The MCAT is so easy it is a joke...

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MrBurns10 said:
The emphasis on Step 1 is definitely more memorization with some critical thinking mixed in. The reason it's so difficult is, besides the large amount of information the questions can be pulled from, most of the questions require 2-3 steps.

For example, rather than ask you what drug you would use to treat condition X, they would ask:

"A patient presents with symptoms Y and Z and physical exam finding W. What is the mechanism of action of the drug you would use to treat this condition?"

So you have to correctly diagnose --> come up with drug of choice --> remember its mechanism of action. There are more critical-thinking based questions but it's all based on content you have to know. Hence the 12 hour study days.
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Sounds like a beast. I'm glad I won't have to worry about this for 3 years hopefully.😀
 
SketchsaurusRex said:
For me, the MCAT is way more intimidating than difficult. Really AAMC, you want me to take a test that will pave the way for my future career? Fair enough, but it's a timed test that's based on info i should have "learned" over the last 3 years? Wut, I have 30 minutes to provide a essay on some random topic in hopes that it will project my significance as a human being? No Thank you. I'm a data dumper, a slow reader, a closet vegetarian, and a generally stupid person. FTS, I'm going to get some burritos...
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enjoyed this post.
 
MrBurns10 said:
The emphasis on Step 1 is definitely more memorization with some critical thinking mixed in. The reason it's so difficult is, besides the large amount of information the questions can be pulled from, most of the questions require 2-3 steps.

For example, rather than ask you what drug you would use to treat condition X, they would ask:

"A patient presents with symptoms Y and Z and physical exam finding W. What is the mechanism of action of the drug you would use to treat this condition?"

So you have to correctly diagnose --> come up with drug of choice --> remember its mechanism of action. There are more critical-thinking based questions but it's all based on content you have to know. Hence the 12 hour study days.
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Thanks for the perspective.
 
Depends on how you define easy. Getting a 45 is not easy, almost impossible. Getting a 30 is easy, at least for me. Different people have different goals; for people with a higher goal-score the MCAT is harder. Some people have great GPAs and only need ~30 on the MCAT, so for them, they see the test as easy. People with sub-3.5 GPAs are pressured to score much higher and the test is harder for them.
 
I thought the MCAT was worse than USMLE STep 1.
 
gujuDoc said:
3. You have tons and tons of practice materials esp. practice tests and can review all the answers to things you got wrong. This is not true on the USMLE step 1 practice tests. Only about 4 major ones exist and u can't check what you got wrong. You just get a score at the end. In this respect MCAT is easier.
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I agree with most everything but wanted to clarify this. There are several question banks, all of which allow you to take practice tests and review the answers. But if you're talking specifically about NBME practice tests then you're right, there are only six and you can't review your answers.
 
I don't speak for everyone, but I would have happily studied for 12 hrs/d for the MCAT like I did Step One. However I had a full course load that I had to stay on top of as well. Like someone els alluded to, Step One can be your full time job for 2 months.
 
gujuDoc said:
yah I was talking about the NBME practice tests.

Those are the ones I've heard my friends talk about. They didn't use other practice tests and those are prob. the ones that are most indicative like the AAMC MCAT exams are for MCAT.

You know what I mean??

But to be fair, at least a lot of med schools have NBME shelf exams after each course to help prepare you for the boards when the time does come i.e. at USF after each of the major courses I think they take NBME shelf exams in first 2 years. Though that's not at all med schools.
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Yeah, I agree with you. I wish we had had NBME shelf exams! Not sure that would have helped, but it wouldn't have hurt.
 
gujuDoc said:
yeah true that. Hopefully you did well and are going to get your residency spot and field of choice this year though. 🙂
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Thanks, guju. We'll see...I'm hoping the husband will pull me into a program that wants him badly enough. 😉
 
i thought learning to ride a bike when i was 5 was much harder than learning how to drive a car when i was 18.:laugh:
 
gujuDoc said:
Well you did better then me. I still don't know how to ride a bike and can't roller skate or roller blade. Can't ice skate but at least I can stand in ice skates and I can if I'm holding on. but roller blading that's another issue altogether.
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You really don't know how to ride a bicycle?😱
 
If the MCAT is a joke, I hope it's not like those lolcat jokes. If I log in on august fourth to see a frowning mcat saying "you can't has medschool" I'm going to cry.
 
MCATBear said:
If the MCAT is a joke, I hope it's not like those lolcat jokes. If I log in on august fourth to see a frowning mcat saying "you can't has medschool" I'm going to cry.
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😆. That got me laughing out loud. Thanks!
 
Looking back, it always seems easy. It's never easy when you're in the process. It seems like your whole future is at stake when you take the test.
 
