The discussion here will focus on the MCAT scores, timing, strategies and other issues.  Discussion about the content of the MCAT and details about the exam itself will be held to a minimum and would extend this already lengthy post too much.

The GPA

Obviously, the higher your GPA, the better. Generally, anything above a 3.5 GPA is considered very good and very competitive. Jumping from a 3.0 to a 3.5 GPA will make a huge difference in someone’s application, whereas jumping from a 3.5 to a 4.0 GPA will not be quite as dramatic (although it is obviously an advantage to have a 4.0 versus a 3.5 GPA).

The GPA really reflects how seriously an applicant has taken his or her undergraduate studies. A high GPA is a reflection of strong study habits and work ethics. Medical schools look at an applicant’s GPA for that reason – to evaluate if the applicant is likely to work hard in medical school. A high GPA has been found to be a very good predictor of success and the likelihood that someone will NOT drop out of medical school.

It is also worth pointing out that a high GPA can compensate somewhat for a lower MCAT score. The GPA usually does carry a lot of weight in the admission decision. If both MCAT and GPA are lower, admission to medical school becomes much harder. However, having said that, there is more to the overall application than the MCAT and GPA alone. An otherwise stellar application can also overcome a lower GPA and MCAT score – to a point.

The 3.0 GPA is a cutoff for most medical schools. However, some applicants are accepted every year that have a lower GPA, so this value is by no means absolute. Again, it all depends on the strength of the overall application…and the MCAT score.

For example, for the 2005 school year, 155 applicants were accepted to allopathic medical schools (out of 17,978 total accepted that year) with a GPA that was lower than a 2.75. (Undergraduate Grade Point Average, Medical School Admission Requirements, 2007-2008, page 29) So, it is possible to gain admission with a low GPA, but you can see from these numbers that this is very rare. Also, these individuals most likely had stellar applications otherwise.

For most of the allopathic (MD) medical schools, an average GPA of 3.0 is the minimum they will consider for extending interview invitations, regardless of what the rest of your application looks like, but there are a few exceptions.

The MCAT

The MCAT (or Medical College Admission Test) is one of the most dreaded parts of medical school preparation and is required by all U.S. medical schools, including all allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) schools. Note that most Caribbean and international medical schools do not require the MCAT.

As of 2007, the test is administered in a computerized format throughout most of the year. Before 2007, it was only given twice a year as a paper test-once in April and once in August.

If possible, you should try to take the MCAT early so you receive your scores back by the time you submit your medical school application (AMCAS for allopathic schools and AACOMAS for DO schools). Before 2007, it took sixty days to grade the MCAT and release your scores, so taking the April MCAT around April 15 gave you the best possible timing for submitting your applications early (around June 15).

The earliest date applications can be submitted is June 1, but you needed to wait for your MCAT scores to submit your application. So, in reality, your earliest day for submitting your application before 2007 was around June 15. With the 2007 changes, scores are now returned within thirty days (and supposedly the eventual goal is a fourteen-day turnaround at some point). To submit your applications on the earliest day possible, you should therefore plan to submit your applications June 1 and take the MCAT no later than thirty days before this date (May 1). Submitting your applications early gives you a huge advantage in the admissions game.

The MCAT score

Each of the three multiple-choice sections (biological sciences, physical sciences, verbal reasoning) is worth 15 points for a total of 45 points, but it is nearly impossible to achieve a perfect score. The average MCAT score each year is somewhere around a 24 (eighty in each section).

A good score that is competitive at most MD schools is around 30 and a stellar score is somewhere above a 34 to 36, which is competitive at the top medical schools in the country. A score of 36 or better would put you in the top 2 percent of the country. The writing sample is scored with a letter system from J (lowest) to T (highest), but is much less important than the number score. You never hear anyone mention the letter score. All you ever hear people talk about is the number, although some people insist that the letter score is also considered in the admissions process somehow.

To give you an extreme example that the MCAT is not the only measurement that is important, 60 applicants were admitted to allopathic medical schools in 2005 who had an MCAT score that was less than 17 (Performance on the MCAT, Medical School Admission Requirements, 2007-2008, page 27). Keep in mind that there are a few allopathic medical schools in Puerto Rico, for example, that have very low MCAT averages (20.1, 21.3, and 23). These schools could be responsible for many of these numbers. Again, this sort of low score is a rare exception. Essentially, an MCAT score below 25 will make it almost impossible for you to gain admission to allopathic (MD) medical schools. You will still be competitive for osteopathic (DO) medical schools, podiatry schools, and Caribbean medical schools.

For most of the allopathic (MD) medical schools, an MCAT score of 21 is the minimum they will consider for extending interview invitations, regardless of what the rest of your application looks like. For some of the more prestigious medical schools in the country, the minimum MCAT score is around 30 to 32, below which you will not make it past any screening for interviews, regardless of how strong the rest of your application is.

The more applications a medical school receives every year, the more the school tends to eliminate applicants by MCAT scores and GPA alone when screening applicants. It is the easiest and most cost-effective way to limit the search for competitive applicants – and especially the more popular and prestigious medical schools use these criteria more heavily.

Medical schools like to use the MCAT as a way of screening and comparing applicants since it is the most objective measurement. Your GPA varies with the difficulty of the courses you take and the type of college or university you attend for undergrad. The MCAT provides one way to compare everyone at the same level.

The MCAT score is a reflection of your ability to reason, think, and interpret charts and data. It has less to do with your work ethic or your ability to memorize, which are two factors reflected more by your GPA.

MCAT Preparation

The MCAT test is intended to test material presented in general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and general physics. For review, it is important to stress the most important concepts and information in each of these areas. Generally, it is better to know the basic concepts very well than to know a lot of information superficially. Having said that, most of the questions on the MCAT are very difficult, and often it feels like they are testing concepts you have never heard of. Some additional course work can be helpful, but is not required. Although it is not necessary to memorize every formula in physics, chemistry, and the other courses covered, you should know the bread-and-butter formulas of each subject, particularly in physics. Don’t focus on all the derivative formulas. Memorize the main ones – you will need them.

They may ask a question like “If I throw a ball out of a window 25 m above the ground, at an initial velocity of 15 m/s, how long will it take until it hits the ground? How far does it travel vertically until it hits the ground?” So, you will need to know your formulas to figure out these questions. However, most questions are not this straight forward.

You will need to decide what type of person you are and what you will need for preparation. Some students swear by commercially available review courses such as offered by Kaplan, Princeton Review, Columbia Review, Cambridge, and Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. They are rather expensive, with a price tag up to $1,500, but many physicians and other successful applicants strongly suggest you take a review course.

Review courses often provide a classroom type setting with lecture format to review pertinent topics in all the MCAT prerequisites. You still have to study the extensive review material that comes with the course as you would in any class.  Other programs just provide the materials and the plan without classroom lectures. In either case, they provide the structure and the plan to get you through all the pertinent material in an orderly fashion.

You still have to put effort into the prep course like any other class you have taken before. Just attending the prep course may not help you out much, although they do cover a lot of test-taking strategies, which are helpful for test taking in general and not dependant on how much material you learned. Also note that these courses work only for review. If you have not had physics or organic chemistry before, you cannot learn the material in the prep course. These are review courses.

They also offer practice tests throughout the course and provide hints and tricks, do all kinds of analysis of what was on previous tests, and help you with time management techniques and other topics. This type of review may be very well worth it if you are the type of person who is a procrastinator or needs a structured program that is already set up and scheduled.

For those who are able and willing to work through self-study, there are many good review books and book series from the same MCAT review companies.  The Student Doctor Network has also published its own MCAT review book. The books contain the same basic material used in the courses, but you are on your own. So, you have to set aside a certain number of hours per week for a few months to review and work through the materials on your own. Expect to prepare for three to four months before the test.

I would highly recommend purchasing the Web practice MCATs online. They are the real deal, made available by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges), the makers of the MCAT and not some version made up by Kaplan, Princeton Review, or other test-prep companies. These practice tests are well worth the money and you can take them under real testing conditions. Set aside a few Saturdays at your library in a quiet corner, or at home – undisturbed. You can grade yourself at the end to see how you did. One of the practice tests is available free of charge. You can purchase additional practice tests online (http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/practicetests.htm ) for $35 each.

The MCAT is really a thinking test. You will need to know the sciences to do well, but many of the questions do not directly test knowledge. They may ask you to interpret some data or extract some answers from a passage. It has been said that you cannot really cram for the MCAT.

Average GPA and MCAT scores

Note that the two following tables give average GPA and MCAT scores for both allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) school matriculants for a few years.

