MCAT Prep Loans?
by Enot (Posted Wed Aug 21, 2013 5:45 pm)Expensive MCAT prep courses are a waste of money in my opinion. I studied for a couple of months doing example problems out of textbooks from biology, gen chem, physics, and O-chem, took AAMC practice tests, and ended up getting a 34. I probably spent $600, the cost of registering for the test, and taking all the practice exams. The AAMC tests are close to the real thing, and a good estimate of how you will perform. MCAT problems are seldom more involved than the simple example problems in text books, the trick is understanding what they are really asking. I am sure that prep c...
Source: Med Student Guide - August 21, 2013 Category: Medical Students Source Type: forums
New Medical School Ranking
by Adminnaoum (Posted Wed Aug 21, 2013 6:48 am)That's an interesting ranking.Studentdoc has its own medical school rankings that combines in the "Mixed Rankings" competitiveness (MCAT and GPA), research (NIH funding), and cost/debt to the student. Our top 10 is quite different:1 Washington University in St. Louis 2 Harvard University 3 Johns Hopkins University 4 Stanford University 4 Baylor College of Medicine 5 Mayo Medical School 6 Yale University 7 University of California--San Diego 8 University of California--San Francisco 9 University of Chicago 10 University of Pennsylvania (Source: Med Student Guide)
Source: Med Student Guide - August 21, 2013 Category: Medical Students Source Type: forums
Kaplan Course Re-take
by BrainDoctor17 (Posted Mon Aug 19, 2013 10:20 pm)I was trying to find out if I could retake the Kaplan course for the 3rd time and found this post! I'm kind of in the same boat as you were, except I haven't taken the MCAT yet. I don't feel completely ready for the test yet so I wanted to retake the course during the next semester and take the MCAT after the winter break. Were you able to retake the course a third time? (Source: Med Student Guide)
Source: Med Student Guide - August 20, 2013 Category: Medical Students Source Type: forums
should i give up on med school?
by Percival B (Posted Sun Aug 18, 2013 10:26 pm)Well, first, if you don't finish the pre-med requirements, then you certainly can't get in. So think about: is there something that you really want to do now instead of medicine? If not, then try to finish up the pre-med the best you can because you still have options. MCAT is very important, maybe take some practice tests to find out where you stand on the scoring. You will need to do well. Don't take the real MCAT before you are required to. It might be that you shouldn't apply now but after finishing the pre-med, and raising the science GPA, do like a post-bac program or ...
Source: Med Student Guide - August 19, 2013 Category: Medical Students Source Type: forums
should i give up on med school?
by jaram (Posted Fri Aug 16, 2013 1:18 pm)Hey guys,So just cutting to the chase, even though my overall gpa is pretty good, a 3.6, my science gpa is pretty low...a 2.5 I still need to take orgo II, physics II and my MCATS. My low gpa is just due my own immaturity and a few personal issues. Do you guys still think i might have a chance at a med school? I only have one year left. Is it worth taking a few extra science classes to pull up my science gpa? Any advice would be appreciated!! Thanks (Source: Med Student Guide)
Source: Med Student Guide - August 16, 2013 Category: Medical Students Source Type: forums
Re-applying to medical for Fall 2015
by foville1859 (Posted Thu Aug 01, 2013 6:44 am) During my masters program I decided to retake the MCATs hoping that I would do better and be able to apply for the upcoming cycle. Unfortunately I did not do well again scoring a 22M (PS:7 VR:7 BS:8) In your own mind, what is the reason for the discrepancy between the good grades in a decent science masters' program, and the low scores on the MCAT's? Do you feel you are just not good at taking standardized tests? The standard is set for a reason, which is to see whether the students have mastered the material, and to act as an equalizer, because grades alone may not tell the...
Source: Med Student Guide - August 1, 2013 Category: Medical Students Source Type: forums
Veteran looking for advice about medical school acceptance
by foville1859 (Posted Thu Aug 01, 2013 6:05 am)Hello, MCAT preparation, honestly I would say that is the highest priority, because you need to do something to offset the science GPA. Unfortunately some schools might screen you out only on the basis of numbers because their first stage of the application review process is computerized. So you don't get to explain to a computer that there was a medical reason for the failing grades you were given that semester. You already looked into it with the registrar and they refuse to change the F grades to an "incomplete" or something like that? Also to look into what provisions var...
