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Did you mean parochial? Or would “provincial” be closer to what you meant? Either fits but there are undertones to parochial that I don’t know if you intended…but then again, you might have. ;)</p>
<p>And btw, as I think you know maybe better than I, my data point appears to have fully adopted your view of education as exploration. I wouldn’t have minded her being 90 miles from the ranch but…I am both parochial and provincial. lol.</p>
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<p>I am glad that DS has been staying far from this oftentimes overly-concerned parent for the past 4 years. He really needs some space from his parents in order to seek his independence. It did hurt us financially to fly him back an forth for every school break and he often needs to wake up very early to catch the flight.</p>
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For some reason, DS said a few times that it is better for him to go to a somewhat lower-ranked medical school – assuming that he could get into one, of course. One reason may be that he is not confident at all to get into any top one. Another reason he mentions is that he has been tired of always needing to compete against many competitive students. Well…Good luck for him because I recall everybody is saying that most medical school students at almost all medical schools are super-competitive.</p>
<p>MiamiDAP, DS did sit on one, somewhat reluctantly – likely the one after your D’s. He really did not prepare much before the test and he said he might have done worse than his AAMC practice test. I heard PS seems to be easy on that particular test, but many BS paragraphs are very lengthy. He said afterwords he basically ran out of energy during that last section 
Considering the limited number of AAMC tests he has practiced recently, it is quite possible that he has not built up the “endurance strength” to stomach this kind of test. It would be interesting to see what he might decide to do next if he does not get his targeted score, which is 32 or 33. Will he decide to practice more and retake (then it would be late)? It is all up to him to decide.</p>
<p>^It was opposite for my D. Her easiest on practice tests has been consistently PS. She was surprised that PS on her actual test was harder than BS. Kind of worries me a little, but we are not discussing exam. PS has definately been her strongest section all along, but not on actual exam. Will see… She actually prepared a lot, but in couple weeks before test was very anxious just to take it and be done with it, wished it was sooner.</p>
<p>^ It is the opposite for DS. He basically “cram it” for only a couple of weeks right before the test, especially after the commencement after all of his friends left town. It may not be an optimal way to prepare for this kind of test. He did study some last summer when he took the Kaplan course. He should have taken the test at the end of last summer.</p>
<p>Oh, D. needs 27, but she wants higher. Your S. can apply with scores lower than 32, unless he limits himself to specific schools. There are couple schools that I noticed have average of 24 for accepted applicants.</p>
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<p>Glad to hear that. I do not know where DS gets this idea (from his friend maybe?) that he needs 32 in order to get into an in-state medical school.</p>
<p>Depends on the state. Would’t need that in Texas if everything else looks good. California? Maybe so.</p>
<p>^It could be true for your state. In our state, I know at least one Med. School with average of 24 as I have mentioned. D. needs 27 at least because she is in a program that reguires 27.</p>
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Which US allo schools have scores that low for accepted students?</p>
<p>Wright State used to be 24, it is 29 now, I believe, they all went up, with few are 29. However, it is average, that means that there are people with lower score. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.washington.edu/uaa/gateway/advising/downloads/gpamcat.pdf[/url]”>http://www.washington.edu/uaa/gateway/advising/downloads/gpamcat.pdf</a></p>
<p>Regarding the MCAT score for each medical school, I keep hearing that the average MCAT score for each medical school as reported on US News and Report is more accurate/useful than that reported by AAMC (sp?? I means the the printed book from them). Where can we buy a copy of US News and Report? Do I need to order it online?</p>
<p>Somehow I did not see any at a local B&N Bookstore the other day.</p>
<p>I am really confused by the difference between AMCAS and AAMC. That is, what is the difference in their roles?</p>
<p>mcat2, it is the difference between accepted stats (usually a good bit higher) and matriculated stats. Online it’s @ 15 bucks (for the online only edition) . Well worth it (more data than the magazine).</p>
<p>AMCAS just the application process. AAMC the whole shebang of medical education.</p>
<p>Yeah - put another way, the AAMC is the non-profit organization that administers the application services for both admission to medical school (AMCAS) as well as residencies (ERAS). They are also involved in medical school acreditation - the AAMC appoints half of the committee members - the other half are appointed by the AMA - of the LCME (Liason Committee for Medical Education), which is the actual accrediting body for medical schools granting the MD degree in the US.</p>
<p>lol. Well, I guess I get like half a cookie for my answer. Maybe?</p>
<p>haha sorry Curm, didn’t mean to steal the spotlight or anything</p>
<p>Hm. I actually had to look up parochial vs. provincial and am still not clear on the difference.</p>
<p>USN can either be bought around when it comes out (usually late March or early April) in hard copy, or can be accessed online for about $15.</p>
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Oh, not that! Steal away! I don’t mind at all. It was just that your answer was so much better than mine.</p>
<p>If I went to a community college for an associates degree and then transfered to a 4 year pre-med programme would medical schools think that I am ‘weak’.
I would only go to a community college as a backup if I don’t get into a university right away, and hopefully get really high scores.</p>