The Official August 22, 2013 MCAT Thread

[Person0715]

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Hey everyone! With just a little less than 2 months to go, I am wondering why this thread hasn't been made yet.

Is anyone else here signed up for the 8/22 MCAT?

I'm following the SN2ed schedule and I can't wait to be done with content review. I'm excited to finally take an AAMC to see if I've been studying correctly these last 2 months.

 

[inycepoo]

That's interesting, because I would emphasize that studying with the understanding that material should NOT be conceptualized as "high-" or "low-yield" is important.

They're only saying that 'cause they "high-yield" stuff they studied didn't how up. They'd think a lot differently if the "low-yield" stuff they didn't study showed up all over the place.

 

[inycepoo]

Wow dose typos doe but idgaf

 

[sunflower18]

Honestly I don't think there was an unexpected distribution of material. There were very few things I had never seen before. I thought that BS was very representative of AAMC 10 and 11.

 

[athockey7]

Avg - 30 (range from 27 to 32)
Prediction - 29
Actual - 31 (10/10/11)


pretty happy
wish i did better in verbal cuz i thought i killed it but...

hopefully it should be good for a few md acceptances next cycle

 

[Hemorrage]

I'm gonna go against the grain here and say that most of the AAMC test materials are pretty useless for the current exams. At least thats how i felt. I'm gonna write more about this later but in summary: use TBR for Orgo, Gen Chem, and Physics. Use Mcat-Review.org for biology.

 

[proster]

.

 

[gettheleadout]

I'm gonna go against the grain here and say that most of the AAMC test materials are pretty useless for the current exams. At least thats how i felt. I'm gonna write more about this later but in summary: use TBR for Orgo, Gen Chem, and Physics. Use Mcat-Review.org for biology.

Everyone's opinion is valid, but I felt that the AAMC FL's were extremely similar to and helpful for my exam (8/16/13).

 

[neurotroph]

I posted my strategy in the 30+ thread in case anyone's interested.

I would say I'm officially done with MCAT talk, but I'm worried about possible score expiration and whether the new MCAT will affect anything since I'll be applying alongside people who have taken it.

 

[Shinobiz11]

Planning to retake in January. Need the most help on physics and chem (inorgo and orgo). Any tips on study materials. I didn't like the way EK did review. It would explain something and then just give practice problems out of nowhere which it didn't show how to do.

 

[neurotroph]

Berkeley Review is your best bet for physics/chem. Good review and good practice problems.

 

[kingbob128]

Berkeley is the way to go for the PS. I also found the passages in the TPR science workbook to be helpful

 

[tuhtles]

ive read numerous tips on verbal, yet no avail

how does one improve verbal? am i doomed for failure yet again in retake?

PS: 12 (on lower end of average)
BS: 13 (my average)
VR: let's just say it ruined my overall score as it always does but i actually thought i did relatively well after it..wtfffffff i guess not...

overall I scored lower than my AAMC averages.

i will have to retake most likely in the end of january because of verbal. my greatest nightmare came true -____________-


halp :'(((((((((

p.s. congrats to those who achieved their desired scores!

 

[athockey7]

ive read numerous tips on verbal, yet no avail

how does one improve verbal? am i doomed for failure yet again in retake?

PS: 12 (on lower end of average)
BS: 13 (my average)
VR: let's just say it ruined my overall score as it always does but i actually thought i did relatively well after it..wtfffffff i guess not...

overall I scored lower than my AAMC averages.

i will have to retake because of verbal. my greatest nightmare came true -____________-



p.s. congrats to those who achieve their desired scores!

