The Official 07/06/2012 MCAT Thread

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impact2d

impact2d

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I'm usually on SDN mobile and have been meaning to open this thread for a while. I guess I'll introduce myself first.

I'm somewhere towards the traditional side of the non-trad. I'm only 4 years out of undergrad, and am only a year older than the average med school matriculant-but I am a career changer who is married and completing my final prereq's post bacc (all finished in May).

I am using a hybrid of a few different MCAT studying styles posted here-but at the core it's most similar to SN2ed and the standard TBR schedule.

I am using TBR for Chem, O.Chem, and Physics (2012 edition). I am using TPRH and EK for Bio.

I don't really stick to the 1 chapter a day set up of SN2ed, I customized each chapter based on what my strengths and weaknesses were and how long ago I learned the topics in undergrad.

I almost always spend 2 days on Bio (this is the subject with the most "Content Gaps" for me) Oftentimes I can double up Ochem with Physics. Physics usually goes very fast, and O.Chem I find relatively easy compared to class (It helps that I just finished O.Chem 1, and am currently in O.Chem 2)

I'm also working part time and still in Ochem 2 and Physics 2, so studying full time is not an option until after May 4th, and even then I still have work. That is why I started at 4 months instead of 3, to try to get ahead since I know I will lose days over time.

I don't really do the 1/3's method in physics or chem. The books come with tests split into 3 phases and I prefer to just use it that way. After reading the chapter I do the untimed phase, a week later the timed phase, and am saving the final phase for review. I am not doing much TBR Bio in the early chapters-too much skipping around and testing obscure information I haven't reviewed yet. I know it's important to develop critical thinking, but I want to make sure I have the foundations down first. I stick to the EK in class and the TPRH science workbook. I will probably spend some time on TBR after I'm done with content review.

Also I use Chad's Videos like crazy, I watch them on fast forward and they really help give a quick overview. I wish there was a similar solution for Bio.

Well that's the rundown. Hopefully there are some people on here taking the same day. I know I can definitely use the motivation at times. My goal is to score >or=30.
Good luck!👍
 
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grrrrrr plz someone talk about their score, I'm scared to look mine up!!! I need to build courage by reading others reactions lol
 
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MCAT Prep Material: EK
AAMC average: 26
Kaplan/TBR/TPR Average: -
Prediction: 27
Actual: 27 10/09/08

took in 2008 fresh out of all the classes and got a 25, taking it 4 years out of all the classes and doing better feels great!
 
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Months studied: 3 months
AAMC Average: 12-9-11
Predicted:10-10-12
Actual Write #1(Sep 2): 11-6-10
Actual Write #2(July 6): 11-4(WTF)-10 in shock Aug 16 here i come
 
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Whew! Not quite what I was hoping for but I'll take it. Just glad to get this waiting game over with.

AAMC Average: 33 (range 30-36)
Predicted: 30 (felt like crap coming out of the test)
Goal: 35
Actual: 32M (11/10/11) lol @ writing score
Months Studied: 1
Prep Material: Chad's videos, EK 1001, and TBR for passages

My verbal score really surprised me. I had 18 mins to do the last hard passage and I came out thinking I aced it. I also thought I bombed the bio section but apparently not. Just goes to show that how you feel after the test really means nothing.
 
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johnaddams said:
Months studied: 3 months
AAMC Average: 12-9-11
Predicted:10-10-12
Actual Write #1(Sep 2): 11-6-10
Actual Write #2(July 6): 11-4(WTF)-10 in shock Aug 16 here i come
Click to expand...

I know that feel of retaking. Verbal score kicked my butt too 🙁 keep your head up.
 
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Woo-hoo! I never have to take the MCAT again!

Study method: Kaplan course, 1 month self-guided study after spring semester ended
AAMC avg: 35
Prediction: 31-34
Actual: 33 O (breakdown: VR = 11, PS = 12, BS = 10)


Not my best performance, by far, but I'll take it. (Random thought: 10 on BS!? WTF? I've never scored lower than a 12 on BS on any practice test.)

