The Official June 2015 MCAT Thread

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Caffein3 said:
I think buying the EK exams are a good idea. But more importantly, use the practice tests to determine your test taking strategies, and to build endurance and stamina. None of the 3rd party test companies have truly accurate representations of the FLs. If you want to read some user comments on the subject, I'd check out this link. http://www.reddit.com/r/Mcat/wiki/mcat2015faq/practiceexams
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Thank you for your response. That link is very useful. I did keep up with the comments of the April examinees. It seems the third party tests can only be used to build endurance, but won't be very helpful in predicting my scores. Maybe I will use the EK tests first, and then take the AAMC full length, as that is the only one which will tell me where I truly stand in terms of my score. Thanks again.
 
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Has anyone else taken the EK full lengths? What kinds of scores are you guys getting? I just finished up the first one and ended up with (71%, 75%, 78%, 83%). Haven't reviewed it yet, so I have no idea what kinds of mistakes I made. It is SO hard to stay focused through the entire thing. It was my first time taking a full length in semi-accurate testing conditions, and it is a constant battle to not lose focus. Like a lot of others, I'm also struggling to finish the first 2 sections in time, and finishing the last 2 (especially psych) with plenty of time left, but have zero motivation to go back and doublecheck answers. Absolutely too burnt out by the time I finish.

And does anyone know if they have an estimated conversion from raw score to scaled score?
 
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What practices sources are you people using for chem and physics? I know based on the april comments I feel is not that important but im scared to neglect it and then have tons of physics and chem in the exam.
 
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Yeah I was wondering that too. Score conversion for the EK FL exams anyone?

I got 56%, 76%, 73%, 76% for the EK FL#1. This is very disappointing since I scored 86%, 81%, 90%, 83% for the AAMC FL.
 
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Don't worry about conversions of scores. Just focus on improving. I know its frustrating to not know where you stand but thats a struggle we all have to deal with.

I am also looking to get more practice with physics. My conceptual understanding is strong, but my execution of formulation is not.
 
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I am thinking of switching to June, but can't check the seats since I am registered for May and it's so soon. Does anyone still see open seats for June in any states?
 
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sbook2 said:
I am thinking of switching to June, but can't check the seats since I am registered for May and it's so soon. Does anyone still see open seats for June in any states?
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You can check it even if you are registered.
 
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allantois said:
You can check it even if you are registered.
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I tried, but that option isn't even available! I had changed, my testing site before so I know how to do it, but now my homepage just has my current test registration info, with no option to see any seats at all. I am thinking it's because I am past the cancellation deadline for my current exam.

I would really appreciate it if someone could tell me if either June dates have open seats!
 
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Dang, you guys are doing really well on the EK exams(comparatively to me). Super demotivating haha. My scores on EK 1 were 40%, 75%, 60%, 60%. Chem/physics is absolutely killer for me
 
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sbook2 said:
I tried, but that option isn't even available! I had changed, my testing site before so I know how to do it, but now my homepage just has my current test registration info, with no option to see any seats at all. I am thinking it's because I am past the cancellation deadline for my current exam.

I would really appreciate it if someone could tell me if either June dates have open seats!
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I just checked. There are actually a lot of seats open for June dates in many states, so I think you will be fine 🙂
 
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I as gonna take it last week, but I wanted to give myself a couple other FL's so I can get used to the timing and endurance. I'm prob gonna take the AAMC FL next week though.
 
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I'm taking it at the end of next week after I take a couple more FLs for pacing. My plan is to review the crap outta it and then take more FLs for pacing and while using the bundle packs, TBR, and TPR passages for practice. And then I might do it again the week of our MCAT just for confidence and what not. I've been going through the outline and I wish I started this a while ago instead of just reading the books straight through. It's so much easier knowing what is actually being tested..
 