TPRH verbal is great if u have not done it yet
try to jot a word or two down for each paragraph so u force urself to conceptualize the paragraph. then it makes recall easier and u understand it better.
it helped me for sure

gl bro
halp

 

[tuhtles]

TPRH verbal is great if u have not done it yet
try to jot a word or two down for each paragraph so u force urself to conceptualize the paragraph. then it makes recall easier and u understand it better.
it helped me for sure

gl bro
halp

thank youuuuu !
sadly, ive used all TPRH verbal except for a couple of online passages.
from now up until january i will really try to improve verbal. and towards the end i will review all the sciences, which i am much more comfortable with .. but sole focus for now = verbal.

obviously it's gonna vary from person to person, but how likely do you all think it would be to improve verbal from now to january..?

i mean improvements from 7/8 to 9/10 and to 10/11 ish?? possible? or not??! 😕 i am willing to put in effort although this semester = REALLY busy.. meh. It's frustrating to know that if only my verbal were as strong as my other sections i would be solid and a super happy camper

 

[WarDaddy]

I would buy the EK verbal book and the EK 101 VR passage book and follow their instructions to the letter. It sucks at first, at second, ... ---> at fifth, BUT eventually your scores will increase. Other than the AAMC practice tests VR sections this is the next best thing in my opinion.

Also, everybody is different. Find one thing and stick to it and keep after it! You're obviously very smart... and getting a 10 or so in VR would give you a top-notch score overall!

Stay positive and good luck.

 

[Person0715]

ive read numerous tips on verbal, yet no avail

how does one improve verbal? am i doomed for failure yet again in retake?

PS: 12 (on lower end of average)
BS: 13 (my average)
VR: let's just say it ruined my overall score as it always does but i actually thought i did relatively well after it..wtfffffff i guess not...

overall I scored lower than my AAMC averages.

i will have to retake most likely in the end of january because of verbal. my greatest nightmare came true -____________-


halp :'(((((((((

p.s. congrats to those who achieved their desired scores!

Sucks to hear about your verbal. Verbal is just so frustrating. Just keep at it!!

 

[hopefuluncdoc]

ive read numerous tips on verbal, yet no avail

how does one improve verbal? am i doomed for failure yet again in retake?

PS: 12 (on lower end of average)
BS: 13 (my average)
VR: let's just say it ruined my overall score as it always does but i actually thought i did relatively well after it..wtfffffff i guess not...

overall I scored lower than my AAMC averages.

i will have to retake most likely in the end of january because of verbal. my greatest nightmare came true -____________-


halp :'(((((((((

p.s. congrats to those who achieved their desired scores!

So I don't know if this will work for you, but verbal was my highest section so maybe you could try my suggestion? I did do Kaplan and AAMC practice verbal things, but after a few I felt like my eyes would hazy and I couldn't pay attention anymore. I love to read so instead of doing practice passages, I would just pick up a book or go online and read the news. It was much more enjoyable. After reading for a few minutes, I would see if I could sum up what I just read and make up 'mock' questions on it like: what was the tone, what did the author imply, etc. And then if there were words I didn't understand, I would try to figure them out using context clues and then look it up to see if I was right. It's an active approach and takes a lot of personal dedication, but I found it much more interesting and fun.

 

[wellcutcookies]

11 PS: 11 VR: 10 BS = 32

i'm very disappointed and seriously considering retaking. if i avg all of my prac exams from aamc and TBR (which is about 15 exams...), my avg is prob a 32.... but, i got a 34 on aamc 11, and i also thought that the BS section and VR section of actual mcat was very easy.... VR is right on my average/high-side of average. BS is, sadly, average...but i thought that the actual mcat being so orgo heavy would be beneficial: clearly not. and PS... def a little below average. i got a 13 on PS section i think for aamc 10 and 11.

i was kind of hoping for a 35, but it's too bad =(

 

[Person0715]

11 PS: 11 VR: 10 BS = 32

i'm very disappointed and seriously considering retaking. if i avg all of my prac exams from aamc and TBR (which is about 15 exams...), my avg is prob a 32.... but, i got a 34 on aamc 11, and i also thought that the BS section and VR section of actual mcat was very easy.... VR is right on my average/high-side of average. BS is, sadly, average...but i thought that the actual mcat being so orgo heavy would be beneficial: clearly not. and PS... def a little below average. i got a 13 on PS section i think for aamc 10 and 11.

i was kind of hoping for a 35, but it's too bad =(

What was your AAMC FL average? If you scored around your average, I would advise against a retake. As you said, the VR you got on the real thing was a bit on the higher side of your past VR sections. Upon retake, that score will either stay the same or go down. It can also go up, but the chances are slim. 32 is good enough for many US medical schools.

