The Official April 2016 MCAT Thread

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drbeat14

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April Fool's you're taking the MCAT! Worst prank ever?! No really, as a serial delayer, I absolutely must take this thing on this day before application submissions this upcoming cycle in 2016. So I thought I would go ahead and start the official thread. Never to early to start an official support/study group.

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Also, I would like to make a HUGE shout out to @aldol16. If it was not for him, I would not have scored what I did.

Thank you aldol16 for your contributions to the question section! :clap::bow::highfive:
 
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We are finally done guys I'm so happy.

Test: Total Score [CP/CARs/BB/PS]
THE MCAT (4/23): 514 (129/127/131/127)

AAMC FL Scored: 512 (130/127/128/127)
AAMC FL Unscored: 81.5 % (83%/79%/78%/85%)


Kap Diagnostic: 498 (124/125/124/125)
Kap FL 1:500 (125/125/127/123)
Kap FL 2: 505 (127/125/127/126)
Kap FL 3: 506 (127/126/127/126)
Dang I did terrible on my scored compared to my unscored. 81% on the unscored and 508 on the scored. I blame it on the scored attacking all my weakest points :(

Congrats on that score though! That's amazing!!

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Been a long time lurker but went from a 28 to a 512 (126/128/127/131)!!
A little unbalanced...C/P was always my weakest section but I am satisfied :)

AAMC FL Scored: 511 (127/129/126/129)
AAMC FL Unscored: 77% (75%/85%/69%/80%)
 
505 (126,125,126,128)
Idk if I should retake and apply for MD next year or just apply for D.O. school this year at this point... T.T
 
Lurker here! Was expecting to do well in C/P but it turned out the opposite. Felt CARS and B/B was ok. Was not expecting a 125. Not sure what to feel about my scores :\

508 (128/125/125/130)
 
The obvious is that AAMC is trying to weed out 50% of us with each MCAT taken, and then making sure to eliminate a bunch more by making us go insane as we wait for our score. As a second-time-arounder, I can say honestly: my friends, I CANNOT wait to get past this incredibly unbearable limbo stage of our careers...... -_-
509 - Total

129 C/P
123 CARS
128 BIO
129 PSY/SOC

How bad is this going to hurt me. I ran out of time, I'm freaking out

MSU DO accepts people with 500+
 
Long time lurker on this thread. I am so happy right now!!!!!!!!!
I got a 521.

132 C/P
132 CARS
129 BIO
128 P/S

I can't believe I did that well on P/S
 
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Just got back from playing 9. Got a 519 - 131/127/131/130. No idea how I managed that.
 
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511!!!

130/126/126/129

I'm a little nervous about the low Bio/Biochem. I took the exam for the 2nd time...the first time, I landed a 507 (128/123/129/127). I went to a competitive liberal arts college and my GPA is 3.85, science GPA is 3.9. Thoughts? I'm looking to go to MD programs in the northeast (I am from the northeast).
 
509 - Total

129 C/P
123 CARS
128 BIO
129 PSY/SOC

How bad is this going to hurt me. I ran out of time, I'm freaking out

A 509 is good! Don't let the unusually high score posts make you feel like a 509 is bad. That's like a very strong 30 on the old exam! Great job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
NSTP Diagnostic: 506
NSTP FL1: 509
NSTP FL2: 510
NSTP FL3: 506
NSTP FL4: 504
NSTP FL6: 507
NSTP FL7: 506
NSTP FL8:504
AAMC FL: 507
Real thing: 513

I was on a real downward curve with the practice exams. Pulled it off on the real thing though. Whew!
 
