The Official August 1, 2014 MCAT Thread

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Ugh, bad day. I got a 9/11/10 (30), and am hoping to retake in January (didn't study very long before the first time), but it seems like a lot of people have signed up already. There doesn't seem to be any slots left in my preferred locations (I don't have a car). Should I sign up anyways and hope that people will drop (i.e. is there a high probability of that happening)?
Although 30 is a fair score, I am concerned because my GPA isn't the greatest and other aspects of my application are somewhat lackluster at this point in time.
 
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Test Date: 08/01/2014
FL AAMC Average: I retook some of the tests; ranged from 31-36
Post-test expected score: 28-32
Actual Score: ( PS / V / BS): (11/11/11)=33!

MCAT is a rough exam full of sleepless nights tossing and turning. I put my all into this exam, to say the least. I'm glad I can turn and say farewell. I DO suggest retaking tests you have already taken, and Berkeley Review literally saves lives (or figuratively).
 
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Test date: August 1, 2014
AAMC average: I never actually calculated this but I would say 32-33. My scores ranged from 31-34.
Post test prediction: no idea!
Actual score: 11/11/11 (33)
Yay! So happy for a balanced score and to finally be done with this beast!!
 
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It is a little bit odd to see so many people scoring below their averages on this day, especially considering this is SDN. The scaling seems a bit off.
 
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Test date: August 1, 2014
FL AAMC Average: 29-33
Post test prediction: 28-30
Actual score: (PS/V/BS): (12/9/14) = 35!

First time back in January 2014 was (11/6/9) = 26.

From Canada here! I'm completely flabbergasted at my score. 35 was a rung on the ladder that I never even imagined for a second I would climb onto. My practice verbal scores were also fluctuating between 6-8. Sometimes I'd get the rare 9. Still not a competitive verbal score, but it met my personal best I suppose? And to add to everyone else's comments, I agree this test is really unpredictable. I felt really crappy about my performance right after my test.
 
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I'm still really confused by my score...a 34 with a 15/7/12.....how does this happen? I always knew verbal wasn't my money maker, but this is just weird. I'm not sure if I should be happy or relieved or disappointed or what
 
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BeachBlondie said:
The scores on this exam don't feel valid. Where are our high scorers? Why doesn't there seem to be a bell curve representation from everyone's results (as the AAMC constructs with the scaled system)? Why did a few of us score so far below our average?
Click to expand...

I don't think a sample size of 5 or so people on this forum is representative of the entire test taking population...Some people overachieve and some people underachieve and some people nearly match their practice exams. It's just like any other MCAT.
 
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Asparagoose said:
I don't think a sample size of 5 or so people on this forum is representative of the entire test taking population...Some people overachieve and some people underachieve and some people nearly match their practice exams. It's just like any other MCAT.
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I was going to say the same thing. Also, much fewer people have been posting their scores for the Aug 1/2 MCATs relative to other dates, so the sample size is way too small. There are only 230 overall responses on this thread. There are some recent MCATs - August 7, 15, 21 - that seem to have significantly more activity (I think one of them already has 2,000 posts) so it seems like the sample size for this test is too small on SDN.
 
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Asparagoose said:
I'm still really confused by my score...a 34 with a 15/7/12.....how does this happen? I always knew verbal wasn't my money maker, but this is just weird. I'm not sure if I should be happy or relieved or disappointed or what
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You think you should be disappointed with a 15 on one of the sections? I'm jealous.
 
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BeachBlondie said:
HA! I got the exact same breakdown 🙂 4 points below my average 🙁
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hey congrats!!
thou its below your average tht doesnt matter!
you worked full-time and you aced it! GOOD for you! I'm proud of you!
i wud die for your score! congrats on the 30!

EDIT: right now all I'm praying is that I didnt get a score below 30. But I keep feeling like I got in the low 20s or worse teens... with a V score of 6 or below...
oh my... thinking about my score just gives me shivers...
 
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BeachBlondie said:
Thanks? It's 4.3 points below my average.... and I don't have a strong GPA. This application cycle is going to be so rough...
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dont worry -- I'm sure you will do well
i wish you all the luck!
good job you studied hard and deserved it! congrats!
and 30 is a good score and you can do it!
 
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Jetpuff05 said:
Test Date: 08/01/2014
FL AAMC Average: ~35
Post-test expected score: 33-36
Actual Score: ( PS / V / BS): (13/9/14)

Needed an 11 in Verbal reasoning to make the minimum Verbal cutoff for my #1 choice school.
Happy with the overall, but bummed about the verbal score.
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thats an awesome score!!! CONGRATS!!!!!
 
