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Why You Really Need to do Well on the MCAT

Why are standardized tests so important? Do they really reflect your abilities or capabilities? Do they really test what you need to know in order to become a physician? According to most medical school admissions committees, the answer is a resounding YES. How you perform on your MCAT says a lot about how you’ll perform in med school, in subsequent exams, and then later on as a medical professional. Here are FOUR things your MCAT score can predict: 1. Grades in medical school The MCAT tests skills that you will use in med school. If you do well on the MCAT, then it shows you have what it takes to excel in med school. And if you don’t do well on the exam†¦well†¦you do the math†¦. 2. Scores on STEP exams As you know, there are many steps and milestones before finally being able to practice medicine. Not only do you need to make the grade at school, but you need to pass your USMLE STEP exams. Research shows that those who do well on the MCAT are more likely to pass their STEP exams. 3. Likelihood of graduation in 4-5 years You don’t want med school to drag on forever. It won’t bode well when it comes to applying for residencies, fellowships, and jobs, nor will it fare well for your self-esteem. The higher your MCAT score, the greater chance you have of finishing med school â€Å"on time.† 4. Ability to pass licensing exams on first try The last thing that your MCAT score can predict is your ability to pass your licensing exam on your first try. When you’ve made it this far, you don’t want to push off practicing medicine any longer than you need to. Schools want their doctors to succeed out in the field as soon as possible; the higher your MCAT, the greater chances are that you’ll make your alma mater proud! While it’s true that med schools shouldn’t (and don’t) use MCAT scores to fully determine the competitiveness of applicants, you now understand how these scores do play an important role in helping adcoms see how well you’ll handle med school, and beyond. And you can use this information to your benefit as well – if you don’t do well on the MCAT, you know that you need to boost your med knowledge, not just so that you can get into medical school, but so that you’ll excel at school and in the medical field later on. hbspt.cta.load(58291, '1d2df5cf-1a21-4396-91eb-035040f8bc40', {}); For 25 years, Accepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to their dream healthcare programs. Our outstanding team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, admissions committee members, pre-health advisors, postbac program directors, and doctors. Our staff has guided applicants to acceptance at allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools, residencies and fellowships, dental school, veterinarian school, and physician assistant programs at top schools such as Harvard, Stanford, Penn, UCSF, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and many more.  Want an admissions expert  to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch! Related Resources: †¢ Applying to Medical With Low Stats, a free guide †¢ How to Address a Low MCAT Score †¢ How the Adcom Views Multiple MCAT Scores

Essay Writing Evidence - Using a Graphic Organizer

Essay Writing Evidence - Using a Graphic OrganizerGraphic organizers are a great way to organize an essay and present your arguments in the best light possible. If you don't have one, it is time to look for one! By organizing your essays, you will have a much easier time explaining them to those who read them and therefore make it easier for yourself to revise them later on when you feel they are not so useful.It is often a good idea to start with an outline of the essay before you begin to write. It is also a good idea to add the details and references in a list that you can refer to throughout the rest of the essay. It is very easy to make a small error here, but instead of re-reading all the writing back into your head, make sure that you include the reference that you need, and move on.A graphic organizer is a writer's assistant who takes care of all the nuts and bolts of the writing process. By using one, you will be able to keep track of all of the things that need to be taken care of from the point that you began to write. The organizer is a friend, and you will feel a lot more comfortable when you are using it.The first step in organizing your essays is to go out and get a graphic organizer. Once you find one that you like, you can use it. The organizer you choose should fit your style, so ask yourself what type of organizer you need. Most organizers can be printed out in one location, and simply place it on the computer so that it is ready for you to access whenever you want.When it comes to organizing your essays, it is important to not forget to introduce your essay as a reference for others to follow along with. By using an organizer, you are making it very easy for others to refer back to your work. The organizer will also help to remind you about a point you may have overlooked in your writing. When you use an organizer, you are less likely to make the same mistake twice.An organizer is a tool, and not just a piece of paper. It should fit in the b ack of your laptop bag, or your purse, wherever you might be going. If you do not know where to put it, get one that fits in a small container, so that you can keep track of it and reference it whenever you need to. This way, you will have it with you at all times, so that you are not distracted by the organizer.As a student, you will need to be able to prove that the ideas you have in your head are related to the ideas you present in your essay. It is much easier for others to judge your work when they can see how it was organized. Using a graphic organizer can make this easier for you, as it is a tangible way for you to prove that your ideas are as important as those of the others.Keep in mind that a graphic organizer is not for everyone. When you start using one, keep in mind that you will be able to see the same way you would if you were looking at your essay on paper. This means that you should use the organizer as a tool to see how your ideas are arranged in the best way possi ble.