You’ve Decided To Take the MCAT. One Word of Advice…Practice
So you’ve decided to take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and begin your journey toward becoming a doctor. One word of advice repeated three times…practice, practice, practice.
The nice thing about taking the MCAT now is that as of January 27th, 2007, all admissions of the exam are via computer. Previously, the MCAT was given in a written format with only a few testing locations offering the computer-based version.
Another advantage is that as of January 27th, 2007, you now have the option of taking the test at one of 19 locations with a choice of 22 testing times. In the past, the MCAT was only offered twice a year. The test has also been shortened to 5.4 hours, giving the student being tested the opportunity to take the MCAT in the morning or afternoon.
For Medical School Admission, Good MCAT Scores Are Your Best Friend
There are thousands of people in America who want to become doctors and only hundreds of places to train them. This is what makes medical school admission policies strict and competitive. Most facilities have far more applicants than they can take, and thus must narrow down the field by being highly selective. One of the ways they do that is by examining the MCAT scores and taking only the best and brightest.
The MCAT, or Medical College Admission Test, is a standardized test (like the SAT or GRE) that focuses specifically on medical and scientific knowledge. It also tests the student's mastery of the English language and his or her reasoning skills, all with a couple of crucial essay questions.
The three multiple-choice portions of the MCAT have a total possible score of 45, while the essay questions are graded J through T, T being the best. Therefore, a perfect score would be 45T, though anything above 30P will usually get you through the medical school admission process. In a perfect world, there would be plenty of training facilities for anyone who wanted to become a doctor. However, our world is imperfect, and medical schools must prioritize. The MCAT isn't a flawless method of separating great potential doctors from bad ones, but it's a pretty good indicator of how much a student has learned in his or her premed days. Contrary to popular myth, you do not have to major in biology in your undergraduate studies in order to be considered by medical schools. You can major in anything you like, as long as you take the premed requirements. Once you're accepted into medical school, you'll spend two years in the classroom and another two years working at a "teaching hospital," getting hands-on experience with patients. You can major in anything you like, as long as you take the premed requirements. Once you're accepted into medical school, you'll spend two years in the classroom and another two years working at a "teaching hospital," getting hands-on experience with patients.
How To Review For The MCAT
Not everyone "tests" well, and the MCAT can be grueling. Nonetheless,
like it or not, you have to take the MCAT seriously. Your medical
school admission may depend on it.
There are numerous ways to review for the MCAT. Available online
are any number of MCAT prep tests (usually much shorter versions
of the full test) and well as MCAT practice questions. There are
even full-blown MCAT tests available for the student who really
wants to test himself.
Frequently Asked Questions About MCAT Review And Prep
Question 1:
When should I take the MCAT?
Answer:
The MCAT should be taken between the spring of the junior year.
If possible, the student should lighten up their course load as
much as possible to allow for maximum MCAT preparation time. This
also allows for time to retake the test if necessary.
Question 2:
Should I study on my own or sign up for a review course?
Answer:
That depends of course on your own personal study habits. If you
are disciplined enough to study on your own, by all means, take
that road. Most students however prefer to take a review course
of some kind. A good place to start is at www.audiolearn.com.
Question 3:
What's the best way to prepare for the MCAT?
Answer:
Whether you go the self-study or review course route,
the best way to study for the MCAT is to answer as many questions
as possible. A lot of study materials include MCAT review tests
that are set up exactly like the actual test. Time yourself. Don't
take any more time than you will be allotted on the actual test
to take your practice test. If possible, use review materials that
include actual MCAT questions that have appeared on previous versions.
Remember, medical school is probably the most challenging quest
you will take throughout your career. Because of the volume of information
you will be required to absorb in such a short amount of time, the
MCAT is designed to mimic that future journey. The better you do
on the MCAT test, the better you will do in medical school.
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