MCAT score? It's my dream to go. I'm still a freshman in college but I am planning ahead. My grades are not swell and I'm not so sure about the MCATs because I have never been good at standardized tests. The university I go to (dont want to say which one on the web) is  VERY tough so it is almost impossible for someone like me to receive good grades even though I study ALL the time (almost). Any advice of what I should do?
137238
Why not resign yourself to getting good grades and MCAT scores rather than looking for a loophole. Medical school, residency and even beyond are all full of standardized tests.\n\nThis may not be what you want to hear, but since you're only a freshman you have plenty of time to work hard and do well.
373761
I have 1 word for you: Kaplan. I have had students raise their scores by 200 or more points, and we are the only company that offers a comprehensive, 3-part guarantee. Plan on studying for 3 months or so and you *will* succeed.\nPlease feel free to contact me at the San Jose Kaplan center.
438454
Unfortunately, the BS/MD programs are all highly selective. They want top students who are ready to jump in and excell in highly intense courses immediately. If you've had less than a stellar academic experience in high school, regardless of the reason, you would, in all honestly, not be served well by an accelerated BS/MD program. You'd be much better off at a college where you'll be able to reach your full potential academically before going on to medical school. Luckily, there are many such colleges out there - look for a solid science program, good academic advising, support services, and a strong med school placement rate. If you're meant to be a doctor, you'll get there. Good luck.\nCarolyn Lawrence, www.AdmissionsAdvice.com
543437
This is not a decision you have to make now. I would say at this point just take General Chemistry and General Biology along with general education courses at the community college and concentrate on making good grades. After you have completed these courses you will have a better idea of what you would like to major in - Biology or something like English or History.\n\nIt is true that the more science you have, the better chance you will have on the MCAT but medical schools do not require that you major in a science. In fact, they are pleased when a candidate for med school has a broad liberal arts education in addition to the pre-med requirements.\n\nI wish you well at the community college. It is really important that almost all of your grades are A.\n\ns
539149
Try very hard to improve your grades, good grades will help you get into a good school, but as others have said, schools take into consideration, circumstances.    You will certainly want o be strong i science and math, especially Biology and Chemistry.  Before you choose a college, make sure it has a reputable pre med program.  Med school are extremely competetive, you will need good grades in college and/or someone with a lot of clout to get you in.  If you want something bad enough you will succeed, but in the event you don't, there are always options.  I work for a company that builds medical devices.  I work in Oncology R&D and we are part of the battle against cancer as well.  In fact, everything I have worked on there has been used on me on at least one occassion over the last 6 years as I am fighting late stage RCC.\n\nOh, I almost forgot.  There are other types of doctors that fight cancer also, not just Surgical Oncologists.  In fact, there is a growing trend toward Interventional Radiologists who use less invasive methods to treat people.  If you like, Email me and I can fill you in some, but make the Subject line interesting enough so I don't delete it as Spam.
203799
you will need to go to med school for like 10 yrs first..and you have to get really good grades..come on, you'd be dealing with peoples lives!! It's very intense studing..you think you're up for it??
2098
I was looking for an online school about a year ago and I really did a lot of research.  There are a number of "sketchy" schools that you should avoid.  The only one that I was really interested in was Kaplan University.  Kaplan is the company that is in charge of SAT testing and test prep.  It is a very reputable company.  If I do end up taking online classes I will take classes from Kaplan.