Data for allopathic (MD) schools

Mean Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Scores and Grade Point Averages of U.S. Medical School Applicants and Matriculants, AAMC Data Book, 2006, page 38

Data for osteopathic (DO) schools

Grade Point Averages and Mean Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Scores for Entering Students, Osteopathic Medical College Information Book, 2007 Entering Class, page 80

Note that it is easier to get into osteopathic (DO) schools than allopathic schools (MD) by roughly 5 points on the MCAT and something like 0.15 points on the GPA.

Regarding GPA calculation, MD schools count every course grade earned even if you have retaken a course. If you earned a “C” in organic chemistry the first time, retook the course and earned an “A” later, they will count both grades for calculating your GPA. DO schools only count the retake grade (”A” in this example) and not the lower grade you earned the first time.

The average MCAT score for MD schools is around 30 and GPA is around 3.6. For DO schools, the average MCAT score is around 25 and GPA around 3.4. Especially if your MCAT score and GPA are below these values, your extracurricular activities weigh heavier in the admissions decision and can make the difference between getting an interview and no interview.

Caribbean medical schools typically do not have any MCAT requirements with few exceptions. If they do, they will accept lower GPA and MCAT scores than MD and DO medical schools.

Retaking the MCAT

If you score low on the MCAT, it may be a good idea to retake it. However, you absolutely have to show improvement. I know some students who increased their scores a good three to five points and it made all the difference. If you score the same or lower than your original MCAT score, retaking the MCAT only hurts you because you have just demonstrated that you really cannot do well, even if you have another chance.

Often, it is advisable to take a prep course, if you haven’t already done so, to prepare for retaking the MCAT, especially if you didn’t take the exam seriously enough the first time. You have to be willing to put a lot of hard work into preparation before retaking the exam again; just retaking it will buy you nothing.

Sometimes, if the MCAT score is not very high but still acceptable, it might be better to work on extracurricular activities to increase the overall strength of the application to compensate. However, a lower MCAT can limit some of your medical school choices. Certain medical schools may not consider you at all. Generally, osteopathic (DO) and Caribbean medical schools have lower MCAT requirements than allopathic (MD) schools. There is also quite a bit of variation between various MD schools.

The decision to retake the MCAT may depend on your goals overall and not necessarily on the score you received the first time. Also, keep in mind that it is very hard to increase your MCAT score, especially if you were prepared for the test the first time and there is not much else you can do to prepare. Increasing a score from a 24 to a 28 is probably much easier than raising a score from a 30 to a 34.

Important Note: A premedical advisor should be consulted to help you decide whether you should retake the MCAT and what strategies are appropriate for you to maximize the effectiveness of additional preparation. Only an experienced premed advisor who knows you personally and knows something about the MCAT can tailor advice to fit your specific circumstances. This is a big and important decision.

You may retake the MCAT up to three times, which can be all in the same year if you wish. However, retaking the MCAT for the fourth time, and every time thereafter, you have to jump through some hoops to be able to take the MCAT again. The AAMC requires a letter proving that you are really applying to medical school and not just taking the MCAT for other reasons (maybe you are teaching MCAT prep courses on the side and you can teach it better by taking the MCAT yourself every year).

By Sameer Apte
SDN Senior Moderator (MCAT Forum)

Modern medical education is a surprisingly young field. If you were to travel back only 90 years and enroll in medical school, you would find yourself in the midst of the greatest paradigm shift in the history of American medical education.

At the time, medical training curriculums were non-standardized, schools were largely profit driven, physicians were required only to have a diploma to practice, and the selection criteria for medical students were either sparse or non-existent (1-3).

At the request of the newly formed Council on Medical Education (CME), Abraham Flexner, a noted educator and scientist, visited every medical school in North America and wrote a scathing review of their educational practices (2). The “Flexner Report”, as Flexner’s review is commonly called, was the first step in the standardization of medical education.

Flexner’s findings, backed by the CME’s influence, not only prompted a re-evaluation of how medicine was taught, but also who it was taught to. Physicians-in-training were often not required to have a high school or university education, and entrance tests were proprietary and variable in rigor (1-3). As a result, attrition rates for medical school freshmen ranged from 5% to an astounding 50% in the 1920s (3). Furthermore, the quality, or lack thereof, of those that did graduate was harshly regarded by Flexner himself (2).

In 1928, in an effort to ensure the readiness of matriculating medical students, F.A. Moss created the “Moss Test”, the first standardized Medical Colleges Admissions Test (MCAT) (3, 4). Through a series of true/false and multiple choice questions across six to eight subtests, an applicant’s memorization ability, scientific vocabulary, reading comprehension and logical reasoning were evaluated (4, 5). In conjunction with the admissions reforms suggested by the Flexner Report, the implementation of the MCAT slashed medical school attrition rates to 7% in 1946 (3, 6).

Since Abraham Flexner’s time, the MCAT – administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) (7) – has undergone a number of major restructurings, each one aimed at adapting the test to better suit the medical landscape of the era (3, 8).

The second iteration of the MCAT came in 1946 and featured the section “Understanding Modern Society” (later renamed “General Information”) (8, 9). The inclusion of this sub-test reflected the emerging idea that physicians should be well versed in areas “over and above those which may be related to medical school grades (3)”. Medical school admissions committees, however, reportedly placed the greatest importance on the scientific sections of the MCAT, and did not give the general information sub-test much credence (3, 10).

In the 1970s, the AAMC put forth substantial effort to enhance the ability of the MCAT to assess personal qualities. “Compassion, coping ability, decision-making ability, inter-professional relations, realistic self-appraisal, sensitivity in interpersonal relations, and staying power-physical and motivational” were characteristics deemed important for practicing physicians (3). The project, however, was abandoned; in the MCAT of 1977 to 1991, the general information section was eliminated, and the remaining sub-tests covered only scientific knowledge, reading comprehension, and quantitative skills (11).

Today’s MCAT features three separate multiple-choice sections covering physical sciences, verbal reasoning, and biological sciences, as well as a long answer writing sample section. Results from each section of the MCAT are statistically analyzed and a grade distribution is generated that closely approximates a bell curve.

The multiple choice sections are scored on a scale of 1-15, while the writing sample is scored on a scale of J-T. Because the MCAT aims to accurately assess a very wide range of applicants, the AAMC goes to great lengths to reduce the effects of cultural and social bias, as well differences in testing conditions. Thus, the performance of examinees on the MCAT can be reliably compared (12).

For 18 years, the current structure of the MCAT has been the mainstay of standardized testing in medical school admissions; however, as the face of medical education continues to adjust its mission and objectives, the AAMC will continue to review and revise the exam (13). For instance, concordant with the recent integration of modern technology and medical practice, the MCAT has moved from a paper-and-pencil format to a computer-based format (14).

More recently, in October of 2008, a committee to comprehensively review and re-design the MCAT for the fifth time was commissioned by the AAMC (15). The Committee, called “MCAT review 5″ (MR5), consists of current physicians, medical school administrators, faculty members, and medical students. Because the MR5 committee is still in the evaluation process for the current MCAT, it is not known how the test will change, only that the changes will be drastic16. If MR5 meets its projected time-line, MCAT examinees in 2013 will most likely be faced with a standardized exam that bears little resemblance to the MCAT of today.

It is in the criticisms of Abraham Flexner and the creation of the Moss Test that the origins of the MCAT can be found. Since that time (only 90 years ago), the MCAT has kept pace with the remarkable evolution of medicine by constantly changing its own nature. With the advent of the MR5 committee, the time has come, once again, for the MCAT to don a new face. Although it may soon be unrecognizable to those of us who took it today, the MCAT will always be a part of the medical school admissions process, in whatever form it may present itself.

***Be on the lookout for an upcoming article revealing what might be in store for the future MCAT. MR5 committee members, MCAT administrators, and other medical education experts will give the Student Doctor Network information and insight.

