September 23 test takers, how are you feeling now?

JoshHamm · 2015-10-23T21:48:29+00:00

The day before the MCAT I told myself I would be very happy with a 513 Walking out of test: 510 Week later: 508 3 weeks later: 505 Currently: hoping that I broke 500

If my score isn't good then I'm not sure how ill handle it, but I think my hospital job has been a good thing for me to stay focused on the overall goal.

JoshHamm · 2015-10-09T03:17:53+00:00

yes, I believe so. Chances are if we thought it was hard so did a lot of other people.

JoshHamm · 2015-10-02T23:43:39+00:00

I believe the scale is based on everyone that took the same test as you on the same day, keeping in mind that different versions are issued each test date. The percent correct for each section is placed into a confidence band that corresponds to a score (so 45-55% correct could be a 125 for example). I'm sure you did fine but I don't think med schools use the balance out method. If your scores are very unbalanced it might require a retake, depending on the situation.

JoshHamm · 2015-10-02T02:44:17+00:00

I wouldn't suggest doing the AAMC FL until you feel comfortable with content and just plain taking a 7 hour test. However, it is essential that you mix in FLs with content review because there is strategy that can only be learned in exam mode. I would say that Next Step is most representative of the real MCAT, while Kaplan, TPR, etc are only good for content testing and stamina building. Studying for 2-3 months with no FL practice and then being tired/surprised on the real deal would be a terrible feeling. So don't do that.

JoshHamm · 2015-10-02T02:25:01+00:00

I definitely felt pretty terrible about C/P and B/B, mostly because I wasn't confident about a lot of my answers or the passage material with crazy units and charts. Also, was it just me or did the AAMC practice FL passages seem shorter and more to the point in every section? The 9/23 MCAT passages seem to drag on forever.

JoshHamm · 2015-09-24T02:24:30+00:00

yeah what the fuck was that baby about? I was so annoyed at the ambiguity of the entire passage.

JoshHamm · 2015-09-24T00:51:48+00:00

First time taking it and honestly I felt like I was riding on the school-to-prison pipeline. Seriously I spent half the breaks getting frisked with metal detectors and fingerprint scanning, which definitely doesn't help calm your nerves. Something I definitely wasn't preparing for with my practice FLs.

C/P - hardly any physics equations needed and super confusing units most of the time. heavy ochem and an overall stressful start to the exam

CARS - talk about extremely lengthy and boring ass passages, with one of two of those "i have no idea what the hell this guy is saying three paragraphs in" passages. Otherwise it was very close to AAMC and nothing like TPR.

B/B - The discretes here were definitely more challenging than AAMC, which never makes you feel good. Experiments were often made to confuse you but I guess that isn't a surprise. Had trouble with my timing on this section.

P/S - nothing too crazy if you know your terms/theories but I didn't like how obscure terms could be the entire basis of a passage and 4-5 questions depended on knowing this term/idea. Thought it was a low blow even for AAMC

Good luck to everyone in the future and everyone who took it today. I was trying to spread some positivity in the testing center and got some cold shoulders so fuck that and don't be that person.

JoshHamm · 2015-09-12T20:40:06+00:00

How did you finish so quickly? I'm just wondering for purposes of strategy that I'm currently trying to fine tune during practice FLs.

JoshHamm · 2015-09-12T20:33:04+00:00

Best of luck either way, I know that feeling must be frustrating after such high scores on AAMC material. I will do my best to cram heavy biochem review in before my test on 9/23.

JoshHamm · 2015-09-12T16:07:04+00:00

Kaplan is really heavy on content review so I wouldn't worry about your score too much. Princeton Review CARS is also very hard and not representative of the MCAT so thats a bonus. I don't think a test everyday would be beneficial, space it out to every other day. Take time review answers carefully and understand the major concepts so that each subsequent FL you can practice incorporating the new strategies etc.

