The Official 8/18/2011 MCAT Club!

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neelyboy

neelyboy

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Hey everyone, just saw that there wasn't an 8/18/2011 MCAT thread so I decided to make one. How's everyone coming along? I'm on the SN2ed plan and am about 5 days behind, but am gonna cut out some break days and should be good to go. I do my first practice exam (AAMC 3) on Wednesday.
 
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realized I made a few dumb mistakes. Oh well🙁

Prediction: 10 V 11 PS 11 BS

AAMC Average: 36

Expect the worst...hope for the best
 
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predictions?

hmm.

I feel like I got. 12 PS 9 VR 13 BS

usually i have a lot more time to check my answers but this time i didn't, so i'm still iffy on a lot of questions.
 
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I wasn't a big fan of this exam. It seemed quite different and more difficult than any of the practice tests I took (only aamc 3,8,9,10). I probably should have put the test off since I was only able to study for two solid weeks due to having 2 jobs, research and 2 classes all summer.

First off, the PS was EXTREMELY difficult compared to any of the practice tests I've taken. The passages were much longer and all were related to physics II (which I haven't taken yet). I thought I was still comfortable with the concepts from physics II, but apparently not. I only had one passage for general chemistry which was very unfortunate for me because I am much more comfortable with chemistry. I have no idea what I may have gotten on this section, I'm hoping against all odds that I received an 8.

VR passages were all VERY long as other posters have mentioned. Luckily, I found all of them fairly easy to read and found the questions fairly straight forward. I can never predict how I do on verbal, though, so I can't venture a guess as to how I did on this either.

BS was very passage based but also required an intimate knowledge of basic biology concepts. It seemed like all the passages were research based and I had very few organic chemistry questions. I thought the last passage was very tough, but all the others seemed straight forward.

Overall, I do not feel good about the test at all, I'm praying to have just done "well enough". I am anticipating having to retake in January. This time I will study much more since I only have to worry about classes and not working 80 hours a week. I hope everyone else's testing experience went better than mine, and hopefully we all did better than expected.
 
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I dare not even make a prediction at this point, I feel like I scored in the 20s...I don't know. Let's hope for the best guys.
 
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PopeJoja said:
Dude, I totally feel you on the BS section. I usually have 20 mins left. But this time, I had like 2 minutes left. sheesh.

It was really heavy in all that molecular and genetics stuff. I totally agree.

There were a lot of calculations in PS. I swear I was gonna cry if I had an optics passage in PS, but this one wasn't so bad. I mean, everything was good as long as you had time to think through it right.

The verbal was surprisingly easy to read. however, I hope that doesn't reflect a harsh curve. you know what I mean? Ugh, I still have horror stories going in my mind after taking the 6/16 mcat. ahhh, verbal why do you have to play around with me all the time?!! (shakes fist up to sky)

All in all, I felt way more confident throughout the test and after. I'm done with the test, let's just relax our brains for a month and then we can freak out if we need to. 🙂 Good job guys and gals!
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Verbal was surprisingly easy to read? UGH

The one thing that I hated most about VR is that after at least 2 or 3 passages, I just sat there asking myself what I had just read. I thought a few of those passages were SO ambiguous. I'm still trying to figure out what they meant, lol
 
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oh nonono, I still feel scared about my verbal score. My practices were 7-12 on VR depending on my mood. I would be happy with anything 8+.

But the passages.... you have to admit... weren't as bad as say a passage about the self and the ego transformed by the self, yet still being the ego in a new form... w/e I can't write anything sophisticated in philosophy. haha
 
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Im glad I pushed my test date allll the way to Jan. Moving the day before the MCAT sounds like a terrible idea. Hope everyone does well!😀
 
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Few questions and comments for everyone:

I also took this test date and is it just me or does anyone else feel kind of cheated by how there was way to much of a certain topic in the BS passages? I am not sure if this is how it is suppose to be and if so I apologize but regardless here is my take:

PS: went very well for me. thought it was straight forward with nothing that anyone that studied for the test shouldn't have known.
V: hoping for the best. topics were not as boring as I thought but yes long.
W: went very well, easy topics
BS: Not good at all, agree with what most people on here are saying about it and unfortunately it hit my weak spots. I am hoping for the best.

Now my question is if you have to retake, why is everyone going to retake in January? I am just wondering because cant you still, say, take it in April and still be able to apply on June 1st? I would think most people would want those extra months to study, or am I missing something?