 

[doy]

WELL GUYS. verbal shafted me. I got a 6. Not surprised cus I freaked the fu$% out on the first two passages. Also english is my third language... but shiyet i don't even see how I can improve.

13 in PS(haha skull?!)
9 I Bio (Which i thought i killed since I love Ochem..but i guess not)

#gonnahavetoretake

 

[sunflower18]

WELL GUYS. verbal shafted me. I got a 6. Not surprised cus I freaked the fu$% out on the first two passages. Also english is my third language... but shiyet i don't even see how I can improve.

13 in PS(haha skull?!)
9 I Bio (Which i thought i killed since I love Ochem..but i guess not)

#gonnahavetoretake

Awwww 🙁 nice PS score, but sucks about the verbal!!! I did worse than my average on VR too... I think the curve was stiff.

 

[NVdisG]

Hi everyone. Long time lurker since I started studying in May.. So excited to be done with this.

Actual Score (PS/V/BS): 42 (14/14/14)
Predicted Score (PS/V/BS): 35
Prep Materials (Content/Practice Materials and FLs Used): SN2ed
AAMC Average (PS/V/BS): 37.75
Feelings/Comments/Tips: Very grateful to have done so well. Its all paid off 🙂 Can answer any specific questions but don't really have any generic tips besides follow the sn2ed schedule and really devote your summer to solely MCAT studying (but have some balance to your life too)

 

[Person0715]

Hi everyone. Long time lurker since I started studying in May.. So excited to be done with this.

Actual Score (PS/V/BS): 42 (14/14/14)
Predicted Score (PS/V/BS): 35
Prep Materials (Content/Practice Materials and FLs Used): SN2ed
AAMC Average (PS/V/BS): 37.75
Feelings/Comments/Tips: Very grateful to have done so well. Its all paid off 🙂 Can answer any specific questions but don't really have any generic tips besides follow the sn2ed schedule and really devote your summer to solely MCAT studying (but have some balance to your life too)

Wow, congrats on the awesome score. Can't believe you pulled a 14 on that awful verbal. I was freaking out about verbal up until the last moments before score release.

 

[WarDaddy]

Hi everyone. Long time lurker since I started studying in May.. So excited to be done with this.

Actual Score (PS/V/BS): 42 (14/14/14)
Predicted Score (PS/V/BS): 35
Prep Materials (Content/Practice Materials and FLs Used): SN2ed
AAMC Average (PS/V/BS): 37.75
Feelings/Comments/Tips: Very grateful to have done so well. Its all paid off 🙂 Can answer any specific questions but don't really have any generic tips besides follow the sn2ed schedule and really devote your summer to solely MCAT studying (but have some balance to your life too)

Is this real? Hahahaha.

If you aren't just screwing around this is amazing! Good stuff man, goooood stuff 👍

 

[gettheleadout]

Hi everyone. Long time lurker since I started studying in May.. So excited to be done with this.

Actual Score (PS/V/BS): 42 (14/14/14)
Predicted Score (PS/V/BS): 35
Prep Materials (Content/Practice Materials and FLs Used): SN2ed
AAMC Average (PS/V/BS): 37.75
Feelings/Comments/Tips: Very grateful to have done so well. Its all paid off 🙂 Can answer any specific questions but don't really have any generic tips besides follow the sn2ed schedule and really devote your summer to solely MCAT studying (but have some balance to your life too)

*glances at post count*

What were your AAMC FL scores?

 

[inycepoo]

*glances at post count*

What were your AAMC FL scores?