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516
129/126/131/130

Similar spread to my scored practice

Official Guide 1 (1/4): BS- 77%, C/P- 60%, P/S- 67%, CARS- 67% Total: 68%
EK FL 3 (3/17)- C/P- 53%, CARS- 64%, BS- 88%, P/S- 64% Total- 67%
AAMC FL1 (3/20): C/P-81%, CARS-75%, BS-75%, P/S- 69% Total: 75%
OG 2 (3/21)- BS- 77%, C/P- 90%, P/S- 77%, CARS- 77% Total: 80%
NS FL 1 (3/26):Total- 509 (70%) C/P- 69% (128), CARS- 66% (126), BS- 78% (128), P/S- 68%(127)
EK FL 4 (3/28): C/P- 71%, CARS- 64%, BS- 80%, P/S- 71% Total- 72%
NS FL 6 (4/1): Total 508 (71%) C/P- 68%, CARS- 72%, BB- 69%, P/S- 75%
NS FL 5 (4/6): Total 511 (75%) C/P- 58%, CARS- 81%, BB- 85%, P/S- 75% (126/128/129/128)
NS FL 4 (4/10): Total 508 (70%) C/P- 70%, CARS- 60%, BB- 76%, P/S- 70% (128/125/128/127)
Scored Practice: Total 516, C/P- 129, CARS-128, B/B-130, P/S-129
AAMC Question Packs:
Bio 1- 89%
Bio 2- 84%
Chem- 75%
CARS 1-87%
Section Packs-
Bio- 89%
P/C- 77%
 
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My concern is the CARS score, I know it's weighted less in determining acceptance. I'm just very discouraged and unsure of how much this will affect me.

My best guess is that the 123 CARS on a 509, versus a 125+ CARS on a 509, will just be a conversation starter during your interviews.
 
516! 130/129/130/127
I got a 517 on the scored practice test-- so it seems like it is a pretty accurate diagnostic tool!
 
CARS has always been my weakness. I tried doing 2 passages a day leading up to the exam. Though, I ended up bombing CARS on the actual exam. On the practice scored AAMC exam I also did poorly, but it was my highest score on the unscored sample test...
So, tips on how to improve on CARS score? Can you direct me to specific links/threads that really helped you guys improve on scores? Thank you so much!
 
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New user on SDN and need your advice!
Should I retake?
502 - 128/121/127/126

CARS has always been my weakness. I tried doing 2 passages a day leading up to the exam. Though, I ended up bombing CARS on the actual exam. On the practice scored AAMC exam I also did poorly, but it was my highest score on the unscored sample test...
So, tips on how to improve on CARS score? Can you direct me to specific links/threads that really helped you guys improve on scores? Thank you so much!
I suggest you do. Looks like you are invested enough to put in the work for a better score. Take more tests and do more problems. Get that 121 UP fam.
 
Also, I would like to make a HUGE shout out to @aldol16. If it was not for him, I would not have scored what I did.

Thank you aldol16 for your contributions to the question section! :clap::bow::highfive:

I'm sorry that you didn't score as high as your practice FLs but I do hope that you have the score you need to apply to your dream schools!
 
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My dream school is my local state school ( which is in my hometown ) and its average mcat is around 505-506 lol

Once again ,thank you man. I really mean it

care to PM which school that is? I'm from Florida as well so I am just wondering because I am applying to all our state schools as well
 
pretty disappointed

507 - 130/123/124/130

knew B/B was gonna be bad, but not sure how i did so bad in CARS. First time test taker, but a non-trad student. Dont really have time to wait a year. Should i still try to apply?
 
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Hello,

Also April test taker here. I got 510, 127/127/128/128. I have a 3.2 gpa. I am a Washington state resident and UW is my dream school. Should I retake and wait to apply for next cycle? Any advice would be appreciated. :)

Don't retake, the gpa is more of an issue than anything. 510 is a solid score.
 
Very disappointed in myself, scored a 508. Pretty even breakdown. GPA is above a 3.8. Is this a death sentence for MD schools?
 
Got a 517... 130/126/130/131. This was 3 points lower than my scored FL (520) but I'll take it! CARS was 2 points lower than what I had been getting on some of my practice material, but CARS always varies for me. Congrats everyone!
 
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Very disappointed in myself, scored a 508. Pretty even breakdown. GPA is above a 3.8. Is this a death sentence for MD schools?

