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Study Options for the 2014 MCAT

Study Options for the 2014 MCAT. Overview of the MCAT Presentations of Study Options General considerations for test preparation and scheduling the MCATs for the 2015 medical school application cycle. Official MCAT web site at: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/.

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Study Options for the 2014 MCAT

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  1. Study Options for the 2014 MCAT Overview of the MCAT Presentations of Study Options General considerations for test preparation and scheduling the MCATs for the 2015 medical school application cycle Official MCAT web site at: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/

  2. MCAT – Medical College Admissions Test • Been around for 80 years • 85,000 people take the MCAT each year • Covers introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and non-calculus based introductory physics “It serves to assess examinees’ capacity for problem solving and critical thinking.” (from the MCAT 2014 Essentials) Research on the MCATs - Julian, E. R. 2005. Validity of the Medical College Admission Test for Predicting Medical School Performance. Academic Medicine (2005) 80: 910-917.

  3. PS – Physical Sciences Section • general chemistry and non-calculus based introductory physics • BS – Biological Sciences Section • introductory biology and organic chemistry • Each science section has 7 passages with 4-7 questions each as well as an additional 13 independent questions. • VR – Verbal Reasoning Section • Reading selections from the social and natural sciences and the humanities. (7 reading passages with 5-7 questions each) • Voluntary: unscored trial section to preview the new sections being developed for the 2015 MCAT

  4. Scoring Information • For the PS, VR, and BS sections, raw scores are converted to a point scale with a low of 1 and a high of 15. Average scores of matriculated medical students nationally in 2012* 10.5 PS; 9.8 VR; 10.9 BS • No penalty for guessing. • Scores available online about 30 days after the exam. • If you take the MCAT more than once, all scores are released to allopathic medical schools. *National medical school applicant data from Table 17 at https://www.aamc.org/data/facts

  5. MCAT SCHEDULE (2014-JAN. 2015) JANUARY (2014): 23RD (AM), 25TH (PM) MARCH: 22ND (PM) APRIL: 5TH (PM), 11TH (AM), 24TH (AM) MAY: 8TH (PM), 17TH (AM), 22ND (AM), MAY 31ST (PM) JUNE: 5TH (PM), 13TH (AM), 21ST (AM) JULY: 2ND (AM), 12TH (AM), 24TH (PM), 25TH (AM) AUGUST: 1ST (AM), 2ND (AM), 7TH (AM & PM),15TH (AM), 21ST (PM), 27TH (PM) SEPTEMBER: 4TH (AM), 6TH (PM), 10TH (AM & PM), 12TH (AM), 18TH (PM) JANUARY (2015): 8TH (AM), 10TH (PM), 13TH (AM)

  6. Registration and Procedures for 2014 • Read the MCAT 2014 Essentials for information about registration and test day procedures. Pay particular attention to the requirements for registration and identification. • Registration for the January-May 2014 test dates will open on October 16. Follow @AAMC_MCAT on Twitter for announcements. • The AAMC recommends registering at least 60 days before the intended test date. • The 2014 MCAT Registration Fee is $275.00. • MCAT Fee Assistance Program for applicants with extreme financial need • Provides a reduced fee for the MCAT to $100 and waiver of AMCAS fees for 14 medical school applications. You must receive FAP approval before registering for the MCAT. • MCAT Exam with Accommodations

  7. Commercial Study Options Examkrackers www.examkrackers.com Kaplan http://www.kaptest.com/ Princeton Review www.princetonreview.com

  8. BMC Guided MCAT Prep Option • Fall “intro to the MCAT” session specifically for undergraduates in late October/early November? Please respond promptly to the feedback survey that will be sent over the prehealth list serv. • Limited to students taking the 2014 MCAT. • Expectations for self-directed content review and review of general chemistry over winter break • Spring semester • 2 Saturday morning sessions for verbal reasoning • 4 science sessions spread out over the semester focused almost entirely on practice problems and test taking strategies

  9. lots of structure access to a lot of information and sample test questions organized content review help with deficiencies in one area self-learner do not need help with content review doing well at BMC, good standardized test taker financial How to choose a study option Commercial Course In-house option or self-study

  10. Considerations for when to take the MCAT You can follow up with me to discuss your individual plans for scheduling the MCAT date.

  11. Ask yourself the following questions: • How do you feel your skills are in taking standardized tests (think back to SAT/ACT, take the free MCAT)? • How did you prepare in the past for standardized tests? • How are you doing in your science courses/how fresh is all the material?

  12. Tips: • Don’t feel pressured into taking a professional prep course. • Start on content review now but make sure to balance content review with plenty of practice problems and practice tests. • Take the free AAMC web MCAT over winter break. It might provide useful information about when to take the MCAT and how to study for it. • Try not to reschedule the MCAT once you choose a date. Try to set a realistic study schedule and plan that considers your spring semester commitments. • Follow MCAT on twitter (@AAMC_MCAT) because they periodically announce discounts to buy AAMC MCAT practice materials

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