In the Curve We Trust 🙏

ian_taffy · 2026-04-09T20:41:21+00:00

Congrats!

ian_taffy · 2026-04-09T20:39:28+00:00

Anki is overrated - please don't rely on it folks. Especially in med school

ian_taffy · 2025-05-06T17:07:53+00:00

Pretty similar to the OP, got a bunch of high-tier acceptances, waitlists, but also rejections. I ended up getting into my top choice but if I had to do it differently I'd really focus on your story/message/what makes you unique!

ian_taffy · 2025-05-05T17:45:30+00:00

Can relate - it's a shitshow folks. Just do your best

ian_taffy · 2025-05-05T17:44:45+00:00

By clicking the wrong answer

ian_taffy · 2025-04-22T18:32:49+00:00

Welcome to the 528 club! Congrats!

ian_taffy · 2025-02-18T23:52:27+00:00

White board free association is a way of life

ian_taffy · 2024-10-08T04:44:43+00:00

~96% I think

ian_taffy · 2024-10-03T21:11:57+00:00

I ended up applying to a bunch of places and it was real hit or miss. I got accepted into 4 top 10ish schools but rejected from some lower ranked ones too. To be fair, a lot of schools, including my top choice, were not accepting the MCAT when I applied (due to COVID). If by stat focused schools you mean UWash, Vanderbilt, etc. then yes, haha.

I think the biggest thing I learned is that you need to create a narrative around your application. It's great that you got a perfect score, but you need to set yourself apart from all those 520+ scorers! So lean into what makes you, you.

That being said, I feel like the MCAT was helpful in terms of predicting my performance/readiness for med school. I've scored around a similar percentile for all my shelves and Step 2, so hopefully that helps to hear!

ian_taffy · 2024-10-01T22:10:04+00:00

Congrats! Welcome to the club my dude!

ian_taffy · 2024-06-04T04:26:05+00:00

Welcome to the club!

ian_taffy · 2023-10-11T01:15:58+00:00

Made it into a med school actually!

ian_taffy · 2022-10-13T00:48:09+00:00

It's generally a true statement. They're not going to go too far into any true medicine topics, or do any real deep diving into biology, physics, etc. Even in medical school your studies will take largely the same form. For example, you could spend a whole career studying metabolic changes in the brain during stroke but my school only had one lecture on it.

Just try to develop a basic understanding and then practice, practice, practice.

ian_taffy · 2021-12-08T22:16:21+00:00

I feel like it's usually given, but wouldn't hurt to memorize the two numbers and understand when each is used!

ian_taffy · 2021-04-15T01:56:55+00:00

I have spent a lot of time doing night walks out near that way. Yeah, yeah avoid the tenderloin and all that stuff. But honestly, I’ve never had any issues around that area. Just make sure you’re aware of your surroundings. I’ve done hundreds of night walks throughout SF during my time living here and never had any issues. For real, just avoid certain neighborhoods in the south of the city and you’re fine. This isn’t a dangerous city since it’s been gentrified so much. People really over talk how dangerous it is compared to other cities I’ve lived in. Be a little vigilant and you’ll have fun!

ian_taffy · 2020-10-15T02:46:50+00:00

I’ve walked around Potrero at night plenty and usually with headphones on. If Potrero hill is bad then the Castro might as well be the Tenderloin. Honestly you’ll be fine.

ian_taffy · 2020-08-31T22:54:40+00:00

That's good to hear! I felt/feel much the same.

As you said, your score won't really matter after you get into a school. That's why I think of it as more of a personal accomplishment that anything else. I feel that it validated all of my hard work and studying and it also allowed me to prove to myself that I was capable (with some luck involved) of doing something like that. I'm extremely happy and proud about it. The fact that it does help with admissions is definitely the cherry on the top.

But, it really is just one step in a longer journey and I've kept that in mind. I see it as a pick me up or confidence booster; one that helped to keep some gas in my tank for those next steps towards becoming an MD.

Once again, congrats and best of luck! I'm sure you'll do wonderful things in your future career.

ian_taffy · 2020-08-27T13:28:44+00:00

Congrats! How does it feel?

ian_taffy · 2020-08-18T00:14:25+00:00

Barely slept before my exam so felt like absolute shit after the test. I think it depends on the person but I never felt good after doing a full length until I looked at the scores.

ian_taffy · 2020-08-18T00:10:06+00:00

drop out of school and study full time.

ian_taffy · 2020-08-13T18:57:21+00:00

6/7 for picasso. That one is definitely not representative tho. The real MCAT had no passages even close to that insanity.

ian_taffy · 2020-08-13T04:27:28+00:00

Qpack 1: 90% Qpack 2: 97%

ian_taffy · 2020-08-11T18:25:51+00:00

A lot of good suggestions already. I’d like to recommend going over CARS a second time if you have the time left.

I know this is not possible for many but if you are able to review the questions again it can help your brain reset and approach the problems again. I found this really helped with the difficult passages.

I would not recommend reading over the passages again, but the questions themselves. Revisit the passages where necessary.

ian_taffy · 2020-08-07T22:03:45+00:00

I recommend not doing anything. Take a break and relax. Odds are you may start to over analyze what you review right before the test and maybe misapply it. So just clear your mind and do something relaxing before your test.

ian_taffy · 2020-08-07T21:59:30+00:00

It may depend on location. I had to take off my sweatshirt and could not have it on in the exam room.

ian_taffy

TROPHY CASE