Depends on a few things. Was your undergrad institution competitive? Are your extracurriculars many and in-depth with leadership positions and healthcare goodness? Do you have strong LORs? Is your 3.8 your science GPA or overall GPA? Did you take upper-level science classes?

Probably you will be fine and should just apply as-is.
 
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505, 124/125/127/129..not the best score, wish I could have done better but I'll keep my hopes up! Congrats everyone :)
 
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Would you guys say that CARS passages on the real MCAT are harder than the AAMC FL (scored)? English is my second language and I did around 60% on the sample test, but did terrible on the AAMC scored (found passages to be really hard)?
It would be great if you guys could help. I will be taking my mcat in August (was planning on June 2nd, but really need to improve that CARS)!!!!
 
Well the CARS on the real one didn't seem that bad while I was doing it, but I did worse than I usually do. It's usually my best section, but it was my worst (127) on the real deal.
 
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Would you guys say that CARS passages on the real MCAT are harder than the AAMC FL (scored)? English is my second language and I did around 60% on the sample test, but did terrible on the AAMC scored (found passages to be really hard)?
It would be great if you guys could help. I will be taking my mcat in August (was planning on June 2nd, but really need to improve that CARS)!!!!

I felt the CARS passages on the the real test were harder than the AAMC scored but that could have just been due to the topics of the passages. There were a couple passages on the real exam that I thought were a little harder and required some re-reading but the rest of it was pretty comparable to the AAMC scored.
 
For what it's worth, I always did well on CARS on my practice tests. Practice AAMC FL was 130 on scored, 85% unscored. I thought the real CARS was about the same difficulty and was expecting a 129+. Ended up with a 125, my worst section. So I have no advice unfortunately :(
 
Still can't believe it's over.. I scored in the 67th percentile (504) and a 505 is the 68th percentile, which was my initial goal. Story of my life! However, I was told by a physician on the selection committee for my in-state program to look more into the biological section because that's what they focus on most. Have any of you all heard anything similar?

On a sidenote, I thought a 504 was a 27 and my initial goal was to score in the 28+ range (that's competitive for my in-state program). Turns out that the 67th percentile was a 28 on the old scale! I guess it still worked out!

Congratulations to everyone again and best of luck as we all begin to apply!
 
Still can't believe it's over.. I scored in the 67th percentile (504) and a 505 is the 68th percentile, which was my initial goal. Story of my life! However, I was told by a physician on the selection committee for my in-state program to look more into the biological section because that's what they focus on most. Have any of you all heard anything similar?

Do they focus on B/B more than CARS???
 
Do they focus on B/B more than CARS???
From what he told me (it could specifically be for my in-state school), the overall score was obviously important, but that the B/B section was more important than any of the other sections. He said if that score was good and the others were average, then you had a good chance at an interview. I'm interested to see though if that's just for that program or if that seems to be a common theme for other programs. For an example, he was fine with my 504 because of the fact that my B/B score was in the 80th percentile.
 
Hey guys, I'm trying to decide whether or not I need to retake the mcat. Here is the breakdown 125/128/125/129 (507 total) (chem/CARS/bio/psych). I'm upset about the science scores. here's a little of my background
gpa 3.83 , science gpa 3.7
research assistant for 2 years (orthopedics), co-authored 3 papers, presented at international conference
Research assistant in college as well
strong LOR's
shadowing>200 hrs
1 yr volunteering at children's hospital (200hrs)

I am happy to go D.O. route. I was wondering if I'm competitive for D.O. schools with these scores? Am I at all competitive for M.D. ?
Also, I don't want to skip this round because I'm pushing 30 and would like to move forward with my life


Thanks for the advice and please be kind but honest
 
what did you use to study and how did you study? doesn't make sense for you to get those scores unless theres an issue with how you studied
 
I did the kaplan course. My gen bio class was a while ago which probably contributed. I did major in psychology which explains the high psych score. I may have gotten bogged down in content review instead of doing enough practice problems. I studied about 30 hrs a week for 3 mos. I knew I the chem section was going to be a problem but I cannot explain the bio score, i was really shocked by it
 
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