Citations:
1.    Beck, A.H., STUDENTJAMA. The Flexner report and the standardization of American medical education. Jama, 2004. 291(17): p. 2139-40.
2.    Flexner, A., Medical Education in the United States and Canada (Bulletin Number Four). 3rd ed, ed. T.C. Foundation. 1910, New York: W.B. Updike & The Merrymount Press. 1-363.
3.    McGaghie, W.C., Assessing readiness for medical education: evolution of the medical college admission test. Jama, 2002. 288(9): p. 1085-90.
4.    Moss, F.A., Scholastic Aptitude Tests for Medical Students. J Am Assoc of Medical Coll, 1930. 5(2): p. 90-110.
5.    Moss, F.A., Report of the Committee on Aptitude Tests for Medical Schools. J Am Assoc of Medical Coll, 1941. 16(4): p. 234-243.
6.    Mullin, F.J., Selection of Medical Students. J Am Assoc of Medical Coll, 1948. 23(3): p. 163-170.
7.    AAMC. Official Medical College Admissions Test Website.  2009  [cited 2009 March 4th, 2009]; Available from: www.aamc.org/mcat.
8.    Erdmann, J.B., Separating Wheat from Chaff: revision of the MCAT. Acad Med, 1972. 47(9): p. 747-749.
9.    Young, R.H. and G.A. Pierson, The Professional Aptitute Test, 1947 A Preliminary Evaluation. J Am Assoc of Medical Coll, 1947. 23(3): p. 176-179.
10.    Glaser, R.J., Appraising Intellectual Characteristics. J Med Educ, 1957. 32(10): p. 31-45.
11.    McGuire, F.L., The New MCAT and Medical Student Performance. Acad Med, 1980. 55(5): p. 405-408.
12.    AAMC. MCAT Essentials.  2009  [cited 2009 March 4th, 2009]; Available from: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/mcatessentials.pdf.
13.    Mitchell, K., R. Haynes, and J. Koenig, Assessing the Validity of the Updated Medical College Admissions Test. Acad Med, 1994. 69: p. 393-401.
14.    AAMC. Medical College Admission Test will Convert to Computer-Based Format.  2005  [cited 2009 March 4th, 2009]; Available from: http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/pressrel/2005/050718.htm.
15.    AAMC. Medical College Admission Test to Undergo Review.  2008  [cited 2009 March 4th, 2009]; Available from: http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/pressrel/2008/081016.htm.
16.    AAMC. AAMC Launches Review of MCAT Exam 2009  [cited 2009 March 4th, 2009]; Available from: http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/reporter/feb09/mcat.htm.

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is an anxiety-inducing process for pre-medical students and for many it is hard to know where to begin.

Well for those of you who are lost and don’t know where to turn, this is a great place to start.

What is the very first thing I should do?
I would highly recommend bookmarking the SDN MCAT Discussions page and then reading the AAMC MCAT Essentials.

What is on the MCAT?

The MCAT is presented as follows:10 minutes of Tutorial (optional)
5 minutes of Non-Disclosure Agreement
70 minutes of Physical Sciences (52 Questions)- 50% Physics and 50% General Chemistry
10 minute break (optional)
60 minutes of Verbal Reasoning (40 Questions)
10 minute break (optional)
60 minutes of Writing Samples (2 Prompts, individually timed-30mins each)
10 minute break (optional)
70 minutes of Biological Sciences (52 Questions) – 75% Biology and 25% Organic Chemistry
5 minutes Void Question
10 minutes of Survey

Total Content Time = 4 hours, 20 minutes
Total “Seat” Time = 5 hours, 20 minutes

What topics are on the MCAT?
Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences Topics & Writing Sample Items

Where can I sign up for the MCAT?
All MCAT registration issues can be resolved by going here: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/registration.htm

What are the dates and deadlines for the 2009 MCAT?
Registration for the 2009 MCAT will begin in October 2008. The schedule for the MCAT examinations can be found here: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/deadlineandscorerelease.htm

Is one date preferable over another?
No, each test has a pre-determined curved according to its difficulty and there is no advantage between any two dates.

What are the Testing Center Regulations and Procedures?
http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/about/regulations.htm

How are the MCAT scored?
Physical Science: 1-15
Verbal Reasoning: 1-15
Biological Sciences: 1-15
Writing Sample: J-T
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Highest Composite score = 45T

How is the Writing Sample Scored?
Click here to see how the Writing Sample is Scored

Is There a Curve on the MCAT?
Each test is curved slightly different depending on difficulty, to find more information on this, go here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=505032

Can I Write On My Scratch Paper Before the Test Starts?
Yes. This question has been asked here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527021

I Just Finished My MCAT, Where Can I Find My Results?
Results should come in within 30 days and all scores will be released electronically here: https://services.aamc.org/mcatthx/

How are the scores reported from the AAMC displayed on THx?
Here is a good illustration of what it would look like: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7083947&postcount=6

Which MCAT Prep Company is the best?
Well everyone has their own style of studying. I can’t answer which is better for you, but I will tell you what is out there and what you should expect from it. Other books as well as these can be found on the SDN Bookstore. An SDN user attempted to answer this question before with his own opinion here but keep in mind this is all subjective. Also check out this link to see how others have rated each company: MCAT Preparation Method Ratings and Opinions

Kaplan
Kaplan adapted pretty well for the new MCAT CBT (computer-based test) and has made virtual everything online. The syllabus contains 25 Quizzes, 20 Subject Tests, 41 Topical Tests, 27 Section Tests, 11 Kaplan FLT (Full-length Tests) and access to the 8 AAMC tests. This is all online and also includes a Kaplan Q-bank that allows you to create a quiz by picking topics you want questions on. The review books are fairly detailed and the classes go over the more important topics of the MCAT. The lesson book does go over very important topics, however, the instructors go over the main concepts and refrain from going too much into detail. Most of their strength relies on the volume of their practices. Their FLT scores are quite inflated and give a false sense of hope, but they are still quite good practices. Many on SDN compare Kaplan and AAMC to the difficulty of the real test and you can read more about that here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=524676&highlight=Kaplan+to+real+test

Princeton Review
Many have taken note on the extensive detail The Princeton Review books and classes have. That being a pro or a con is quite debatable, however, knowing too much information is never an issue with the MCAT. The Princeton Review also has 9 Online Diagnostics and a great feature that has been implemented is an online writing grade. This means that you can submit your writing online to be evaluated by Princeton Review experts (normally takes 24-48 hours). The Princeton Review also has a Science Workshop book which contains 800 pages (including solutions) of passage based and stand-alone questions. These passages are actually quite good and many people have found the Princeton Review bio and G-chem to be great, however they lack the same support for their verbal passages. Their Online Diagnostic scores are quite deflated, but their practices are well worth it.

Berkeley Review
There are ten class books: two for biology, two for general chemistry, two for organic chemistry, two for physics, one for verbal reasoning, and one for the writing sample. Each of the science books is divided into sectional lecture topics. Each section begins with information important to the MCAT and ends with MCAT-style passages and questions and detailed solutions. The verbal reasoning book contains ten practice sets of ten passages each, and the writing sample book has twenty essay topic statements, suggestions for good essay composition, and numerous samples of good writing. Taken together, these books contain about 2,600 pages of material, including more than 550 MCAT-style passages. The books can be bought separately and can be used as supplementary practice or as a complete prep (includes classes as well) package. The Berkeley Review has excellent G-chem and Physics practice, but I have not found the same support on their biology. There are also three full-length practice tests if you would like to purchase and after taking the first one, they give the same vibe as the other simulated tests. This thread thought very highly of Berkeley Review, however, remember that it is only an opinion and everyone is DIFFERENT, you must find what is best for you: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=466138

ExamKrackers
For those of you who prefer the self-study approach, ExamKrackers is an excellent self-study prep. They have been noted as one of the best verbal practice book from those of us on SDN; however they do not receive the same recognition on their other books. They include the EK Bio, Physics, G-Chem, and O-Chem review books and the, 101 VR, 1001 bio, g-chem, and physics book. The bio review book is amazing in the fact they hit on the key MCAT topics and basics with easy to read visual illustrations and mnemonics, however they lack the thorough detail that is needed to score well on the MCAT. Overall, the EK bio review is a great supplemental book for those who just started and have a hard time understanding those thick textbooks however it will need to be reinforced later down the line with more detailed resources. I did not have the experience to use the EK 1001 science practice problems and will leave that for others to comment on. They do have simulated practice tests, 1g (1h if you bought the complete package), 2f, and 3g. They are good practices but are more like the old paper-based test than the new CBT and have been known to have a few print errors. To find more information about ExamKrackers, it has been discussed more over here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=280566&highlight=EK+1001

Gold Standard
I did not have the privilege in using Gold Standard MCAT, however, from most previous poster it seems like a last option when most of your resources have been exhausted. There are 10 GS CBT, all of which are curved very unfavorably. They do present unique approaches to solving problems in the sciences, however, others have noted that their verbal passages are short and not like the real test. Yet, the tests are cheap and good to use if you are low in cash and remaining tests. They also have a complete study package that includes review books, DVDs, and more however I am unfamiliar with them and you can find more information here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=409

Audio Osmosis
Using the philosophy of listening is sometimes better than reading yourself, Jordan and Jon use humor and charm to sink in the MCAT concept in a 12 set CD called Audio Osmosis. You can listen to it in your car, at home, or even in your sleep. I am a little skeptically of this approach, since I prefer reading however others have testified that this approach does work and it was helpful. This, however, would be more of a supplemental tool since visualizing diagrams and practicing problems would be key in doing well on the MCAT but I could be wrong. I did not actually use Audio Osmosis but others have commented on its success here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=490819

Nova Press
Actually, I don’t know much except that it does exist and it can be purchased here: The MCAT Physics Book.  If you are interested in finding more detail I advise you to do a Google search or ask around on SDN.