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June 19th reporting in. I set aside a few hours today to totally memorize the amino acid structures/classifications/abbreviations/letters. Hopefully that pays off. I've consistently scored above 90% on everything except CARS. Slow reader :/
 
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What practice problems are you guys using for biochemistry? I'm happy with my performance in verbal, general chemistry, physics, and biology in accordance to AAMC FL's...but after regurgitating biochemistry over and over, I just feel like I need practice problems! Kaplan's practice problems aren't great.. I'm kinda just confused overall with biochemistry. I've studied the metabolic pathways to death but A LOT of the other sections seem more or less of what was already on the old mcat..

BTW registered for June 19th
 
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Maybe I'm just not looking at the right places, but I can't find the 3 Kaplan FL inluded with the book? I registered my book on the website.
 
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Happy 1 month anniversary until our June 20th test date 🙂 ! GET EXCITED
 
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how is the prep course?
is it worth it?
will it help achieve to get a good score
I am just worried that I put in all my time and real hard work and see no results
 
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WE OUT said:
how is the prep course?
is it worth it?
will it help achieve to get a good score
I am just worried that I put in all my time and real hard work and see no results
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Whatever MCAT score you receive will depend 95% on how much time and effort you put into your studying, and maybe 5% on which course you take, if any. There is no magic strategy that one course provides over another, and the quality of the course you take can be location-dependent. The biggest benefit of taking a course comes from the material they provide.
 
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Don't concern yourself with what choice you make in test prep. Regardless of who you are or how you learn, there is a low chance that one single test prep company is the "best" for you. Everyone learns differently and different test prep companies present materials in different ways. So if Altuis seems like a good deal in your area, then for for it! But remember, they will only give you the tools you need to succeed, its up to you if you want to work hard.
 
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WE OUT said:
how is the prep course?
is it worth it?
will it help achieve to get a good score
I am just worried that I put in all my time and real hard work and see no results
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We do offer a 14-day trial period so you can actually meet your tutor, set up 1-on-1 tutoring, attend class, etc. and still get a full refund if you don't like it. I can't say much else per SDN rules, but we'd be glad to answer your Altius-specific questions in the exhibitor forum.

In general terms, I'll strongly agree with mcatjelly that personal commitment and dedication is everything. The best tools in the world don't make you a craftsman. When investigating prep options you want to consider whether the tools provided can accelerate your own efforts in a meaningful way--whether its a book or a course. The percentage of your results accounted for by personal work vs. the advice and assistance of your mentor, or the benefits of a tool such as a book, depends on the quality of the mentor/tool. Close to 100% of the opinions and references on a site such as this are with respect to the general feelings students have developed over the years toward the big-box prep companies and the lecture format. Keep in mind that some programs such as us use a very different model from the traditional lecture course. The best mentor can never MAKE you succeed; but coaches, personal trainers, agents, etc. wouldn't exist in the market if self-guided was always best--the market/customer will decide. In fact...I think that is why I see a fairly strong movement against the lecture courses and in favor of self-study on SDN--students have decided the lecture "tool" isn't helping them, so its losing place in this particular market. If someone introduces a new model, that will be evaluated over time and may rock the boat...

Whatever you do, work hard. I've never had a student regret "taking my prep too seriously" or "investing too much personal effort." Students who pay the piper get the reward!
 
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The general concensus of old KAPLAN FLs is that the scores for the practice tests are inflated, and that the curves are generous.

Is it inflated for the new 2015 tests Kaplan created as well, or is it scaled appropriately now? ?

Has anyone had any experience with this?
 
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whoareyou said:
The general concensus of old KAPLAN FLs is that the scores for the practice tests are inflated, and that the curves are generous.

Is it inflated for the new 2015 tests Kaplan created as well, or is it scaled appropriately now? ?

Has anyone had any experience with this?
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From what I've seen the scores are all pretty rough.. I can only speak for TPR and say that it's quite hard.


You should also note that it would be hard for Kaplan to "inflate" the score as they don't really know the criteria for a good score!
 
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whoareyou said:
How so? Can you elaborate?
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They are way too detail oriented which is nothing like the AAMC tests. They will test you on minute details that AAMC would never expect you to know, you'll end up with like 50% correct, and then they'll curve the hell out of your score and tell you you're doing well. The actual MCAT is very application-based, so taking practice tests that require rote memorization isn't representative at all.
 