Also, I have already submitted my app this cycle like most of you, if I withdraw my app I don't get a refund correct? withdrawing the app would only mean that next year when I apply to the same schools and asked if I have ever applied to them, I can write "no" correct? Is there any other benefit of withdrawing? I mean if I can't get my money back I might as well just see what happens right? I am obviously new to all this so if someone can help I would appreciate it.
 
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So I know we aren't supposed to discuss the test, but did anyone else have trouble with the orgo discrete question comparing the two compounds? It is driving me crazy and I cannot find it online. Any vague, round about tips would be awesome so I can keep my sanity!

If this is to specific someone please let me know and I will take it down! Thanks 😀
 
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Piper9132 said:
So I know we aren't supposed to discuss the test, but did anyone else have trouble with the orgo discrete question comparing the two compounds? It is driving me crazy and I cannot find it online. Any vague, round about tips would be awesome so I can keep my sanity!

If this is to specific someone please let me know and I will take it down! Thanks 😀
Click to expand...

Opttion E,D,T,E? I think it was T and I got it wrong. Very iffy question though
 
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I am so glad everyone else... well most of you thought VR sucked... The passages were long and the questions were confusing, I had done very well on budgeting my time during practice but I just feel apart through that part of the test...
I thought PS was good, except one passage I found very difficult
I had noticed BS was very based upon a class I just took this past semester... so yay, some of the passages were a bit wordy and confusing though
The essays were easy... I think I actually sighed with relief when I saw the first one and was equally as happy when I saw the second one hahah I was all worried I was going to get something intense and political!
 
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AvarysDad said:
Opttion E,D,T,E? I think it was T and I got it wrong. Very iffy question though
Click to expand...

Hmm... I picked T but it makes no sense to me (likewise E,D,E make no sense either) I am one of the weird people who actually enjoy Organic Chem, and I definitely never learned that could be true of those two compounds! Lets hope its right though, that'd be awesome.
 
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AvarysDad said:
Opttion E,D,T,E? I think it was T and I got it wrong. Very iffy question though
Click to expand...

I agree that the answer was T, which I realized after the fact. 🙁

The more I think about the exam the worse I feel I did on all the sections, even the ones I originally felt good about. The last two biology passages seemed very difficult, the tabby cat one in particular. Also, I keep thinking of other random questions that seemed to have two different correct answers...sure hope I chose right! I left feeling good about verbal, but I keep remember questions that had several good looking answers, again, I hope I chose right. PS felt horrible as I was doing it, horrible when I left, and even worse the more I think about it. I would be ecstatic if I somehow got more than a 6 on PS.
Can't wait until this month is over!
 
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DrRadtech said:
I agree that the answer was T, which I realized after the fact. 🙁

The more I think about the exam the worse I feel I did on all the sections, even the ones I originally felt good about. The last two biology passages seemed very difficult, the tabby cat one in particular. Also, I keep thinking of other random questions that seemed to have two different correct answers...sure hope I chose right! I left feeling good about verbal, but I keep remember questions that had several good looking answers, again, I hope I chose right. PS felt horrible as I was doing it, horrible when I left, and even worse the more I think about it. I would be ecstatic if I somehow got more than a 6 on PS.
Can't wait until this month is over!
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the answer was E. you had to rotate the molecule 180 and flip it which switches the chirality.
 
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GandalfTheWhite said:
the answer was E. you had to rotate the molecule 180 and flip it which switches the chirality.
Click to expand...

Really? I flipped it over and it wasn't a mirrored image. I think that was the last question I did and I ran out of time, I don't even recall what I put as my answer. I was pretty mentally drained at that point so anything is possible.
 
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DrRadtech said:
Really? I flipped it over and it wasn't a mirrored image. I think that was the last question I did and I ran out of time, I don't even recall what I put as my answer. I was pretty mentally drained at that point so anything is possible.
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I hope your right bc then that means I was right!! Still a lame question either way
 
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DrRadtech said:
Really? I flipped it over and it wasn't a mirrored image. I think that was the last question I did and I ran out of time, I don't even recall what I put as my answer. I was pretty mentally drained at that point so anything is possible.
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Epi or E?
 
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AvarysDad said:
Epi or E?
Click to expand...

I didn't think that it was either, but I think the poster above said it was E, not Epi. There were a lot of questions that bummed me out. This wait is not going to be easy. It will probably make the beginning of this semester rough, I won't be able to concentrate for any of my classes! I would be happy if I somehow just got straight 8's.
 
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Alright, so its been a week and life is...well, kinda slow. Cant say that I can remember what I put down on those questions that are posted above, but I'm already thinking that I got it wrong. Moving on.