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Also a good thing to note is that most companies allow you to take a free practice test. Try one from each company and see which you prefer best. It sometimes pays to be a little choosy.
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I just did very poorly on my first diagnostic, is it possible to do well on the real test?
Of course it is! No matter what your score is now, it can always get better. Unless you have a 45T, but I never heard of anyone actually scoring that. Also remember, most companies (if not all) deflate their first diagnostic and you may actually be potentially higher. Remember there is only one score that truly matters though and that is your MCAT results. All others are just to give you a ball park of where you are. So don’t be so fixated on your numbers and concentrate more on learning from your mistakes.

Here is a great thread that explains why diagnostic tests are worthless:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=557231

I just did sub-par on my MCAT, is it possible to get into medical school?
Of course it is! Check out MDapplicants or this thread out: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=351659

Are you having trouble on the MCAT? Here is a list of strategies and guides that others have applied to become successful.

Official Please Help Forum – http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=535393

BloodySurgeon Verbal Guide – http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=509702

QofQuimica & Shrike – http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=516521

30+ MCAT Study Habits – http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=503250

Tips for MCAT Studiers - http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=3719232

A Very Good Verbal Guide – http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=206944

mterp45 - http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=526316

Vihsadas Verbal Guide – http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=6022602&postcount=96

Bozz – http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=499207

gecko45 – http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=499808

Rabbit36 – http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=578461

Are there any additional websites that can help me on the MCAT?

SDN Suggested Links – http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=279209

MCAT mnemonics and memory aids! – http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=42149

Prep101 – http://www.prep101.com/mcat/study_aids.html

StudyTips – http://www.studytips.org/mcat_test.htm

HyperPhysics – http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/hph.html#hph

Organic Chemistry – http://riodb01.ibase.aist.go.jp/sdbs/cgi-bin/cre_index.cgi?lang=eng

MIT Classes – http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Biology/index.htm

Medical School Material – http://www.medicalstudent.com/ and http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=298847

The SDN Bookstore – http://www.studentdoctor.net/bookstore/shop.php?c=mcat&x=MCAT

The MCAT is stressing me out and I don’t know what I am going to do about medical school applications!
First of all, relax! The MCAT is a stressful period for all of us. It is a right of passage for all medical students and it foreshadows the rigors of a potential future. Take comfort in the fact that the MCAT is only a piece of the application and medical school will look at other facts. To help with this stressful period, I have gathered links that I hope you will find resourceful.

The Official SDN Medical School Admissions Guide

The Not So Short Introduction To Getting Into Medical School

MCAT Scores and GPAs for Applicants and Matriculants to U.S. Medical Schools

The Official Personal Statement Guide and PS Readers List

The Official Guide to Special Masters Programs and List of Post-Baccalaureate Programs

Great tips for entering your “Work/Activities”

AAMC Grade Conversion Guide

Offical 2008 Secondary Essay Prompts

Why Applying Early is Important

Final Note
I wish everyone best of luck and if you have any question or suggestions you may PM me at bloodysurgeon on the SDN Forums.

What are the latest trends in medical admissions? At the annual meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), 3,800 medical education professionals from around the country addressed changes in the MCAT, criteria for evaluating applicants, predictors of success in medical school, what elements of the residency application are most important, and a wide variety of other subjects that may interest premedical and medical students and residents. Here are some of the meeting’s highlights.

MCAT Update

Quick facts:

• In 2009, there will be 28 test administrations and 18 score release dates.
• A March date for the MCAT was added to assist students who are on quarter systems with scheduling.
• Scores are delivered 30-35 days after the test is taken.
• A change for this year: since applicants can be registered for only one test date at a single time, they will be allowed to cancel their test after the deadline (and forfeit the fee), enabling them to register for a future test date.
• The MCAT administration plans to review and modify policies regarding testing accommodations in the near future.
• A new publication, The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam, which will include testing tips and strategies, is to be released shortly.

In preparation for the fifth comprehensive review of the MCAT, surveys were sent to 142 US medical schools to find out what factors are important for evaluating applicants. The response rate was 90%. Survey results showed that the undergraduate GPA and MCAT scores are used to determine academic capability and success in the basic sciences. The MCAT score is also used to predict the USMLE Step 1 performance

Personal characteristics and qualities that were identified as important for success in medical school and beyond are:

• Integrity
• Critical thinking skills
• Professionalism
• Motivation for medicine
• Reliability
• Ability to integrate information
• Logical reasoning
• Maturity
• Work ethic
• Team work
• Compassion
• Self discipline
• Oral communication skills
• Intellectual curiosity
• Scientific and verbal reasoning
• Resilience
• Altruism

The MCAT staff discussed how standardized tests do not assess these qualities and that the tools and testing modalities to evaluate them need to be developed. This is why written documents (personal statement, application, and letters of reference) and interviews are so vitally important because they offer admissions members an opportunity to evaluate personal attributes.

The Holistic Review of Medical School Applicants

The AAMC is trying to ensure that applicants “are evaluated by criteria that are institution specific, broad-based, mission driven, and that are applied equitably across the entire applicant pool.” In an effort to increase the overall diversity of physicians (without considering race and ethnicity), the definition of diversity must be multidimensional and to more accurately assess applicants, the entire record must be considered as a whole (the so-called holistic approach). The definition of diversity may also differ from institution to institution so applicants must consider the mission statement of each school. It is also important to understand that with a looming doctor shortage (especially of primary care physicians), the need to increase access to primary care for everyone, including underserved populations, needs to be addressed at the level of the medical school application. There is also evidence that the care provided to racially and ethnically diverse patients is often affected by provider bias and stereotyping, which is why today’s physicians must be culturally competent.  Medical school admissions committees must select not only the most capable students but also those who will make a valuable contribution to our society as a whole.

Predictors of Success in Medical School

There are few accurate predictors of future performance as a physician, though past academic performance and MCAT score predict future academic success and USMLE performance.  Because past behaviors are usually predictive of future behaviors, and this is all admission committees have to go on, it is best to give admission committees enough material to provide a clear and multifaceted view of who you are.  Interviews are important not only because they give the school a chance to really know you, but they give you an opportunity to show your warmth and provide a sense of how you will interact and communicate with patients. Remember, admissions officers aren’t out to get you. They are kind people who carry a tremendous responsibility and have a very important mission.

National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) Update

Quick facts for 2008:

• 25,066 residency positions were offered
• 23,674 positions were filled
• 883 US allopathic seniors didn’t match
• The number of IMG applicants has increased during the past 10 years

Many IMGs register for the NRMP just to get the list of unfilled programs for the scramble. About 13,000 people compete in the scramble to gain an unfilled position. With only 1,390 positions remaining unfilled on scramble day, many of which are preliminary programs, the odds of getting a spot through the scramble are not good. As the scramble now stands, schools and students find out if they didn’t match on Monday. On Tuesday at 11:30 AM, programs find out if they didn’t fill. The list of unmatched programs is released at noon on Tuesday and unmatched applicants begin contacting programs. In 2008, by 4 PM on Tuesday, 50% of the unfilled positions were filled. By Wednesday, 147 positions remained open. Clearly, the scramble is stressful and you should do everything in your power to avoid it. The NRMP website gets more than 5 million hits on the Tuesday of match week.  Because of many “for profit” companies that fax materials to programs for clients, faxes and phone lines are often jammed at programs that have unfilled positions.

The NRMP is proposing a possible change for the scramble but this likely will not be put into effect until 2011. The goal of this change would be to allow applicants and programs more time to interview applicants (by phone), create more time to make decisions, and decrease stress for everyone involved.  A scramble work group has been formed to address these issues and the pros and cons of the current system and to make suggestions for improvement.

Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) Update

While growth of allopathic medical school enrollments is projected, the greatest increase of applicants using ERAS is of osteopathic students and international medical graduates (IMGs). The number of IMG applicants to ACGME accredited programs has increased by 14% since 2001, and the number of US ECFMG certified applicants, most of whom are Caribbean students, recently has increased significantly as well.