ILikeFood said:
Looking back, it always seems easy. It's never easy when you're in the process. It seems like your whole future is at stake when you take the test.
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It's not that it "seems like" your whole future is at stake when you take the test, your whole future IS at stake when you take the test; it's the biggest component in determining what you do for the rest of your life as a job 😱 That's what makes it so scary!

gujuDoc said:
Good points you bring up. This is what makes the step 1 more nerve wrecking. The worst part is you can't retake if you get a passing score that is lower then what you'd have wanted for a given specialty. So good post and good points brought up.
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*points to my sig* 😉
 
MCATBear said:
If the MCAT is a joke, I hope it's not like those lolcat jokes. If I log in on august fourth to see a frowning mcat saying "you can't has medschool" I'm going to cry.
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I just lol'ed. People in the library are making angry faces at me.😳
 
The MCAT was a piece of cake. The USMLE part 1 was fairly difficult to study for. But me saying that is like Derek Jeter saying the minor leagues were a piece of cake. It wasn't when he was working his way up, but by his second year in the majors, it was.
 
I did quite well on the MCAt and at the time, I thought it was very difficult, and the stakes were high, regarding med school admissions. But Step 1 is a whole other beast, and my effort in preparing for Step 1 was on a whole other level. I killed myself studying for Step 1. No comparison. Step 1 was much more difficult. Still waiting for my score. So we shall see.
 
BennieBlanco said:
You over simplify. Yes it is harder, that isn't the interesting thing.

Ochem was harder than Chem. I wasn't surprised.

This is like comparing a 4th grade math test to a Calculus exam in college. Yes, it is harder (we get that). I'm talking about the large difference in difficultly.

Like the NBA vs College basketball.

If you didn't become a college basketball player, you really never had a chance at the NBA.
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Unless you're LeBron or Kobe..
 
gujuDoc said:
Well you did better then me. I still don't know how to ride a bike and can't roller skate or roller blade. Can't ice skate but at least I can stand in ice skates and I can if I'm holding on. but roller blading that's another issue altogether.
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Hmmm... you must be one of those kids whose mother does not let them leave the house with out their helmet on..:laugh:
 
fizzle said:
*points to my sig* 😉
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Actually, studying for Step 1 is probably both nerve wracking and nerve wrecking. I wouldn't be surprised if I wrecked my nerves a little with all the stress, caffeine, and sleepless nights. I pray that all the work that I've done is going to pay off. The biggest problem with studying for Step 1 is that one pretty much never actually ever feels ready.
 
lolcatb344ed74430600cf3.jpg
 
gujuDoc said:
And also to the person that said no matter how much you study you are never completely ready. That is the truth of any standardized test whether it is a college entrance exam, MCAT, Step 1, etc.
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To some degree. Having prepared for the SAT, MCAT, and Step 1, I'm going to have to say that Step 1 is the worst with regard to not feeling ready. The reason being, the former two standardized exams rely less on knowledge and more on test taking ability, at least in my experience, than the latter. Step 1 is clearly a knowledge-limited exam. There is just an overwhelming tide of stuff that you can try to know for Step 1, but as probably anybody who took Step 1 can tell you, there's pretty much no way you will ever do it. There's always something they can ask that you didn't know. Try any question bank. It should be immediately obvious. No matter how much you study, you can't know it all. Looking back, the knowledge part of the MCAT was quite simple, but the questions were often like a puzzle that utilized the knowledge bit, which took some skill to decipher. I'd say that there was a point in my studying where I felt that I was familiar with just about anything they could throw at me with, let's say, Organic Chemistry. Not so much with any of the basic sciences for Step 1.

All that being said, I think both exams are difficult and painful. Other than that, the exams are significantly different, such that there's really very little point in comparing them. Different time, different level of education, and different knowledge base.
 
I hope you still feel as the title says when you walk out of the prometric testing site.
:laugh:
 
The point of this thread was to compare "training camps" for the MCAT and Step 1.

Yes the title of the thread is stupid/catchy, but that was on purpose to get more responses.

It was in no way to talk about scoring percentiles or make people feel bad for not doing well on the MCAT. I hope everyone does well.

Other than that...

haters-gonna-hate.gif
 
Of course the material being tested on the MCAT is easy. It tests general biology, general chem, basic organic chem and basic physics. The material itself is not hard at all. Most of the classes I took in my senior year were harder than the stuff I studied for the MCAT.

However, what makes the MCAT difficult is your competition. You're basically competing against all these other pre-meds, most of whom know the material as well as you do. As we all know, it's scored on a curve. And in order to get a 30+, you need to do better than at least 75% of other pre-meds who you're taking the test with. That makes the MCAT difficult.
 
strummin said:
Of course the material being tested on the MCAT is easy. It tests general biology, general chem, basic organic chem and basic physics. The material itself is not hard at all. Most of the classes I took in my senior year were harder than the stuff I studied for the MCAT.