Idk the validity, but his WAMC post is rather modest and has potential to be legit. That's one step towards not being a troll haha

 

[gettheleadout]

Idk the validity, but his WAMC post is rather modest and has potential to be legit. That's one step towards not being a troll haha

Yeah I saw that, I'm asking as well because a 37.75 average means he/she either had an upward trend across the AAMC FL's, or got really lucky jumping 4-5 points.

edit: oh god, or we're really dumb because the username is "envy this G"

 

[inycepoo]

OH SNAP then imo OP deserves at least 5 troll posts for coming up with a clutch handle like dat.

Pero like srsly that's a great handle LOLOL

 

[NVdisG]

Yeah I saw that, I'm asking as well because a 37.75 average means he/she either had an upward trend across the AAMC FL's, or got really lucky jumping 4-5 points.

edit: oh god, or we're really dumb because the username is "envy this G"

from AAMC 3 to AAMC 11 sequentially

37 35 38 38 39 37 40 38

 

[NVdisG]

Yeah I saw that, I'm asking as well because a 37.75 average means he/she either had an upward trend across the AAMC FL's, or got really lucky jumping 4-5 points.

edit: oh god, or we're really dumb because the username is "envy this G"

from AAMC 3 to AAMC 11 sequentially

37 35 38 38 39 37 40 38

 

[gettheleadout]

from AAMC 3 to AAMC 11 sequentially

37 35 38 38 39 37 40 38

Right, so you got really lucky then. Well congrats!

 

[sugarcrash56]

Right, so you got really lucky then. Well congrats!

Hey man honestly I don't want to take up too much of your time but I've been browsing these forums a lot lately and I was just wondering if being a negative douche bag comes naturally to you or if it's something you've developed over time. No disrespect, just genuinely curious!

 

[inycepoo]

Hey man honestly I don't want to take up too much of your time but I've been browsing these forums a lot lately and I was just wondering if being a negative douche bag comes naturally to you or if it's something you've developed over time. No disrespect, just genuinely curious!

Uh, you prissy much? Getting +5 over one's AAMC average is extremely lucky, whether or not you or OP wants to admit it.

Or are you just mad you only scored your AAMC average? (Like the majority of people do.) If so, welcome to the club and stfu about douche bags because you're the only one around in these recent posts ITT.

 

[neurotroph]

It does come off as douchey knowing that they got the same score (if this person's not trolling).

 

[inycepoo]

It does come off as douchey knowing that they got the same score (if this person's not trolling).

Damn, you guys are way too uptight. How do you go about your lives being so easily offended by everything? Do you rage every 40 minutes IRL?

+5 from AAMC average is so extremely lucky, words fail. OP should be thanking his God if he has one, and probably tell us what the lotto numbers are gonna be this week (42, perhaps, for the Power Ball?). Especially at this score range, where he probably only got like 4-5 more questions right to shoot past his average. That's not luck?

GTLO got the same score, but he averaged in the 40s all the way through. Big difference, but still an irrelevant point in this context.

Being douchey would go something like: "yo you're dumb you don't deserve a 42; I do because I'm G like that," which was definitely not GTLO's point. Making an observation and commenting on phenomena does not imply any judgment whatsoever. I believe OP got tremendously lucky as well. Does that make me a douche? (I got a 36, in case it matters to anyone 😕)

Y'all need to work on your reasoning skills and loosen up a bit, damn.

 

[gettheleadout]

It does come off as douchey knowing that they got the same score (if this person's not trolling).

Inycepoo's right (thanks inycepoo), that's not the point. Anyone reading should know or be made aware that it is not common to go from those scores to a 42 on the real thing, and luck (at some level) was almost certainly the factor at play. I had already questioned whether that was the case, and I was just confirming such after getting the answer to my question. It's not like seeing a 37.75 avg to 42 jump doesn't raise questions; I asked them and drew my conclusion.

 

[The Helpful Aye Aye]

Oh! The linear jerk begins!