US allopathic students increasingly are choosing specialties with “controllable lifestyles,” such as anesthesiology, emergency medicine, dermatology, radiology, and pathology. Fewer and fewer medical students are choosing family medicine and internal medicine (primary care). Fifty five percent of those who match in internal medicine choose to subspecialize. IMGs continue to fill the void for specialties that US graduates are not choosing. Interestingly, a survey done by the NRMP of physicians over 50 found that 47% of primary care physicians versus 44% of “controllable lifestyle” physicians felt that they had control of their lives. So, perhaps medical students should start to reevaluate what specialties offer the best work/life balance – primary care might be the answer.

Specialty Choice

What are the factors guiding medical students’ specialty choice?

• Whether the specialty “personality” matches the applicant’s personality
• Mentors and exposure to the field
• Lifestyle
• Income/job market/debt
• Length of training

Getting Into Residency

What are the most important factors for getting into residency? The answer to this question depends on the specific program and the specific specialty. All programs consider the following factors important but not necessarily in the order presented:

• USMLE Step 1 score
• Grades (if not pass/fail), AOA, class rank
• Subinternship performance
• Letters of reference
• Personal statement
• Interview
• Medical School Performance Evaluation or MSPE (formerly known as the Dean’s letter). The usefulness of the MSPE and the timing of release is being evaluated. More to come on this.

Changes Ahead

With the election of Senator Barack Obama as our next president, the country is expected to undergo health care reform, making this a truly exciting time for the future generation of physicians to be a part of medical education.  While it is important to understand what it takes to “get in” to medical school and residency, you should also keep bigger issues in mind. For example, how will we improve the access to and quality of medical care for everyone? How will we decrease the income disparities among specialties so students will pursue the specialties where the need is greatest?

Dr. Freedman’s Bio:

Jessica Freedman, MD, is a former medical admissions officer and president of MedEdits (www.MedEdits.com), a medical school, residency, and fellowship admissions consulting firm. She is the author of the MedEdits blog (www.mededits.blogspot.com). Dr. Freedman is also a practicing emergency physician.

The application process for medical school is long and intense. It actually begins much earlier than the point where you fill out the application to send to schools. It includes completion of many premed requirements, meetings with your premedical advisor, taking the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), and participating in a variety of extracurricular activities.

Understanding What Happens Is Important
Most medical schools will review applications on a rolling basis, as they are submitted. They extend interview invitations to selected applicants and ultimately offer places in their classes in a similar manner. This means that the majority of schools fill their classes on a first-come, first-served basis. For example, a given school may start the application season with 150 seats to fill. With each passing week of interviews, the admissions committee meets and extends offers to fewer and fewer students. At the same time, the school is still receiving additional applications, driving the competition for the remaining seats up even further. In these situations, all things being equal, the applications submitted early stand the best chance of receiving an offer of admission. 

Major Phases of the Application Process

1. Meet with your premedical advisor.
   Do this first during your Freshman year (or as soon as you decide to pursue medicine. Meet often and keep them apprised of your progress.
2. Complete prerequisite courses.
   Most schools require two semesters of college biology, chemistry, physics, and organic chemistry. Some schools may require biochemistry or calculus, so be sure to research schools in which you are interested. Plan to complete the bulk of these courses prior to sitting for the MCAT.
3. Participate in extracurricular activities.
   You want to be able to list these on the application, so you should have participated in them for at least one semester prior to applying.
4. Take the MCAT.
   Sit for this exam before May, if possible.
5. Interview with your school’s premed committee.
   Not all schools have these, but the premed committee will often review your application and write a letter of recommendation on your behalf.
6. Fill out applications and write your personal statement.
   It may take several weeks or months to perfect your personal statement, so start early – right after the MCAT. Have people you trust proofread it and make suggestions; be sure to include your premedical advisor in this process.
7. Return secondary applications as you receive them.
   Try and turn these around within 7 days from the date of receipt. If possible, return them 2-3 days after you receive them.
8. Interview!
   Remember that earlier interviews are better, so try and accept the earliest interview date you can.
9. Acceptance.
   Many schools will notify you within 2-3 weeks, some even within a few days. Others take several months after your interview to tell you your status: accept, reject, or waitlist.

Apply Early, Early, EARLY!
One of the most important aspects of your application relates to timing. You can talk with many applicants who applied late because they took the MCAT late (August) or they just procrastinated on their applications. You will hear loud and clear that they would recommend applying as early as possible. I strongly agree. Applying as early as possible, interviewing on the first day possible, etc. gives you a huge advantage.

As already mentioned, as time passes with a rolling admissions process, your chance of gaining admission decreases due to spots being filled with students and more applicants still arriving to be considered. Besides this factor of increasing competition, there is also peace of mind when you have received an offer early. Let’s consider each step of the application process in detail now, in light of timing.

Early MCAT
You should take the MCAT by May 1st so you can get your scores back by June 1st at the latest, which is about the first day you can submit your AMCAS application. The exact date may vary each year, but should be sometime in the first week of June. Taking the MCAT later during the summer will put you behind in the application process. Many applicants have already received interview invitations and some have already been extended offers as the admission cycle progresses. Most medical schools will not consider your application and do not offer interview invitations until your MCAT scores are received, so timing your MCAT is essential for timing your application.

Early Applications
Make sure you start working on your AMCAS (MD) and/or AACOMAS (DO) applications right after the MCAT is out of the way if you didn’t have time for this before you took the MCAT. It takes a few months to get the applications put together, so you should ideally start about two months before June 1st to fill out the applications or at least gather the required information and start working on your personal statement. The online applications are made available online sometime around May 1st each year, although they cannot be submitted until June 1st at the earliest. It is recommended that you submit your completed applications (AMCAS and AACOMAS) within a week of receipt of your MCAT scores. It is critical to submit your applications as early as possible.

Early Secondaries
Fill out all secondary applications received from medical schools immediately and try to return them in less than seven days, ideally within two days along with the money and other information they require you to submit. Turn these around as fast as possible. Some secondaries are more involved than others and all cost money. Do not procrastinate. To obtain early interviews, turning these around quickly is a must!

Early Interviews
If you have completed the previous three steps promptly (early MCAT, early application, rapid secondary turnaround), you will see early interview invitations and will have the opportunity to interview during the first few weeks of the cycle.  Try to pick the earliest day for interviewing the school offers. Ideally, you want the first day available on their schedule to interview, but realistically the first few weeks of interviewing are all excellent.

Early Offers
Most medical schools extend offers within two to three weeks. However, the notification time varies greatly from school to school.   Some take only a few days (literally) and others take up to six months.

Why the Hurry?
You should know the answer to this question by now. If not, re-read this post again from the beginning! Do yourself a favor and do things early. It’’s the one factor of your application you have complete control over— – and it really pays off!

Early Decision Program (EDP)
Don’’t confuse the Early Decision Program (EDP) with applying early – this is a separate admissions program and not really part of the regular admission process. Not all medical schools offer the Early Admissions Decision Program.

This is how it works: You can only apply to one medical school’s early Early decision Decision Program. The medical school has to make a decision by October 1st and must notify you of acceptance or rejection. If you are accepted to the school, you are obligated to attend that particular medical school and cannot participate in the regular application cycle at any other medical schools that year. So, you have to be sure the medical school you apply EDP to is really the school you want to attend since there is no changing your mind later.

There are also some huge drawbacks to the early Early Decision Program, as you might have already guessed, since you can only apply to one medical school. If you are not accepted, you have wasted valuable time to get your application submitted to the other medical schools.

You cannot start applying to other medical schools until you have received a rejection letter from your EDP school. That’s two to three months late in the application cycle! You are essentially in the same spot as if you had taken the MCAT late.

Note that if you were rejected during the Early Decision Program, you can still apply to the same medical school through the regular admissions process again – and you will be considered for regular admission independently from the EDP decision. You may be offered a spot in the class even if you were rejected for EDP admission.

The Early Decision Program can be useful for very strong (exceptional) applicants or for candidates who have specifically been encouraged by the school to compete for early admission. Generally speaking, if you are a strong enough applicant for a spot through the Early Decision Program, you will also get a spot in the class through the regular process.

EDP drawbacks in summary:

Personally, I think the Early Decision Program only limits your choices and is not very useful. Especially if you apply early (not through the Early Decision Program), you can also get offers by the middle of October. Also, the timing issue is a huge disadvantage, – putting you way behind in the admission process if you are rejected. I would therefore strongly discourage going through the EDP at any school.

Christian Becker is the creator and operator of www.medschoolready.com and an SDN Contributor.

In August 2004, Q took the MCAT and scored a 43S. She began giving MCAT advice on SDN when she joined as a member in October 2004. Q joined the SDN staff in June 2005 as an advisor for the MCAT Study Questions subforum and later became MCAT forum moderator. She now oversees all of the SDN premedical forums. Recently, SDN spoke with Q to get her input on preparing for and taking the MCAT. 

