Who took April 2004 mcat cold turkey?

[raDiOnut]

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Just wondering how those who took the April MCAT without studying did. I did more or less as expected -- good in VR/writing and horrible in PS/BS. I've got a lot of studying to do, but at least I know where I'm at.

BS: 5
PS: 5
VR: 12
writing: R

raDiOnut

 

[blz]

You're gonna ace it if you maintain that verbal. However, you probably should have just taken a practice test to see where you are at. It's a lot cheaper and it wont stay on your record.

 

[LanceP97]

I took the MCAT cold this April and got a 25R overall.
BS:8
PS:7
VB:10

I didn't study at all and took one practice test in which I made a 23. I'm taking a KAPLAN course later this month and going to study until I can't stand the word MCAT.

 

[oblivious]

Took cold turkey except 3 practice tests...

VR 10
BS 9
PS 9

Strangely, I scored 31, 34, & 36 on those tests...I was actually a little disappointed

 

[rgporter]

Just wondering how those who took the April MCAT without studying did. I did more or less as expected -- good in VR/writing and horrible in PS/BS. I've got a lot of studying to do, but at least I know where I'm at.

BS: 5
PS: 5
VR: 12
writing: R

raDiOnut

Depends on what you mean by cold. I took the test last april and I did take 3 or 4 of the AAMC online tests (best $80 I ever spent). Based on my results I judged myself ready, turned out that I was right. I would highly recommend the AAMC online tests as a diagnostic, they are really close to the real thing and I scored within two points of my real score every time.

 

[chriseli]

August 2003
VR:9 BS:8 PS:7 WS:M
April 2004
VR:10 BS:8 PS:8 WS:Q
😀 😀 😀 😀

 

[abraxas20]

I took it cold...........

11 VR
10 PS
8 BS
Writing S

I think I am done now....

YIPPEE!!!!

I am appying early admit, and the woman in Student Affairs told me not to bother retaking..............woohoo

 

[me9]

you gotta be damn stupid to take the MCAT cold... lol. This is all just unbelievable. Especially since you register for it months in advance... you just forgot about it until test day? WTF!? 😕

 

[chriseli]

you gotta be damn stupid to take the MCAT cold... lol. This is all just unbelievable. Especially since you register for it months in advance... you just forgot about it until test day? WTF!? 😕

Well thats not nice...lol. Some people choose to take the test cold turkey the first time to see where they are without any additional help. Why pay money for a course when your scores without are good enough to accomplish your goals...really now?!? $1690 vs. $190...hmmm Damn stupid...I think not!

 

[Kazema]

Well thats not nice...lol. Some people choose to take the test cold turkey the first time to see where they are without any additional help. Why pay money for a course when your scores without are good enough to accomplish your goals...really now?!? $1690 vs. $190...hmmm Damn stupid...I think not!

It certainly worked for you but it may not for everyone; I would think that buying an AAMC practice exam is a cheaper alternative to seeing where they are with the added bonus that if they don't do well it doesn't get put on some permanent record.

 

[willthatsall]

There was a guy in my gen chem class who took the MCAT cold in AUGUST after his freshman year year before he had finished orgo, bio, or physics and he scored a 42 (15 PS, 14 VR, 13 BS). I would never have believed him except he showed me the score report. He never took notes in class or anything and he only talked when he needed to correct the professor or expound upon some detail the professor didn't elucidate well enough. I asked him why he took the exam so early when he hadn't taken most of the prereqs and he told me that he thought he was ready because he made a 45 on the online practice test (3r?) and only missed 2 questions. His dad was an electrophysicist and he told me he has been doing science for so long that he doesn't really need to learn a subject in order to master it. Just from his knowledge of physics and subatomic particles, he deduced all he ever needed to answer chemistry questions. Really weird guy. He said if he thought he would only make a 42 he would have waited to finish the classes. I hated that kid, but he was smarter than any of us.

 

[Dr.LeoSpaceman]

Did this kid have social skills? Sounds like one of those eccentric people that can't relate to anyone. If so, who cares how he did on the MCAT, because I doubt he would do well in the interview.