However, what makes the MCAT difficult is your competition. You're basically competing against all these other pre-meds, most of whom know the material as well as you do. As we all know, it's scored on a curve. And in order to get a 30+, you need to do better than at least 75% of other pre-meds who you're taking the test with. That makes the MCAT difficult.
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This is actually not true. You are not directly competing with anyone on the MCAT, your score is based on a pre-determined scale.
 
I didnt find the MCAT easy.... =/ You guys are really smart...
 
bannie22 said:
I didnt find the MCAT easy.... =/ You guys are really smart...
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I apologize for writing this thread, not meant for people to come on and say how smart they are or others to feel bad.

Again, all I was referring to is the actual EFFORT that goes into preparation for the exam.

The EFFORT of the typical MCAT preparer vs. STEP 1.

This isn't an ego building thread for those who thought it was simple! Do not worry if you found the MCAT challenging, if you put in effort you can overcome the talented, good luck!
 
engineeredout said:
Nope.





Big surprise, med school is harder than studying for the MCAT. Thats like you made a thread going "OMFG KINDERGARZDEN IZ HARDER THAN CRAPPING YOUR DIAPERS IN TEH CRIB!@!"

Things get progressively harder, you don't suddenly get thrust into it. This is not a new concept.
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:laugh:
 
For such smart people I'm really surprised anyone is even bothering to label the MCAT as hard or easy. It's a relative scale. Nobody gets a perfect score, so how can anyone claim it's easy if they're obviously getting questions wrong? It's a test to create a distribution of applicant abilities, how good are you compared to the other applicants. If you didn't score a 45 the test isn't easy. A person could claim that it's easy for them to score a 30, but that doesn't mean the test is easy for them because they're getting a lot wrong with a 30.

I know nothing about the content of the Step exams so I can't comment with any authority on it other than wild assumptions that they are more dual purpose than the MCAT. Whereas the MCAT is simply trying to establish a pecking order I suspect the Step exams serve to ensure a minimal level of competency to move on and secondarily create a pecking order after that minimal level is reached.
 
I've taken all of these stupid tests...I'll even throw down my scores b/c when I was in your shoes I was always curious about numbers...

MCAT - 3-4 months, 5 hrs/day, one day off/week --> 32

Step 1 - 5 weeks, 10 hrs/day, one day off/week --> 240

Step 2 - 6 weeks, 2 hrs/day, one day off/week --> 240

Step 3 - 4 weeks, 1-2 hrs/day, no weekends --> 225

Rads Physics - 3 months, 2-3 hrs/day, no weekends --> Passed

Rads Writtens - TBA

Rads Orals - TBA

I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!

MCAT was the worst, with STEP 1 coming in a close 2nd...

The MCAT has NO RELEVANCE to med school and medicine and I think that's why it sucked so much - it was SO FREAKING BORING. Step 1 is a little less dry but it's still heavy on the sciences, but at least they are pertinent medical sciences and not the garbage that was on the MCAT.

Also, the pressure with the MCAT and Step 1 is sick. The MCAT determines if you get into med school and Step 1 has a huge impact on what specialty you will be able to match into. You can take the MCAT multiple times, but Step 1 is a 1-shot deal (see definition of pressure). BUT, I felt better about step 1 b/c you know its coming when you start med school and (if you're smart and informed) you start gearing your study towards it from day 1.

Step 2 and 3 were very clinically based with no pressure - you just have to pass. I actually (can't believe I'm saying this) didn't mind studying for them.

Rads Physics is another nightmare but its irrelevant to most of you so I won't bore you.

I feel sorry for you bastards taking the MCAT - all I can say is that it does get better...eventually. Hang in there!
 
BennieBlanco said:
I apologize for writing this thread, not meant for people to come on and say how smart they are or others to feel bad.

Again, all I was referring to is the actual EFFORT that goes into preparation for the exam.

The EFFORT of the typical MCAT preparer vs. STEP 1.

This isn't an ego building thread for those who thought it was simple! Do not worry if you found the MCAT challenging, if you put in effort you can overcome the talented, good luck!
Click to expand...


I guess I must be stupid to have not put enough effort.

Smartness is determined very much by how much effort an individual can put in too...
 
KindaRambo said:
I've taken all of these stupid tests...I'll even throw down my scores b/c when I was in your shoes I was always curious about numbers...

