Can MCAT predict how you will perform?

[Compassion MD]

Do you believe that MCAT can predict how you will perform in Medical School?

[oshka55]

I don't think so...

[*health sci gurl*]

I don't think so either....but i mean, with soooo many people applying...they need to weed people out somehow right...

[kapkaniMD]

i got a 21 on the mcat and I am getting honors in pretty much everything, a friend of mine has honors in everything and he got a 19 so my vote is no

[simpleman1]

yes, i believe the MCAT is a good predictor of standarized tests. I, myself, got a 16 and I am not proud of it and I am really scared, but motivated and strong willed about the Med school path, b/c of the USMLE Steps might just not do it for me. I have been getting high grades in everything. I am like a computer hard drive that has millions of gegabytes to store information, but when it comes to standarized stuff, i fail to apply info. But i am training myself at it and will one day succeed. MCAT is a good predictor and should tell u to start moving and practice those types of questions. Thats what i am doing now, and i will keep taking the MCAT over and over till i conquer it and move on.

I wanna get into a US med school, but if mcat keeps failing me, Ross is where i will end up.

[HeroLike]

people that do well on standardized tests tend to always carry that skill when taking further standardized tests.

so if yu do well on MCATS, it is a high likelihood that you will perform well on the USMLE exams in medical schools.

in short:

if u suck at standardized tests = u will most likely suck at them all
if u good at standardized tests = u will most likely do well at them all

keep in mind these are general statements, anyone can be an exception.

[HocusPocus]

I don't really think the mcat can predict how well one does in medical school because there are plenty of people who did not score very high on the mcat but still did well in their basic sciences and on the usmle. I posted a reply to this earlier, but I'll repeat, pre-med prep is not necessarily mcat prep because pre-med exams are nothing like the mcat, BUT basic sciences prep is supposed to be usmle prep and basic sciences exams are supposed to be like usmle questions. So really, if you can do well in the basic sciences, there really is no reason to not do well on the usmles, but just because someone did well in undergrad does not necessarily mean they will do well on the mcat, because in addition to reviewing the material, you actually have to learn how to take that information and apply in a whole different context. So, perhaps if pre-med exams were more like the mcat, we'd see more people getting 30's and above.

[mozman]

Hocus Pocus, I am so glad to have read your reply as you stole my thoughts and put them on paper. My carpal tunnel and I thank you for your efforts!;)

[HeroLike]

I don't really think the mcat can predict how well one does in medical school because there are plenty of people who did not score very high on the mcat but still did well in their basic sciences and on the usmle. I posted a reply to this earlier, but I'll repeat, pre-med prep is not necessarily mcat prep because pre-med exams are nothing like the mcat, BUT basic sciences prep is supposed to be usmle prep and basic sciences exams are supposed to be like usmle questions. So really, if you can do well in the basic sciences, there really is no reason to not do well on the usmles, but just because someone did well in undergrad does not necessarily mean they will do well on the mcat, because in addition to reviewing the material, you actually have to learn how to take that information and apply in a whole different context. So, perhaps if pre-med exams were more like the mcat, we'd see more people getting 30's and above.

good point with the analogy of if premed exams were like mcat questions.

so true so true, point taken.

[taladega]

Just to give some people who maybe didnt do so well on the MCATs like me some hope........I scored in the low 20s on the MCAT. I currently have a 4.0 gpa and just recieved my step 1 results a few weeks ago, and I scored a 261!!!......so, if you dont do so well on the MCAT, just remember, anything can be done with a little hard work and determination.

[teratos]

There is a statistical correlation between MCAT performance and USMLE performance. A correlation is not a rule, it is just a trend. So, the answer is NO, the MCAT will not predict how you will perform, but people who did better on the MCAT will tend to do better on the USMLE.

[stateofequilibrium]

There is a statistical correlation between MCAT performance and USMLE performance. A correlation is not a rule, it is just a trend. So, the answer is NO, the MCAT will not predict how you will perform, but people who did better on the MCAT will tend to do better on the USMLE.

So what you're saying is there's somewhat? ;)

[teratos]

So what you're saying is there's somewhat? ;)


That's a definite maybe. G

[jameslynton]

Just to give some people who maybe didnt do so well on the MCATs like me some hope........I scored in the low 20s on the MCAT. I currently have a 4.0 gpa and just recieved my step 1 results a few weeks ago, and I scored a 261!!!......so, if you dont do so well on the MCAT, just remember, anything can be done with a little hard work and determination.Hard work does pay off

[stateofequilibrium]

That's a definite maybe. G

Are you sure not a maybe definite?

[teratos]

Are you sure not a maybe definite?


That is an absolute possibility. G

[MDiva]

From an AAMC study:
AAMC: MCAT: (http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/research/bibliography/velos001.htm)

Excerpt:

CONCLUSION: As expected from many earlier studies, MCAT scores were consistently more valuable that were undergraduate GPAs as predictors of performance on licensing examinations, supporting their continued use in selection decisions. These relationships are stable across three decades and apply to the three examinations. Verbal scores tended to be better indicators of performances in the clinical and postgraduate tests. There was no independent effect for older, nontraditional students after controlling for their undergraduate academic performances and MCAT scores.
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The MCAT didn't strike me as a test of what you know, but more as a test of how you think. I looked at the dental and pharmacy school admissions tests, and those science questions seemed better suited in terms of testing what you learned in undergrad science courses. You either knew the stuff or you didn't. MCAT was a whole 'nother animal, IMO. Just one evil beast.

[alsharpton]

somwhat and maybe means the same thing