Also, I am also at a loss as towhy you would take the MCAT cold. I took SAT, ACT cold to see where I was, but for these, you can keep your highest score. MCATs, however, are usually averaged, some even with a weight toward your first score. So why would you risk doing terribly? I agree that taking the AAMC tests is 1)much cheaper 2)less detrimental.

 

[raDiOnut]

I had a number of reasons for not studying for April. 1) My pre-med advisor told me not to. I was very stressed and finishing Orgo II and Physics II as well as beginning my thesis and taking other classes during the winter semester and had no time to study for the MCAT. My advisor suggested that I take the April MCAT anyway as a practice; he said that if I knew it was a practice I'd be less stressed and could be surprised how I did. He also said that it'd be better than not doing anything until August.

After talking to a number of other professors, I decided to take it. I called the admissions office of my #1 med school choice and they told me to go ahead and submit my application now, even with the 22R. They suggested that I note that I'll be retaking in August. This way, I'll be earlier in the admissions window.

mebbe it was stupid, but I don't regret it.

raDiOnut

 

[stinkycheese]

I called the admissions office of my #1 med school choice and they told me to go ahead and submit my application now, even with the 22R. They suggested that I note that I'll be retaking in August. This way, I'll be earlier in the admissions window.

DId you tell them that you got 5's in the sciences and it wasn't a clean 7-7-8 split? I am astounded that any medical school would encourage someone to apply with 5's in both sciences. You'll be earlier in the admissions window, yeah, and you're re-taking, yeah, but that's such a low science score that I can't imagine they'd be that impressed with an increase.

 

[willthatsall]

Did this kid have social skills? Sounds like one of those eccentric people that can't relate to anyone. If so, who cares how he did on the MCAT, because I doubt he would do well in the interview.

He was kind of normal, just your basic science nerd. I couldn't understand how he could understand chemstry and organic chemistry just by knowing physics. He tried to explain it to me, but it was so over my head it wasn't even funny. He was talking about how by knowing the individual properties of atoms he could figure out exactly what would happen when the atoms were combined in a reaction. As he liked to say, "There is no difference between chemistry and physics. Chemistry IS physics. All science is physics." Since the MCAT is multiple choice, all of the answers were right in front of him. I don't think he ever had to memorize anything in chemistry or physics; that was just the way he thought.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Sounds like his head will explode at the age of 30 or go crazy John Nash style.

 

[Kazema]

Really smart kid

I don't mean to belittle the medical profession since, well, that's what I want to do, but it sounds almost like becoming a doctor would be a waste for him.

Is he planning to do MD/PhD? For someone with his smarts research would probably make greater use of his potential. And he'd have the chance to contribute a ton to the field.

Then again if he really does want to become an doc and treat patients, who am I to judge?

 

[The Hen]

Hell, the guy seems to be in love with physics. As his advisor I recommend said kid to become an astrophysicist

 

[45408]

Wow. That kid sounds so intelligent it's nauseating. And it makes me feel stupid.....


Anyways, to be honest, I think taking the MCAT cold is stupid. It now goes on your permanent record, but hey, it's your choice. I don't see the sense in applying either, because a 22 won't get you in anywhere.

 

[chopper]

I had a number of reasons for not studying for April. 1) My pre-med advisor told me not to. I was very stressed and finishing Orgo II and Physics II as well as beginning my thesis and taking other classes during the winter semester and had no time to study for the MCAT. My advisor suggested that I take the April MCAT anyway as a practice; he said that if I knew it was a practice I'd be less stressed and could be surprised how I did. He also said that it'd be better than not doing anything until August.

After talking to a number of other professors, I decided to take it. I called the admissions office of my #1 med school choice and they told me to go ahead and submit my application now, even with the 22R. They suggested that I note that I'll be retaking in August. This way, I'll be earlier in the admissions window.

mebbe it was stupid, but I don't regret it.

raDiOnut

Sounds like a pre-med advisor who should be doing another job. I have never heard of such bad advice from someone who is supposed to be an expert in pre-med advising. Nothing against those who DID take it cold, but other posters here are right. This test means so much that putting a mediocre (or worse) score on your permanent record is only asking for problems. First, your scores are averaged, so you will always have that anchor to deal with. Second, don't be surprised if it comes up in interviews. Be prepared to explain why you didn't take the MCAT seriously, blah blah.

