which mcat is best?

[sv3]

Hi,

I am not sure how Alberta scores the MCAT in their selection process. Does anyone know how this is calcuated? For instance, the writing sample is worth 5 pts out of the 100 overall. But, what's the difference between each letter?

I asked them but they said they did not publish how they are scored - which i found surprising b/c if your numerical scores are close together and have different WS scores, you need to know how everything is calculated to know which MCAT is best don't you? (ex. 29Q vs 30P - how do you know which is scored higher at Alberta - you can only put one on the application).

thanks
sv3

[cnb88]

Originally Posted by sv3

Hi,

I am not sure how Alberta scores the MCAT in their selection process. Does anyone know how this is calcuated? For instance, the writing sample is worth 5 pts out of the 100 overall. But, what's the difference between each letter?

I asked them but they said they did not publish how they are scored - which i found surprising b/c if your numerical scores are close together and have different WS scores, you need to know how everything is calculated to know which MCAT is best don't you? (ex. 29Q vs 30P - how do you know which is scored higher at Alberta - you can only put one on the application).

thanks
sv3

So... on the website... it says:

"The Admissions Committee has a minimum requirement of seven (7) or better in all categories. Scores less than these will not be considered.
The average scores of those admitted are 11 in biological sciences and physical sciences, 10 verbal reasoning and a Q on the writing sample."

So based on this... I would say that depending on your actual breakdown... I would think the Q would be better? Just my opinion though.... hard to say actually. Maybe they don't look at the writing sample as much as the others... or maybe they look at it more. I'd say it depends on your breakdown. ie... 10/10/10 P vs 10/9/10 Q... I would say the one with the Q is better. If it were a 10/10/10 P vs 9/10/10 Q... I would say that the P is better b/c you're only 1 away from the average on the PS vs 2 away on the PS (of the one with the Q). But that's just my opinion.

Hmmm... hopefully that makes more sense to you than it does to me re-reading it....

[sv3]

Originally Posted by cnb88

So... on the website... it says:

"The Admissions Committee has a minimum requirement of seven (7) or better in all categories. Scores less than these will not be considered.
The average scores of those admitted are 11 in biological sciences and physical sciences, 10 verbal reasoning and a Q on the writing sample."

So based on this... I would say that depending on your actual breakdown... I would think the Q would be better? Just my opinion though.... hard to say actually. Maybe they don't look at the writing sample as much as the others... or maybe they look at it more. I'd say it depends on your breakdown. ie... 10/10/10 P vs 10/9/10 Q... I would say the one with the Q is better. If it were a 10/10/10 P vs 9/10/10 Q... I would say that the P is better b/c you're only 1 away from the average on the PS vs 2 away on the PS (of the one with the Q). But that's just my opinion.

Hmmm... hopefully that makes more sense to you than it does to me re-reading it....

Those weren't my actual scores but my numericals are just one apart, and the higher numerical has a WS score one below my lower numerical MCAT.

So my whole thing is: is one level higher on the WS more important than one point on the numerical section? Unfortunately, i think so and i reported my higher numerical score (confused yet?). The numerical section is worth 15% and the WS 5%. Depending on how they break down the scores, I probably slighted myself a bit.

Just dissapointed that it is not clear - someone with close scores like myself might not know which is best. This would be a moot point if their application process let you input all scores.

Ah well, was just looking at my app when this hit me. Nothing to do about it now.

thanks for your post - makes sense and exactly what i was thinking.

sv3

[cnb88]

Originally Posted by sv3

Those weren't my actual scores but my numericals are just one apart, and the higher numerical has a WS score one below my lower numerical MCAT.

So my whole thing is: is one level higher on the WS more important than one point on the numerical section? Unfortunately, i think so and i reported my higher numerical score (confused yet?). The numerical section is worth 15% and the WS 5%. Depending on how they break down the scores, I probably slighted myself a bit.

Just dissapointed that it is not clear - someone with close scores like myself might not know which is best. This would be a moot point if their application process let you input all scores.

Ah well, was just looking at my app when this hit me. Nothing to do about it now.

thanks for your post - makes sense and exactly what i was thinking.

sv3

I know exactly what you mean... it seems like all med schools keep certain things vague enough for enough people to be totally confused about it.

Actually I think you are good either way... the MCAT score is 15%... so theoretically 5% per section (if you assume that the writing sample is separate because they separated it from just "MCAT score") meaning that the numerical scores are worth just as much as the writing sample score.

If not... who knows how they rate it? Maybe it's all just magic. Or they pick names out of a hat. Or flip a coin. Either way, no one will never know for sure. Unless we get a spy.....

Who wants to be a premed101 spy?... We need some people inflitrate the admissions committee at all schools (hey.. would it count as volunteer hours? haha).....

