<p>and an 11 MCAT for each section</p>
<p>
[quote]
I know this post may be silly, but is there any correlation between MCAT and SAT Scores?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Absolutely none whatsoever.</p>
<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I took the MCAT in August of 2004, so clearly things may have changed since then.</p>
<p>Timing:
You have to realize two things about medical school: first, they "roll", meaning most of them start giving away their spots starting October 15. This means that if there is ANY kind of delay whatsoever on your application, you are at a pretty large disadvantage. Nothing that can't be overcome, of course, but not something you should do willingly. Second, they will refuse to grant you an interview (the third stage of applying) until your MCAT score is in, and your MCAT score will take 8 or so weeks to process. (This processing time may become faster with the computer based test.) Still, the point is that you need your score processed by July if at all possible, and hopefully June to help you get an idea of where to apply. Whatever kind of program you are in and however the MCAT changes, this will remain true. </p>
<p>According to the current timetable, an August administration places one at a large and significant disadvantage.</p>
<p>Physics Content:
The Physics on the MCAT is below high-school level. If you took the AP in high school, that is more difficult than the physics on the MCAT, which will not require any calculus. A bright student might be able to handle it with a great deal of independent study and a prep course - which is what I did - but there isn't much point to that. Physics is not something that comes intuitively to most people, and your school's program WILL make learning it easier, or at least impose some discipline on your studies. Since you have to do it anyway as a premedical requirement, may as well do it before the MCAT.</p>
<p>A "Good" Score:
Depends entirely on where you want to go, and the rest of your application. My advice was this: Look at your application - extracurriculars and GPA - and compare it to a school's averages. Make adjustments as appropriate for your race, home state, etc., and figure out where you stand. Do you need an above average MCAT score, or do you simply need an MCAT score that doesn't rule you out? I always assessed myself as if I needed an MCAT score that was three points higher than the school's average and applied appropriately.</p>
<p>It is also key to remember that your breakdown is as important as your overall score. If you must be deficient in one area, it is probably better - although this is just hearsay - that it NOT be your biological sciences section. However, it is much better generally speaking to have a balanced score, because one way your score will be evaluated is by your lowest subsection. If you think get a 15-15-6, you would probably not get in anywhere despite a 97th percentile score of 36 overall.</p>
<p>Correlates of MCAT Performance in a Postbaccalauraeate Population of Premedical Students</p>
<p>George Delahunty, Ph.D.</p>
<p>Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine correlations between traditional indicators of academic performance, SAT scores and grade point averages, and MCAT scores in a population of postbaccalaureate premedical students. Data was collected from postbaccalaureate students at Goucher College from the academic years 1990-91 through 1994-95. **A strong correlation exists between the total MCAT score and the total SAT score **whereas a modest correlation exists between the total MCAT score and the postbaccalaureate GPA. The Physical Sciences and Verbal Reasoning subsection of the MCAT correlated well with the Math and Verbal subsection of the SAT. These data suggest that SAT scores have significant value in helping to identify postbaccalaureate candidates who can be successful medical school applicants.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.naahp.org/abstract_fourflat.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.naahp.org/abstract_fourflat.htm</a></p>
<p>Of course, this study is old and only from one undergraduate institution. A few quid pro quos. Not sure at all what the national numbers look like.</p>
<p>Jah, and you can't actually read the study. Wonder what the r value was? Generally, I think of most of the MCAT as a knowledge-based test with some reasoning, wheras I consider the SAT a reasoning-based test with some knowledge. I'm sure there's a strong correlation, but I'd like to know how strong (r>.8?)</p>
<p>Alright, calm down with the r values, it isnt going to make a difference.</p>
<p>To everyone and anyone who has taken an actual MCAT(not a practice test), what all did you do to study and what worked best. I am aiming to take the MCAT this august since I want to get it all over with and focus more on my major and my social policy classes next year or possibly go abroad. I'll be studying for the MCAT and taking physics at the same time, most people I've talked to said this is a bad idea since I'm doing it here and Northwestern physics is 3 hour lectures mon-fri and 3 hour labs 3 days a week, and a midterm every friday. This essentially means I'll be putting all my time towards that one class for those 9 weeks. Is it still doable to be well-prepped for the MCAT?</p>
<p>I wasn't planning on taking a course, I was just going to go through Princeton Review books and a couple others, since I wont have time to take a course this summer. I've been told I should wait till april of my junior year, but I know I want to take physics and get done with all my lab sciences so I dont want to be a year removed from all the sciences. I also was thinking if I didn't do so hot, I could get a second chance april junior year, whereas I wouldn't if I waited. I've also talked to a friend who's a junior that called med school adcoms and said that they look preferably on applicants who take it only once. Do lots of people take it twice and does it have any negative effect? What's the best way to approach this. I'm insanely busy with classes, philanthropy, and fraternity stuff so I want to know if the books and a strong science background/rational mind will be enough. </p>
<p>Oh yea, I took a practice test but I'm sure they're not indicative of the real thing, I made mid/high 20's and that was at the beginning of soph year before bio and orgo. The test didnt seem too bad though. The writing is what will give me trouble.</p>