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rachiie01 said:
They are way too detail oriented which is nothing like the AAMC tests. They will test you on minute details that AAMC would never expect you to know, you'll end up with like 50% correct, and then they'll curve the hell out of your score and tell you you're doing well. The actual MCAT is very application-based, so taking practice tests that require rote memorization isn't representative at all.
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So in general if I get a 50% on kaplan and a 50% on aamc, my kaplan score will be higher? :s
 
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whoareyou said:
So in general if I get a 50% on kaplan and a 50% on aamc, my kaplan score will be higher? :s
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No one knows yet what the raw numbers will convert to on the actual MCAT, but this has been my impression. If you are scoring 50% on the Kaplan you may come out with a decent Kaplan-scaled score. If you are scoring 50% on the actual MCAT, well, I would probably void....

But I'm not saying the questions are crap because of their curve. Honestly, I could give two sh*ts about what my scaled score is on a practice test when no one knows the value of these numbers yet. I'm saying the tests are crap because they are nothing like the AAMC tests and learning how to take a Kaplan test well will likely not help you improve on the real MCAT.
 
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rachiie01 said:
No one knows yet what the raw numbers will convert to on the actual MCAT, but this has been my impression. If you are scoring 50% on the Kaplan you may come out with a decent Kaplan-scaled score. If you are scoring 50% on the actual MCAT, well, I would probably void....

But I'm not saying the questions are crap because of their curve. Honestly, I could give two sh*ts about what my scaled score is on a practice test when no one knows the value of these numbers yet. I'm saying the tests are crap because they are nothing like the AAMC tests and learning how to take a Kaplan test well will likely not help you improve on the real MCAT.
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Mm ok I haven't taken the Kaplam fl yet just their diagnostic and I noticed kaplan verbal is all about finding minute details in the passage
 
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mcatjelly said:
The biggest benefit of taking a course comes from the material they provide.
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I would say there's more to it than content with ANY of the courses: it's the dissection of the content so that you get to a correct answer more efficiently by either knowing the traps or knowing the content cold.

One of the comments above related to minutiae that Kaplan asked regarding a passage. I can tell you that as a Kaplan student, I don't read all that crap; but I know where to find it if asked.

Whether it is Princeton, Kaplan, EK, TPR, pick-your-favorite, they all have one goal: get the students who pay for the course a better grade than those that don't.

IF they did not focus on that, they'd go out of business. There is a reason the test prep companies make a @#$G of money 🙂
 
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Can't get over how frustrating this whole process can be sometimes...
I've done all my content review, I review anki, do practice passages, and sometimes I STILL get absolutely wrecked by a passage.
I know that I need to keep being confident (esp. because I've only done 3rd party material so far), but its very hard to when you feel like you've worked so hard and aren't getting this right still.

With that being said, still trucking on through! Gonna start official AAMC material next week and take the official exam !
 
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Caffein3 said:
Can't get over how frustrating this whole process can be sometimes...
I've done all my content review, I review anki, do practice passages, and sometimes I STILL get absolutely wrecked by a passage.
I know that I need to keep being confident (esp. because I've only done 3rd party material so far), but its very hard to when you feel like you've worked so hard and aren't getting this right still.

With that being said, still trucking on through! Gonna start official AAMC material next week and take the official exam !
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I have been in your same situation several times... I know its extremely frustrating but we just have to keep trucking along!

With that being said I am at the end of my content review and the passages at the end of EK books wreck me more than anything else and I am dreading taking the last few...
 
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cjulieth90 said:
Aamc material, next step cars book and princenton verbal hypelearning
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what is your thoughts on tprh verbal? I am using it as well but feel like EK101 is better due to TPRH being a little too straight forward and direct answers in passage
 
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I personally though it was a little bit more challenging...however right now Im working more with the next step passages... And well I feel like Im doing a little better in the aamcs, i just need to learn to focus more...
 
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