As an MCAT Tutor, it’s natural to assume I’ve taken the exam for myself, maybe multiple times.
“So you tutor for the MCAT?
When did you take the new exam and how did you score?”
Fair enough questions, right?
Since the new MCAT was first rolled out in April 2015, this has been asked by several of my prospective students and Study Hall members.
Actually, I’ve never taken the new MCAT.
I tried, but never got to take it.
When I tell them this, the inevitable next question is,
“How can you help me take it if you’ve never taken it yourself?!”
These are all fair questions to ask an MCAT tutor.
To answer, I must first explain that it wasn’t for my lack of trying that I haven’t taken it. I tried, but my efforts were sabotaged.
In short, on the day registration opened I secured my seat to take the exam on Friday, April 17, 2015.
Two days prior to the test I sent an email to all my subscribers asking them what specific concerns they had about the test so I could look out for them.
Sadly, and shockingly, one of my subscribers forwarded my email to the AAMC.
The night before the exam I received an email stating that tutors without the explicit intent of attending medical school are not allowed to take the exam.
Since I am with an “MCAT prep company” (Leah4sci is my tutoring business) I was banned from testing for life.
So, how does this affect you?
As a premed student and now taking advice from someone who has never sat the new official MCAT?
In order to be the best MCAT tutor I can possibly be, I too felt I needed to be more familiar with the new exam and take it myself, first hand! This was my reasoning for originally registering for the exam.
That was my motivation for taking the old exam under realistic conditions too.
I had made my decision to switch from Premed to Full Time Tutor, and then I took the MCAT one day after being honorably discharged from active duty.
But still, the old exam is not quite the new exam.
So I’ve made it my personal duty to know and learn AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE about the new exam on an ongoing basis.
I now realize that I have gained so much more information about the new exam than I ever would have from taking it.
How?
By intensely interviewing students who have taken it.
I interview multiple students after each and every test date.
I don’t just look for an overview of the exam either: I look for patterns and trends.
- Did they go Organic Chemistry or Physics heavy in the first section?
- How detailed was the information the students had to memorize?
- How in depth were their questions?
- How much math did they encounter?
- What was the level of the math?
- Was there anything that surprised them compared to what they prepared for?
- Were the passages longer or shorter than their practice full lengths or than the AAMC material?
And so on.
I hear feedback from students at every level after every exam.
In doing this I feel that I understand more about the exam than any tutor who has sat through it once or twice.
A student averaging 490 on their full length practice exams will have a very different experience than a student averaging 515.
Are their answers and rankings based on true difficulty or their perceived experience?
To say I’m a full-time MCAT tutor is an understatement.
My days are spent working with clients reviewing concepts, analyzing passages, or working out realistic and achievable study strategies and schedules.
And when I’m not working… I still think about it!
In studying the trends and evaluating feedback from exam to exam, I achieve my mission of being THE MOST INFORMED MCAT tutor I can possibly be.
So when I give you advice, rest assured:
You know it’s not just something I’ve randomly thought of or heard out on the street. Or even something based on my experience sitting this exam once or twice a few years ago.
As we said in the military, I approach this exam with “boots on ground” experience.
This way I can be your best leader and you will trust me.
And I pass this information on to you whenever I can.
Hear from Nayna the B.A.M.D student who scored a 518 with 3 months of hard-core prep. And Kiriat who came from Cuba, started medical school in the Dominican Republic (no MCAT) only to have everything fall apart forcing her to study for (and ace) the MCAT.
And so many other students who share their MCAT and premed journeys with you to help you learn from their successes and failures as you carve your own unique path to success.
Hey. Look. You helped me get through tough times in my Orgnaic chemistry, I would have scored poor otherwise. I don’t think it matters if you took the MCAT exam or not if your students are excelling in it, so just look out for your students. You work really hard and it shows in your teaching. That’s the sole thing which matters to me. Keep up the good work! Looking forward for your future videos. lol, I am not even a chem student, I am majoring in physics but your videos gave me a knack for learning chemistry, so I watch your tutorials for fun now. You made a physics student like organic chemistry. I think that’s an achievement of its own.
Thanks Leah. You’re amazing!! I complete premed courses in 2013. Its been 5 years now since I am off college and working. However, I determined to study for MCAT exams. I bet i will start all over again. What’s MCAT Prep material should I purchase for MCAT PREP. I am planning to take the MCAT exam January 2020 just to give enough time to study really well since I left college 6 years ago.
OMG that is so much of a dishonesty, why would someone do that? You saved my life in my Orgo classes, and I can never be grateful enough. Thank you so much for ALL your commitments to help us Leah!!!
I havent taken any I’d your courses, but I have watched all the videos I could, and have benefited from every single one of them in one way or other. My weakness lies in understanding chemistry questions and exactly what process to go through to find the answer. I wish I had seen your videos before taking all my bio and chem courses!
That’s a shame someone forwarded your emails. With your enthusiasm and motivation at cracking the mcat I feel you could really breakdown the mcat even more.
I think it’s fair that you weren’t able to take the MCAT. If all test preps were allowed to send in tutors to take the MCAT, this would affect the score distribution.
Truly shocking that someone would do something like that! Your videos and emails are truly such amazing help, both in very different ways. The motivation you give out is really amazing, and more importantly, your videos have literally saved me, and I’m sure many others, from losing the hope to go to med school. Thanks Leah!
Thanks Mendy. There’s always someone…
I’m glad you’re finding my videos helpful and honored to be part of this journey with you
Really can’t believe someone forwarded your email to the AAMC when you’re simply trying to help us out. Thank you for all that you do Leah!
I’m with you Jana. I like to believe that my subscribers are all here to learn and nothing else.
I cannot thank you enough for all you do. Getting to know you has been a blessing and just what I needed to get back on track in terms of MCAT studying. THANK YOU!!!
Thank you Joy! I’m honored to be able to go through this journey with you
it’s really an honor hearing your advise. thank you for the time and effort you put into this.
Thank you so much Sofia
Wow. Great commitment! I am glad you are still here as I just begin my journey with you!!!! AWESOME!
Thank you Tamore! I’m excited to be working with you as well to conquer this exam together
This is really inspiring to hear how dedicated you are to helping us pre-meders 🙂 Thank you and I appreciate all your efforts! I have benefitted significantly from your youtube videos.
You are very welcome Juliet! Glad you’re benefiting from the videos. Actually have another going up next week. Stay tuned