1641
The GMAT is essentially a glorified SAT - all the stuff in there you definitely learned pre-college. I've never been a big proponent of the GMAT classes because I feel you can get everything out of the book. The class isn't going to teach you some random formula you don't already know. Both the books and classes essentially spell out what format of questions will be asked in each section. Then they drill you on that format repeatedly until solving for that type of equation or that grammatical structure is second nature no matter what weird way they ask it on the test. I would recommend getting one of the books, Kaplan is pretty much the industry standard. Read it all the way through. Then take every practice test in the book, then save a few bucks and go hang out in the bookstore and take a half a dozen practice tests in other GMAT prep books. Review every question on your test you got wrong and go back into the book to see what “format” of question it is and review that again. Then use the free CDROM that should come with your prep book to focus in on any sections you are bombing on the practice tests. This worked for me and one of my buddies. We studied for about two weeks for an average of 3 hours a day and topped out over 750. The MCAT would be another story…thank god I don’t want to be a doctor…
192966
I graduated from Princeton a few years ago, and I currently conduct admission interviews for high school students applying to Princeton.  I believe it is true that scores and essays are important, but I would not dwell on those factors.  Admission officers look at the entire application, not just scores.  Specifically, I believe it is important that you have taken full advantage of every opportunity YOUR school offered.  Princeton is not only for students from the most elite high schools in the country that have the highest scores.  You will find that there are many public school students that come from humble backgrounds but have stood out amongst their peers in high school.  It's a good idea to show some depth in your activities, whether they are academic or non-academic.  Don't join 50 clubs and never go to meetings just because you think it will look good on your application.  Rather, do something worthwhile that has meaning for you.  Following this strategy will give you something good to write about in your essays and it will give you something good to talk about in an admission interview.  Also, do a little research about the school you are applying to (this goes for any school, not just Princeton) and find out what you like about the school.  I don't like it when I ask students why they want to go to Princeton and they tell me they want to go because "It's a good school."  Please keep in mind though that there really is nothing you can do to guarantee your admission.  There are about 15,000 applicants to Princeton every year, but only about 10% may be offered admission.  This means that many highly qualified applicants do not get accepted.  If you are not offered admission, it doesn't mean you weren't good enough, but there is just not room for everyone.  Also, something I read and have observed firsthand (since I went to graduate school at a public state university) is quite true: You can get a great education at most universities, it all just depends on your own hard work and determination.  Anyhow, good luck to all...
437940
NO, because standardized tests are all crap anyways... that kind of test does not show students knowledge or abilities. Don't worry about test scores, trust me.. when you go to college and you have an interview for a job, if you have an outstanding personality and have created a great portfolio, you will get a job hands down over a boring person with a 4.0!
307168
Don't worry about the past.  Just keep taking courses to raise your GPA.  Mine was about a 2.5 when I graduated; I went back later and took my pre-reqs and some grad courses and now I'm starting med school this fall (in the US, by the way!). Don't listen to people who are just jealous.
250232
Usually there are college study groups. Have you ever thought about "beating" the test just by hard preparation? I haven't started preparing yet, other than taking required classes and such. Most of my friends did well on the practice test, but they just had to buckled down and study for it. Just try to prepare gradually. Good luck to you!
70289
I didnt just recently take my test. I took mine back in the middle of December. I just got my results in like the1st week of March. yes it was late but they were slow in grading test because there were a lot of applicants then.
577455
Relax and get organized first.  The worst thing you can do when studying is go at it witout a gameplan...that will just get you confused.  Plan out what you need to study then try to do it in an orderly fashion.  Get some good rest and have a good breakfast before school tomorrow.  Above all, don't forget that a test is JUST A TEST and no matter what you score it won't ruin your life.  I don't even remember taking the Regents test much less what I got on it.  Just the best as you can.  You can do it!!
361785
let me give you some good advice. Quit lying to yourself about "knowing the material, but not testing  well". \n\nBuckle down, get the grades up (a.k.a. learning the material, not just thinking you know it), and see what happens.\n\nI for one would not my Pharmacist to be unable to pass an exam.\n\nSo I passed all my exams handily and stay up to date. I OWE it to my patients
424814
I have on the MCAT.\n\nJust study. If you study and feel unprepared, or generally do not test well it is very worthwhile to pay for a prep class. They are very expensive, but from experience boost your score dramatically.\n\nhttp://www.testprepreview.com/mcat_practice.htm
56499
UCSF does not offer pre-med, as they do not offer undergraduate courses.  I know people who are med students at UCSF and they did their pre-med at SFSU, UC Berkeley, UCLA.  Do not take any courses for pre-med at a community college.  Obviously the better the rep of the school and the higher your grades and MCAT scores the better your chances are of getting into UCSF which is one of the hardest schools in the nation to get into.  Great undergrad institutions in California would be: Stanford, UCB, UCLA, UCSD, UC Davis, USC etc.  but I have known plenty of people who went to SFSU and also got in. The key is to do well and to stand out.