAT but I do know that a bad MCAT could be fixed much easier than a bad GPA.
Edit: Here's an article from Kaplan that explains a bit about what's being added and why:
http://press.kaptest.com/press-rele...m-with-big-implications-for-medical-education
Does this mean that psychology will be another pre-req?
Last edited:
The article that you posted from Kaplan still makes me think that it's going to be a harder exam. Specifically, the 'more of an endurance test' and 'more advanced sciences' section. I'm not very worried about social sciences and psychology, personally (and they will be prereqs). I suppose the chemistry will come naturally for me but I definitely could have put off higher level bio until MS-1...
They say that this will double our prereqs.
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2011
- Messages
- 116
- Reaction score
- 0
Great.I don't mind psych as a pre-req at all either. I actually believe that pre-meds should get a good sense in psychology. But as for doubling the pre-reqs that's going to be really stressful both for students AND staff members to set this up. Not only that, it's not going to give students the oppertunity to explore other options, should they actually not want to be a doctor anymore (Not saying that'll happen to me, but I could see how this could be really bad. Especially for those who are on the fence, they'd be pressured to go pre-med to fit these extra pre-reqs)
Please, please replace calculus for another pre-req. That I won't mind. (really bad at math. Will screw up my GPA I'm sure) 😳
I understand why they extended the test and called it endurance. It'll show how well the student does when worned out and getting questions thrown at them question after question. Or at least, that's how I hope they'd look at it.
- Joined
- May 14, 2011
- Messages
- 513
- Reaction score
- 1
The revised test, in and of itself, will not change how difficult it is to gain admission into medical school. The same number of applicants will apply and, for the most part, the applicants will be of the same caliber. In fact, chance of admission might raise slightly over the next few years (now - 2015/2016) due to the new medical schools opening up and expanding class sizes in those already running (there's an estimated 30%+ increase in enrollment).
As for how this will impact scoring, it will certainly mean that your overall score will be expected to be higher; but that's because there will now be four number-scored sections (instead of the current three) and, as such, the overall possible score will be higher. In other words, the expectations placed upon test takers will not be higher, the new maximum score will just end up being 60, making a 30 an awful and inadmissible score (comparable to a 22 now).
On the note of what is expected of applicants, though, the expectations may actually go down fairly significantly in the first few years (or more) the revised test is available. The reason for this is that a significant contributing factor to the ever-increasing average score for successful matriculates - despite the fact the test itself has gotten more difficult - is extremely good preparation materials that were simply not available in years past. Put simply, people have figured out how to hack the MCAT and have mass-published said information online, in books and in classes. For the first few years the revised MCAT is out, test-takers will not have access to the same wealth of preparation materials, as it won't be available yet. Unlike now, applicants will be taking the test somewhat blindly, unsure of what to expect and how best to prepare for it.
Now, that may sound bad at first; however, it can actually be an advantage to those taking the revised test. This is because, as I have been implying, it will likely result in everyone doing poorer on the test because everyone will be going in with the same blindness, thus lowering the average score of all test takers and the average score required (if we are looking at equivalent scores, for reasons mentioned above). It will be easier to stand out, as well, for those who generally know the material and test well. On the flip side to all of this, by the way, is the fact that, until the new MCAT is released, the average score of all test takers and the average score needed to successfully get into medical will continue to increase. Those couple years before the change will, as far as we can tell, be the hardest to stand out in and have the highest average MCAT score for successful matriculates (even if you apply after 2015, if you apply with old MCAT scores, they will be compared to those also sending in old MCAT scores and the last average medical schools had with that score. Of course, everyone here must face the possibility that, for those applying after 2015, old MCAT scores will not be accepted). As such, there may actually be an advantage to taking the new test.
As for the new prereq courses, I actually think it will help those who are trying to decide if medicine is what they want to do and, if not help, not have any major impact. Think about it. Though some of the new prereq courses will be in upper division science courses (though, it is worth noting that many, many schools already require such courses and nearly all those who don't require it, highly recommend it), the group will also likely include classes in the fields of psychology, sociology, philosophy, statistics, maybe economics and other humanities/social science fields. If anything, this is increasing the amount of exposure premeds have to non-science/non-medicine related disciplines.
By the way, Fai, calculus is not a requirement for the majority of schools and, out of those who require it, they usually only require one semester.
