The Med School Pulse

One of the questions I get asked most frequently as a teacher is, “Exactly what questions will I see on my test?”  If I knew the answer to that question, I would be making tons of money setting everyone up with their personalized MCAT answers. Although I can’t tell anyone exactly which questions they will be answering on Test Day, I do want to help out all of my intrepid MCAT studiers today and correct a common MCAT misconception.

Misconception: When I take my test, all of the material will be 100% familiar

Here’s the deal- yes, you have been …

So, when you begin to prep for the MCAT, it’s very exciting. You have tons of resources! You make an ambitious study schedule! You are excited to tackle the content, master the strategies and conquer the MCAT!

Fast forward to approximately three to six weeks later. You’re exhausted. You’re overwhelmed. You start fantasizing about life post-MCAT and all you can think about is how great it would be to have a regular sleeping/showering schedule. In case you need them, here are some very useful resources about how to structure your study time and how important sleeping and exercising…

It’s that time of year again- when people daydream of valentines, candy hearts, roses and romantic gestures. While you, intrepid pre-med student, are preoccupied with daydreams about physics equations, the intricacies of mitosis vs. meiosis and the trends on the periodic table. As the commercials say, “every kiss begins with Kay” and you begin to wonder which K? Ksp? Keq? Temperature in Kelvin? As February 14^th rolls around, you think- How can I possibly have time for a hot date on Valentine’s Day? Surely I must spend this day of romance alone and wallowing in MCAT-studying induced self-pity.

That’s …

With the major MCAT revision coming up in 2015, many students are starting to ask:  which MCAT should I take?  Is there an advantage to one test versus the other?

The short answer is:  it’s possible to do either and score extremely well, but you’ll have to plan starting today.

What’s changing in the 2015 MCAT?

If you haven’t read our other articles about the MCAT 2015 exam, make sure to go back and check them out:

• The 2015 MCAT – Thoughts and Statistics
• The 2015 MCAT – What’s the Big Buzz?
• Keeping Up with the MCAT Test

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The MCAT. Yes, I said it. Let’s all say it together. MCAT! What seems to carry the most negative connotation in a pre-med’s life is really the best opportunity a student has.  The MCAT seems to resonate with all of us in one way or another and one of the biggest pitfalls I see with students is the utter disdain they have for the exam before they even begin to study!

The MCAT needs to be seen as an opportunity.  I admit, yes, when I began my MCAT studies I had a dislike for the MCAT.  I saw it as …

Over the past two weeks, we’ve been taking a look at some of the medical school admissions statistics.  While we’ve tackled the question of how many people get into medical school and the average MCAT score, we turn our attention today to the average GPA.

Remember, AAMC keeps this information public through their FACTS tables.  In addition to what we’ve covered here, check out what other great information you can glean from these resources.  In the world of medical school admissions, knowledge is power! (credit:  Schoolhouse Rock!)

Interestingly, medical schools are actually given three GPAs when they look at your application.  Your …

The first day of autumn is coming this Saturday, and that means it’s admissions season!   If you’ve already gotten in your AMCAS application, you may be spending a decent amount of this time out of the crisp air and – instead – focusing on finishing up secondary applications, preparing for interviews, and charming admissions committees with your excellent credentials. 

Considering how much time and energy we’re putting into this, let’s make sure we understand some of the numbers (after all, we’re science people, right?).  This post is the first in a series focusing on medical school admissions statistics.  Today, …

The last MCAT of 2012 is in the books! Now with a short break, the beginning of October will bring the release of registration for the 2013 MCAT test dates.  It is an important time to consider what the best prep option is for you.  A common question asked as our teachers are out at our back to school events and national practice tests is: should I take a semester off of school to study for the MCAT?

That prep option has a couple of different aspects to consider if you are going to take the semester off entirely.  …

Oftentimes, we are asked about the performance of our past MCAT students; how they did on the test, where they went for medical school, and where they are today. Recently, we had the opportunity to talk with one of our many amazing Kaplan MCAT course alumni, Dr. Ricky Grisson, about where his journey in medicine has taken him and the role that Kaplan played along the way. 

1. What was your reaction to taking the MCAT for the first time?

Wow! I was surprised by the difficulty and really disappointed in myself. I performed poorly and felt really terrible about …