5 MCAT Myths

By Ian Acosta on May 31, 2017

The MCAT is a challenge. Most, if not all, post-grad exams are. Like any exam, it requires an immense amount of preparation. This comes in the form of months of studying, prep classes, and tutoring. All post-grad exams are tough but the MCAT is an even bigger monster.

You may have some preconceived notion of how to prepare for the MCAT or even what to study. These myths tend to intimidate some and motivate others. At any rate, the purpose of this post is to help try and dispel some common myths surrounding the MCAT so you can ace it and get into your dream medical school. Here are some myths and the parts that may or may not be true.

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Myth 1: You need an understanding of higher level sciences in order to do well on the MCAT

Not true! According to the AAMC, the level of knowledge you need to know regarding physics, biology, biochemistry, psychology, sociology, and inorganic and organic chemistry is roughly an introductory level. Obviously, this is a wide array of topics and some may consider organic and inorganic chemistry to be anything but introductory. This is where test prep comes into play. The MCAT covers a wide array of material. The best way to prepare is to get your fundamentals in order and memorize the foundational concepts of each area you could be tested on and to take it from there.

Myth 2: You do not need to study as intensely for the MCAT if you are doing well in your pre-med courses

FALSE! Nearly every other person who sits for the MCAT ends up taking it again due to feeling inadequately prepared the first time they took it. Even though you may be acing your 400 level organic chemistry II class, do not take that to mean you can just shirk studying for a test that can determine what medical school you end up attending.

Do not walk out of the MCAT shaking your head mad at yourself because you did not prepare enough. I am sure all of us have done that at one point or another for a test and it is the absolute WORST feeling in the world. You owe it to yourself, most importantly, to prepare as best as possible so that you walk in feeling nothing but confident. I do not want you to take the MCAT a second time and I am sure you do not either.

Myth 3: The MCAT is all science. Forget about the verbal section!

Fake news! Good verbal and reading skills are CRITICAL to succeeding on this beast of an exam. Many medical school admissions officers tend to weigh the critical analysis and reasoning section the heaviest of the entire MCAT because they look at it as a measure of how well the student can reason, learn, and communicate themselves effectively.

No one wants to go to the doctor who cannot explain why they are sick, right? The takeaway here is that every section is important to succeeding. Do not heavily focus on one and leave out the others. That logic is a surefire way to waste months of preparation. The MCAT also has some math that may trip some people up if they have not seen it recently. Be sure to go over some practice algebra and trigonometry problems to get a leg up on the competition.

Myth 4: There is a “magic number” to achieve in order to get into a certain medical school

Wrong again! Like any acceptance, schools look at your body of work holistically. Would a good test score help your case? Sure, but that is not the be all end all. Your score does not determine where you go and do not listen to anyone who makes that assertion. There is a wide range of scores that medical schools deem to be acceptable.

So, the best thing to do is to take that part out of the equation by simply studying as hard as you can and doing your best. Find a good balance between studying, keeping a good GPA, and building up your research CV to have a good body of work when it does come time to apply. I know, it sounds impossible. However, it is not! As stated before, control what you can control. You owe it to yourself to give 100 percent in the classroom, in the lab, and in the library studying. Having regrets is the worst so do not even entertain that possibility!

Myth 5: Every question counts

No, it does not. Do not get caught up on a question or two that you do not know. Take the time to answer what you do know and come back and use your best judgment for what you skipped over originally. They are all weighted equally so be sure to tackle what you know.

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