MCAT

Pre-Health/Pre-Law Advising CenterFall Workshop Series 2018kianak@hawaii.edu

Today’s Agenda

● Overview

● Panel

● Breakout

○ Medical school admissions factors:

■ Coursework & GPA

■ MCAT score(s)

■ Extracurricular activities

■ Personal essays

■ Letters of recommendation

○ Interview(s)

Why is the MCAT Important?

● MCAT: Medical College Admissions Test

● Developed by the Association of American Medical

Colleges

● Standardized, multiple-choice exam

● Used by admissions committees to assess an

applicant’s readiness for medical school

● Assesses examinee’s problem solving, critical thinking,

and knowledge of science concepts and principles

What is the MCAT?

What is the MCAT?

VIDEO

Anatomy of the MCAT

Biological and Biochemical Foundations

of Living Systems

Critical Analysis and

Reasoning Skills

Chemical and Physical

Foundations of Biological

Systems

Psychological, Social and Biological

Foundations of Behavior

● Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

○ Time: 95 minutes

○ Format: 59 Items

What’s Tested on MCAT

● Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

○ Time: 90 minutes

○ Format: 53 Items

● Passages from Humanities & Social Sciences:

■ Ethics

■ Philosophy

■ Cultural studies

■ Population health

What’s Tested on MCAT

• NO specific knowledge needed

• NO Natural Sciences passages

● Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

○ Time: 95 minutes

○ Format: 59 Items

What’s Tested on MCAT

● Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

○ Time: 95 minutes

○ Format: 59 Items

What’s Tested on MCAT

● Preparatory courses:

○ BIOL 171/L and 172/L

○ CHEM 161/L, 162/L, 272/L, and 273/L

○ PHYS 151/L and 152/L or 170/L and 272/L

○ MATH 140+

○ Biochemistry (preferably BIOL 402 or BIOC 441)

○ PSY 100, SOC 100

● Recommended:

○ Statistics

○ Research methods

Preparing for the MCAT

June: AMCAS /AACOMAS

Secondaries

Interviews

-Jan: Take MCAT-Mar: Retake (if needed)-May: Retake (if needed)

-Review content and materials

-Register for any additional courses

-Decide on study method and materials-Start studying

-Continue studying-Oct: Register-Apply for FAP (if applicable)

April: Decide

Start medical school

● Ways to study:

○ Individual study

○ Group study

○ Private tutoring

○ Commercial prep course

Preparing for the MCAT

● Materials: Test prep books, practice exams, class notes, etc.

● Advantages

○ Self-paced, flexible

○ Inexpensive

● Disadvantages

○ Requires discipline

○ Unstructured

○ Consider the amount of relevant content covered in

coursework

Individual Study

● Materials you may need:

○ Test prep books, practice exams, class notes, etc.

○ 1-3 peers who are also studying for the MCAT

● Advantages

○ Support, motivation, feedback from peers

○ Group discussion

● Disadvantages

○ Difficult to coordinate

○ Focus

Group Study

● Materials you will need:

○ $$$ (+ prep materials)

● Advantages

○ Tailored to your needs

○ Expert advice

● Disadvantages

○ Expensive

Private Tutor

● Materials you will need:

○ $$$

● Advantages

○ Structured, guided study

○ Access to study resources

● Disadvantages

○ Expensive

○ Must accommodate their schedule

Commercial Prep Course

AAMC Materials● MCAT Overview● Prepare for the MCAT Exam, by AAMC

○ This site includes the following resources:■ Understand the MCAT Exam■ Study for the MCAT Exam■ Practice for the MCAT Exam■ Practice with the Exam Features■ Creating a Study Plan for the MCAT Exam■ How I Prepared for the MCAT Exam■ MCAT Test Prep Bulk Order Purchasing

● The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam, by AAMC● AAMC Resources by AAMC● A Roadmap to MCAT Content in Sociology and Psychology Textbooks by AAMC● A Roadmap to MCAT Content in Biochemistry Textbooks by AAMC● What’s on the MCAT Exam? by AAMC● MCAT Mini-Test eBook by AAMC● Content Mapping Tool with links to Khan Academy by AAMC● Pre-health Collection within MedEdPORTAL’s by AAMC● The Khan Academy MCAT Collection● MCAT Preparation Statistics

Other Companies

Considerations

○ Philosophy

○ Services offered

○ Price range

You can mix and match!

Opportunities

● ASUH Graduate Test Preparation Award

○ Entrance exam fees, test prep materials

● PAC

○ Kaplan Test Prep Scholarship

■ Covers cost for a Kaplan course

■ Essay: Why do you want to go to your chosen

professional or graduate school?

○ Lending Library

● Hawaii State Public Library

2 months before,take 1 full-length practice exam

every 1-2 weeks!

