Holly  &  Jus*n  Pre-­‐Health/Pre-­‐Law  Advising  Center    

MCAT 2015

Today’s Agenda ➢ What is the MCAT?

➢ Overview

➢ Preparation

➢ Practice Problems

➢ MCAT Registration & Rules

➢ Fee Assistance Program

➢ Test Day Tips

What is the MCAT? ➢ Medical College Admissions Test

➢ Administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)

➢ Standardized, multiple choice examination

➢ Computer based examination

➢ Assesses tester’s problem solving, critical thinking, and knowledge in science concepts prerequisite to study of medicine

Why take the MCAT? ➢ Used by medical school admission committees to

assess applicants ➢ Medical Admission Factors:

➢  Coursework & GPA ➢  MCAT score(s) ➢  Extracurricular Activities ➢  Personal Statements ➢  Strong Letters of Recommendation ➢  Interviews

Ø  Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

Ø  Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

Ø  Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

Ø  Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

Overview

Overview

➢  Raw score: Number correct out of total ➢  Scaled score: 118-132 per section, 472-528 total

➢  Percentile rank: How many students score below you

En  

Topics Covered ➢ Biological and Biochemical Foundations

of Living Systems Disciplines:

➢  First-semester biochemistry, 25% ➢  Introductory biology, 65% ➢  General chemistry, 5% ➢  Organic chemistry, 5%

Topics Covered ➢ Chemical and Physical Foundations of

Biological Systems

Disciplines: ➢  First-semester biochemistry, 25% ➢  Introductory biology, 5% ➢  General chemistry, 30% ➢  Organic chemistry, 15% ➢  Introductory physics, 25%

Topics Covered ➢ Psychological, Social, and Biological

Foundations of Behavior

Disciplines: ➢  Introductory psychology, 65% ➢  Introductory sociology, 30% ➢  Introductory biology, 5%

Topics Covered ➢ Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

Skills:

➢  Foundations of Comprehension, 30% ➢  Reasoning Within the Text, 30% ➢  Reasoning Beyond the Text, 40%

Passage Content:

➢  Humanities, 50% ➢  Social Sciences, 50%

En  

En  

Graduate

Enter Med School

AMCAS / AACOMAS

Secondaries

Interviews

Take MCAT

Decision Register for FAP Prep for

MCAT

Prep for MCAT

Prep for MCAT

v Preparatory courses:

Ø  BIOL 171/L and 172/L Ø  CHEM 161/L, 162/L, 272/L, and 273/L Ø  PHYS 151/L and 152/L or 170/L and 272/L Ø  MATH 140+ Ø  Biochemistry Ø  PSY 100, SOC 100

v Recommended courses:

Ø  Statistics (PSY 225, ECON 321) Ø  Research Methods (PSY 212)

Preparation

➢ Preview Guide to the MCAT2015

➢ Official Guide to the MCAT2015 Exam ➢ Official MCAT2015 Practice Exams ➢ Khan Academy MCAT Collection

Preparation

➢ Preview Guide to the MCAT2015

➢ Official Guide to the MCAT2015 Exam ➢ Official MCAT2015 Practice Exams ➢ Khan Academy MCAT Collection

AAMC Materials

v Start studying ~1 year in advance

v Ways to study: Ø  Individual study Ø Group study Ø Private tutoring Ø Commercial prep course

Preparing for the MCAT

v Materials you will need: Ø  Test prep books, practice exams, class notes, etc.

v Advantages Ø  Self-paced, flexible Ø  Inexpensive

v Disadvantages Ø  Requires discipline Ø  Unstructured Ø  Amount of relevant content covered in coursework

Individual Study

v Materials you will need: Ø  Test prep books, practice exams, class notes, etc. Ø  1-3 peers who are also studying for the MCAT

v Advantages Ø  Support, motivation, feedback from peers Ø  Group discussion Ø  More resources

v Disadvantages Ø  Difficult to coordinate Ø  Focus

Group Study

Private Tutor v Materials you will need:

Ø  $$$ (+ prep materials)

v Advantages Ø  Tailored to your needs Ø  Expert advice Ø  1 on 1 instruction

v Disadvantages Ø  Expensive Ø  Good fit?

Commercial Prep Course v Materials you will need:

Ø  $$$

v Advantages Ø  Structured, guided study Ø  Access to study resources

v Disadvantages

Ø  Expensive Ø  Must accommodate their schedule

Opportunities v ASUH Graduate Test Preparation Award

Ø  Entrance exam fees, test prep materials

v PAC Ø  Kaplan Test Prep Scholarship

§  Covers cost for a Kaplan course §  Essay: Why do you want to go to your chosen

professional or graduate school? §  Website

Ø  Lending library

Practice Problems

Biochemistry Which  type  of  molecule  is  least  likely  to  be  found  

in  a  eukaryo*c  cell  membrane?  

A.  Phospholipid  

B.  Cholesterol  

C.  Glycoprotein  

D.  Pep*doglycan  

Biochemistry Which  type  of  molecule  is  least  likely  to  be  found  

in  a  eukaryo*c  cell  membrane?  

A.  Phospholipid  

B.  Cholesterol  

C.  Glycoprotein  

D.  Pep'doglycan  

Psychology A  teacher  rewards  his  students  by  distribu*ng  plas*c  chips.  