My #1 school choice is Iowa and their average MCAT is a 31, so I am sitting pretty.

Thank you MCAT
 
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Prediction: 10, 10, 12 (PS, VR, BS)
Actual: 9, 10, 14

I'll take it. Finally done. Post more later maybe wen my hands stop shaking.
 
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impact2d said:
When we get our scores we should do
Months studied:
AAMC Average:
Predicted:
Actual:

It helps future takers

Sent from my ADR6400L using SDN Mobile
Click to expand...
Months studied: 2 months, 8-10 hrs/day
AAMC Average: 30
Predicted: 28-32
Actual: 31M
Praise the Lord!!!!
 
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Study Method: Altius Test Prep
Months studied: 4
AAMC Average: 36 (Last 3 tests)
Predicted: 32
Actual: 37Q

I am ecstatic and did not expect this!
 
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Average 32 (30-34)
Predicted 34-37
Actual 30Q
Breakdown 10 10 10

Overall: I'm disappointed because I didn't struggle with any section, although I did recognize how hard the bio section was (which I thought would be curved). I never scored under 12 for bio- I just don't understand. Anyway I'm happy for the 10 in verbal, which is the reason I never had the best aamc practice scores- always received 8-9's.

Congrats to all who got great scores
 
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PS 10 VR 5 BS 10 WS Q.

I've never scored below an 8 on VR and hardly broke an 8 on PS. I call shenanigans. 4 Months studying.
 
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AAMC Average: 9.8/11.2/10.8- 31.8
AAMC Range: 29-35
Predicted: 8/12/12- 32
Actual: 10/13/12-35O 😱 :banana:

So relieved! Congrats to everyone else who did well and good luck to everyone who will need to retake. I was confident that I would need to until scores posted today.
 
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Months studied: 2 weeks
AAMC Average: ?
Predicted: 24-33
Actual: 26 M

As expected but was praying for a miracle... I love my instate DO school anyway!



Sent from my Desire HD using SDN Mobile
 
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You all make me feel ******ed. How can someone diligently spend 3 months studying and go from a 25 to 22? I'm at an all-time low..
 
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AAMC Average: 31
Predicted: 29 (thought i failed BS)
Goal: 32
Actual: 35Q (13/10/12) No idea how I got a 12 on BS
Studied about a year with the last 6 months studying harder (working full time + ~20 hrs a week and all day on weekends)
Prep Material: Mostly Examkrackers (best prep) and other borrowed books from PR/Kaplan/BR for in-depth review of iffy subjects. But EK approach is awesome.

Good luck to the rest! If you didn't do too well, it's more than OK to re-take, don't beat yourself over. I was almost expecting to re-take.
 
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24... PS: 10, V: 5 (wtf?), BS: 9

Do I have a shot in hell at getting into a DO school, since I pretty much knocked myself out of contention for MD schools? I'm simply just not cut out to score well on the MCAT, mainly the verbal. I lack the focus and superior test taking ability that the MCAT requires. I possess the academic aptitude. I have As in all my premed courses and a 3.7 GPA. For whatever reason, standardized exams kick my ass 😕 Congrats to those who prepared hard and got their target score on this beast of an exam.

Not to sound like a defeatist, but I really don't see any way to improve the verbal all that significantly. I took about 12 of the EK practices and all the AAMCs. Verbal seems like the type of thing that is more inherent ability to read fast, focus, extract important info, and zone in on the right answer. You can "learn" it only to an extent. Plus, when I took this, I thought verbal was the easiest I've seen---then scored a flippin 5. Uy vey.

Right now, I believe my options are limited to an outside chance at a DO school and the Carribean. Believe me, I am not lazy. But, I do not want to go through sitting through studying my tail off for this exam again and doing way subpar. I know dropout rate is high at the Caribs, the stigma tied to them blah blah blah, and DO is not "MD." However, all I need is for some school to give me a chance and I know I will succeed. The MCAT reveals one thing: how good you are at the MCAT. A high score is a remarkable personal achievement, a glowing ticket toward an interview at a top US MD school. BUT, being a successful doctor is much more than a 36 on the MCAT.
 