There are multiple ways to find out 'where you stand' that don't involve a $1600 course, or just 'trying it out'. And remember - applying to school will probably end up costing you much more than that. Why put all that money at risk with a poor score.

 

[Agent Splat]

I took it pretty much cold; no practice exams or prep courses or scheduled times to sit and peruse my textbooks. I did review a couple things I was not familiar with as they popped into my head, and I skimmed the ExamKracker books to get a feel for what I should know. Overall I probably spent a cumulative of 8-10 hours at most studying specifically to take the MCAT. I got a 9V, 8PS, and 10BS. I planned on focusing more and taking practice tests, but I ultimately gave priority to the classes I was taking this past semester...physics II and organic II, genetics lab, latin, and a horrid gen ed class. I figure I'm in college to get a degree and understand the core material, so that's what I focused on. I can retake the MCAT if I want, but I didn't want to bother taking organic over because I blew it wasting time on the MCAT. I'm pleased with my performance considering the meager time investment I made into it, and my spring grades happily reflect where my priorities were. With the exception of Latin...who has a grading scale where a 95-100% is an A? That's brutal.

 

[footcramp]

the stupidity contained in this thread alone is staggering.

 

[Medikit]

the stupidity contained in this thread alone is staggering.

Truth in posting

 

[chriseli]

the stupidity contained in this thread alone is staggering.

Wow...so is the hypercriticism...I was under the impression that this was more of a supportive forum. I have never understood why other people make themselves feel better by putting down others...wow. Next time you feel the need criticize peers, try and find something constructive to say. If taking the MCAT cold turkey or whatever it is that set you off is so called stupidity, think about the age old saying, 🙄 "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all."

 

[MeowMix]

My advisor suggested that I take the April MCAT anyway as a practice; he said that if I knew it was a practice I'd be less stressed and could be surprised how I did. He also said that it'd be better than not doing anything until August.

Your premed advisor should be sued for malpractice for this crappy advice and entirely bogus reasoning. I would have asked him to cover the $185 if you got a score like a 22R which tells you and the adcoms basically nothing other than that you should have prepped for the MCAT. Hell, you could have taken the test for practice and voided, just to see what it was like.

 

[thewzdoc]

Wow...so is the hypercriticism...I was under the impression that this was more of a supportive forum. I have never understood why other people make themselves feel better by putting down others...wow. Next time you feel the need criticize peers, try and find something constructive to say. If taking the MCAT cold turkey or whatever it is that set you off is so called stupidity, think about the age old saying, 🙄 "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all."

Don?t feel too bad. Most people on here really will try to help you. "footcramp" probably studied his butt off and got a 12L.

I too jusy broke the "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." but what the heck.....

 

[thewzdoc]

Your premed advisor should be sued for malpractice for this crappy advice and entirely bogus reasoning. I would have asked him to cover the $185 if you got a score like a 22R which tells you and the adcoms basically nothing other than that you should have prepped for the MCAT. Hell, you could have taken the test for practice and voided, just to see what it was like.

Yah....plus it's on your record for ever......

 

[dmChambers]

How about we just answer the original question...

I basically took the test cold turkey and got a 31O
11v
10PS
10Bio

Now, I'm a post-bac so I've jammed 37 credits of science into 10 months. I had 17 credits including o-chem 2, physics 2, genetics and a couple of physiology classes. I tried to study for the MCAT, but with my course load and general laziness I couldn't drag myself to do it. And I felt that a year of science work was studying enough. I took one AAMC practice test (the free one) and scored a 35, so I was a little disappointed (the sciences are easier on AAMC practice tests). It is possible to not study specifically for the MCAT and do well, even with only the required classes.

And for those of you who question this method, which I may not advise for everyone, thank you for so eloquently stating your opinion. I hope one day that you treat your patients with the same care and compassion you?ve shown to your fellow classmates.

 

[footcramp]

i didn't study at all and my patient died. oh well there's always the next one.

 

[thewzdoc]

i didn't study at all and my patient died. oh well there's always the next one.

What the heck does this have to do with a standardized test!? This thread is about people that took the MCAT without "studying" for it not those that skimmed through MED School without cracking a book...this is of course asinine and extremely unlikely as you'd fail the step I any way....