MCAT - 3-4 months, 5 hrs/day, one day off/week --> 32

Step 1 - 5 weeks, 10 hrs/day, one day off/week --> 240

Step 2 - 6 weeks, 2 hrs/day, one day off/week --> 240

Step 3 - 4 weeks, 1-2 hrs/day, no weekends --> 225

Rads Physics - 3 months, 2-3 hrs/day, no weekends --> Passed

Rads Writtens - TBA

Rads Orals - TBA

I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!

MCAT was the worst, with STEP 1 coming in a close 2nd...

The MCAT has NO RELEVANCE to med school and medicine and I think that's why it sucked so much - it was SO FREAKING BORING. Step 1 is a little less dry but it's still heavy on the sciences, but at least they are pertinent medical sciences and not the garbage that was on the MCAT.

Also, the pressure with the MCAT and Step 1 is sick. The MCAT determines if you get into med school and Step 1 has a huge impact on what specialty you will be able to match into. You can take the MCAT multiple times, but Step 1 is a 1-shot deal (see definition of pressure). BUT, I felt better about step 1 b/c you know its coming when you start med school and (if you're smart and informed) you start gearing your study towards it from day 1.

Step 2 and 3 were very clinically based with no pressure - you just have to pass. I actually (can't believe I'm saying this) didn't mind studying for them.

Rads Physics is another nightmare but its irrelevant to most of you so I won't bore you.

I feel sorry for you bastards taking the MCAT - all I can say is that it does get better...eventually. Hang in there!
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Thx! good post!
 
Doodl3s said:
Well yea, if you go back to high school and tell them you're studying everyday for 5 hours a day for the MCAT... they'll be like "YOU'RE CRAZY"... they're probably doing 3 hours every other day for the SAT.... Work as you get older gets exponentially harder. But you grow up too and adjust.
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study for the SAT ? :laugh:
 
.
 
Last edited:
KindaRambo said:
I've taken all of these stupid tests...I'll even throw down my scores b/c when I was in your shoes I was always curious about numbers...

MCAT - 3-4 months, 5 hrs/day, one day off/week --> 32

Step 1 - 5 weeks, 10 hrs/day, one day off/week --> 240

Step 2 - 6 weeks, 2 hrs/day, one day off/week --> 240

Step 3 - 4 weeks, 1-2 hrs/day, no weekends --> 225

Rads Physics - 3 months, 2-3 hrs/day, no weekends --> Passed

Rads Writtens - TBA

Rads Orals - TBA

I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!

MCAT was the worst, with STEP 1 coming in a close 2nd...

The MCAT has NO RELEVANCE to med school and medicine and I think that's why it sucked so much - it was SO FREAKING BORING. Step 1 is a little less dry but it's still heavy on the sciences, but at least they are pertinent medical sciences and not the garbage that was on the MCAT.

Also, the pressure with the MCAT and Step 1 is sick. The MCAT determines if you get into med school and Step 1 has a huge impact on what specialty you will be able to match into. You can take the MCAT multiple times, but Step 1 is a 1-shot deal (see definition of pressure). BUT, I felt better about step 1 b/c you know its coming when you start med school and (if you're smart and informed) you start gearing your study towards it from day 1.

Step 2 and 3 were very clinically based with no pressure - you just have to pass. I actually (can't believe I'm saying this) didn't mind studying for them.

Rads Physics is another nightmare but its irrelevant to most of you so I won't bore you.

I feel sorry for you bastards taking the MCAT - all I can say is that it does get better...eventually. Hang in there!
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Cool info, thanks for the post.

Excelsius said:
Are you serious? Maybe you didn't use good prep books.
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😕
 
greatnt249 said:
Dude...not cool at all.
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Agreed, sorry. I removed.

I was in a contentious nature when I posted, can't help I'm human.

I just hate when people egotistically step on others.
 
Look at it this way: getting a 30 on MCAT is quite easy, but if you want to get a 40 you better be living and breathing MCAT materials.

Step1 is the same. Honest to god getting a 180 is easy as pie. You have to be a "questionable admission" to struggle getting a 180 after some actual studying. But no one wants a 180, we all want to get 250+ and that's a whole new ball game.

Moreover, there is less material for the MCAT. Almost all of the science subjects focused on big concepts and not on rote memorization. Step1 is the opposite of that. There are important concepts to know, but there is also an incredible amount of information you simply have to memorize. If you don't put in serious hours it's very difficult to memorize it all.

Lastly, people typically study for the MCAT possibly 6 months to a year in advance and just ease themselves into it. For step1 you're so focused on your medical school curriculum during the year that few people have time to do serious studying on the step1 material. Most schools give you 6 weeks vacation to study for the step1. If you ONLY have 6 weeks to study for the MCAT, you'd work 12 hour days too.
 
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