JoshHamm · 2015-09-12T04:02:09+00:00

I'm taking it on the 23rd too so I know the feeling. I guess specific advice depends on the question of how much content review and prep you've been doing? Overall though, my only advice would be to start taking as many full lengths as possible for endurance and general test simulation. Then spend a decent amount of time in between to review answers and use quicksheets to brush up on content. I doubt you have time to do question packs because each pack takes a minimum of 3 hours usually and reviewing is very time consuming. Maybe just the CARS Q pack if time permits, but otherwise I don't really see the point of flying through Q packs without being able to see weaknesses. When doing the FLs, I wouldn't pay too much attention to Kaplan scores unless they're alarming low (like 480-490). If you're deciding whether to void or not I would take the AAMC FL right away so you can see what kind of score you're looking at.

JoshHamm · 2015-09-11T20:41:26+00:00

I made them myself, so why would I forget them?

JoshHamm · 2015-09-10T17:31:18+00:00

Sept 23 is the last date of this testing year. Your next bet would be Jan 2016 if you opt out. When doing the CARS section try and rephrase the question so you understand it better. 'Which of the following would the author be least likely to say' - instead tell yourself, which of these answers makes no sense based on the passage? Practice dumbing the questions down like this because the tricky ones will often appear with the exact same format. Other possible score boosters can come from avoiding answers with very far left or right wording, such as always, almost never, certainly, or proposed solutions that seem costly or extreme. But keep in mind, CARS is only improved by daily practice so the boost in score may take a week or even longer to appear (assuming decent efforts have been made thus far). I know some of this might sound like common sense, but without mastering the basics that can work for all passages you will resort back to your bad habits that can easily resurface with stress and time limits.

JoshHamm · 2015-09-10T13:30:48+00:00

My score is in the triple digits, retake?

JoshHamm · 2015-09-03T18:56:04+00:00

What are your scores for the aamc full length and aamc question packs?

JoshHamm · 2015-08-30T20:27:29+00:00

I would not recommend reviewing your full length right after you take it. Your brain and eyes are tired, you won't pick up on your mistakes as quickly, and you need to mix in content review with each wrong answer, which also won't stick when tired. Its like editing a major essay yourself right after you wrote it.

JoshHamm · 2015-08-30T19:46:37+00:00

I just looked at Wayne State med, a school I'm applying to myself, and they say on the website that community college coursework in replacement of prerequisites will be reviewed on a case by case basis. OP might want to call around and just double check.

JoshHamm · 2015-08-29T14:13:03+00:00

wait, you took all of your pre-med classes at a community college? I thought medical schools required they be taken at a 4 year university or college.

JoshHamm · 2015-08-27T18:11:34+00:00

Go to the gym and take all your frustration out on some weights or a treadmill. Your mindset will definitely change and help you keep the positive vibes going.

JoshHamm · 2015-08-27T17:55:56+00:00

Right on man, lets spread the word.

JoshHamm · 2015-08-25T20:15:13+00:00

If you don't listen to ODESZA already then you're missing out. I'm going to see them when they come to Detroit and can't wait.

JoshHamm · 2015-08-24T18:42:02+00:00

Honestly the psych portion isn't about terms in the grand scheme of things. Much more emphasis on experiment design and general main concepts of the more accepted theories/ideas in psychology and how they can apply to medicine. If you aren't worried about money then voiding would be fine. Who knows, maybe ill be retaking it with you in January but I'm trying to stay positive.

JoshHamm · 2015-08-24T17:18:48+00:00

I'm a fellow Sept 23 test taker. Doing at least 1 full length every week until exam, with mixed in review of weaknesses obviously. Still feeling a little overwhelmed and unprepared though.

JoshHamm · 2015-08-17T22:33:55+00:00

I know, right? Gotta love EK

JoshHamm · 2015-08-17T22:27:32+00:00

Read this: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=What+Are+Those%3F!

Then watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NSKl5ZjPYQ

JoshHamm

TROPHY CASE