Do you guys think that given the fact that not very many people took the test on this day as shown by the lack of activity on this site (only 3 pages compared to 11+ on Aug. 19th), that the curve and thus our scaled scores will be scored on a steep 'curve'? From reading other posts and in my opinion, I am becoming more convinced that the scores are scaled against all test takers for a particular test date...that way, a standard bell shaped curve can be calculated for each particular exam. The only way that statisticians can effectively generate an adequate sample pool is if enough tests are administered for a given exam...and if you looked around at other people taking the exam, or bother to read other posts in different test days, it seems that each day everyone gets a similar (if not identical tests; except for the 'experimental' questions-which no one knows about). That said, given that our sample pool might be justified as 'small' we might be looking at a 'slim' bell shape curve...
Either way, I wish I had my score already so that I can stop thinking about this, second guessing my self, or trying to remember specific questions I know I made stupid mistakes on....seriously, I will never forget them.

Lastly, did anyone walk out of the test feeling rather...how should I put it...rather...'bland'... After my test was over, I walked out not feel anything at all. I knew I made some bad guesses, but all in all, I did not have that bad feeling in my stomach or feel overtly happy either. I simply felt, bland. Alright people, I hope you are all doing well. Do remember to stay alive and represent, 8/18er's!!! I want to hear your thoughts and comments.

Cheers!!
 
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I felt good, just not great. I remember feeling, I should feel better than this. but i didn't feel bad.
 
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1CoolKat said:
Do you guys think that given the fact that not very many people took the test on this day as shown by the lack of activity on this site (only 3 pages compared to 11+ on Aug. 19th), that the curve and thus our scaled scores will be scored on a steep 'curve'? From reading other posts and in my opinion, I am becoming more convinced that the scores are scaled against all test takers for a particular test date...that way, a standard bell shaped curve can be calculated for each particular exam. The only way that statisticians can effectively generate an adequate sample pool is if enough tests are administered for a given exam...and if you looked around at other people taking the exam, or bother to read other posts in different test days, it seems that each day everyone gets a similar (if not identical tests; except for the 'experimental' questions-which no one knows about). That said, given that our sample pool might be justified as 'small' we might be looking at a 'slim' bell shape curve...
Click to expand...

No. The MCAT is pre-scaled (meaning the scale was already set before you took the exam). You're over-thinking this; get off of SDN and relax. You'll be glad you did. 👍
 
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paul411 said:
No. The MCAT is pre-scaled (meaning the scale was already set before you took the exam). You're over-thinking this; get off of SDN and relax. You'll be glad you did. 👍[/

Point taken. I will however admit that trully enjoy reading other's peoples thoughts and postings.

Sure makes up for all those nights spent studying physics, gchem, orgo, bio, and confusing verbal passages.
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Every night I fall asleep remembering one particular question and whether I chose the right answer or not ..ahhhhhhhh ...I think I need to start praying like crazy and hope for the best!
 
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LTLT said:
I want my scores so bad - and so do the schools I am applying to...:bang: ... and life goes on. 🙄
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Still a long time.

Fortunately, I've kept myself occupied.

I hate waiting so long and thinking that I might not get the score I want.
 
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I know that some day I'll laugh at myself for freaking out over this but right now I can't help it. I can't believe we still have almost 3 weeks left it needs to be 9/20 right NOW 🙁
 
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If you rotate the picture 180 in your head they will over-lape on each other
and they do have chrial center. so the answer is E.
but since the exam i cannot stop thinking about the question where they add something into something and they said it reacts with only 2% KMnO4 and then they asked what is the solution ( i hope its vague enough and someone remembers the answers bc its killing me)
i put aldehyde first then in the last couple of seconds changed to carboxylic acid but i think the answer was aldehyde any ideas PLEASE HELP MEEEEEEEE
GandalfTheWhite said:
the answer was E. you had to rotate the molecule 180 and flip it which switches the chirality.
Click to expand...
 
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I can't see why anyone would still be obsessing over this test. I haven't even given it a second thought after taking it; nothing can be done to change the results. It's useless to re-work problems in you mind; you can't go back and change them. Just relax and find something to occupy the time! 🙂
 
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Doctor Peppa said:
I can't see why anyone would still be obsessing over this test. I haven't even given it a second thought after taking it; nothing can be done to change the results. It's useless to re-work problems in you mind; you can't go back and change them. Just relax and find something to occupy the time! 🙂
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Agreed, seriously nothing to do guys. Trying to look back at questions is only likely to get you stressed. I'm enjoying my wait time, before the MCAT I was stressed with studying. However there's nothing left to do for now.
 