1. What did you do to prepare for the MCAT?

I was still in graduate school when I started studying for the MCAT, and I was also working for Kaplan as an MCAT instructor. I used Kaplan’s online prep course, mainly because it was available to me as an instructor. I was able to teach for Kaplan while I studied for the MCAT because I had taken the MCAT once before while in college.  I received a 34P on my first attempt. I did all of the homework assignments for physics and most of the biology ones too. I didn’t do the chemistry or organic assignments since I was teaching chemistry and organic at my university. I also took the five proctored full length practice tests along with my MCAT class.

It was a pretty crazy time; I was still working full time in the lab and teaching 3-4 nights per week. During the week, I was able to get in studying time by waking up early to read for half an hour in the morning, and reading again for half an hour in the evening before I went to bed. I’d spend most of Saturday and Sunday studying, maybe eight hours per day, unless I had to teach. This was my schedule for about ten weeks, and then I started burning out.

2. What were the best and worst parts of your experience with the MCAT?

The best part was walking out of there and finally having it over with. While you’re studying, the MCAT kind of takes over your life, you know? And, of course, the day I got my scores was a great day.

The worst part was that my test date actually got delayed for two weeks because of Hurricane Charley hitting Florida on the weekend when the MCAT was scheduled. I was totally burned out and more than ready to get it over with, and here I had to wait another two weeks!

3. Were you surprised by your score, or did you expect to do that well?

I was aiming for a 40. That’s what I got on my Kaplan diagnostic, and my practice full length tests ranged from 37-41. I figured I’d probably get a 38 or so on the real thing, but I would have been happy with anything over a 35. So yes, I was pretty surprised; I expected to do well, but not that well.

4. How did other people react when they heard about your score?

My mom and I were talking on the phone when the scores came out; when I told her what I got, we both just started screaming. When I told my PI, his response was, “Gee, I knew you were smart, but I didn’t know you were THAT smart.”  Interestingly, my old PI for my M.S. had almost the same word-for-word response. My Kaplan manager said that she had never heard of anyone getting a score like that. Maybe only my MCAT students weren’t surprised.

The funniest response was by one of my Ph.D. committee members, who asked me if I was going to retake the test so that I could try to get a perfect score. No freaking way!

5. Which section of the MCAT do you think is the hardest or easiest, and do your scores reflect that?

In general, VR is definitely the hardest section. It’s the hardest section to study for, and it’s the hardest section to do well on because the curve is so much stricter than on the other sections. You have to get a much higher percentage of questions correct to get a high scaled score on VR than you do on the science sections. Plus, the subject material tends to be things that most premeds don’t read about very often, like philosophy, literary criticism, and economics. In my case,

I think I was most worried about PS because it had been so long since I had taken physics. I really studied physics like crazy. So I guess I’d have predicted that BS would be the “easiest” section for me, and in fact BS was the section that I got the 15 on. I’m not sure that you can read so much into my scores though, because I don’t think there is very much difference between a 14 and a 15. We might be talking about a difference of one or two questions.

6. You said that VR is the hardest section; how can a person raise their VR score?

VR is one of those things that you can only improve with practice, and lots of it. You might have to experiment with different techniques until you find one that works well for you. I used the Kaplan VR techniques, and they worked really well for me. I’ve had some students who swore by other techniques that they read about in other books. The important thing is to pick a technique that works well for you and really practice it like crazy.

Starting several months before you plan to take the test, try working through two passages a day and reviewing the explanations. The key though is not to just do a zillion passages and questions, but to really pay attention to the types of questions that you tend to miss. Practice doing more questions like that. Also, if certain types of passages give you trouble, start reading more articles in those subjects. A lot of students hate reading philosophy or literary criticism passages; they need to go to their school library and start reading philosophy and literary criticism on a regular basis until they get comfortable with reading them.  

The other tricky thing about VR is that you have to be pretty fast. A lot of people tend to spend too much time reading the passages and not enough time working on the questions. Again, improving timing is something that comes with practice. There isn’t any shortcut for improving on VR, unfortunately. You have to just put in the time to improve your weak areas.

7. You mentioned working to improve your weak areas—what were your weak areas?

Physics and physiology. I took intro physics and biology in 1993 as a college freshman, so I forgot a lot of stuff by the time I started studying in the summer of 2004. Actually, I never learned physiology in college at all; what little physiology I knew before I started medical school I learned from Kaplan.

8. How well do you think that a person’s MCAT score predicts their medical school performance?

Honestly, I don’t know the answer to this. Logic suggests that there must be some amount of correlation between MCAT scores and medical school performance, but it’s really hard to separate out the influence of hard work versus natural talent. I think that most people who do well in school and on the MCAT work very hard for those accomplishments. The lazy genius who aces the MCAT and is the top student in the class is something of an urban myth, in my experience.

9. Do people score really well on the MCAT more because of natural ability or hard work?

I was asked at one interview whether I thought that anyone could score in the 40s on the MCAT. I hadn’t ever thought about it before that interview, but I have to say that the answer is no, and the main reason doesn’t have anything to do with either natural ability or hard work.

The thing is that the MCAT is a curved test, and the system is set up where most people can’t score 40+. It’s very difficult to score in the teens on any one subsection, and in order to get a 40, you have to independently score that high on all three subsections. Very, very few people manage to do it.  The AAMC told me by email that for the August 2004 test administration, there were eight 42s, two 43s, and zero 44s or 45s out of nearly 35,000 people who took the test nationwide.

I do think that test-taking is a skill, and like every other skill, some people are naturally better at it than others. However, even people who are “average” at the skill of taking tests can improve to become above average with hard work. So I wouldn’t say that people score really high on the MCAT due to either natural ability OR hard work, but rather because of a combination of natural ability AND hard work.

The other thing about people who do well on tests like the MCAT is that they read quickly with comprehension. Remember that the MCAT is a timed test. If you could spend as long as you wanted to take the test, then a lot more people would get significantly higher raw scores because one of the factors limiting most people’s MCAT performance is running out of time. In contrast, people who score really high on the MCAT are people who finish early because they are fast readers, and giving them more time wouldn’t be particularly helpful.

10. How much are admissions committees impressed by seeing MCAT scores over 40?

Not as much as you might think. When I was interviewing, I had several admissions folks practically gloating to me about the high-stat applicants that they had rejected because those applicants were arrogant and acted like they were entitled to a medical school seat based upon their stats.

Sorry, but that isn’t how the medical school admissions game works. Stellar stats will only get you so far. I think for the MCAT that once you hit the mid-thirties range, say 35+, then scoring even higher on the MCAT doesn’t really do much to improve the overall strength of your application. A 35 already puts you in the top 5% of all test-takers. If you apply with a 35 MCAT, no adcom is going to doubt your academic ability based on your MCAT score.

11. How much does your MCAT score matter once you’re accepted to medical school?

It really doesn’t matter at all. Once you’re in, you and all of your classmates are more or less on equal footing; the school wouldn’t have admitted you if they didn’t think you were capable of completing the program successfully. I’m getting ready to start my second year this fall, and I can tell you that we’re all thinking a lot more about taking Step 1 next spring than we are about the MCAT!

12. What advice do you have for people who do poorly on the MCAT and need to retake it?

It’s really important to figure out why you didn’t do well so that you can take steps to correct your deficiencies. For example, if your problem is that you run out of time because you spend too long reading the passages, then you need to practice getting through the passages faster. If you weren’t prepared enough, you need to make sure that you prepare properly for your next attempt, and so on.

13. What are some of the most common mistakes that people make when preparing for the MCAT?

One common mistake that people make is taking the test before completing all four pre-req courses and/or without adequately studying. Keep in mind that the MCAT is a curved test, and you’re taking it against a lot of very smart people who have completed all four pre-reqs and taken a test prep course besides. It isn’t a good idea to skimp on the preparation; those classes are called pre-requisites for a reason.

Another mistake people make is not taking enough practice tests. You want to be very familiar with the test format before you ever set foot in that room. Most test-prep courses have students take about five or six practice tests, and I think that’s a good number. You can get practice tests from the AAMC website at www.aamc.org that are very good. These tests are old MCATs that have been released by the AAMC; one of the tests (3R) is offered for free. In addition, some test prep companies like TPR and Kaplan offer one free practice test each on their websites. It’s probably worth your while to take advantage of those resources. Make sure to take the tests under strictly timed conditions, and review all of the answer choice explanations after you’re done.

But the most common mistake I see is that people do not set aside enough time to really study for the MCAT. If you are already working full-time, taking classes full-time, or a combination of both, and now you want to study for the MCAT on top of it all, something has to give. If you’re a full-time student, take a slightly easier load the semester you take the MCAT, and make studying for the MCAT like one of your classes. If you’re working and have outside responsibilities like childcare, cut back on your work some so that you have enough time to study for the MCAT.