Tl;dr: It won't make it harder to get in. Your score will have to be higher; but that's because 60 will be the new total score, making a 30 on the new test equivalent to a 22 now. Due to the fact that nobody will be as prepared for it, there may actually be an advantage in taking it, as it will be easier to stand out. New pre-reqs will not limit applicants. And, by the way, calculus is not a requirement at all schools - not even at most. Less emphasis on physics is cool, too.
Starlightembers
Disclaimer: not a class of 2013-er, will miss taking the new MCAT by a year or two
As for how this will impact scoring, it will certainly mean that your overall score will be expected to be higher; but that's because there will now be four number-scored sections (instead of the current three) and, as such, the overall possible score will be higher. In other words, the expectations placed upon test takers will not be higher, the new maximum score will just end up being 60, making a 30 an awful and inadmissible score (comparable to a 22 now).
On the note of what is expected of applicants, though, the expectations may actually go down fairly significantly in the first few years (or more) the revised test is available. The reason for this is that a significant contributing factor to the ever-increasing average score for successful matriculates - despite the fact the test itself has gotten more difficult - is extremely good preparation materials that were simply not available in years past. Put simply, people have figured out how to hack the MCAT and have mass-published said information online, in books and in classes. For the first few years the revised MCAT is out, test-takers will not have access to the same wealth of preparation materials, as it won't be available yet. Unlike now, applicants will be taking the test somewhat blindly, unsure of what to expect and how best to prepare for it.
Now, that may sound bad at first; however, it can actually be an advantage to those taking the revised test. This is because, as I have been implying, it will likely result in everyone doing poorer on the test because everyone will be going in with the same blindness, thus lowering the average score of all test takers and the average score required (if we are looking at equivalent scores, for reasons mentioned above). It will be easier to stand out, as well, for those who generally know the material and test well. On the flip side to all of this, by the way, is the fact that, until the new MCAT is released, the average score of all test takers and the average score needed to successfully get into medical will continue to increase. Those couple years before the change will, as far as we can tell, be the hardest to stand out in and have the highest average MCAT score for successful matriculates (even if you apply after 2015, if you apply with old MCAT scores, they will be compared to those also sending in old MCAT scores and the last average medical schools had with that score. Of course, everyone here must face the possibility that, for those applying after 2015, old MCAT scores will not be accepted). As such, there may actually be an advantage to taking the new test.
As for the new prereq courses, I actually think it will help those who are trying to decide if medicine is what they want to do and, if not help, not have any major impact. Think about it. Though some of the new prereq courses will be in upper division science courses (though, it is worth noting that many, many schools already require such courses and nearly all those who don't require it, highly recommend it), the group will also likely include classes in the fields of psychology, sociology, philosophy, statistics, maybe economics and other humanities/social science fields. If anything, this is increasing the amount of exposure premeds have to non-science/non-medicine related disciplines.
By the way, Fai, calculus is not a requirement for the majority of schools and, out of those who require it, they usually only require one semester.
Tl;dr: It won't make it harder to get in. Your score will have to be higher; but that's because 60 will be the new total score, making a 30 on the new test equivalent to a 22 now. Due to the fact that nobody will be as prepared for it, there may actually be an advantage in taking it, as it will be easier to stand out. New pre-reqs will not limit applicants. And, by the way, calculus is not a requirement at all schools - not even at most. Less emphasis on physics is cool, too.
Starlightembers
Disclaimer: not a class of 2013-er, will miss taking the new MCAT by a year or two
Last edited:
That's what it's supposed to do. In one article I read, I think it was the one I originally posted, they said it would discourage people from going into medicine from the humanities which I think is the opposite of what needs to happen.
Whoah! Didn't notice the post above me. You came in after I'd posted this and refreshed the page, haha.
You make some wonderful points about why to take the new MCAT and honestly, after seeing that post I'm not as worried, but I still wonder whether or not those words will hold true. I never thought about the average being lowered so it's actually a bit easier.
Whoah! Didn't notice the post above me. You came in after I'd posted this and refreshed the page, haha.
You make some wonderful points about why to take the new MCAT and honestly, after seeing that post I'm not as worried, but I still wonder whether or not those words will hold true. I never thought about the average being lowered so it's actually a bit easier.
Last edited:
- Joined
- May 14, 2011
- Messages
- 513
- Reaction score
- 1
Huh? Where did you hear/read that? I have heard no such thing, nor can I find any evidence or reasoning to support it.
The purpose of the revised test, according to the AAMC (the people who make it), is to provide a more holistic view of applicants. Now, I'm not really convinced that adding social and behavioral science questions is going to reveal anything more about an applicant's personality than the current test; but, it is what it is.
