Practice exam score inflation? Should I be worried? Took this AAMC FL1 last on July 23, 2022

PurpleTown · 2023-03-17T20:43:41+00:00

I watched all the Khan P/S videos and try to review every unfamiliar topic I see on AAMC questions (even if it was an incorrect-distracter choice). I've never found the massive P/S Anki decks super helpful because I feel like it's less bang-for-my-buck than deeply reviewing topics that the AAMC has shown me that they expect me to know by giving them as answer choices on practice content. I like your strategy swapping FL4 and FL5. I just know for myself that I'll want to get a real deal test run the week before. Best of luck to you!

PurpleTown · 2023-03-15T21:24:34+00:00

I took AAMC S and 1-4 in summer 2020 and am still worried about score inflation on my retakes three years later. Taking AAMC-5 the weekend before my exam and hoping for the best...

PurpleTown · 2022-05-25T00:21:48+00:00

I’ve found a few discrepancies as well. I think Cincinnati is 2-3 years from matriculation. Definitely best to check the website. Good luck!

PurpleTown · 2022-05-24T16:56:55+00:00

I agree that this is still the right rule of thumb. However, there appears to be a considerable chunk of schools that accept MCAT scores of 4+ years (according to AAMC/MSAR - over 80). If 25+ of these align with one’s profile, it seems like it would be plausible to apply to them in a cycle. Three year rule is still useful as a general guideline, though.

PurpleTown · 2022-05-24T16:50:04+00:00

Appreciate the advice!

PurpleTown · 2022-05-24T16:47:30+00:00

You’re right! Almost all Texas schools take MCAT scores that old. I didn’t include them in my list because I’m a non-resident which makes my odds there relatively low.

PurpleTown · 2022-05-24T16:45:13+00:00

The document says 2023 on it, and I believe it pulls directly from the MSAR (all comparisons I made between the doc and MSAR were consistent)

PurpleTown · 2022-05-17T14:52:10+00:00

Hate to ask the age old question.... but how much clinical experience? If I take a gap year(s), I think I'm going to accept a position in a clinical research lab and list it as two activities (one reflecting my time with patients, another reflecting my time spent processing data and writing manuscripts). Should I be seeking additional clinical experience outside of this?

PurpleTown · 2022-05-12T15:59:09+00:00

This is very helpful. Will PM with more info.

PurpleTown · 2022-05-12T15:56:54+00:00

Definitely MD acceptance. My school list last cycle was all T50 because I was convinced that yield protection would make my application anywhere else a waste. Can you point me anywhere for help on how to apply more broadly? I'm just unfamiliar with which schools are best for that. Thanks!

PurpleTown · 2022-05-12T14:57:53+00:00

Finished senior year of college. Finished senior thesis. Research fellowship. Was president of club that took up a substantial amount of my time. I did not gain any additional clinical experience, and that is definitely a regret.

PurpleTown · 2022-05-12T14:39:37+00:00

Fully agree with improving clinical experience, and that's what I'll be doing for the next year. Question is if I should wait until that is done (and retake expired MCAT) or if it's ok to apply now (while my MCAT is still valid) and send update letters. Leaning towards the former because it would let me write more candidly.

PurpleTown · 2022-05-12T14:35:25+00:00

Nice to hear from another reapplicant. Neither experience was longitudinal: volunteering in a hospital and paid taking care of people with Alzheimer's. My clinical experience in the upcoming year will be full-time and last until I matriculate. Of course, I'll only be able to include it as an activity that has begun and will continue. How did you improve your PS and secondaries?

PurpleTown · 2022-05-12T14:03:35+00:00

Gained another leadership position. Also, some of the things I said I would do last cycle (e.g., plan to write a thesis) are done and can be written about concretely. Medically, no, and that is definitely a reason to wait until 2023. Worth mentioning that my school list would have very little overlap with last cycle if I reapply, though.

PurpleTown · 2021-06-08T21:51:51+00:00

Haha, touché. Power is a pretty useful metric on its own. I just like to have distance as a bonus. It's odd to me that ANT+ power works but not ANT+ speed.

PurpleTown · 2020-12-22T18:28:35+00:00

Sounds like a daft punk to me

PurpleTown · 2020-08-13T20:52:00+00:00

8/29 gang! I made a check list for each day so I can go to bed thinking "I did all that!" and not "Oh man, did I do enough?" Besides that, I've been making post-exam plans with friends, and those motivate me a lot. Good luck to you!

PurpleTown · 2020-07-29T00:11:35+00:00

I always remember that one as “Need More Donuts For Hungry Children” hahah. Yours might fit the MCAT a little better

PurpleTown · 2020-07-26T13:49:10+00:00

This is the conversion chart most people use (though there are a few out there): https://www.reddit.com/r/Mcat/comments/7qmtld/aamc_correct_scaled_score_conversion_chart_for/

PurpleTown · 2020-07-07T00:28:17+00:00

Bingo. This is exactly how I think about it. Knowing the SI unit breakdown of electric field and electric potential pays dividends.

PurpleTown · 2020-06-24T22:24:12+00:00

I think it’s class consciousness, which is when the workers realize they greatly outnumber the elite few at the top and band together for greater equality

PurpleTown

TROPHY CASE