You can’t do everything, so give yourself the time that you need. You have to actually carve out the time in your schedule; you won’t find that time lying around somewhere waiting for you.

14. Do test prep courses make enough difference to be worth the extra cost versus self-study?

I’ll start this question with the caveat that I’m a long-time instructor for Kaplan. But my most objective opinion is that test prep courses are most helpful for people who need a kick in the derriere to study effectively. In other words, if you’re a highly motivated person who will make a study schedule and stick to it on your own, you probably don’t need a test prep course. But if you’re the kind of person who tends to start out with good intentions and then quickly gets off track, it might be worth the money to take a course because it helps to hold you accountable. One of my jobs as an instructor is to keep pushing my students to complete the assignments and keep up with the study schedule.

I also think that there can be some psychological comfort from taking a test prep course, especially for older students who have been out of school for a while and aren’t really sure where to begin. But as to whether you MUST take a test prep course in order to do well, the answer is no.

15. As a nontraditional student, what advice do you have for other nontrads who are preparing for the MCAT?

There are no special preparation methods for nontrads that are different than what the younger students need to do. Nontrads have some disadvantages in that they have often been out of school for a while, and they have to get back into study mode to prepare for the MCAT. But the process is pretty much the same for us as for the trads; first take the four pre-reqs, take 2-3 months to study, take plenty of practice tests, etc.

I think that sometimes nontrads tend to want to rush through the process; they feel like they have to make up for lost time since they are older. But I look at it this way: you aren’t going to be 22 as an M1 no matter what you do. It’s better to take an extra year to do things right the first time and not have a poor first MCAT score to overcome along with other potential deficiencies in your academic record. I was 31 when I started medical school, and I’m far from being the oldest medical student on SDN.

16. When do you think is the best time to take the MCAT?

You should take it whenever you’re prepared and feel that you can do well. Ideally, take the MCAT no later than May or June of the year when you plan to apply. If you take a very late MCAT, consider applying the following year instead.

For example, I took the MCAT in August 2004, but I didn’t apply until June 2005 for the 2006 entering class. That way, instead of being one of the late 2004 applicants, I was the very earliest 2005 applicant. I had my AMCAS submitted on June 1 and verified by June 15.

Now that the test is computerized, there are more choices of test dates, and you’ll get your scores back faster.  But, it’s still not ideal to take the test in September of the year you plan to apply, because many schools are already interviewing people by then. By the time you get your scores back in October and are ready to finally begin applying, some of the earliest applicants will already be getting their first acceptances.

17. What advice can you give about the new CBT MCAT?

Some of the test day strategies are a little bit different since the test is on a computer now instead of being done with pencil and paper. But overall, the preparation required is about the same: take the pre-reqs, study for the test, and take several timed practice tests on a computer.

It’s also a good idea to go to the AAMC website and take the computer tutorial before you go to take the real test. You don’t want to waste valuable time on test day because you aren’t familiar with the computer interface. These tips and more are available in the MCAT subforum in the General Questions sticky thread.

18. Tell me more about the SDN MCAT Study Questions subforum.

The MCAT subforum is intended for students who are studying for the MCAT and other pre-health tests like the DAT, OAT, and PCAT. There are two series of threads there. The Explanations threads are the ones that are stickied at the top of the subforum. There is a separate Explanations thread for each MCAT subject except biology, which has two of them. There is an additional General Explanations thread. These threads are for didactic posts that explain difficult concepts and offer advice. Regular members should not post in them; these threads are kept locked for this reason.

The second series of threads are the Question threads. Again, there is a separate thread for each subject, two for biology, plus a general question thread. These threads are open for students to ask questions about concepts or study problems they are having. All questions should be asked in the appropriate Question thread; the MCAT mod staff will remove all new threads that are started by users.

[Editor’s note: the MCAT subforum is located at  http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=134]

19. Why are you and the other staff so strict about not letting the members post MCAT questions or answers on SDN?

The AAMC is very serious about protecting the integrity of their tests, and they actively monitor SDN. We want to continue having SDN as a free community with as little outside oversight as possible, which means that we need to police ourselves. In addition, we want to protect our users. Users who violate AAMC copyrights could theoretically be prosecuted by the AAMC. Finally, although we at SDN enforce our privacy policy as diligently as possible, no public website is totally anonymous. It is good advice to never post anything on SDN that you wouldn’t want attributed to you in your offline life.

20. What role do you play on SDN, and what made you decide to join SDN and give MCAT advice?

I’m overseeing the premedical forums now, but I joined the SDN staff two years ago as one of the original two advisors. (Shrike was the other one.) Lee Burnett created the MCAT subforum, and Shrike and I set it up. Last year I became mod of the MCAT forum, and then one day last summer I was promoted to smod. I’ve continued modding MCAT, and I also advise in the Physician Scientist forum. Another staff member, gridiron, is now taking charge of the MCAT subforum, and a new MCAT mod will be promoted soon.

It’s difficult to explain the attraction and addiction that SDN has been for me. Briefly, I was a pharmaceutical chemist in my former life, and I also taught classes for the university where I was doing my PhD. One of my students told me about SDN, and the night I got my MCAT score back, I decided to join. I basically realized after I called my parents and the manager at Kaplan that I didn’t know another soul on this planet who would even understand what my test score meant, let alone care.

What I like so much about SDN is the community we have here, especially for those of us who are older students. You tend to be isolated from other premeds when you’re out of college, and it’s nice to know that you’re not the only crazy “grown-up” going through this process. I have met several friends on SDN, including some of my current medical school classmates and the other SDN staff. I have to say though that I’m glad I didn’t join SDN before I took the MCAT because it’s easy to spend too much time on SDN when I should be studying!

The discussion thread for this article may be found here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=5342523

Kaplan

Kaplan’s Complete Preparation for the Computer-Based MCAT costs $1,749 for Classroom or Online Courses. They offer the “Kaplan Higher Score Guarantee” that states that if you feel you’re not ready to take the exam, you can study with them again for free for the next test date. They also say that, no matter how many points you improve, if you’re not satisfied with your overall score, you can study with them again for free for the next test date. Lastly, if for any reason you don’t raise your overall score, you can study with them again for free or get your money back.

Kaplan’s Classroom Course features 18 three-hour-long classroom lessons; a diagnostic for MCAT-style Critical Thinking, and an exclusive Science Diagnostic for specific content evaluation, all with personalized feedback; 11 full-length exams in computer-based format; over 10,000 practice items with 40,000 explanations for the right answers; full online access to all Kaplan Materials; homework before (Previews) and after (Reviews) each lesson; topical, section and full-length online practice tests in computer-based interface; access to over 1,300 pages of review notes, plus the ability to create a lesson on any topic(s) you choose; over 1,000 additional problems in Kaplan’s MCAT QBank engine, to help you assemble custom quizzes; online content workshops with quizzes to target and strengthen your weak areas; and Lessons-on-Demand, a free online make-up class.

Their Home Study Materials include a comprehensive MCAT course book with class notes and homework assignments; MCAT flashcards; MCAT QuickSheets that detail the most-tested science concepts and formulas for on-the-go study; Review Notes with over 1,300 pages of science and verbal content; Kaplan’s High-Yield Problem Solving Guide; and a 52-week subscription to The Wall Street Journal.

The MCAT Class plus five hours of tutoring costs $2,149, and the MCAT Online Course is $1,499. There are also a la cart options, such as MCAT Online Science Review ($499); MCAT Qbank ($199); MCAT Organic Edge covering organic chemistry ($499); MCAT Physics Edge ($499); and MCAT Verbal Edge ($499).

The Princeton Review 

The Princeton Review is another study option. They offer a “Hyperlearning” MCAT Course that costs $1,699 and features five full-length, computer-based practice MCATs with highlight, strike-out, and note-taking features and score reports; 41 class sessions and up to 102 hours of instruction; up to 4,300 pages of comprehensive, up-to-date materials; and up to 22 hours of verbal preparation.

Their course includes a Physical Sciences Review, which offers more than 500 pages of physics and general chemistry review, and a Biological Sciences Review that features more than 600 pages of biology and organic chemistry review. Princeton Review’s Science Workbook includes 700 pages and hundreds of MCAT-style practice passages and questions, with complete explanations. The Verbal Reasoning and Writing Reviews feature more than 200 pages of review, descriptions of passages, strategies, tips, and techniques. Lastly, the Verbal Workbook has dozens of MCAT practice passages and four full-length Verbal Reasoning practice tests with complete explanations.

