Transcription
GM 3: MCAT BreakdownPre-Med Timeline Series (Part 2 of 3)
RemindersAGENDA Committee Applications Task Force Application Office HoursPre-med Timeline: MCAT When to take itSections on the MCATHow to PrepareBreakout Rooms
The Committee System 5 Committees Each will meet weekly outside ofGeneral Meetings amsa.berkeley.edu https://linktr.ee/amsaberkeley Applications due TOMORROWat 11:59pm Can apply to multiplecommittees, will be accepted intoonly one.
The CommitteesCommunity Service CSC is full of passionate and hardworking people who lovegiving back to the community and are inspired to beleaders through community service.Culture of Medicine Culture of Medicine (COM) is a great place for those whowant to learn more and help spread knowledge about avariety of healthcare fields.Fundraising & Philanthropy Fundraising and Philanthropy (P&F) is an excellentcommute for you if you are interested in combining yourpassion for medicine with an interest inbusiness/management. Join us to fundraise for charities,perform philanthropic activities, and hone your networkingskills.Public Health The Public Health Committee is a forum for exploringtopics in public health and becoming a public healthadvocate in your community.REACH/GS REACH/GS is a place where we tackle the toughdiscussions on health disparities that you will likelyencounter in healthcare, we learn and advocate forcommunities while empowering people!
Task Forces Task Force vs CommitteeBerkeley CardiovascularInitiative (BCI)Pre Meds of BerkeleyCan be accepted to both acommittee and a Task ForceApplications due TOMORROWat 11:59pm
OFFICE HOURS Time with officers/upperclassmen in smallergroups for 30min -1hr outsideof GM’sChat, get advice on school,future, etc.2nd OH: Today after GM, righthere! (9-9:30pm PT)Upcoming OH: fill out feedbackform and we will go from therehttps://tinyurl.com/AMSAadviceBe on the lookout for a googlecalendar to come with officehour links in the coming weeks https://join.slack.com/t/amsa-corp/shared invite/zt-9nmizedyyovzIfM4HBE4nIjWD7BJJw
Join us for our next GM on:Thursday, October 1st, 2020 @ 8PMVisit:amsa.berkeley.edu
*Note thattheMCAT/Applicationtimeline hasdiffered thisyear due toCOVID – wewill coverthis! PART 1 (Last GM):Prerequisites Required CoursesSuggested CoursesAcademic Resources PART 2 (Today):MCAT When to Take itSections on the MCATHow to Prepare PART 3 (Next GM):Apps/Admissions AAMCFinancesGap years
What is the MCAT?MedicalCollegeAdmissionsTestAn exam you need to takein order to apply to medicalschool.Important part of yourapplication, along withGPA.
MCAT Logistics Most American medical colleges requirean MCAT score (some BA/MD or BS/MDprograms don’t)COVID Adjustment (2020/2021 cycle): Some medical schools will allow primarywithout an MCAT score, but need it forsecondarySome medical schools will not weigh theMCAT score as heavily (other parts of yourapplication are more important.GPA)MCAT and AMCAS application all happenthrough the AAMC websiteFormat: online; passages with multiplechoice questions Registration Opens 2x a year: October (Jan-Junedates) and February (July - Sept dates)Register early!!! (literally, like set a timerthe day of, spots go very quickly)If later, can register onto a waitlist Many people drop as the date getscloserCost: 320 Fee assistance programCan take it 3 times in one year, for a totalof 7 times in your life Most schools only take scores dating back2-3 years
Sections on the MCAT (unabridged) 1.2.3.95 mins90 mins30 mins4.95 mins95 mins5 minsChemical and PhysicalFoundations of BiologicalSystemsCritical Analysis andReasoning Skills (CARS)Biological andBiochemical Foundationsof BehaviorPsychological, Social,and BiologicalFoundations of BehaviorTotal “seated” time 7:33
Sections on the MCAT (shortened) Starting May 29 andcontinuing until the endof the 2020 testing year,the MCAT exam will beshortened.Fewer number ofquestionsSimilar time/questionStart times: 6:30am,12:15pm, 6:00pmTotal “seated” time 5:45
