MCATs - Page 40

GoldShadow · 08-26-2009, 12:49 AM

I've heard of Nova, but have not heard anything about its quality.

I'd stick to the more well-known companies if I were you.

edit: mmmcdowe is right about the fake reviews; about 8 of them are by "A Customer".
edit2: unless that is the default name for reviewers without an account

premedbruin · 08-27-2009, 03:42 AM

It is probably best to go to a website like Student Doctor Network and ask about materials, because it gets a lot more premeds there than here.

ChemFreak · 08-27-2009, 08:44 AM

Question: Would it be ok for me to take a MCAT prep course during the last semeseter of Orgo and take the MCAT as soon as i'm done with Orgo? Or should I wait till I'm officially done with all the prereq's?

Thanks for your advice;

eadad · 08-27-2009, 11:53 AM

Will you have completed Physics by then?

mmmcdowe · 08-27-2009, 06:30 PM

You should finish the pre-reqs first.

out of the box · 09-23-2009, 09:54 AM

DS just received his MCAT scores and is flipping out. 33 total-- 12 PS, 12 BS, and 9 (herein lies the rub) in verbal. Has a great GPA from highly academic LAC, but has been hoping to pursue a career in academic medicine. He says that he will need to retake the MCAT. Does he?

bluedevilmike · 09-23-2009, 10:17 AM

At this point, the main question is: does he have good reasons for thinking that it will improve the next time around?

out of the box · 09-23-2009, 10:46 AM

Yes, he thinks so. He had a problem with 4 proctors talking outside of his testing room during the verbal (first) section of the exam, and did file a complaint with AAMC, although I suspect did not follow up with Prometrics. Really a shame, because after they finally quieted down, he did do much better on the subsequent sections. But it was a horrible summer prepping for him....hate to have him do it again. And what happens if his scores go down?

MiamiDAP · 09-23-2009, 10:52 AM

I am in process of researching Med. Schools info including MCAT averages and such. I have found few good ranked with this score, although your S's verbal is lower, but total is about the same. Examples: OSU - 33 total average, Vandi - 34 total average. Verbal is my concern for my D. also who will take MCAT in spring. Thank goodness, she needs 27 (in combined program) total with average no lower than 9. She would be happy with your S's score, but it all depends on personal circumstances / goals. I imagine that they take GPA into consideration in combo with MCAT.

out of the box · 09-23-2009, 01:56 PM

Thanks to both of you. Blue devil mike (btw, my hs mascot was the blue devil, too!), DS just received a letter from AAMC where they agreed that his testing environment was compromised-- they got more than his complaint-- and said that he could include their letter with his application stating that. Guess that it is impossible for him to retake the one section though? And the question...to re-take or not? Think that I will just move out-- can't take the tension here!!!

bluedevilmike · 09-23-2009, 03:52 PM

I'm pretty ambivalent about this. Honestly, if he's asked at a med school interview about the adverse testing conditions, "People talking outside" is not going to play very well. And a 9 is a bit of a problem. If he wants an academic-medicine-type of medical school, I might recommend a retake.

Assuming he has time for it.

out of the box · 09-23-2009, 04:05 PM

Bluedevilmike- thanks. DS has learning issues which make distraction more of an issue for him than for most, but, for the most part overcomes it with an unbelievable work ethic. He wants academic medicine, and if you feel that the 9 will be an issue, I'll pass on the advice to re-take the exam.

Malvenuto · 09-24-2009, 11:51 AM

So I took the MCAT without much preparation (3 days of studying, 1 practice test.) This was obviously a poor choice, but I was leaning towards applying to PhD-only programs when I took it. I got a good score (11BS/14PS/11V/Q) but I'm worried about my bio score. Do I need to retake it to be competitive for MD/PhD programs in computational biology? I think I could raise my score a few points if I just practiced doing questions for long periods of time, but I have GREs to study for and would rather spend free time on my research.

curmudgeon · 09-24-2009, 06:13 PM

malvenuto, Good job. You are good to go. 36 with a low section score of 11 means the MCAT will never be the reason you are rejected. Something else might be, but not that.