007 out

[sv3]

Originally Posted by cnb88

I know exactly what you mean... it seems like all med schools keep certain things vague enough for enough people to be totally confused about it.

Actually I think you are good either way... the MCAT score is 15%... so theoretically 5% per section (if you assume that the writing sample is separate because they separated it from just "MCAT score") meaning that the numerical scores are worth just as much as the writing sample score.

If not... who knows how they rate it? Maybe it's all just magic. Or they pick names out of a hat. Or flip a coin. Either way, no one will never know for sure. Unless we get a spy.....

Who wants to be a premed101 spy?... We need some people inflitrate the admissions committee at all schools (hey.. would it count as volunteer hours? haha).....

007 out

hahaha. agreed with everything you said. A simple solution would be for them to choose the best score but they don't let us submit all scores. At least Calgary tells you how they score the MCAT. I find this pretty negligent on Alb's part. But yeah, either way, it ptobably won't make or break me but you never know......i've got way bigger worries than choosing between a 34R or 35Q though (namely GPA!)\

gluck!

[cnb88]

Originally Posted by sv3

hahaha. agreed with everything you said. A simple solution would be for them to choose the best score but they don't let us submit all scores. At least Calgary tells you how they score the MCAT. I find this pretty negligent on Alb's part. But yeah, either way, it ptobably won't make or break me but you never know......i've got way bigger worries than choosing between a 34R or 35Q though (namely GPA!)\

gluck!

My GPA is on the low side, and my MCAT is only average (except for my VR score- rocked that part... dunno how, but I did..lol). The only thing going for me is my IP status and the (hope) that they qualify me as having rural status (the town I lived in for like 12 years is like 80ish away from a large-size town... but depending on which map source you use it's between 79 and 83km away. I will be sad if they use the one that's 79! lol)
Your MCAT score is amazing! Are you IP or OOP?
Good luck!

[sv3]

Originally Posted by cnb88

My GPA is on the low side, and my MCAT is only average (except for my VR score- rocked that part... dunno how, but I did..lol). The only thing going for me is my IP status and the (hope) that they qualify me as having rural status (the town I lived in for like 12 years is like 80ish away from a large-size town... but depending on which map source you use it's between 79 and 83km away. I will be sad if they use the one that's 79! lol)
Your MCAT score is amazing! Are you IP or OOP?
Good luck!

IP. But when you say your gpa is on the low side, trust me, that would make mine very very low. So that's the big obstacle i gotto overcome. That's why it hurt like hell when I didn't get an interview at Queens since they don't look at your gpa post interview. Here, i think its still about 50% or so. Still, I'll be thankful to get an interview. I'm also a graduate degree holder and worked full-time for 5 yrs after getting that degree. gluck on the rural thing.....looks close enough to me!

[cnb88]

Originally Posted by sv3

IP. But when you say your gpa is on the low side, trust me, that would make mine very very low. So that's the big obstacle i gotto overcome. That's why it hurt like hell when I didn't get an interview at Queens since they don't look at your gpa post interview. Here, i think its still about 50% or so. Still, I'll be thankful to get an interview. I'm also a graduate degree holder and worked full-time for 5 yrs after getting that degree. gluck on the rural thing.....looks close enough to me!

Haha... thanks! I hope you're right!
btw... When I say my GPA is low I don't mean the "I only have a 3.89 low", I mean the I'm somewhere between a 3.2-3.6 low. haha. Which, for pretty much anything else is awesome... just not for med. *Sigh* I guess maybe I should have holed myself up in my room instead of continuing to figure skate... So even if your GPA is lower than mine, you're still sitting better because your MCAT is at least above average!
If nothing else we can be the token kids in the class that have the low GPAs (so that they can still say that the minimum required is a 3.3.... if I have to be that "token" person... I will be! haha)

[sv3]

Originally Posted by cnb88

Haha... thanks! I hope you're right!
btw... When I say my GPA is low I don't mean the "I only have a 3.89 low", I mean the I'm somewhere between a 3.2-3.6 low. haha. Which, for pretty much anything else is awesome... just not for med. *Sigh* I guess maybe I should have holed myself up in my room instead of continuing to figure skate... So even if your GPA is lower than mine, you're still sitting better because your MCAT is at least above average!
If nothing else we can be the token kids in the class that have the low GPAs (so that they can still say that the minimum required is a 3.3.... if I have to be that "token" person... I will be! haha)

LOL......i didnt even know they cared to have us token kids! That would be awesome. I'd probably be one of the oldest and dumbest (strictly according to gpa) so i could fill a few token spots. Nah figure skating sounds way better than "intensive reading" if you ask me.

And yeah, refreshing that your not the "holy crap, i only got a 3.85 gpa" student. I'm in the same range, lower half. Had I known back then I'd be applying to meds today, i woulda stayed sober more often. But let's hope your token theory is correct.......at least it provides an inkling of hope.....