*The Official May 14, 2016 MCAT Thread*

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le Gud said:
Hello peeps, it seems like many people did well. Got my score yesterday, but was disappointed. I got 504 on official, but I as scoring in the range of 507-512 using TPR. This score is bellow my dream school score requirement, so I will retake. Actually thinking about next year. I am a non-trad and I really don't see how to insert an intense study plan in my schedule. I had to use my vacation leave for 3 weeks before the exam, and I got this score. Anyways, I am still around giving myself some time to breathe and reassess what went wrong. Thought I killed that exam.
Good job y'all....
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Stumbled across this, but I'm a non-trad (75% of prerequisites done >6 years ago) and used TPR Ultimate Online to study for the new exam last year, and it was definitely a challenge to do alongside work but the course did a great job at keeping me in-check. I see you did some of their exams, but I know they also come with the books, etc. The process of sitting through the lectures, reviewing with the book, and grinding through lots of the online/paper questions helped me a lot. Honestly, I do not think I could have done it otherwise. Too easy to get caught up in the rest of life...
 
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First post here, lurked for a while. Took the MCAT 5/14, my last final was 5/9--I know this isn't a test one can cram for but by golly did I try. I did a Princeton Review prep course through my university, 2.5 hours a night, 3 nights a week. I tore through the Organic and General Chemistry, Psych/Soc, and Biology books throughout the course of the semester, while leaving the CARS and Physics books largely unmolested.

1/31/16 Princeton Review Practice Test: 121/126/122/124 (493)
5/12/16 Princeton Review Practice Test: 122/127/123/126 (498)

I did one Kaplan Practice Test and got a 495, and several individual subject tests from both the Princeton Review and Kaplan, ranging from 123-125 for each subject.

Walking in, I was thinking best case scenario was a 508. At the end of the test, I sat at the void screen for a good 2 minutes or so, thinking about how poorly I must've done. Walking out, I was thinking 505 was best case scenario, but 500 was more realistic. I found the actual test to be by far and away easier than any practice test I had taken, but I'm sure most feel that way.

My shocking results for the 5/14/16 MCAT: 127/130/126/129 (512)
 
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Albert Jay Nock said:
First post here, lurked for a while. Took the MCAT 5/14, my last final was 5/9--I know this isn't a test one can cram for but by golly did I try. I did a Princeton Review prep course through my university, 2.5 hours a night, 3 nights a week. I tore through the Organic and General Chemistry, Psych/Soc, and Biology books throughout the course of the semester, while leaving the CARS and Physics books largely unmolested.

1/31/16 Princeton Review Practice Test: 121/126/122/124 (493)
5/12/16 Princeton Review Practice Test: 122/127/123/126 (498)

I did one Kaplan Practice Test and got a 495, and several individual subject tests from both the Princeton Review and Kaplan, ranging from 123-125 for each subject.

Walking in, I was thinking best case scenario was a 508. At the end of the test, I sat at the void screen for a good 2 minutes or so, thinking about how poorly I must've done. Walking out, I was thinking 505 was best case scenario, but 500 was more realistic. I found the actual test to be by far and away easier than any practice test I had taken, but I'm sure most feel that way.

My shocking results for the 5/14/16 MCAT: 127/130/126/129 (512)
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How did you do on the scored and sample tests?
 
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WineLover777 said:
516! (129, 129, 127, 131)

Very happy with it. Now trying to decide where to apply...
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Also wanted to say, I did Altius Test Prep from October until my test. It was one of the hardest things that I have ever done but fantastic test prep. Previously I had done Kaplan's online program without much success and Altius was an AMAZING change for me. But you have to be committed to it. I literally did nothing but MCAT and work during those 7 months.
 
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I have a question:
under the score report it says that " The percentile ranks are updated on May 1 every year to reflect the results from previous calendar year(s)"
Does that mean that my percentile score that I received yesterday is going to change next year?
 
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ambitiousMED said:
I have a question:
under the score report it says that " The percentile ranks are updated on May 1 every year to reflect the results from previous calendar year(s)"
Does that mean that my percentile score that I received yesterday is going to change next year?
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I think it means that every May they update the pool you're compared to. I could be wrong though...
 
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ambitiousMED said:
I have a question:
under the score report it says that " The percentile ranks are updated on May 1 every year to reflect the results from previous calendar year(s)"
Does that mean that my percentile score that I received yesterday is going to change next year?
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So I don't think it will change, but it will affect who next year's testers are compared to.
 