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Doctor Peppa said:
I can't see why anyone would still be obsessing over this test. I haven't even given it a second thought after taking it; nothing can be done to change the results. It's useless to re-work problems in you mind; you can't go back and change them. Just relax and find something to occupy the time! 🙂
Click to expand...


And to this I would say, yeeeaaaaarrrrrrright!

If you hadn't considered the test after taking it, what are you trolling around this site for? Wait, don't answer that... then we'll know you came back for more.

I was equally stumped by what the f- the KMnO4 was testing for and remember looking it up as soon as I got home. There are those questions (like the E- Epi) that stand out because they seem so difficult that they must be easy... the kind that could cause one to have to retake this mf test... just sayin'... 😳

You know that KMnO4 is an oxidizing agent (cuz it has a lot of O's), your question to yourself should be, which of the options is most easily oxidized?

good luck. fingers :xf:.
 
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sntwo said:
And to this I would say, yeeeaaaaarrrrrrright!

If you hadn't considered the test after taking it, what are you trolling around this site for? Wait, don't answer that... then we'll know you came back for more.

I was equally stumped by what the f- the KMnO4 was testing for and remember looking it up as soon as I got home. There are those questions (like the E- Epi) that stand out because they seem so difficult that they must be easy... the kind that could cause one to have to retake this mf test... just sayin'... 😳

You know that KMnO4 is an oxidizing agent (cuz it has a lot of O's), your question to yourself should be, which of the options is most easily oxidized?

good luck. fingers :xf:.
Click to expand...

I think most people visiting these threads are here to seek encouragement and help on MCAT info prior to taking the test and later return to see how others felt the degree of difficulty was on the particular test they took not to necessarily discuss individual questions from the test itself. Once the results are in, test takers return to see how their scores compared to other same day testers. I think that is really what the threads are designed for.

Considering a fellow poster a troll because they don't stress over post test questions while encouraging others not to is pretty small. Most likely, testers will never even see the same question again, so why re-hash it? JMO
 
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These next 6 day are going to be so long. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much. Anything above 30 would be great...
 
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It's so sad but I think about the test at least once a day. I try not to think about it but can't help it 🙁 I don't expect a good score. I just want to know what it is so at least I can start studying for the next one. Ahhh... -_-
 
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^^ Like other standardized tests? I have thought about it, I mean they could give us our numerical score instantly right? I guess they need to month to work out any issues with curves and stuff.

erure said:
It's so sad but I think about the test at least once a day. I try not to think about it but can't help it 🙁 I don't expect a good score. I just want to know what it is so at least I can start studying for the next one. Ahhh... -_-
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Saaaaame, I'm holding off on applying to REU programs and any further plans until I get my score. I would be so ecstatic with a 31. I'm trying to plan for a retake but I just can't get myself to study for this thing again.
I know I tried my absolute best though, just hope for the best as it's out of our hands now.

BTW it seems I have my first Biochem exam of the semester the day after scores are expected to be released...question is whether I should look at it before or after my exam. xD
 
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zeppelinpage4 said:
^^ Like other standardized tests? I have thought about it, I mean they could give us our numerical score instantly right? I guess they need to month to work out any issues with curves and stuff.


Saaaaame, I'm holding off on applying to REU programs and any further plans until I get my score. I would be so ecstatic with a 31. I'm trying to plan for a retake but I just can't get myself to study for this thing again.
I know I tried my absolute best though, just hope for the best as it's out of our hands now.

BTW it seems I have my first Biochem exam of the semester the day after scores are expected to be released...question is whether I should look at it before or after my exam. xD
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If you can promise yourself that whatever you get won't affect your test performance the next day, then I'd just look at it the day it's out. I think personally for me not looking at it will just make me think about it more and more, thus doing worse on the exam the next day.

Yeah I'll take anything above a 30, especially since my practice exam scores were mostly in the 28-29 range so I'll be lucky if I get anything above a 30. But I still dream of a little higher than 30, like 32 or even 34... If only... haha
 
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If I hit my average on AAMC exams (31) I am still going to do a retake. The only way I don't do a retake is if I get a 33. However I feel like I got a 25 (same as my kap. diagnostic score) on the test and I have already accepted the fact that a retake is going to be necessary because I probably didn't hit a 30 let alone a 33. Since I have already accepted the fact that I am going to have to do a retake (mcat score <30) I am not too anxious/excited to find out my score. Just knowing that a retake is in my future, has enabled me to stop thinking about the score release on 9/20. In fact I had completely forgotten when scores would be released until I came back and saw this thread. I am just ready to study for the retake and I have forgotten all about my first mcat test........
 
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I think i have more mcat jitters now than I did when I took the test!
 
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