Prepare for the MCAT
If you are planning on applying to medical school chances are you are stressing out about preparing for the MCATs. In case you do not already know, the MCAT test is the Medical College Admissions Test. The MCAT test is an essential part of the application process to get into medical school. The score that you get on the test is one of the first and most important things that the admissions committee looks at. The MCAT test is a computerized, multiple choice, standardized test that is used to asses an individual’s problem solving skills, critical thinking skills, writing skills, and knowledge of basic scientific principles and ideas. The MCAT test consists of four sections including a verbal section, physical science section, biological science section and a writing section. The test is offered multiple times throughout the year beginning in January and ending around September. They are offered in hundreds of locations throughout the United States. When entering your location for an MCAT test the only thing that you are allowed to bring with you is a government issued form of identification. No type of food or beverage is allowed in the room. They can be taken up to three times a year, but it is a difficult test and it will cost about $250 every time you take it, so it is necessary that you prepare accordingly.
There is a large variety of resources available to help you prepare for the MCATs. Companies such as Kaplan and the Princeton Review offer books and programs of study designed specifically for MCAT test prep. Both of these companies offer online courses, intense summer courses, instructor led courses and private tutoring for the MCATs. Kaplan also offers a five book box set on all of the subjects that you will be tested on when you take the MCAT. You can find a variety of free study aids, practice questions, and practice tests free online to assist you with your MCAT test prep. Visual Aid has created a DVD course for MCAT test prep that costs about $140. The Gold Standard has also created a similar DVD program for MCAT test prep for the different areas of the test. These DVDs range in price from $72-$99, but used copies can be found for cheaper. Barron’s and Exambusters both offer MCAT test prep flashcards that contain flash cards with questions and answers and also flash cards that state basic ideas and concepts. Alex Willis wrote a book called ‘How I Kicked the MCATs Ass’ which is full of examples of the types of questions that you will find on any standardized test and is one of the few books written from a perspective of a student taking the exam. Taking a test as important and expensive as the MCAT can be very taxing, however you are not alone. Hundreds of people have stood where you stand now and made it through. There are plenty of resources available to help you prepare for the MCAT, and with the help of the right ones you will be calm, confident and get the score that you need to get into the school that you want.