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"You all make me feel ******ed. How can someone diligently spend 3 months studying and go from a 25 to 22? I'm at an all-time low.."

don't give up! Check out the retake thread and do better next time. maybe it was the books, study method or that you didn't have the basics down (if you avged low 20's on practice tests). the quality of studying matters more than the time spent. I'm into my 3rd month now and probably wasted half of my first 2 months trying to make detailed notes on what I missed (you do need to do detailed post analysis, but I wasted too much time typing out everything I missed on onenote and doing score analysis-dropped that method because realized I wasn't retaining much of it).
 
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shadyicekid said:
AAMC Average: 31
Predicted: 29 (thought i failed BS)
Goal: 32
Actual: 35Q (13/10/12) No idea how I got a 12 on BS
Studied about a year with the last 6 months studying harder (working full time + ~20 hrs a week and all day on weekends)
Prep Material: Mostly Examkrackers (best prep) and other borrowed books from PR/Kaplan/BR for in-depth review of iffy subjects. But EK approach is awesome.

Good luck to the rest! If you didn't do too well, it's more than OK to re-take, don't beat yourself over. I was almost expecting to re-take.
Click to expand...

Good story, but I'd like to know how you manage to be so dedicated? I spent 3 months studying several hours per day to improve, and I go from a 25 to 22. I know that nobody here wants to hear my sob story, but I'm really in a ditch right now. I've never struggled with anything, and I have a good grasp on the content. Its just disheartening to work so hard and fall backwards.
 
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scottydsntkno said:
Average 32 (30-34)
Predicted 34-37
Actual 30Q
Breakdown 10 10 10

Overall: I'm disappointed because I didn't struggle with any section, although I did recognize how hard the bio section was (which I thought would be curved). I never scored under 12 for bio- I just don't understand. Anyway I'm happy for the 10 in verbal, which is the reason I never had the best aamc practice scores- always received 8-9's.

Congrats to all who got great scores
Click to expand...

On this note, should I retake? I have a 3.98 gpa at a top 20 pub
If school w/ good ecs and strong LOR. Applying Md this cycle
 
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UAbio9301 said:
Good story, but I'd like to know how you manage to be so dedicated? I spent 3 months studying several hours per day to improve, and I go from a 25 to 22. I know that nobody here wants to hear my sob story, but I'm really in a ditch right now. I've never struggled with anything, and I have a good grasp on the content. Its just disheartening to work so hard and fall backwards.
Click to expand...

I would love to help in any way possible. First off, what are you using to study? And what is your study schedule? Are you graduated? Working?
 
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Johnny Bo said:
24... PS: 10, V: 5 (wtf?), BS: 9
The MCAT reveals one thing: how good you are at the MCAT. A high score is a remarkable personal achievement, a glowing ticket toward an interview at a top US MD school. BUT, being a successful doctor is much more than a 36 on the MCAT.
Click to expand...

True, but I disagree with your approach. I feel like having the right attitude matters a whole lot in this process/field. When you encounter failures, you should try to overcome them instead of settling just because you don't have to. Part of the reason I'm premed is because one of my doctors "went above and beyond" in trying to help and I'm very grateful for that.

If you were scoring much higher on practice tests (ie 10v), then it may have been a fluke. It might not be as hard as you 'd think to improve your score by 5+ points. If it were me, I would try to sign up for the 9/11 date. I was able to switch to the 9/1 date in ca at the same test center by checking a bunch of times like 2 weeks ago.
 
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I used EK last year, this year I used Kaplan. I just got the TPR Cracking the MCAT book. I think my main problem was not taking many CBT Full Lengths. I took paper practice exams, I simply cannot afford many of the AAMC FLs. I work full time in the Emergency Department, so my schedule is in a constant flux. I would back off on hours, but I have to support myself...
 