Also included is the In-Class Passage Compendium, which is the equivalent of four MCATs’ worth of additional test questions, as well as the Science Review Q&S, which is a “Questions and Solutions” booklet with hundreds of practice questions reflecting material from the most recent MCAT. This course also includes a 52-week trial subscription to The Wall Street Journal, as well as access to LiveGrader SM, which features feedback on your essay from an MCAT expert.

Princeton Review offers Small Group Tutoring with a three-pre-med-student-to-one-tutor ratio. You can choose one or any combination of subjects, including Organic Chemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Verbal Reasoning. The cost is $1,000 and covers 15 hours. (Private Tutoring is another option, which will set you back between $4,800 and $14,400, and includes 48 hours of one-on-one MCAT tutoring.)

The Princeton Review offers a money-back guarantee that states that if you’re not satisfied for any reason, they’ll work with you again for free, and if your score does not improve, they’ll work with you again for free or you can get your money back.

e-MCAT

If you choose to study on your own but still want to take practice tests, MCAT practice tests are available at e-mcat.com. One complete test is provided for free, and you can also purchase sample tests a la cart for $35 to $40, which are composed of previously administered MCAT items and include automated scoring, integrated solutions and diagnostic reports.

e-MCAT offers two memberships. Their free membership includes the right to take Practice Test 3R as many times as you like. The $80 full membership provides you access to the site for two administrations of the MCAT, as well as access to four customizable practice tests and the ability to take the tests as many times as you like. All memberships gain full access to the e-MCAT web community, where you can take tests online, print tests and diagnostic score reports, and review previously taken tests.

MCAT prep courses are there to get you as ready as you’ll ever be for the real thing. And when it comes to preparing for the MCATs, there’s a study tool for every budget.

Here’s a rundown of the tip of the iceberg of what’s available in the MCAT prep world:

The Gold Standard MCAT, by Dr. Brett Ferdinand, covers all science sections in detail, and includes a review for verbal reasoning, a “Five minute, Five step” approach to the writing sample, conversion tables for MCAT scores, and over 100 diagrams and illustrations.

Available at mcat-bookstore.com for $60, the 842-page Gold Standard includes a comprehensive and easy-to-understand review of the MCAT, and three pull-out full-length practice exams with explanations. This manual covers all aspects of medical school admissions, as well as tips for improving your grades, preparing for medical school interviews, and strategies for autobiographical materials and letters of references.

Dr. Ferdinand was accepted by all the medical schools to which he applied. During medical school, he completed the Gold Standard textbook. The book received distribution throughout North America and instantly became a best-selling study guide. Today, Dr. Ferdinand is a surgeon and is well known for making difficult concepts easy to understand. Over the years, he has lectured to thousands of pre-medical students and reached thousands more through his books and through online interactive programs.

Dr. Ferdinand also wrote The Silver Bullet: Real MCATs Explained, which is a 592-page book containing the answers to MCAT Practice Tests I, II and III with clear, complete explanations given by people who wrote and excelled at the MCAT. It also includes lists of essential equations to memorize, a summary of important Organic Chemistry reactions, and special attention to difficult questions, all for $39. This study guide also includes a full-length, simulated practice exam along with answers and explanations.

ExamKrackers offers a line of MCAT study guides, including the MCAT Complete Study Package, by Jonathan Orsay, for $174.95 at examkrackers.com. This five-volume set of the newest editions of the ExamKrackers MCAT manuals includes a top-quality, full-length practice MCAT as a bonus. The package includes all five ExamKrackers course manuals, one for each MCAT topic (biology, physics, chemistry, organic chemistry, and verbal). It contains 1,088 pages; 31 30-minute MCAT practice exams with answers and explanations; and more than 1,638 MCAT questions.

Jonathan Orsay took the MCAT three times from 1989 to 1996, scoring in the 90 percentiles on all sections before becoming an MCAT instructor. He has written an internal intelligence report for ExamKrackers for each MCAT administration since 1998 based upon student impressions days after taking the actual exam, and he has taught premeds from such prestigious Universities as Harvard and Columbia.

He is currently the Director of MCAT for ExamKrackers, and he has written ExamKrackers MCAT Physics ($41.90); ExamKrackers MCAT Chemistry ($36.99); ExamKrackers MCAT Organic Chemistry ($29.99); ExamKrackers MCAT Biology ($45.99); and Examkrackers MCAT Verbal Reasoning and Mathematical Techniques ($29.95), all of which can be purchased separately.

Among the more recognizable MCAT study guides is Kaplan’s MCAT Premier Program for $50.40 at amazon.com, which is 1,080 pages and includes all the essential information that students need to know about the new exam. The text includes a complete science review, featuring two full-length practice MCATs; detailed answer explanations; two full-length verbal reasoning tests; proven score-raising strategies; and a CD-ROM with additional practice questions and flashcards.

The Princeton Review’s Cracking the MCAT CBT is 1,120 pages and costs $59.95 at princetonreview.com. Cracking the MCAT brings proven techniques from the test prep experts that will help you score higher on the exam. Plus, it includes the most up-to-date information about the MCAT CBT (computer-based test) format.

The book includes hundreds of practice questions and exclusive free access to practice tests online; simulated MCAT passages just like the ones you’ll find on the exam; substantive practice tied to every concept reviewed, followed by detailed solutions; special sections on MCAT essays and a review of essential mathematics; and a thorough and systematic review of all science and verbal skills you’ll need for the MCAT. All topics in the physical and biological sciences are presented with sample problems, labeled illustrations, charts and diagrams.

SDN has recently entered the MCAT study guide arena with it’s review book Student Doctor Network MCAT Pearls, written by Alfa Diallo.  Published in 2007, it features 504 pages of review questions and tips.

Now, opportunities to take the test have increase from twice a year to 22 times, and the test day takes about half as long as the paper-test days of old. This is partly because the new test is shorter (with the amount of questions reduced proportionately in all sections of the test).

Because the number of questions has been reduced by about one-third, the amount of time allowed to take the test has been reduced by about 30 percent, to four and a half hours. Test results are speedier as well; they will be available in 30 days instead of 60, with plans to eventually reduce reporting to 14 days.

The new test lets you work through the exam at your own pace (within the maximum time limit per section), as well as take optional breaks. A typical test day will break down something like this: optional tutorial, 10 minutes; Physical Sciences (52 questions), 70 minutes; Verbal Reasoning (40 questions), 60 minutes; Writing Sample (2 questions), 60 minutes; Biological Sciences (52 questions), 70 minutes; and a final survey, 10 minutes.

Just as with the paper test, you’re allowed to review and make changes to your answers until you reach the time limit for whatever section you’re in. You’re also given scratch paper on site, which, as usual, is collected at the completion of the test.

The computerized test lets you highlight passage sections and strike out answer choices on your computer screen. You can also edit, cut, paste and copy sections within your Writing Sample, although there is no spell-check ability.

Both morning and afternoon sessions are available on weekdays and Saturdays. The schedule of 2007 morning testing sessions includes Jan. 27, April 7, May 16, May 25, June 15, July 13, Aug. 6, Aug. 9, Aug. 16, and Sept. 8. The afternoon sessions are Jan. 29, April 12, April 16, May 11, May 31, June 15, July 13, July 14, Aug. 9, Aug. 14, Aug. 20, and Sept. 7.

Thomson Prometric, the company that delivers the computerized MCAT, provides the testing centers, which are climate- and sound-controlled, and feature ergonomic chairs, lockers and noise reduction headphones for examinees. Most testing labs are equipped to accommodate up to 16 workstations (but that doesn’t mean all the workstations will be in use on your test day).

Because technology can fail, the computerized MCAT is designed with a recovery feature. If you experience technical difficulties, simply notify your Test Center Administrator, who will most likely resolve the problem by restarting your system or by having you move to a different system and resume your test exactly where you left off (with no time lost or deducted). If the test can’t be resumed, you exam will be rescheduled at no cost to you.

Registration is available online at http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/registration.htm and opens roughly six months before each testing date. Registration opened Nov. 15 for Jan. test dates, and Dec. 13 for April and May dates. June and July tests are open for registration Feb. 14, and Aug. and Sept. test dates are open April 11. Procrastinators take note—you’re still able to register for the MCATs up until two weeks before a chosen testing date, space permitting.

When you register, you get to choose a general location where you’d like to take the test among the hundreds of testing sites in North America and select sites in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East (there’s supposed to be at least one testing site within 100 miles of every candidate). Then choose your desired test center, date and time (specific time-place options will be closed as they are filled).

For those who have trouble adapting to change, never fear. The fee for the computerized MCAT is $210, which is the same as it was last year. It’s good to know some things don’t change.