Students  receive  a  chip  for  each  instance  of  good  behavior.  At  the  end  of  each  month,  they  can  exchange  their  chips  for  prizes.  The  teacher  sees  major  decreases  in  bad  behavior  as  a  result  of  this  system,  which  is  known  as:  

 

A.  aversive  condi*oning  B.  operant  ex*nc*on  C.  a  token  economy  D.  an  uncondi*oned  s*mulus  

Psychology A  teacher  rewards  his  students  by  distribu*ng  plas*c  chips.  

Students  receive  a  chip  for  each  instance  of  good  behavior.  At  the  end  of  each  month,  they  can  exchange  their  chips  for  prizes.  The  teacher  sees  major  decreases  in  bad  behavior  as  a  result  of  this  system,  which  is  known  as:  

 

A.  aversive  condi*oning  B.  operant  ex*nc*on  C.  a  token  economy  D.  an  uncondi*oned  s*mulus  

Sociology Which  social  change  is  most  likely  to  result  in  the  

greatest  upward  mobility?    

A.  Industrializa*on  and  the  corresponding  decline  of  subsistence  agriculture  

B.  Deindustrializa*on  and  the  corresponding  decline  of  manufacturing  

C.  Suburbaniza*on  and  the  corresponding  decline  of  urban  communi*es  

D.  Urbaniza*on  and  the  corresponding  decline  of  rural  communi*es  

Sociology Which  social  change  is  most  likely  to  result  in  the  

greatest  upward  mobility?    

A.  Industrializa'on  and  the  corresponding  decline  of  subsistence  agriculture  

B.  Deindustrializa*on  and  the  corresponding  decline  of  manufacturing  

C.  Suburbaniza*on  and  the  corresponding  decline  of  urban  communi*es  

D.  Urbaniza*on  and  the  corresponding  decline  of  rural  communi*es  

Registration

Registration v Register through the MCAT Scheduling &

Registration system at www.aamc.org

v Registration Fee: $305 (Gold, Silver Zones)

v  Late Registration Fee: $355 (Bronze Zone: 1-2 weeks prior)

v AAMC recommends registering at least 60 days in advance

MCAT Testing Limits

v Only one MCAT reservation may be held at a time v Maximum of 3 attempts per testing year v Maximum of 4 attempts over 2 consecutive testing

years v  Lifetime maximum of 7 attempts v A voided exam counts as one attempt v A “No show” counts as one attempt

AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program (FAP)

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

v  Benefits Ø  Reduced registration fee: $300 $115 Ø  Reduced exam reschedule fee Ø  Waiver for all AMCAS fees (up to 15 schools) Ø  Free access to MSAR online ($25/annual) Ø  Free copy of The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam

(~$25) and authorization code access to The Official MCAT Self-Assessment Package ($104)

Eligibility for FAP v  Based  on  US  Dept.  of  Health  &  Human  Services  

poverty  guidelines,  applicants  with  total  family  income  at  or  below  three  *mes  the  federal  poverty  level  for  their  family  size  in  their  state  are  eligible  

 

v  Ex:  Family  of  4  in  Hawaii:  $27,890  Ø  $27,890  x  3  =  $83,670  (must  be  at  or  below)  

Applying to the FAP v Start early! Apply far in advance of MCAT date

and AMCAS application submission Ø  Application opens in early January

v Must wait for FAP decision before paying MCAT or AMCAS fees to receive fee assistance (No refunds!)

Test Day

Day Before Test Day v Review rather than study

v Visit test center

v Eat a full, healthy dinner

v Get a good night’s sleep

v Relax!

On Test Day

v Eat a balanced breakfast

v DO NOT study or take practice exams!

v Arrive about 30 minutes before scheduled start time

v Bring a sweater or jacket

The MCAT

During Breaks v  Two 10 minute breaks, one 30 minute breaks

v You may use the restroom, have a light snack, take a short walk

v You must sign-in and out every time you leave the testing center

v DO NOT take out or use electronics, study materials, or other prohibited items!

After Your Exam: Voiding ●  I wish to have my MCAT exam SCORED.

●  I wish to VOID my MCAT exam.

❖  Things to consider: ➢  Voided exams are not scored or reported to medical

schools ➢  Cannot undo ➢  No refunds

Score Availability

v MCAT score release dates are available on the AAMC website

v Viewable online via MCAT Testing History (THx)

v Automatically released to AMCAS

Score Report

Tips

Ø  Start studying early!

Ø  Take practice exams!

Ø  Visit the test site before exam day

Ø  Regulate your sleep schedule in advance

Ø  Eat a proper dinner & good breakfast

Ø  Dress comfortably

Ø  Tutorial before starting exam

Questions?

Thank You! Pre-­‐Health/Pre-­‐Law  Advising  Center  (PAC)  

University  of  Hawai‘i  at  Mānoa  

Sinclair  Library,  Room  108  

Phone:  (808)  956-­‐8646  

Email:  uhpac@hawaii.edu  

Website:  hfp://www.manoa.hawaii.edu/undergrad/pac  

 Please  turn  in  your  evalua*ons!