 

[footcramp]

thewzdoc, this is the second time you've made stupid comments with your assumptions about my scores on standardized exams. i understand that you are trying to get under my skin as some sort of moral crusade on behalf of half assing premeds, but attacking a straw man doesn't affect me. good luck in your future moral superhero quests.

 

[rgporter]

the stupidity contained in this thread alone is staggering.

I felt pretty smart actually. I did well enough on a couple AAMC tests that I felt sufficiently prepared. Instead of wasting my time studying for a standardized test, I enjoyed my life.
Isn't the MCAT supposed to test material we learned in college? Why should you have to torture yourself for one lousy standardized test? Have you ever thought that perhaps some of us decided to use the MCAT as what it is designed to be; a diagnostic tool to determine our own fitness for med school?



In addition to feeding the trolls I also enjoy spending time with my wife and dogs, videogames, reading, and spending money I don't have.

 

[larrywalkerdds]

Yup I did as expected.

Verbal: 7
Biology: 7
PS : 5
= 19

I genuinely took it cold meaning I forgot all my o-chem, gen-chem and physics. I think I can do a lot better had I put any studying into it. I was disappointed with my verbal. I thought I would score higher. I took my pre-reqs years ago and even then I just did enough to get C's in the class mostly through cheating in lab. So I essentially knew nothing. I had no formulas or reactions memorized. Yes, it was stupid to take the test without studying but I now have confidence know what I can do to prepare for the exam to earn a much better score.

 

[footcramp]

if you are prepared for the test by doing well in undergrad then good for you. not all of us have good enough memory to take a test like this without some review and/or practice. those that scored 22 were not prepared for the test. taking a test unprepared to see how you would do without preparing is a dumb thing to do. those kind of things are idle curiosities that only lazy people pursue. it gets them nowhere and only serves to make them feel better about their potential and never about their accomplishments.

your assumptions about the test being a diagnostic tool are baseless and false. the mcat is used to select future medical students into medical school; it's not used for "diagnosis."

 

[thewzdoc]

thewzdoc, this is the second time you've made stupid comments with your assumptions about my scores on standardized exams. i understand that you are trying to get under my skin as some sort of moral crusade on behalf of half assing premeds, but attacking a straw man doesn't affect me. good luck in your future moral superhero quests.

Since this thread is related to a standardized test and you made the comment about a patient dying the correlation to not studying in med school was appropriate.

I don?t have a ?crusade? of sorts for pre-meds but I do have a disdain for those that snipe at others for no productive purpose.

P.S. Yes my ?attack? on your score was sophomoric but I was making a point regarding your equally sophomoric original statement.

 

[footcramp]

so basically what you are saying is that you are a big fat hypocrite?

 

[thewzdoc]

so basically what you are saying is that you are a big fat hypocrite?

Well I wouldn't say fat.....

 

[thewzdoc]

Hypocritical?......no I was pointing you out specifically because you made a broad statement inferring that the participants in this thread were "stupid". This was needless at best.

 

[momof2]

There are instances of folks getting in with 22's - numbers aren't everything....I say that because mine are low.....and I admit this hoping to ward off the flames. Just improve - the 22 won't be erased but your improvements will be worthy especially if you can back it up with what made the difference - cold turkey versus prepared. Some get lower than 22 prepared.

 

[thewzdoc]

There are instances of folks getting in with 22's - numbers aren't everything....I say that because mine are low.....and I admit this hoping to ward off the flames. Just improve - the 22 won't be erased but your improvements will be worthy especially if you can back it up with what made the difference - cold turkey versus prepared. Some get lower than 22 prepared.

Yes, the 22 will be with you forever...It is a gamble to take the MCAT with no prep. The prep isn't supposed to teach you anything about the subject matter just how to take the test. Proper test taking skills are paramount to this exam.

 

[MoosePilot]

thewzdoc, this is the second time you've made stupid comments with your assumptions about my scores on standardized exams. i understand that you are trying to get under my skin as some sort of moral crusade on behalf of half assing premeds, but attacking a straw man doesn't affect me. good luck in your future moral superhero quests.

Not everyone lives on these boards. Not everyone has access to all the information that you have. AAMC likes you to think you can take the test with little or no preparation apart from your pre-reqs and do fine. Some can, but preparation helps most. I didn't know that the first time I took it. I did little to no preparation outside my college classes and got a 31 with a fairly even split.