Source: Med Student Guide - August 1, 2013 Category: Medical Students Source Type: forums
The medical school interview: Strategies from an admissions officer
As a member of the medical school admissions committee, I’ve interviewed many amazing applicants. Here’s what I wish I could say to them:
1. Your interview performance is critical. As interviewers, we’re amazed by the quality of today’s applicants. In fact, many of us wonder if we would get in to med school today. “I can’t believe how much she’s done,” is something I hear time and time again from my colleagues. The sad reality, though, is that sometimes stars on paper are less than impressive in person. We turn down well-qualified applicants all the time because of poor interviews. One sur...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - July 31, 2013 Category: Family Physicians Tags: Education Medical school Source Type: blogs
3.6 gpa, 23 mcat
by Brady Kinesia (Posted Wed Jul 31, 2013 8:57 am)I second the recommendation to apply to a lot of schools, if you are going to give it a shot this year. The grades are good, the 23 MCAT is still below average. I think having scored 13 on the MCAT the first time (is that right, with 10-point improvement to 23 ?) hurts more than the 23 itself, because it's hard to explain away a really low number.The chances of admission to some type of US school are certainly greater than zero, though so don't give up entirely - Brady (Source: Med Student Guide)
Source: Med Student Guide - July 31, 2013 Category: Medical Students Source Type: forums
Expired MCAT score
by Brady Kinesia (Posted Wed Jul 31, 2013 8:46 am)It depends on the school you are applying to, different one have different rules or limits. If you are going to be applying in 2014, then the scores will be 3 years old, is that right? Most schools don't accept scores older than three years. Also you might be at a disadvantage versus students who took the test immediately before applying. Reason being that people forget the material over time, and if it's not fresh in your mind, then they could argue that you are less-prepared for first-year med school Brady (Source: Med Student Guide)
Source: Med Student Guide - July 31, 2013 Category: Medical Students Source Type: forums
Mcat 2015
by Brady Kinesia (Posted Wed Jul 31, 2013 8:03 am)I think doing the current version of the MCAT will not make you any less competitive versus the people who take the new version. It seems that the changes to the test sections are designed to present a more "well-rounded" evaluation of the candidates by adding more of a social-science dimension. But in the first year that this new MCAT is used, the admission committees may not even have a feel yet as to how to interpret the results. Also there are other ways to show in your applications that you are intellectually "well-rounded". (Source: Med Student Guide)
Source: Med Student Guide - July 31, 2013 Category: Medical Students Source Type: forums
Mcat 2015
by Youcarryoat (Posted Tue Jul 30, 2013 10:13 am)I'm a postbac scheduled to finish my prereqs in Spring 2015. This puts me right at the edge of MCAT 2015. I could take the January 2015 test which is still the traditional MCAT or take the first new version in Spring 2015. My question is, what do you think ADCOMS will prefer? I would assume they'd want people to try the new one, but that adds tons of new material and the likelyhood that I'd have to take psych and soc again (I took them years ago but don't remember too much specific content). I'm already older and would like to go to Medschool without having to spend an ...
Source: Med Student Guide - July 30, 2013 Category: Medical Students Source Type: forums
Expired MCAT score
by ngeorge1989 (Posted Mon Jul 29, 2013 9:38 pm)Hi all, The first time I took the MCAT was in Jan 2011. Is that score expired and if so does that show up when applying with a new score (or a few new scores)?Thanks! (Source: Med Student Guide)
Source: Med Student Guide - July 30, 2013 Category: Medical Students Source Type: forums
Re-applying to medical for Fall 2015
by ngeorge1989 (Posted Mon Jul 29, 2013 8:42 pm)I first applied to medical school starting the summer of 2010. I went through the application process and spent a lot of time and money with no luck of even an interview. Given my poor MCAT score this wasn't too much of a surprise. The first time I took it I did not take it seriously (biggest mistake of my life) and that was, surely enough, reflected in my sore (19M). After getting slapped in the face by that score I spent the next 3 months really buckling down and studying hard. I ended up getting a 26N (PS:11 VR: 8 BS: 7) even though I consistently scored above 30's on my p...
Source: Med Student Guide - July 30, 2013 Category: Medical Students Source Type: forums