● Register through the MCAT Scheduling &

Registration system at www.aamc.org

● Registration Fee: $315

● Opens

○ TODAY for January-June

○ February 2019 for July-September

● Register as soon as possible!!!

Registering for the MCAT

2019 MCAT Test Dates

● Program for MCAT examinees who, without financial assistance, would be unable to take the exam

● Benefits

○ Valid for 2 years

○ Reduced registration fee

○ Reduced exam reschedule fee

○ Waiver for AMCAS fees (up to 16 schools)

○ Free access to Medical School Admissions Requirements website

○ Free copy of The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam and authorization code access to The Official MCAT Self-Assessment Package

AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program (FAP)

● Based on US Dept. of Health & Human Services

poverty guidelines, applicants with total family

income at or below three times the federal

poverty level for their family size in their state

are eligible

● Ex) Family of 4 in Hawaii: $23,850

○ $23,850 x 3 = $71,550 (must be at or below)

Eligibility for FAP

● Start early! Apply far in advance of MCAT date

and AMCAS application submission

○ Application opens in early January

● Must wait for FAP decision before paying MCAT

or AMCAS fees to receive fee assistance

○ No refunds!

Applying to the FAP

June: AMCAS /AACOMAS

Secondaries

Interviews

-Jan: Take MCAT-Mar: Retake (if needed)-May: Retake (if needed)

-Review content and materials

-Register for any additional courses

-Decide on study method and materials-Start studying

-Continue studying

-Oct: Register

-Apply for FAP (if applicable)

April: Decide

Start medical school

Pearson Professional

CentersHonolulu, HI

1441 Kapiolani Blvd.Suite 204

Honolulu, HI 96814

TESTING CENTER:

● Review rather than study

● Do light exercise

● Visit test center

● Eat a full, healthy dinner

● Get a good night’s sleep

● Relax!

Day Before Test Day

● Eat a balanced breakfast

● DO NOT study or take practice exams!

● Arrive 30 minutes before start time

On Test Day

● You will need to:

○ Provide a valid picture ID

○ Have your fingerprint and photograph taken

○ Sign in and out every time you enter or leave the testing

center

● Items that are provided:

○ Pencils

○ Scratch paper

○ Ear muffs

Checking-In to the Testing Center

● 10 minute breaks

● You can use the restroom, have a light snack, take a

short walk

○ “Let go of the old, prepare for the new”

● You must sign-in and out every time you leave the

testing center

● DO NOT take out or use electronics, study materials,

or other prohibited items during your breaks!

During Breaks

❑ I wish to have my MCAT exam SCORED.

❑ I wish to VOID my MCAT exam.

● Things to consider:

○ Will count towards MCAT limits

○ Voided exams are not scored or reported to

medical schools

○ Cannot undo

○ No refunds

After Your Exam: Voiding

● Scores usually available 30-35 days after

test date

● Viewable online via MCAT Testing History

(THx)

● Automatically released to AMCAS

Score Availability

Scoring

• Total score will range from 472 to 528. Midpoint is 500

What score should I get?

Category UH Manoa Applicants

National Applicants

UH Manoa Accepted

National Accepted

Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

126 126.4 128.1 127.7

Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

125 125.9 126.7 127.1

Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

126.2 126.7 128.4 128.1

Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior

126.5 127 128.6 128.3

Composite Score 503.9 506 511.8 511.3

MCAT 2017-2018 Cycle Statistics:

● Things to consider:

○ Multiple scores

○ Recommendation by pre-health advisor/med

school admissions

○ Coursework and exam preparation

○ Extenuating factors

○ Application timeline

○ Cost

To Retake or Not to Retake?

Limitations

● Single testing year: 3 times

● 2 consecutive years: 4 times

● Lifetime: 7 times

June: AMCAS /AACOMAS

Secondaries

Interviews

-Jan: Take MCAT-Mar: Retake (if needed)-May: Retake (if needed)

-Review content and materials

-Register for any additional courses

-Decide on study method and materials-Start studying

-Continue studying

-Oct: Register

-Apply for FAP (if applicable)

April: Decide

Start medical school

○ Take practice exams!

○ Visit the test site before exam day

○ Regulate your sleep schedule in advance

○ Eat a proper dinner the night before

○ Breakfast on exam day should be a mix

of carbs and protein

○ Dress comfortably

○ Tutorial before starting exam

Tips

● Cori Sutton

● Kevin Pham

● Ivan Yang

Panelists

↗

Questions?

Pre-Health Workshops

Health Professions PanelTuesday, October 305:00 pm – 6:30 pm

WEB 203

Shadowing and Networking WorkshopThursday, November 1

5:00 pm – 6:30 pmWEB 203

Thank you!

Please submit your evaluations at the sign-in table!

Kiana Shiroma, PhDDirector

Pre-Health Advising Centerkianak@hawaii.edu

808-956-8646