Comments on: How I got a T on the MCAT Writing Sample http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/how-i-got-a-t-on-the-mcat-writing-sample/ Entertainment and Advice for Budding Physicians Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/how-i-got-a-t-on-the-mcat-writing-sample/comment-page-1/#comment-4174 Anonymous Fri, 19 Aug 2011 05:47:00 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=1472#comment-4174 hmmm... off the top of my head, maybe the rule is whether we are referring to formal education vs informal education? e.g. formal education like schools are focused on teaching skills, where as informal education such as a lecture from your parents tends to be focused on values. hmmm… off the top of my head, maybe the rule is whether we are referring to formal education vs informal education? e.g. formal education like schools are focused on teaching skills, where as informal education such as a lecture from your parents tends to be focused on values.

]]> By: Anastasia http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/how-i-got-a-t-on-the-mcat-writing-sample/comment-page-1/#comment-4171 Anastasia Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:57:00 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=1472#comment-4171 hey Joshua, I know this might be too much to ask, but can you give another example of formulating the rule? maybe one with too sections, for example the first prompt on the AAMC "The object of education should be to teach skills, not values." hey Joshua, I know this might be too much to ask, but can you give another example of formulating the rule? maybe one with too sections, for example the first prompt on the AAMC “The object of education should be to teach skills, not values.”

]]> By: Joshua http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/how-i-got-a-t-on-the-mcat-writing-sample/comment-page-1/#comment-3913 Joshua Sun, 24 Jul 2011 02:27:23 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=1472#comment-3913 Definitely, this is good advice! Definitely, this is good advice!

]]> By: Joshua http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/how-i-got-a-t-on-the-mcat-writing-sample/comment-page-1/#comment-3912 Joshua Sun, 24 Jul 2011 02:27:03 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=1472#comment-3912 Hi Craig, I doubt it would matter. If you're worried, try to remember to drop the u's, but don't be worried if you forget! Hi Craig,

I doubt it would matter. If you're worried, try to remember to drop the u's, but don't be worried if you forget!

]]> By: nnnnn http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/how-i-got-a-t-on-the-mcat-writing-sample/comment-page-1/#comment-3906 nnnnn Fri, 22 Jul 2011 05:34:10 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=1472#comment-3906 Look through all of the prompts and check to see that you are able to come up with an example for each. If you stumble upon one you don't know, nows the chance to think rather than at the MCAT. I remember looking at the list, and skipped right through the politics/law/ethics ones, and got stumped by some anthro/culture type of question. Going through the list (not actually writing out essays, that takes too long, but checking that you are able to come up with examples) will make you more prepared to tackle any prompt that comes at you on the MCAT since they do come from that list. Look through all of the prompts and check to see that you are able to come up with an example for each. If you stumble upon one you don't know, nows the chance to think rather than at the MCAT. I remember looking at the list, and skipped right through the politics/law/ethics ones, and got stumped by some anthro/culture type of question. Going through the list (not actually writing out essays, that takes too long, but checking that you are able to come up with examples) will make you more prepared to tackle any prompt that comes at you on the MCAT since they do come from that list.

]]> By: Craig O http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/how-i-got-a-t-on-the-mcat-writing-sample/comment-page-1/#comment-3855 Craig O Sat, 16 Jul 2011 17:04:15 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=1472#comment-3855 Fantastic article, incredibly helpful! Something I've been wondering though, as a Canadian about to write the MCAT - do they care about Canadian spellings? I don't think it'd be too difficult to drop a 'u' here and there, but it would certainly be easier not to have to think about that. Fantastic article, incredibly helpful!