<p>And does anyone know when the hell they're increasing times for MCATs because having only april and august is a buzzkill, I thought they were switching this year.</p>
<p>They are switching as of 2007. I don't know exactly what they're switching to.</p>
<p>I won't talk about my study habits - having taken a course (Kaplan), my plan is probably going to look quite different from yours. I will tell you, though, that I think the MCAT demands a lot of attention. Only you know your study habits. In my judgment, taking a course will probably SAVE you time, not cost you time, since it will be more efficient, but that's really a call only you can make.</p>
<p>I took the MCAT the early August as well for much the same reasons. There's one other reason, though, and that's that it allows you to figure out your MCAT score before you send in your primaries, giving you a better idea of where to apply.</p>
<p>It makes sense that on balance they'd only want a kid who took the test once, doesn't it? Imagine giving a kid free throws until he makes one - all the more impressive if he can do it first time off the bat. Still, always nice to have the option if something goes wrong.</p>
<p>One idea that you might not have considered: Have you thought about taking the MCAT this summer without doing physics? You'd want to find a lab job or something to occupy yourself, of course, but the truth of the matter is that the MCAT physics is far below college level - there is no calculus anywhere on the MCAT, and physics is just a few rules that you need to memorize and learn to apply quickly.</p>
<p>I took the MCAT this past August. Unlike what a lot of the pople on this board are planning to do, I did not look at the test at all until this past summer (after my sophomore year and 2 months before I took the MCAT). I took the Princeton Review course and studied approx. 5-6 hours a day for it. Also, took around 10 practice tests (all of the AAMC and around 4 TPR ones). The AAMC tests should be the best indicator of your actual score (especially AAMC 7 and 8 since those are more recent practice tests). In fact, my actual score was pretty much what I consistently got towards the end of the summer on my PT's.</p>
<p>My friend also did the same thing you did. She took 2nd semester physics while studying for the MCAT. Scored a 30. </p>
<p>A lot of people take the test multiple times, mainly because they have to. It's really a pain in the @$$ so I studied for it like I was only going to get over with in one try. I'm so glad I did. I can't imagine studying for the MCAT and doing coursework at the same time, especially at my school (plus, it gives me a chance to laugh at my friends who are trying to study for the MCAT right now).</p>
<p>The writing score is pretty much worthless. I hear it's put into the test to wear you down before the bio section :) Just make sure you score an N or higher on it.</p>
<p>I'd really like to not have to deal with physics, but I have to take the sequence anyways for pre-med requirements and my bio major. I'm sick of the competitive pre-med classes so I want to be done with it before junior year. I also hope if everything works out to go abroad second semester junior year so that would clash with taking physics next year. How often do those prep classes usually meet and for how much time?</p>
<p>Mine met for 4 days a week. 2 1/2 hours each time.</p>
<p>I think the idea is that they'll try to give you about 60 hours of class time. Mine met twice a week, three hours a week, ten weeks. We also had full-length practice tests (8 hours apiece) five times, for an extra forty hours.</p>
<p>Did you still spend alot of time outside class studying? Or did the class time count as your studying? </p>
<p>I know it's really impossible to be so objective about this but for example, let's say there's a given 6 hours, would 3 hours in class and 3 hours outside be more or less efficient than 4-5 hours with no class? </p>
<p>At least from other of those prep courses it seems like you still put in the same amount of time outside the class but that its mainly there to structure your studying giving you set exercises to do, strategies to approaching the test, review of the basic sciences, someone to explain your mistakes if the given explanations are no good, and practice tests with diagnostics. All that stuff is really inside the prep books. Are there are alot of things you think are covered in the prep classes that wouldn't be covered in the prep books?</p>
<p>The prep class won't have any magical secrets for getting high scores. It's mainly to give you structure. Some people need someone to tell them what to do.</p>
<p>I studied approx. 4 extra hours a day in addition to the 2 1/2 hour class. I sacrificed five of my Saturdays for the practice tests and took an additional six on my own.</p>
<p>It's my opinion that 3 hours of studying on your own and 3 in class is probably more effective than 6 hours on your own, not least because it'll actually force you to really do the 6.</p>
<p>Still, everybody studies differently.</p>
<p>I definitely agree with bluedevilmike, it is way better to do 3 on your own and 3 at class.</p>
<p>hey is there acutally a med school in USA where they could accept students with a low MCAT score like say..24 but a high gpa of 3.9 and lots of internships experience and ECs?</p>
<p>Race and geography would be involved in that question, as well.</p>
<p>My guess? Probably - but I'm not sure.</p>
<p>If you are not a minority the want, no. If you can get a GPA that high and have such a low score then it shows either: a. you learned things only for tests and now for a big test you really dont know it and you also padded your GPA or b. you have test taking problems which is a red flag for med schools since you do need to take tests to be able to practice medicine.</p>
<p>can you take MCAaT more than once???????????????????
If so is there any set number you can retake up to???????????
I plan on taking it a bunch of times to increase my scores as high as possible, i am definitely gonna aim around 40, even thouh from what i have heard so far i think it is almost impossible to get that but if i shoot for that i will get somewhere in the 30's and i think that is good right.</p>