| Our
advice for the MCAT test covers the following topics:
Background
The MCAT will be the single most important test
that you will take up to this point of your career. Most medical
schools have a minimum MCAT score for acceptance. Students
are also partially ranked by admissions committees on the
basis of this exam score. From the admissions committees'
point of view, the MCAT is the only way to objectively compare
you to applicants from other undergraduate schools.
It deserves to be treated with at least the
same amount of preparation that you would use to prepare for
any other test. Far too many students don't bother to prepare
for this important exam and they cite various reasons such
as lack of time and the perceived impossibility of reviewing
4 one-year science courses: biology, physics, chemistry, and
organic chemistry. (Introductory calculus is not tested although
some med schools prefer their applicants to have a firm grasp
of calculus. Joint MD/PhD applicants in particular should
certainly have a thorough understanding of calculus.)
When to Take the MCAT Exam
We advise our clients to take the MCAT in April
and lighten up on their course load in this semester if at
all possible. The sophomore year summer and winter holiday
break also provide some additional time for preparation. Try
at all costs to do well on the test the first time you take
it. It is much better to answer "one" for the question
"Number of MCATs taken" on the AMCAS form. The admissions
committees will notice that the first time you took the exam
you did horrible and then you did average or better than average
the second time.
Self
Study Versus a Review Course
The choice between taking a review course or
self studying should be made based on your self discipline.
In other words, if you can stick to a schedule on your own,
you will likely fare at least as well as if you took a review
course. The downsides to a review course are that (1) the
pre-specified times and locations will decrease your flexibility
and (2) you may want to allot more or less time to a particular
part of the test than the course dictates.
MCAT Preparation Advice
There are many tips and strategies that you
can, and should employ, for this test. The best way to do
this is with a book of previously-asked MCAT questions and
an "unofficial" guide that prepares you for the
different test sections. Practice taking this test under the
actual test conditions. Simulation is a very powerful technique
for all standardized test takers.
Most test takers report that their biggest difficulty
is completing all of the questions within the time limits.
Recall that medical school is primarily challenging due to
the voluminous information you must absorb each year. Additionally,
if you are working in an emergency room, you are going to
need to think very quickly to diagnose a problem and determine
the proper course of action. As a result, it should not surprise
you that the MCAT is designed to reward those students who
can complete the problems accurately and rapidly.
|