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UAbio9301 said:
I used EK last year, this year I used Kaplan. I just got the TPR Cracking the MCAT book. I think my main problem was not taking many CBT Full Lengths. I took paper practice exams, I simply cannot afford many of the AAMC FLs. I work full time in the Emergency Department, so my schedule is in a constant flux. I would back off on hours, but I have to support myself...
Click to expand...

I understand. even signing up for the mcat and the application process must have cost a lot. Out of those materials, I would just focus on ek. The only problem is that ek is might not be the best if you don't have the basics down. also try your school library or read at a bookstore. craigslist worked for me. ek1001 might help for the basics. I feel like at the bare minimum you should save up for the aamc's. BUT, even if you buy them, only take when ready (content mastered), or else it'll be a waste. take your time if you need to and aim high.
 
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UAbio9301 said:
I used EK last year, this year I used Kaplan. I just got the TPR Cracking the MCAT book. I think my main problem was not taking many CBT Full Lengths. I took paper practice exams, I simply cannot afford many of the AAMC FLs. I work full time in the Emergency Department, so my schedule is in a constant flux. I would back off on hours, but I have to support myself...
Click to expand...

I understand the working situation, as I am full-time also. The thing about studying for the MCAT is that after you've reviewed a series of MCAT books (given that you've taken your pre-med courses - chem ochem bio, etc), you don't gain much per hour studied by studying the subjects more. Hands down, the best way to increase your score is practice questions. For the PS section, I used the 1001 questions in chemistry and physics. I didn't even do all of the questions, just the ones I knew I didn't feel comfortable with.

Another thing about practice questions is that you attempt the questions and then read the explanations. This is where the money is at. Do enough questions and you'll know exactly what to do just by looking at the question. So, if you've spent a good deal of time studying the material, you're ready to transition to drill drill drill on questions.

The BS section I have to say is geared more toward the studying aspect. But overall, practice questions, especially practice CBT tests will be most beneficial. Again, don't just read, identify your weak points and study those.

I can't teach you dedication, but I can tell you that it's necessary. Saying no to friends, events, etc. It's not forever. If you want it badly enough, you can sacrifice time.
 
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AAMC averages: 8, 10, 11
Predicted: 8, 10, 12
Actual: 10, 7, 12, S - 29S

I made an account to discuss how my verbal section was a complete surprise. These scores just don't make sense. I've never done that well on PS on any practice, and I've never scored below a 9 on verbal.

I studied for about a month and a half @ about 6 hours/day using TBR exclusively for content review of all topics except for O-chem, where I used TPR.
 
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tttgo said:
I understand. even signing up for the mcat and the application process must have cost a lot. Out of those materials, I would just focus on ek. The only problem is that ek is might not be the best if you don't have the basics down. also try your school library or read at a bookstore. craigslist worked for me. ek1001 might help for the basics. I feel like at the bare minimum you should save up for the aamc's. BUT, even if you buy them, only take when ready (content mastered), or else it'll be a waste. take your time if you need to and aim high.
Click to expand...

I'll certainly look around, but what do you recommend for assessing your strengths/weaknesses? I've always struggled with verbal, but as far as science content goes I'm pretty confident. The only way to consistently improve content mastery is through practice and analysis, right? As for verbal, I did almost the entire EK101 book, but I felt like the actual exam had somewhat lengthier passages and several ambiguous answer choices.
 
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AAMC Avg: 31 on AAMC 3-9, 35.5 on AAMC 10, 11
Predicted: 32
Actual: 35!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS: 14 VR: 10 BS: 11
Total: 35 L (a little dissapointed about writing score, hopefully it won't matter.)

This is the happiest day of my life! I am in complete shock right now!
Congrats to those who got the score they wanted and I am sorry to those who didn't. I know how you feel, I was devastated in May when I got a 29.
 
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