You’ve spent months in an MCAT review course, taken practice test after practice test, and finally sat for the exam. Your results are in. Are they good enough to get you into your target medical school? Let’s take a look at what your scores mean. MCAT scores and your grades are weighted differently. The primary…
How to Prep for the MCAT [Episode 480]
Expert tips for MCAT success [Show Summary] Todd Bennett, co-founder of The Berkeley Review and expert MCAT instructor, shares his best tips for preparing for and taking the test. Todd Bennett, co-founder of The Berkeley Review and expert MCAT instructor [Show Notes] Welcome to the 480th episode of Admissions Straight Talk, thanks for joining me….
Improve Your MCAT Score for Medical School Acceptance
Fortunately, it’s easier to tackle a poor MCAT score than a poor GPA. While you should not retake the exam too many times, a better-prepared second or even third attempt can be a sound strategy. Many people find that studying independently or with a group of friends works well. Reviewing your old class notes and…
How to Study for the MCAT: 3 Key Tips
This article is a guest post by Dr. Lindy Ledohowski. While medical school acceptance rates on average can be around 10%, depending on the selectivity of the medical school itself, that acceptance rate can be much lower. For example, Harvard Medical School has a 3.5% acceptance rate. For those wanting to be competitive in this…
Testing, Testing, 1-2-3: What’s the Right Test Prep For You? [Episode 443]
Are you thinking about taking a standardized test for undergraduate or graduate admissions? Read on for must-know test-prep information! [Show summary] We’re calling in test prep leaders and co-hosts of the Tests and the Rest podcast, Mike Bergin and Amy Seeley to discuss tips and strategies for choosing the right test prep for you as…
How to Eliminate Test Anxiety [Episode 427]
Ace any standardized admissions test, with top-tier academic coaching and effective tools to manage anxiety [Show summary] Bara Sapir has been providing test prep for over 20 years and is a pioneer in mindful test taking, implementing a holistic approach to the test prep process. She shares her best tips along with her comprehensive approach…
MCAT Veteran Teaches You How to Prepare for Your Test [Episode 426]
What factors should you consider when deciding how to prepare for the MCAT? [Show summary] Our guest today has been providing MCAT prep for just under 30 years and he’s going to share his best MCAT prep advice with you! The Berkeley Review’s CEO, Todd Bennett, shares his best MCAT prep advice [Show notes] Our…
Tips for Applicants With a Low MCAT Score
Medical school applicants (or any other professional school applicant) must assess their credentials realistically to present themselves in the best possible way during the application process. Since applicants are evaluated based on specific quantitative criteria (primarily undergraduate GPA and MCAT scores) and non-quantitative criteria (research and clinical exposure, leadership skills, mentoring experiences), as well as…
How Does the Med School Adcom View Multiple MCAT Scores?
In 2007, the MCAT was first offered electronically. Prior to this technological shift, the MCAT was only offered a limited number of times a year – as a paper and pencil exam. AAMC also restricted the number of times you could take the exam in one year as well as in your lifetime. Now that…
Changes in MCAT Exam Administrations: May 29-September 28, 2020
According to the AAMC website, there have been changes to the MCAT exam for those testing between May 29 and September 28, 2020. What you need to know about the temporary shortened MCAT A shortened version of the MCAT will be administered from May 29 through the end of the 2020 testing year. This change…
UPDATES: How Does Corona Continue to Impact Testing? [GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, ACT, SAT, TOEFL, EA]
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect schools and businesses worldwide. The health and safety of testing candidates and staff remain priorities as testing organizations continue to offer online testing while finding ways to safely reopen testing centers. Here is the most up-to-date information on admission tests and their response to coronavirus. GRE ETS is offering…
Advice for the MCAT from an MCAT Expert [Episode 318]
Advice for the MCAT from an MCAT expert [Show Summary] The MCAT is one really tough exam, and must be approached with careful and deliberate preparation. In this episode, Megan Galvin, National Director of the MCAT for Examkrackers for the last 12 years, takes you through everything from how much time you need to prep,…
3 Ways to Deal with a Low MCAT Score
After weeks of patiently waiting, you finally receive your MCAT score, only to realize that it’s much lower than you’d hoped. In this situation, you have several options. First, take some time to think; it’s not a good idea to make a decision immediately after receiving your score. Give it some time. Identify and consider…
Can You Submit Your AMCAS Application BEFORE Taking the MCAT?
It’s risky to apply to med school before taking or retaking the MCAT for a few reasons: 1. Applying to med school is expensive and time intensive. It’s hard to know where you might be a competitive applicant if you don’t know how your scores compare to other students at a school. Your practice scores…
5 Things You Need to Know Before Your MCAT Exam
Applying to medical school is no doubt one of the most exciting paths in your life so far, however intense the process may feel! And while taking the MCAT can definitely be intimidating, the best way to ease any stress you may have surrounding it is to be as informed about it as possible. The…
Rejected From Medical School 3x – Today a Pediatric Resident and Mom [Episode 238]
You’ve taken the MCAT, maybe even applied and been rejected. Discouraged? Don’t be. Hear Dr. Allie’s story. Allie Lyle had wanted to be a doctor since she was 14. More specifically she wanted to be a pediatrician. And she pursued this path diligently. But the MCAT and a few mistakes got in her way. She…
Did You Miss Our MCAT Webinar?
If you missed our guest webinar with NextStepTestPrep, The MCAT: Craft Your Strategy for Success, don’t worry – you can now view it free on-demand anytime! Test prep is often a source of deep anxiety for applicants. We want to give you the tools to develop an effective MCAT prep strategy, so that you can…
Kaplan Test Prep Survey Offers Tips to Aspiring Doctors
Fewer MD applicants earned a seat in medical school in 2016 (39.7%) than in recent history. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, this is the second year in a row that the admit rate fell below 40%. For their 12th annual survey of medical school admissions officers, Kaplan Test Prep recently queried…
1 Doctor, 2 Entrepreneurs: Eliza Morrison & Andrew Nimmich [Episode 230]
Meet Eliza Morrison and M4 Andrew Nimmich, the CEOs of Tutor the People and Nerdly. Both of today’s guests attended the College of Charleston in South Carolina where Eliza Morrison majored in French, Russian and Comparative Literature. Andrew Nimmich also attended the College of Charleston and CUNY Brooklyn College and majored in Pre-Medical Studies. He…
MCAT Strategy: Learning from Practice
Once you’ve assessed your baseline strengths and weaknesses, crafted your study plan, and gotten into the swing of things with your MCAT studying, you’ll find yourself taking practice sections and full-length exams before too long. To get the best results, though, you need to do more than just practice; you must also carefully review your…