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological SystemsGen Chem: 30%Biochem Physics: 25% eachOchem: 15%Biology: 5%Mechanical, physical, biochemical functions ofhuman tissues / organs / organ systems. Basicchemical and physical principles underlyinghuman body, and your ability to apply theseprinciples to living systems.Helpful Courses: Gen Chem Chem 1A/1ALO Chem Chem 3A/3AL Chem 3B/3BLPhysics Phys ation/mcat-section-breakdown
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)Similar to reading comprehension sectionson other standardized tests. Passages froma variety of humanities and social sciences.Helpful Courses: Intro Public HealthArt, Literature, Ethics, Philosophy, CulturalStudies, Dance, Music, Pop Culture, Religion Anthropology, Archaeology, Econ, Education,Geography, History, Linguistics, Poly Sci,Population Health, Psych, Sociology Advice: Do lots of practice questions, get used tothe questions they ask and the answers they arelooking tion/mcat-section-breakdown
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living SystemsBio: 65%Biochem: 25%Gen Chem: 5%Ochem: 5%Processes of living organisms (growth, reproduction,response, metabolism, adapting), how cells andorgan systems accomplish this, and your ability toreason about these processes.Helpful Courses: Biochem MCB 102 (or Chem 135, MCBC100A/B) KNOW AMINO ACIDSBio Bio 1A/LGen chem Chem 1A/1ALO chem Chem 3A/3AL Chem mation/mcat-section-breakdown
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior65%: Psychology35%: Sociology5% BiologyHow concepts in psychology, sociology, andbiology apply to the sociocultural and behavioralaspects of human health. Also demonstrate yourability to use research methods and statistics.Helpful Courses: Psychology Psych 1/2Sociology Soc 1Bio Bio 1A/LStats Stats 2 Math 10B Stats 20 PH ion/mcat-section-breakdown
MCAT Scores Score is scaled They “compensate for smallvariation in difficulty betweensets of questions” “Provide a more stable andaccurate assessment of astudent’s performance”Most schools only takeMCAT scores dating back2-3 yearsMCAT expires after 3 years What it looks like when you get your scores. Foundon google, not an AMSA member’s -medical-school/article/how-new-mcat-exam-scored/
Preparing for the MCATWhen to Study Spend the summer studying andthen take the test shortly afterStudy during fall semester andtake exam at the end of winterbreak Not ideal to study during theschool yearMost people study for 3 months
Preparing for the MCATHow to Study Keeping a positive mindset!Take hella organized notes in all yourprerequisite courses Anki shoutout!Take a diagnostic test to assess yourstrengths and weaknesses. Kaplanoffers a free onePrioritize practicing high-yield topics,and your weak topicsMake a study plan!Make a study group!--Discord plugPlan a celebration!Figure out how you study best.
Preparing for the MCATStudy materials: An MCAT Course Self Study with book set KaplanPrinceton ReviewKaplan 7-book setKaplan FlashcardsAAMC Practice Tests and Banks Full-Length Practice Tests ( 35) Mimics testing conditions Made by people who write the exam Get a scaled scoreTest Bank HELLA practice questions*Tip: Your endurance is just as important as yourknowledge, take full-length tests in test-likeconditions to practice effectively.
Kaplan Test Prep Course Certificate AuctionThis course certificate is for the KaplanTest Prep Course eligible for the MCAT,DAT, OAT, and PCAT.Starting Bid is 1100 ( 2499 value)!Bid Now: www.32auctions.com/AMSA
Breakout Rooms!
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Apply to Committees & Task Forcesamsa.berkeley.edu committees each committee
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An MCAT Course Kaplan Princeton Review Self Study with book set Kaplan 7-book set Kaplan Flashcards AAMC Practice Tests and Banks Full-Length Practice Tests ( 35) Mimics tes
