MCATs - Page 3

norcalguy · 11-10-2005, 08:41 PM

Kinda late w/ the update but I got a 37! Yay for me!

sr6622 · 11-10-2005, 08:44 PM

nice norcalguy^

Is is reccommended to take the MCAT only once? Does it look bad if you take it twice?

Also, what is a good score for elite Med Schools? 30+? 35+?

norcalguy · 11-11-2005, 12:31 AM

A lot of people take the MCAT multiple times. Obviously, you hope to only take it once since each try at the MCAT requires more investment of time, money, effort, etc. But it won't be counted against you too much if you take it 2 or 3 times as it is fairly common.

Good score for elite med schools? Probably around 35+.

bigndude · 11-12-2005, 01:58 PM

Also remember the avg. MCAT score is usually around 28 for any given test. With a 30+ you have a pretty good shot at most med schools.

norcalguy · 11-12-2005, 02:15 PM

24-25 is the avg. score for most MCAT's. I believe the avg. for the August 2005 test was 24.5. Obviously, a 25 isn't a very competitive score though.

funnyman · 11-12-2005, 08:34 PM

Will they AAMCS people change the contents of the MCAT just because they are going to use the computer version?

phyliciasteph · 11-19-2005, 10:23 PM

the content wont change, but there will be 33% less questions on the pysical science and biological science questions. There use to be 77 each

norcalguy · 11-22-2005, 05:56 PM

The content has been continually changing with more emphasis being placed on particular subjects like genetics (which is why more recent practice tests from the AAMC like 7 or 8 is a better reflection of the actual test than older ones).

That said, the forms differ by a lot during the actual test. The form I received only had 1 passage on orgo and 10 on bio which I was really disappointed by since orgo is my strong subject. I believe it's more supposed to be around a 60/40 split in favor of bio.

wingardiumLeviosa · 11-28-2005, 12:20 AM

I'm a bit concerned about my GPA. I go to a really hard, elite engineering school (Cooper Union) and am a chemical engineering major. I don't think I'll be able to pull more than a 3.1 <-->3.2 GPA cumulative by the time I graduate. However, I've noticed that those who take the mcats at my college (not many) tend to unusually well on the MCAT since they're trained very rigorously in the basic sciences the mcat tests for. If I can get a very good MCAT score (35+), can this still give me a realistic shot at med. school admission?

meds2008 · 12-02-2005, 08:38 AM

It's true that at 3.1/3.2 is not an ideal GPA for medical school admissions but there are some schools that would certainly accept such a score with a high MCAT like you noted. To be specific, you can find average GPA/MCATs here: http://www.mcattestscores.com/usmedi...scoresGPA.html.

Make sure you let them know in your personal statement, how challenging your program is, how you developed your problem solving skills, blah blah! Because after all, your GPA will be compared to students who majored in Basketweaving!

MCAT prep: more important than this or that book or course is time, motivation and practicing with all AAMC tests (yes, the most recent ones are better but you should do all of them). When I took the test, I bought my stuff at the mcat store (http://www.mcat-bookstore.com) but there are alot of choices out there.

Good luck!

zxzz74 · 12-30-2005, 10:02 PM

Heya all will you plz help me with this

chemistry Major , Biology Minor
Accumulative GPA till junior year = 3.84 -> 3.9
Expected MCAT score ( 35+ ) - I can even form an exam

International student
simple biology research , ( work experience: receptionist, cashier )
Activities : not much ( MUN memeber, photography, newsletter editor, english tutor)

Would that give me a hook with the Ivies ?
Is is true I have to be in US 1 yr b4 applying ?

any comments about the research ??

zxzz74 · 12-30-2005, 10:16 PM

OOOOZ

ONE MORE Thing
Are there full rides to medicine ( full financial aid )
otherwise I wont be able to pay a penny

sakky · 12-31-2005, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Are there full rides to medicine ( full financial aid )
otherwise I wont be able to pay a penny

I doubt there is very little true "financial aid" to med-schools. The idea is that they want you to rack up debt and once you become a doctor, you ought to be able to pay that debt back fairly quickly.

However, there are some med-schools that offer merit scholarships. Obviously these are extremely difficult to get.

Another path you could take is to join a program that will pay for your schooling. For example, I know that if you agree to join the military, the government will pay for part of your schooling, in return for your commitment to serve as a military physician for a number of years. You could also, I suppose, enter an MD/PhD program, where the NIH will pay for all of your tuition, but you have to agree to stay in school for 7-8 years while completing both degrees. I personally think the MD/PHD is a very poor choice if you're worried about money because while regular MD's will have racked up a lot of debt, they will also be out practicing 3-4 years earlier than the MD/PHD's would so they would have come out ahead financially. Still, if you're that allergic to debt, it is one way you could go.

zxzz74 · 12-31-2005, 06:40 AM

OUCH SAKKY !!

doctors salary over here attain not more then 1400-2000 $ a month
spending a life time in paying the debt wont even work it out

which schools give financial aid ??

bigndude · 01-01-2006, 05:33 PM

I would say all of them, but you are talking about being their # 1 or 2 student. You have to be the best of all of the students entering to be offered such things, its not as easy as in normal college.