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Asparagoose said:
Test Date: 08/01/2014
FL AAMC Average: No idea. Retaking for the third time after a 29 and a 28. Just used TBR for PS, EK for VR, and EK/TBR for BS.
Post-test expected score: (12-15/8-9/10-12) (30-36)...a 32 was my best guess
Actual Score: ( PS / V / BS): (15/7/12)...34

All I can say is I hate verbal.
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verbal is just horribly hard to improve upon!
your sciences are just solid thou!!
are you planning on rewriting?
 
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acemcatthissummer said:
hey congrats!!
thou its below your average tht doesnt matter!
you worked full-time and you aced it! GOOD for you! I'm proud of you!
i wud die for your score! congrats on the 30!

EDIT: right now all I'm praying is that I didnt get a score below 30. But I keep feeling like I got in the low 20s or worse teens... with a V score of 6 or below...
oh my... thinking about my score just gives me shivers...
Click to expand...

Ha! Thanks for being encouraging 🙂

I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this year will be "interesting": 28-year old applicant, low-ish GPA, decent MCAT, outstanding EC's and research, superb letters of rec. It's going to get ugly before it gets better.
 
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BeachBlondie said:
Ha! Thanks for being encouraging 🙂

I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this year will be "interesting": 28-year old applicant, low-ish GPA, decent MCAT, outstanding EC's and research, superb letters of rec. It's going to get ugly before it gets better.
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If you have outstanding ECs and superb LORs then you absolutely deserve to get in to med school. I hope everything works out.
 
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BeachBlondie said:
Let us hope that the admissions committees share your attitude 😉

You applying, as well?
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I'm actually applying next year. I'm going to be graduating in the spring so I'll be taking a gap year. I took the August 21st test, hoping it works out okay.
 
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sharkbyte said:
I'm actually applying next year. I'm going to be graduating in the spring so I'll be taking a gap year. I took the August 21st test, hoping it works out okay.
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how come you are not applying this cycle?
You already wrote mcat so why not just apply?
i think you should apply -- you never know you might just get in next year and wont have to waste another year.
 
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Jetpuff05 said:
Test Date: 08/01/2014
FL AAMC Average: ~35
Post-test expected score: 33-36
Actual Score: ( PS / V / BS): (13/9/14)

Needed an 11 in Verbal reasoning to make the minimum Verbal cutoff for my #1 choice school.
Happy with the overall, but bummed about the verbal score.
Click to expand...

if you're thinking of retaking I'd be careful. With a score as high as a 36 alot of schools think it says something about your personality if you do. I briefly thought about retaking because of my verbal too and I thought my advisor was about to smack me for it =p
 
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MsSuperPanda said:
Test date: August 1, 2014
FL AAMC Average: 37.25 (36-39)
Post test prediction: 36+, but really no idea
Actual score: (PS/V/BS): (14/14/12) = 40!

I have no clue how I pulled this score off, since I hadn't ever gotten that high on verbal before.
Click to expand...

I know this is hard to judge but did you feel like you missed about the same # of questions as you did on the FLs?

Everyone says the real AAMC is harder but has a more lenient curve but is that really true?
 
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Test Date: 08/01/2014
FL AAMC Average: 29-33
Post-test expected score: 30ish
Actual Score: ( 11 /11 /12): 34

my first post on SDN! I was not expecting this score, such a pleasant surprise
 
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justadream said:
I know this is hard to judge but did you feel like you missed about the same # of questions as you did on the FLs?

Everyone says the real AAMC is harder but has a more lenient curve but is that really true?
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I honestly had no idea how many questions I got wrong. I felt like I was guessing a fair bit on the FLs anyway, so it was hard to say. I think the real AAMC usually feels harder, especially because of the stress. I felt like I probably got as many wrong as I usually did, but I wasn't sure at all. If the actual test is very hard, it seems to have a more favorable curve, but I found that it's way more likely that one section is hard and the rest are alright.
 
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Just wondering...if this wasn't the first time taking the MCAT for you, do you feel that this particular version was significantly more difficult than the previous one you took? One of my friends that took it with me (it was his third time) feels that this version was way more difficult than any version he's taken.

Anyone else feel the same? I am retaking next week (I continued studying even after August 1st) and while I am getting expected scores on my practices, I feel kind of "traumatized" from the experience on the actual thing and how significantly different my overall score was. Mainly verbal (which I have been practicing religiously)
 
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