Wait...theres a writing section?

[Cerberus]

Anyone else not studied for this at all?

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[fun8stuff]

Originally posted by Cerberus
Anyone else not studied for this at all?

Not a bit

 

[stoic]

I spent exactly 3 minutes thinking about it.

 

[premyo2002]

only during the PR diag's and some classes.. A little work can yield significant increases in this somewhat worthless section...
After the scores come in you guy better not bitc_ that your scores are great, but your WS sucked. Although, im sure you can ell with out working on it.

 

[fun8stuff]

Originally posted by premyo2002
only during the PR diag's and some classes.. A little work can yield significant increases in this somewhat worthless section...
After the scores come in you guy better not bitc_ that your scores are great, but your WS sucked. Although, im sure you can ell with out working on it.

The section doesn't matter that much. It's not like it will decide whether you get accepted, and as long as you follow the directions and don't totally blow it, you will at least score average. I have heard a lot of people get marked down for simply not following directions.

 

[stoic]

Basically just answer the questions that are posed in the passage. I've also heard that people just tend to get sidetracked and not do what is specifically ask by the exam.

But seriously, I don't know anyone who has put any actual energy into WS.

 

[UCLAstudent]

I definitely don't put as much effort into it as I do for the other sections... I can't say that I haven't done anything for it, though, because that isn't true.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Would you trade a below average WS for three points on the numerical portion?

 

[fun8stuff]

Originally posted by Pinkertinkle
Would you trade a below average WS for three points on the numerical portion?

In a heart beat.

 

[jammin06]

Just in case, what would be a good strategy for getting a solid score on the WS?

 

[UCLAstudent]

When I do "study" for it, I never write out the entire essay. Your writing style is what it is; that is something that would be very hard to change before the MCAT. Basically, I time myself for five minutes per prompt and brainstorm what I would write about if I actually got that topic. The five minutes is so that I would have enough time to actually write it after coming up with ideas.

 

[gdk]

it seems like a complete waste that there is an essay section on the mcat and on every med school application. i think most med schools would rather judge your writing skills for themselves than rely on some test graders trying to decide how well you responded to the statement "politicians respond to the will of the people"

 

[Pinkertinkle]

It's a self sustaining cycle of uselessness. Adcoms didn't put an emphasis on the writing sample, so people never put emphasis on studying for the writing sample. Thus it is not a good way of evaluating applicants, thus adcoms can't put emphasis on it, and so students don't prepare for it, cycle goes on and on.