MCATs

<p>lol, I liked most of my teachers... I just did not buy the Kaplan method they shoved down your throat... mapping the passages etc.</p>

<p>See, I really bought into it. And it worked really well. BRM often explains that some students really resent it, but that those who accept it seem to get pretty good results.</p>

<p>I agree with BDM. (What a shock!) The Kaplan methods like mapping really helped me with verbal. I resisted the mapping-the-passage techniques because I thought it was a waste of time, but I kept struggling with the questions that asked me to consider the whole passage - questions like "The author's attitude about this subject indicates..." or "Given this passage, the author would be likely to agree with which of the following statements." Once I started using the Kaplan techniques for verbal, my verbal scores improved.</p>

<p>That's great it worked for you guys. So for anyone reading this I think the take home message is everyone is unique and has their own strategies that work best for them. The key is to find a "method" that works for you well in advance of your test date and practice it.</p>

<p>I'll admit I'm biased, but I honestly think it goes beyond "everyone's unique". The issue with Kaplan's strategies is not whether they work or not, but rather, will the student accept them. They ABSOLUTELY do work. But the thing is, if you've made it through most of the pre-med reqs, you're a decent test taker and adapting to use new techniques takes time. It's very easy to get frustrated with techniques that you don't find immediate results from when you use.. Out of all the Kaplan strategies, passage mapping is the lowest yield as far as number of correct answers it gets you on test day(ie, the wrong answer pathologies are much more fruitful as are the pacing strategies and other crisis prevention measures), but passage mapping enhances all the other strategies to their full effect and saves you the most time on test day which in turn ultimately improves score because you are increasingly efficient in your time spent finding right answers, not wasting seconds/minutes on questions you won't get right.. But because it's so bulkly, many people just assume the other Kaplan strategies are just as "worthless" when that's definitely not the case. </p>

<p>Another issue is that very few students realize, despite being told, that Kaplan's course is highly organized and there's a reason they do things the way they do. Their whole approach is grounded in educational theory, and the lessons are designed to build on each other. The unfortunate thing is that as a student going through each one by one, it's difficult to see how this all plays out. Only as a former student or an instructor can you reach back to see that there was a method to the way in which instruction was approached...</p>

<p>What Bigredmed said should be carefully read by those deciding to take Kaplan or not. The Kaplan method(s) could probably be very beneficial to the test-taker willing to use them properly. However, learning to "map" a passage on the actual test day would take much discipline. I say this because, looking back, on test day you operate off nerves as much as method/logic etc. It is very overwhelming when you hit that first PS passage (finally the real MCAT!).</p>

<p>Jack, that's why you practice said techniques before you actually take the test! :p</p>

<p>can you take the MCAT as many times as you want or is there a certain limit?</p>

<p>You can take it multiple times but there are time limits between subsequent tests, I do not remember the exact amount but it was around 3-6 months I think...</p>

<p>I believe there's also a cap at three. After that you need special permission. In any case, it's a stupid idea to take it more than once if you can possibly avoid it. Just study hard the first time around.</p>

<p>According to AAMC, the limit is three times per year. There is no real defined waiting time between tests, but you do have to wait until the 2nd day after sitting through one MCAT administration before you can register for another administration.</p>

<p>AAMC:</a> MCAT Exam Schedule FAQ</p>

<p>How many total hours did you guys spend on preparation for the MCAT? 50 hours? 100? 200?</p>

<p>Hm. Ten weeks. Six hours a week in class. Five full lengths. That's 100 right there. Add in self study, probably 200 more hours. So about 300.</p>

<p>Class - 32<em>2hrs = 64hrs
Practice tests - 6</em>5hrs = 30hrs
Spring break study - 7 days*6hrs/day = 42hrs
Other self study and testing - around 50 hrs
Total = around 186 hrs</p>

<p>Score = 36 (13V 12P 11B)
Probably should have done a little better, but I only studied for less than 200 hours. I'll take the tradeoff.</p>

<p>wuts the best MCAT prep book to START to review for the test, learn about new computer-based strategies, and decent prep stuff....since I don't want to start with a book that's not adequate enough ....</p>

<p>The kind that starts after you've taken the coursework in two years.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I believe there's also a cap at three. After that you need special permission. In any case, it's a stupid idea to take it more than once if you can possibly avoid it. Just study hard the first time around.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Until very recently, you had to apply in writing to the AAMC in order to obtain permission to take the MCAT a fourth time. While they have removed that requirement, you can be sure that med school admissions committees are going to be skeptical of anyone with more than 3 MCAT results...so the best strategy will continue to be prepare to take it only once.</p>

<p>I am an international student who prepares to do pre-med in a US university. But MCAT and Medical school policies seem fairly new to me.</p>

<p>I would like to know whether medical schools need GRE score? Because Physical therapy programs normally need it.</p>

<p>In my understanding, business school (GMAT), medical schools (MCAT) and law schools (LSAT) all don't need the famous GRE result. Am I correct?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>That's correct. No need for the GRE.</p>

<p>Arguably, way more of the general public in the US know about the MCAT and LSAT than know about the GRE...</p>

<p>is it necessary to take a class for the mcats or will intensive self-reviewing and studying suffice?</p>