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O.T.I. said:
So I don't think it will change, but it will affect who next year's testers are compared to.
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No, it will affect yours. I know because I took the old MCAT and the percentiles reflect the new percentiles, not the percentile that I got when I took it. So since people generally continue to do better as time goes on, your percentile will go down a bit. This is true for Step 1/most standardized tests- so it's better apply when your score is more recent so that your percentile will be more accurate.
 
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sleepyhead22 said:
No, it will affect yours. I know because I took the old MCAT and the percentiles reflect the new percentiles, not the percentile that I got when I took it. So since people generally continue to do better as time goes on, your percentile will go down a bit. This is true for Step 1/most standardized tests- so it's better apply when your score is more recent so that your percentile will be more accurate.
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Gotcha. Thanks for clarifying!
 
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sleepyhead22 said:
No, it will affect yours. I know because I took the old MCAT and the percentiles reflect the new percentiles, not the percentile that I got when I took it. So since people generally continue to do better as time goes on, your percentile will go down a bit. This is true for Step 1/most standardized tests- so it's better apply when your score is more recent so that your percentile will be more accurate.
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Thanks for the explanation!!
 
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juneli said:
I got a 497 🙁 (127/120/125/125). Bombed the biology section. Wasn't feeling too good about it even when I got out the exam center. Planning on retaking the test in August. Those of you who did well, any suggestions on how to improve my biology section? Looking back, I feel like I was not confident with my biochem material.
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I studied my biochem textbook from college - it was the best study material I found.
 
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My percentiles went up, but only by 1% in a section or two and 1% overall. Not a game changer if yours changes next year.
 
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ambitiousMED said:
Thank you. I was really worried because I don't plan on applying until next summer.
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I didn't mean to make you worried! I took the mcat like 9 years ago so there was a substantial difference there over the years. A year or two probably won't make a significant difference, and with them still figuring out the scale it's likely to help you rather than hurt you. You're golden!
 
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sleepyhead22 said:
I didn't mean to make you worried! I took the mcat like 9 years ago so there was a substantial difference there over the years. A year or two probably won't make a significant difference, and with them still figuring out the scale it's likely to help you rather than hurt you. You're golden!
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Thank you. I appreciate it! 🙂
 
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MareNostrummm said:
Tests in the order that I took them:

AAMC Sample (83.5% total)- CP 75%, CARS 85%, BB 81%, PS 92% (29 days before MCAT)

NS1: 512 - 128/127/128/129

NS2: 512 - 128/127/128/129

NS3: 511 - 128/125/129/129 (CARS noticeably harder on this test)

NS4: 510 - 128/126/127/129 (Downward NS trend... should have noticed my CARS was being to deteriorate)

Scored FL: 130/126/130/127 (Majority of people appear to do better than their scored FL P/S... that scale is SERIOUSLY wack)

NS half length Diagnostic: 514 126/128/130/130 (I took this last because I just wanted something short to test on a couple days before my test)

Actual 5/14 MCAT 512: 128/124/129/131

Damn CARS ruined what could have been perfect). I was aiming for a 513+ so I could have an even 90%. I'm pretty disappointed that I couldn't just pull a 125 in CARS to round me out. I feel like I'm much more likely to be screened out for a 124 in CARS than a 125. Btw I took the test on absolutely ZERO sleep, despite trying to adjust my sleep schedule a week ahead and taking benadryl the night before.

I kind of don't want to retake because I don't believe my CARS is likely to improve past a 127, even with a full night of sleep. I'm unsure if I can replicate a 128 C/P and a 131 P/S (those scores are likely to fluctuate a couple points depending on if I can get passages I excel at). At the most I think I can raise my score to a 515 if I get lucky on content... Retaking from 512 to 515 doesn't seem worth it.
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I'm in a similar boat. I don't know if I can replicate my Chem/Physics since the passages tested my strongest areas. I am retaking though, because I need a 125 or higher on CARS for the program I am in... 🙁
 
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BB_USF said:
I'm in a similar boat. I don't know if I can replicate my Chem/Physics since the passages tested my strongest areas. I am retaking though, because I need a 125 or higher on CARS for the program I am in... 🙁
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Which program are you trying to get into? Are you Canadian? I'm from California and some MD schools will accept a VR of 8 (124).
 
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anyone applying through AACOMAS? I am opting to do Professional Transcript entry. 1- Does that save time to get verified? 2-for the program materials section, it's asking me to check my prereqs, but I haven't actually updated the courses on my transcript.... so how do you go about that? Thanks again guys!
 
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Doctor_Faith07 said:
502 IDK how to feel!
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Got a 503 myself. Was actually surprised bc I dropped 5 points on P/S to a 124, but I'm still going to apply. Better to know first before you start fixing stuff lol.

