Surviving the standardized tests!

[Hinglish]

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Hey Everyone,

I'm new to these forums and I apologize before hand if you have heard these questions a million times before.

Here's my predicament:

In high school I really didn't care about grades, I got C's, B's, and a couple of A's. I also got 990 on my SAT's (in 2003).

In college, I went through a transformation of sorts and I am graduating in May with a 3.73 GPA and double major in Education and English and a double minor in history and psychology. During college I worked as a psychiatric counselor for a local mental health agency and I loved/love it (this July I'll be there 4 years)! Consequently, I hated teaching.

Therefore, I have come to the decision that I am going to med school (for psychiatry duh!), I start my first pre-med course in about a month. However, as my SAT's show I am terrible at standardized tests. I failed my teaching exam once (but that was because I didn't study; I scheduled it during finals like an idiot, however, I just took it again but I studied and I think that I did pretty well). Now, the thing that worries me about pursuing an MD are all the standardized tests: MCAT's, USLME, boards etc. Will this pose a huge problem for me? I am not a "quick thinker" either, which I believe will pose a problem. Has anyone else been in my situation or know someone who has?

BTW, I don't consider myself smart, I'm just highly motivated and a hard worker.

 

[dw2158]

first of all, the MCAT/USMLE/etc are VERY different than the SATs. they test more content-related stuff instead of general stuff. granted, there are test-taking strategies necessary for all of them, but they really felt different to me. secondly, i think you need to get over this idea of "i'm not good enough at standardized tests." if you want to go into medicine (which i'm assuming you do/will have better reasons for than solely for psych) then you will be taking lots of standardized tests. you'd better get used to it quickly. and IMO, part of getting over this is not telling yourself that you suck at them.

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

I think you'll more than likely surprise yourself. Take the classes and gain access to practice tests.... The MedCAT (in-joke) requires practice... AAMC publishes practice tests. Kaplan, TPR, and ExamCrackers all provide study materials.

I think you will have a good application. Don't worry about the HS grades, you did well in undergrad. Do well in your pre-med classes and you will be golden.

 

[binko]

I love ExamKrackers. That is all.

 

[gatoradedrinker]

studying for the mcat will take you far... as far as the sciences (bio, phys sci) are concerned, the amount you study/practice should be reflective of the score you receive. although there is a great deal of critical thinking involved, it is mainly content based.

the verbal reasoning section however, is much harder to study for but it seems that with your background (extensive study in literature intensive coursework), you should be in darn good shape.

 

[DrBeks]

I think you'll more than likely surprise yourself. Take the classes and gain access to practice tests.... The MedCAT (in-joke) requires practice... AAMC publishes practice tests. Kaplan, TPR, and ExamCrackers all provide study materials.

I think you will have a good application. Don't worry about the HS grades, you did well in undergrad. Do well in your pre-med classes and you will be golden.

 

[DrJosephKim]

There are certain sections of the MCAT where practice really helps. You need to develop some speed-reading skills and bolster your science. Take some practice exams after you study diligently and give yourself time to seek professional help (tutor, review course, etc.) if you're not scoring well. Best of luck.