Something I've been wondering though, as a Canadian about to write the MCAT – do they care about Canadian spellings? I don't think it'd be too difficult to drop a 'u' here and there, but it would certainly be easier not to have to think about that.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/how-i-got-a-t-on-the-mcat-writing-sample/comment-page-1/#comment-3839 Anonymous Sat, 16 Jul 2011 09:40:12 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=1472#comment-3839 As an English major, about to take the MCAT, I think another good strategy is to stick to one topic and elaborate. The way I'm scoring T's on my essays are: 1. Come up with a thesis statement for your essay. As the writer references here, it is the "rule". It pretty much sums up what your paper in about. 2. Organization: if your thesis presents X idea first and then Y idea, stick to that format. While the examiner might not pay much attention to the organization, it helps your paper flow about a million times smoother. Even basic rules of organization such as ending the paragraph and beginning the next one with a similar thought can raise your score by 1 point. 3. Don't wander off: stick to one idea and elaborate on that. I can't stress that enough. If you're using X arguement in your second passage, elaborate. Explain. Use examples. That's one point added, right there. 4. You don't have to stick to generic 3/5 paragraph limit. Writers like essays with 4 paragraphs. I always use 4: 1 for intro, 1 for x idea, 1 for y idea, and 1 for conclusion. 5. This last step NEVER fails me and it always keeps me on track. I use first 5 minutes (a lot, I know!) to brainstorm. I write a thesis statement along with keywords that come to my mind when I think of the statement given in the prompt, then under it I write (using keywords) what my second paragraph will be about, what example I will use and how I will tie my second paragraph to the third one, then I repeat the same with the third paragraph. I write one sentence about what my conclusion should be. You will be surprised how effective this technique is because when you're writing the paper it literally feels like you're copying down an essay that's already written. It takes about 3-4 mins for me to compose each paragraph after I follow this technique. =] As an English major, about to take the MCAT, I think another good strategy is to stick to one topic and elaborate. The way I’m scoring T’s on my essays are:
1. Come up with a thesis statement for your essay. As the writer references here, it is the “rule”. It pretty much sums up what your paper in about.
2. Organization: if your thesis presents X idea first and then Y idea, stick to that format. While the examiner might not pay much attention to the organization, it helps your paper flow about a million times smoother. Even basic rules of organization such as ending the paragraph and beginning the next one with a similar thought can raise your score by 1 point.
3. Don’t wander off: stick to one idea and elaborate on that. I can’t stress that enough. If you’re using X arguement in your second passage, elaborate. Explain. Use examples. That’s one point added, right there.
4. You don’t have to stick to generic 3/5 paragraph limit. Writers like essays with 4 paragraphs. I always use 4: 1 for intro, 1 for x idea, 1 for y idea, and 1 for conclusion.
5. This last step NEVER fails me and it always keeps me on track. I use first 5 minutes (a lot, I know!) to brainstorm. I write a thesis statement along with keywords that come to my mind when I think of the statement given in the prompt, then under it I write (using keywords) what my second paragraph will be about, what example I will use and how I will tie my second paragraph to the third one, then I repeat the same with the third paragraph. I write one sentence about what my conclusion should be. You will be surprised how effective this technique is because when you’re writing the paper it literally feels like you’re copying down an essay that’s already written. It takes about 3-4 mins for me to compose each paragraph after I follow this technique. =]

]]> By: medhopeful http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/how-i-got-a-t-on-the-mcat-writing-sample/comment-page-1/#comment-3397 medhopeful Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:30:10 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=1472#comment-3397 Hi Cindy, I can't remember exactly, but I think one was related to business and one was related to politics. I'm pretty sure it was on the AAMC list of writing sample prompts when I checked afterwards though. Hi Cindy,

I can't remember exactly, but I think one was related to business and one was related to politics. I'm pretty sure it was on the AAMC list of writing sample prompts when I checked afterwards though.

]]> By: Cindy http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/how-i-got-a-t-on-the-mcat-writing-sample/comment-page-1/#comment-3344 Cindy Sun, 26 Jun 2011 22:52:00 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=1472#comment-3344 Just out of curiosity Joshua, which prompts did you get on your MCAT? Just out of curiosity Joshua, which prompts did you get on your MCAT?

]]> By: Joshua http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/how-i-got-a-t-on-the-mcat-writing-sample/comment-page-1/#comment-3150 Joshua Sat, 18 Jun 2011 14:31:31 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=1472#comment-3150 @T&T: Haha no problem, hope your test went well, I'm sure you did just fine! =) @T&T: Haha no problem, hope your test went well, I'm sure you did just fine! =)

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