By the way, it is worth pointing out that the new test won't change what applicants have to take, pre-req wise, all that much. As previously stated, there are numerous schools that already require upper division biology courses (such as Oregon Health and Science Center) and, for those don't require it, they highly recommend it. They do this because they realize that Introductory Biology is largely irrelevant for their purposes - covering the likes of plants just as much, or even more than, animals and humans - and would like to see that you have exposure to and can do well in courses that are actually sort-of like the ones you will see in medical school. On the flip side of this, by the way, are the few schools that require a certain amount of non-science credits (John Hopkins, for example) and, for the schools who don't require them, a significant amount recommend them. Schools realize that these courses are important, too, as are having well-rounded, well-exposed students. All the new MCAT will do, then, is make these standards universal, which may actually make things easier on applicants as they don't have to check with every school they apply to to see if they meet the requirements for admission.
And, as I said, nothing about this test discourages humanities/social science majors. Yes, you would have to take more science classes than previously thought; but, the science majors will also have to take more humanities/social science classes than they previously had to, so it is an equal burden. In fact, the new test will make it so the required courses for humanities/social science will actually have some OVERLAP with the medical school prereqs. Not that having to take the extra classes won't be annoying, because it likely will for some; but having to take those classes really won't change much at all.
Conclusion, as with my last post: It really won't change much about how admissions will work, just how the test is written and standards for the scores of said test.
Official AAMC website: https://www.aamc.org/initiatives/mr5/
Official AAMC recommendation page (pdf): https://www.aamc.org/download/182662/data/mr5_preliminary_recommendations.pdf
Official AAMC video talking about the purpose of the new test: https://www.aamc.org/video/mr5/kirch.htm
Edit: I just read the article you originally posted. Honestly, I wouldn't be too concerned about it, as that comment is the *opinion* of one person at one school and, for the numerous reasons I posted, an opinion I don't think is that accurate. The rest of the article was basically just Harvard staff and students talking about how great and ahead of the game the school is in terms of preparing their students for the new MCAT and, disregarding if that's true or not, is not relevant to the discussion for most of us.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2011
- Messages
- 1,470
- Reaction score
- 832
Class of 2012 FTW. But, then again, I'm awful at writing, so it may not hurt me to wait.
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2011
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 0
wait, if i'm graduating from hs in 2012, does that mean i have to take the new MCAT?
It depends. The last time they will offer the old test will be in September of 2014 (the beginning of your junior year of college). I'm planning on taking that one 👍
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2011
- Messages
- 606
- Reaction score
- 6
Hmmmm. For me, this will be complex decision. I am a class of 2012 student, so I could take either, but I think I will opt for the new MCAT. It seems to play to my strengths more than old one.
I have some questions, though. Will the new MCAT have a different name? Just seems it might be hard to differentiate during the first few months. Also, how soon will prepatory materials be published for the new MCAT? Will Kaplan, Princeton Review, ExamKrackers and the like have material right away, or will it take a considerable length of time?
I have some questions, though. Will the new MCAT have a different name? Just seems it might be hard to differentiate during the first few months. Also, how soon will prepatory materials be published for the new MCAT? Will Kaplan, Princeton Review, ExamKrackers and the like have material right away, or will it take a considerable length of time?
I've been checking AAMC's website and haven't seen anything about a new name, but I'm sure there will be a clear distinction between the two (since it seems this one might be graded out of 60). You could always try to take both of them and go with whatever score is better. Kaplan, Princeton Review, etc will try to develop review materials for the test using whatever information the AAMC releases before the test, but obviously they won't be as thorough or complete as the stuff we have now.
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2011
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 0
RAGE!! twice the studying, as if the original test was not long enough already. & I was planning to study abroad.
/endrage.
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2011
- Messages
- 16
- Reaction score
- 0
+1 on writing! It would be nice to not have to do that much physics. What kind of physics problems were on it in the first place? psychology should be interesting. Econ? shot for economics? Why would they add that at all unless it's like dealing with the insurance companies? 7 hour test, wow, and I though AP US history was bad last year!
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2011
- Messages
- 16
- Reaction score
- 0
I'm graduating HS 2012 too. I believe that we will since the new test is said to be administered in 2015 which would be junior year in college.
https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/mcat2015/
Here's the aamc's 153 page PDF file on the new test
https://www.aamc.org/students/download/266006/data/2015previewguide.pdf