"Lucky" is a useless judgement if you don't know more about the person. You guys often discuss practice test scores on the assumption that having X average will cause you to have X score, when in fact it is a correlation. People with high averages and low performance could have had their belly rubbed and feet massaged while they were taking them, which enhanced their score. Some people work better under real pressure. The conclusion that the 42 guy was, singularly, "lucky" comes off as insulting even if, upon being called out on it, you say it was not intended that way. You shouldn't assume that that guy's 42 is any more or less lucky that GTLO. Yes, luck plays a factor in being lined up with a test that plays to your strengths, but if any of us were to say GTLO was lucky inceypoo would throw a hissy fit whether or not GTLO actually cares about that remark.

Thousands of people score above a 40 and the majority of them do not post on this small, insignificant forum. -_-

 

[Person0715]

Oh! The linear jerk begins!

Thousands of people score above a 40 and the majority of them do not post on this small, insignificant forum. -_-

That's actually false. Only 0.5% of test takers every year get 40 or higher.

 

[neurotroph]

"Lucky" is a useless judgement if you don't know more about the person. You guys often discuss practice test scores on the assumption that having X average will cause you to have X score, when in fact it is a correlation. People with high averages and low performance could have had their belly rubbed and feet massaged while they were taking them, which enhanced their score. Some people work better under real pressure. The conclusion that the 42 guy was, singularly, "lucky" comes off as insulting even if, upon being called out on it, you say it was not intended that way. You shouldn't assume that that guy's 42 is any more or less lucky that GTLO. Yes, luck plays a factor in being lined up with a test that plays to your strengths, but if any of us were to say GTLO was lucky inceypoo would throw a hissy fit whether or not GTLO actually cares about that remark.

My thoughts exactly. It just wasn't necessary to say.

(If this person's a troll, they have succeeded.)

 

[The Helpful Aye Aye]

That's actually false. Only 0.5% of test takers every year get 40 or higher.

Didn't say every year, did I? =P

 

[NVdisG]

I understand that there is some skepticism when a new poster comes on this thread while all of you have been a community since this thread was started and I post about getting a very good score. I don't think it was solely luck because I am a good test taker and my practice tests were taken while I was chilling at home thinking about the next breaking bad episode. The pressure of the test really helped and I'm glad I did well but I do think that the guy with the patrick star is a little unhappy that he's not the only one with a 42 on SDN now. Sorry bud! Adcoms won't be factoring your AAMC average into consideration so its not like it matters.

 

[inycepoo]

I understand that there is some skepticism when a new poster comes on this thread while all of you have been a community since this thread was started and I post about getting a very good score. I don't think it was solely luck because I am a good test taker and my practice tests were taken while I was chilling at home thinking about the next breaking bad episode. The pressure of the test really helped and I'm glad I did well but I do think that the guy with the patrick star is a little unhappy that he's not the only one with a 42 on SDN now. Sorry bud! Adcoms won't be factoring your AAMC average into consideration so its not like it matters.

Yo get outta here, son. GTLO and I have seen more 40+ scores than you know on these forums and aren't in the least bothered by any of it, even yours. Don't flatter yourself. You ain't that special to us.

Calling you lucky isn't an insult. It's a compliment. Luck is in every 40+ score no matter if you admit it or not. So get real and quit being so uptight about things.

 

[NVdisG]

lol ok

 

[The Helpful Aye Aye]

Yo get outta here, son. GTLO and I have seen more 40+ scores than you know on these forums and aren't in the least bothered by any of it, even yours. Don't flatter yourself. You ain't that special to us.

Calling you lucky isn't an insult. It's a compliment. Luck is in every 40+ score no matter if you admit it or not. So get real and quit being so uptight about things.

Look out, we've got a bad ass over here!

 

[Person0715]

Didn't say every year, did I? =P

Fair enough.

 

[Copernicium]

Damn, you guys are way too uptight. How do you go about your lives being so easily offended by everything? Do you rage every 40 minutes IRL?

Y'all need to work on your reasoning skills and loosen up a bit, damn.

