What was your goal MCAT?

[MareNostrummm]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Goal was 516. (Very high but reasonably within reach). Honestly if you aim for a 508 (old 30) you're probably going to hit a 506...
Scored FL: 513
Real MCAT: Ended up with 512 (all my sections were excellent except 124 in CARS took me down a notch) I was always struggling with CARS though (lowest section on SAT) so it was kind of expected.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Shot for a 34, was scoring 31-33 on the aamc full lengths.

Got a 35 and immediately punched a hole in the wall in excitement.

Feel so sorry for you guys that don't have a ton of real full lengths. That sucks 🙁

 

[Ho0v-man]

Was aiming for a 30. That's all I wanted. I just wanted cheap instate MD tuition. Was getting good practice tests, but, without boring anyone with the details, life got in the way and I couldn't study for three months before the test. Couldn't push it back because it was late 2014 and every test center in the tristate area was booked. Got a 23. Had to wait until summer of 2015 to really start studying for the new test. I knew MD was over with a 23 on my record so I applied DO and did a retake with mainly refresher stuff and studied the new stuff. Got a 504. [emoji53]


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[bobeflay]

.

 

[DingoPingo]

Aimed for a perfect score. Didn't get a perfect score.

Never lucky.

 

[alpha-GTP]

I was aiming for a 510 so that I could at least be in the 50th percentile for accepted students at most schools. My practice exam scores ranged from 500 to 517/518, so I didn't know what I was going to end up with on the actual exam. I ended up with a 517, which was about what I got on the AAMC sample test. I'm glad that I was able to exceed my target score, but I was kind of disappointed with my CARS score (equivalent to a 9). It was always my lowest scoring section by far, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

 

[Judson]

What do you think caused the significant score decrease? I do hear most people score within 2-3 points of their AAMC scored practice test but have heard of a few people having a 5+ point decrease...

I wish I could pinpoint one reason for you, but I truthfully have no clue. What makes it even more confusing is the subscore changes between the two tests...

Scored FL was 514 with 127/128/128/131
Actual MCAT was 509 with 126/125/131/127

So somehow my CARS and PS scores took a dump while my BB got a boost.\\

Edit: I majored in psychology so riddle me that as well...

 

[binko]

My goal was 520. Used TPR. I scored in the 510 range on practices. Score 519 on the real thing.

 

[Thoroughbred_Med]

Being on SDN, my goal was a 518+
I never came close. Got a 508 on the real thing and that was the higher end of my practice test averages. Remember to keep realistic goals for YOU. I don't have a strong liberal arts education and never developed the art of critical thinking at my university. This crushed me as a whole on the exam but the worst in CARS.
You do you!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[mouster]

I'd taken the MCAT in 2011, and my sole goal was to beat my previous score so that then no one could question anything. 2011 score was a 31, so I was shooting for around a 508. Took a bunch of Kaplan tests, got 500-506 on all of them, got discouraged, and then I took the AAMC FL and got a 514 about a month before. Was super shocked and didn't believe it, so I studied a bit more and ended up with a 516.

However, the breakdowns were totally a surprise. I went from 99th percentile on every AAMC FL in BB to 87th, and my Psych/Soc went from 67th percentile to 99th. 😵

 

[scoutdog]

My goal was always 510+ and I ended up with a 517 after never getting higher than a 505 on any practice test (mostly Kaplan). Practice tests were so helpful but not a good indicator of actual performance. I think I far surpassed my goal though because I was so scared that I was nowhere near it on practices so I studied way harder.

 

[alpha-GTP]

Oops! Wrong thread.

 

[Hierophant]

Before taking the test, I averaged my practice test scores (all AAMC full lengths and half a dozen Kaplan full lengths) and the result was a 35. Going in I figured I'd be able to stomach a 33, but I was hopeful for a >35. Ended up with a 35.

 

[DrChef94]

Goal: 33+
Practice tests (Kaplan + AMCAS): 28-30
I freaked out before taking the exam once I realized I was not performing to my standards and tried to cancel my spot but was already passed the deadline. I ended up going into the test just to take it and then void my scores (figured I had already paid the money to take it, why not just treat it like a practice test) but finished it feeling pretty good and decided to submit.
Actual score: 35

 

[Chromium Surfer]

I feel like this thread will have heavy response bias since most people that did bad or worse than they wanted wont respond. Plus I bet average SDN academic credentials are not representative of the average pre-med.

 

[freak7]

I feel like this thread will have heavy response bias since most people that did bad or worse than they wanted wont respond. Plus I bet average SDN academic credentials are not representative of the average pre-med.

2 confounders. Always a fun game.

 

[Inspectah]

My goal was 70% (percentile), and I ended up with a 514 (91%). I got a 99% score in chem and 97% in bio, but my Psychology and Sociology score brought my average down because I hadn't taken those courses in College (just AP Psych and took ethics instead of sociology)

I took a Kaplan practice exam the day before my test and got an even 500. It's a horrible test predictor. I feel like the new MCAT requires a little bit of knowledge and a whole lot of reading comprehension skills.

 

[Versadth]

45 lol 🙂

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

My goal was as least a 12/12/12 and I was able to exceed that.
I used a lot of MCAT study books, studied for about 2 1/2 months (5 days a week 4-6 hours a day)