I don't think that's a good idea, but I don't think someone's stupid for doing it. Maybe they just didn't have access to all the information they needed to make a more informed choice.

 

[ShyRem]

I took the test cold turkey because both my daughter and I had mono at the time. I had all the best intentions in the world of studying, but with 19 other credits (including O ChemII, P Chem II, and all other upper div credits), tutoring my 3rd grade girl through HER mono bout, sleeping through MY mono bout... where was the time? I still managed 8 8 9 Q; retaking in August. Yes, I'm studying this summer for MCAT only. I know I'm better than a 25Q. Some folks take tests well - others just don't. I knew a guy who couldn't pass a test in his life, but in the real world he had all the answers.

It's just a test 🙄 . Relax, and take it again if you need to.

 

[ghgi8]

Ice Cold,
28Q (8V, 9P, 11B)

 

[rgporter]

...your assumptions about the test being a diagnostic tool are baseless and false. the mcat is used to select future medical students into medical school; it's not used for "diagnosis."

No it's designed to be a diagnostic for the admissions committee. I just decided to make it one for myself as well. If I had done poorly I would have assumed I wasn't cut out for this particular aspect of medicine and found a different nitch to fill. Not baseless and false, just a different perspective than your average premed.

BTW my point of view eliminated all of the pressure this exam would have normally had for me. The only emotion I had on test day was curiousity. I feel like that helped me a lot, that and the good night of sleep I had before the test.

 

[Sean2tall]

I am surprised that taking the test "cold" is so weird. My preparation consisted of 3 practice tests over as many years and taking the medical school prerequisites - both that year and the previous one. Oh. . and going to bed early the night before! I hadn't discovered this site at that time, though 😉. Maybe that would have thrown me into a panic and perusal of my MCAT book. I wonder if there are more people who take the test cold, but they don't post here because they don't think about medical school all the time. Anyway, I pulled off a 33. I don't think it's that weird.

 

[bullsI]

There was a guy in my gen chem class who took the MCAT cold in AUGUST after his freshman year year before he had finished orgo, bio, or physics and he scored a 42 (15 PS, 14 VR, 13 BS). I would never have believed him except he showed me the score report. He never took notes in class or anything and he only talked when he needed to correct the professor or expound upon some detail the professor didn't elucidate well enough. I asked him why he took the exam so early when he hadn't taken most of the prereqs and he told me that he thought he was ready because he made a 45 on the online practice test (3r?) and only missed 2 questions. His dad was an electrophysicist and he told me he has been doing science for so long that he doesn't really need to learn a subject in order to master it. Just from his knowledge of physics and subatomic particles, he deduced all he ever needed to answer chemistry questions. Really weird guy. He said if he thought he would only make a 42 he would have waited to finish the classes. I hated that kid, but he was smarter than any of us.

where's he at now?

 

[DieselPetrolGrl]

aparently if he talked bk that much he must have social skills...does anyone have his # i want a study-buddy....

 

[ajnak182]

i didn't study at all and my patient died. oh well there's always the next one.

Well, guess just toss him in the recycling bin with the rest...

 

[joelmamchur]

I don't see what so many people's problems are...
we NEED people to take the test cold..........
Think about it... the test is curved.... if everyone studied hard, getting a decent score would be REALLY hard.

Put it this way.... a 30+ is a VERY good score..... the majority of people do not achieve this.... the people in the low-mid twenties probably studied a bit, didn't have pre-reqs, or misbubbled/mistimed etc. The people below twenty more than likely didn't study at all.. and for that poor soul who seems to get a 6 every try , well, lets just say that he/she probably took it for kicks. There are a few people who took the test cold on here and did great, but they ARE THE MINORITY! Plus, many people in Canada take the test after freshman/sophmore year because they need minimal scores (the MCAT in Canada really isn't very important....), and can use their best set of scores anyway.

 

[45408]

Have you ever thought that perhaps some of us decided to use the MCAT as what it is designed to be; a diagnostic tool to determine our own fitness for med school?

It's all a game, man. Prepping for the MCAT is about as expected as lifting weights for a bodybuilding competition.