If multiple users on multiple occasions comment about your poor attitude, doesn't that say something about YOU, and not them? 🙄

 

[inycepoo]

Hey man honestly I don't want to take up too much of your time but I've been browsing these forums a lot lately and I was just wondering if being a negative douche bag comes naturally to you or if it's something you've developed over time. No disrespect, just genuinely curious!

It does come off as douchey knowing that they got the same score (if this person's not trolling).

"Lucky" is a useless judgement if you don't know more about the person. You guys often discuss practice test scores on the assumption that having X average will cause you to have X score, when in fact it is a correlation. People with high averages and low performance could have had their belly rubbed and feet massaged while they were taking them, which enhanced their score. Some people work better under real pressure. The conclusion that the 42 guy was, singularly, "lucky" comes off as insulting even if, upon being called out on it, you say it was not intended that way. You shouldn't assume that that guy's 42 is any more or less lucky that GTLO. Yes, luck plays a factor in being lined up with a test that plays to your strengths, but if any of us were to say GTLO was lucky inceypoo would throw a hissy fit whether or not GTLO actually cares about that remark.

I understand that there is some skepticism when a new poster comes on this thread while all of you have been a community since this thread was started and I post about getting a very good score. I don't think it was solely luck because I am a good test taker and my practice tests were taken while I was chilling at home thinking about the next breaking bad episode. The pressure of the test really helped and I'm glad I did well but I do think that the guy with the patrick star is a little unhappy that he's not the only one with a 42 on SDN now. Sorry bud! Adcoms won't be factoring your AAMC average into consideration so its not like it matters.

If multiple users on multiple occasions comment about your poor attitude, doesn't that say something about YOU, and not them? 🙄

Um, read more carefully? Only one of the above posts mentions me, and even then it was indirectly. No one had beef with me ITT until I started supporting the guy they all had beef against. There's only one single post on page 24 ITT directed directly towards me, and it's not a "comment about [my] poor attitude" as you mean it. (Actually, I'm not even sure what notajock2day means by "bad ass." It could be a reference to my choice of diction in the post he quoted, a quip about my tone, or just a meaningless post.)

So no, it doesn't say anything about me. Nice try, though.

P.S. The fact that you think that my calling other people "uptight" is a reflection of poor attitude places you directly into said category of people who are wound up way too tight about things posted online. So thanks for helping to support my point!

 

[The Helpful Aye Aye]

Um, read more carefully? Only one of the above posts mentions me, and even then it was indirectly. No one had beef with me ITT until I started supporting the guy they all had beef against. There isn't a single post on page 24 ITT that is a "comment about [my] poor attitude."

So no, it doesn't say anything about me. Nice try, though.

Ok. You win the internet. Here's a skateboard made out of a sandwich.

But seriously, this has nothing to do with our test. Go outside and play before the weather starts to turn.

 

[Copernicium]

Um, read more carefully? Only one of the above posts mentions me, and even then it was indirectly. No one had beef with me ITT until I started supporting the guy they all had beef against. There's only one single post on page 24 ITT directed directly towards me, and it's not a "comment about [my] poor attitude" as you mean it. (Actually, I'm not even sure what notajock2day means by "bad ass." It could be a reference to my choice of diction in the post he quoted, a quip about my tone, or just a meaningless post.)

So no, it doesn't say anything about me. Nice try, though.

P.S. The fact that you think that my calling other people "uptight" is a reflection of poor attitude places you directly into said category of people who are wound up way too tight about things posted online. So thanks for helping to support my point!

I'm not talking about solely on this thread. That's why i said "multiple occasions." Read more carefully?

EDIT: this is also in reference to gtlo, not just you

 

[inycepoo]

I'm not talking about solely on this thread. That's why i said "multiple occasions." Read more carefully?

EDIT: this is also in reference to gtlo, not just you

Oh, I read carefully, trust me. Too bad that doesn't change the fact that it didn't happen in this thread, which makes your point moot (i.e., it's irrelevant to this thread since it didn't happen, rendering your post close to meaningless).