Compared to my practice full lengths, it was actually lower....Anyways, thouught it might inspire others to come out. there's a lot of reporting bias here lol, but to help bring up some of you guys here, you should pay a visit to the Do and carribean threads on here lol. I think those people are just more honest about struggling,
 
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sshidid said:
Got a 503 myself. Was actually surprised bc I dropped 5 points on P/S to a 124, but I'm still going to apply. Better to know first before you start fixing stuff lol.

Compared to my practice full lengths, it was actually lower....Anyways, thouught it might inspire others to come out. there's a lot of reporting bias here lol, but to help bring up some of you guys here, you should pay a visit to the Do and carribean threads on here lol. I think those people are just more honest about struggling,
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Mine was 3-5 points lower than most of my practice tests. It's so frustrating when you read that people do so much better on the real thing and end up doing worse!
 
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BeMD13 said:
Mine was 3-5 points lower than most of my practice tests. It's so frustrating when you read that people do so much better on the real thing and end up doing worse!
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how did you do for real

and how did you do on your scored and sample tests
 
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baratheonfire said:
Yeah, May 20th
Got a 520 on scored and 91% on sample
Don't think I did that well on the real one though, so I'm just bothering people for data to bide the time until I get my scores
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Gotcha, just 5 more days! If you dont mind letting me know how you did when you get your scores back? Just so I can get a feel as well haha. If that's too personal I understand!
 
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Chromium Surfer said:
Gotcha, just 5 more days! If you dont mind letting me know how you did when you get your scores back? Just so I can get a feel as well haha. If that's too personal I understand!
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No I'll definitely post my scores as well as all my practice scores. I owe it to the site after bothering so many people for their scores lol.
Pikapoo said:
Same as you on scored. Sample i dont remember exactly but im pretty sure its close to yours...
I felt like i did worse on the real exam as well and ended up doing better so you never know
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thanks man, you give me hope
 
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New to SDN

Actual: 517
AAMC scored: 514 (damn you, CARS section)
AAMC sample: 87%

I was expecting to do much worse, especially considering that I was so nervous the night before and day of, that I only got 1 hour of sleep and couldn't even finish my breakfast that day. The whole thing was a daze, and I remember very little about specific details of the test.

Of course the nervousness kicked in again on 6/13-14. I had 2 dreams, literally within minutes of each other, that I got a 506. It felt so real and I was devastated.

I was going to be happy with a 510, so I'll gladly take the 517.
 
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So, I just purchased the MSAR. I was wondering if someone can help me interpret the data.
When you click on a certain medical school, it gives you a table that says "MCAT Applicant Data for the 2016 Entering Class"
Is this box-and-whisker plot the accepted student data or just the data for the people who applied?
Also, is this reported by the medical school and checked by MSAR? In other words, is this accurate?
When I emailed a particular medical school, they stated that their minimum score of an accepted student was a 501 and their average was a 508. However, when I see the MSAR reported data, it states that the minimum score applied was a 494 and the maximum was a 506 with an average of 500. I am not sure who to believe!
 
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ambitiousMED said:
So, I just purchased the MSAR. I was wondering if someone can help me interpret the data.
When you click on a certain medical school, it gives you a table that says "MCAT Applicant Data for the 2016 Entering Class"
Is this box-and-whisker plot the accepted student data or just the data for the people who applied?
Also, is this reported by the medical school and checked by MSAR? In other words, is this accurate?
When I emailed a particular medical school, they stated that their minimum score of an accepted student was a 501 and their average was a 508. However, when I see the MSAR reported data, it states that the minimum score applied was a 494 and the maximum was a 506 with an average of 500. I am not sure who to believe!
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Believe the school. There are sooo many inconsistencies with MSAR. I've been using it as a general idea and then looking up schools one by one. Also the scores are of applicants not those accepted. I was so disappointed when I saw that little asterisk!
 
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BeMD13 said:
Believe the school. There are sooo many inconsistencies with MSAR. I've been using it as a general idea and then looking up schools one by one. Also the scores are of applicants not those accepted. I was so disappointed when I saw that little asterisk!
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I emailed MSAR and this is what they told me:

All of the data in the MSAR is accurate because we pull it directly from the source here at the AAMC, but here are a few things to keep in mind about the new MCAT scores:


1. Scores represented are for applicants to the 2016 entering class as of 01/11/2016. And these scores do not represent accepted applicants – only applicants.

2. Acceptance data on the 2016 entering class will be available in the next edition of MSAR.

Do any of you happen to know when the next edition of MSAR will be released?
 
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