The Curse of the Standardized Test...

[00011]

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All through high school and college, I worked very hard and have received excellent grades in my courses. However when it came to the SAT/ACT/MCAT I have very mediocre scores:
3.9 GPA, 28O
28 ACT (3 retakes...same score haha).

Anyway, it seems that I've seen both sides on SDN. High MCATs/low GPAs and mediocre MCATs/High GPAs.

I'm not too worried because I realize that med schools take GPA, MCAT, and ECs all into account. However, do any of you have some insight about what standardized tests really say about a student or possibly a good outside resource that talks about the issue?

Thanks

 

[cest la vie]

All through high school and college, I worked very hard and have received excellent grades in my courses. However when it came to the SAT/ACT/MCAT I have very mediocre scores:
3.9 GPA, 28O
28 ACT (3 retakes...same score haha).

Anyway, it seems that I've seen both sides on SDN. High MCATs/low GPAs and mediocre MCATs/High GPAs.

I'm not too worried because I realize that med schools take GPA, MCAT, and ECs all into account. However, do any of you have some insight about what standardized tests really say about a student or possibly a good outside resource that talks about the issue?

Thanks

It's look at so heavily in med school admissions because it's the best predictor or USMLE step 1 scores - much more so than GPA. It's obvious because both are standardized exams and these exams have a stringent time limit and have a larger psychological factor than standard school exams. Schools want their students to have high step 1 scores because it makes the school look good and so they can pride themselves on having strong match lists. Hence, this is why the MCAT is so important and I believe is becoming even more important than GPA to the adcoms.

Some people are just good standardized test takers and some excel on school exams. I do believe MCAT rewards hard work. If you put in the time to carefully learn the material, practice, and simulate testing conditions, I believe people can 30+ the exam, though it may take multiple tries for some.

 

[qwerty2012]

It's look at so heavily in med school admissions because it's the best predictor or USMLE step 1 scores - much more so than GPA. It's obvious because both are standardized exams and these exams have a stringent time limit and have a larger psychological factor than standard school exams. Schools want their students to have high step 1 scores because it makes the school look good and so they can pride themselves on having strong match lists. Hence, this is why the MCAT is so important and I believe is becoming even more important than GPA to the adcoms.

Some people are just good standardized test takers and some excel on school exams. I do believe MCAT rewards hard work. If you put in the time to carefully learn the material, practice, and simulate testing conditions, I believe people can 30+ the exam, though it may take multiple tries for some.

👍

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Well life for med students is standardized tests. Though your scores are still good enough to get you in and make sure you pass the USMLE.

 

[Jnet389]

A 28 on the ACT is pretty good!