impossible910 Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 Hello everyone, What do you guys think will be the fate of those applicants with <3.8 GPAs? I'm assuming that those people (including myself) will have a less chance of getting an interview invitation since Casper is now only worth 32%? :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkourParkour Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 There may very well be a slight increase in average GPA but not to a tremendous extent. 32% still means CASPer will make or break your application. This paper may be helpful in terms of how McMaster evaluates CASPer (especially under the methodology section): http://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/2009/10001/Extending_the_Interview_to_All_Medical_School.4.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impossible910 Posted June 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 Thank you so much! I really appreciate your help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skarletstarlet Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 Thank you so much! I really appreciate your help! What is your GPA? I am writing the MCAT on July 6th and this new formula has me very sad, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impossible910 Posted June 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 My GPA is ~3.73... I have never done Casper nor MMI before... I'm going to do everything I can to prepare because I don't want to have a disastrous time doing them lol I wish you only the best! Let's just hope that McMaster revert back to last year's formula for next year's cycle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skarletstarlet Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 My GPA is ~3.73... I have never done Casper nor MMI before... I'm going to do everything I can to prepare because I don't want to have a disastrous time doing them lol My GPA is somewhere around there too. I have never done either as well. How did your MCAT go? Are you going to a seminar? I am going to the one in Kitchener tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impossible910 Posted June 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 I scored 10 on VR... I'm thinking about re-taking it tho... but still undecided on that part... How about yourself? I'm considering about attending the one on July 24th @ Hamilton Campus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impossible910 Posted June 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 To be honest with you... VR was really tough for me... I don't think my performance was worthy of 10... I just got really lucky... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 I would use your average VR from the AAMCs to predict your exam score. If you get 2 or more points below your AAMC average, I recommend rewriting. If you get your AAMC average or higher, I don't suggest re writing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benge88 Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 Don't lose hope! My CGPA was 3.73 and I got in! My verbal score was 11! Good luck guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprinkles Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 good to know I'm not the only one worried about the new forumla! I'm in the exact same boat as you two ^ lol *nervous* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skarletstarlet Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 Thank you Benge88! Sprinkles and impossible, lets be friends I am still going tonight to Kitchener. I'll relay as best I can anything exciting that happens. I went up for a tour on Monday of the Hamilton campus. I was in love Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprinkles Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 Thank you Benge88! Sprinkles and impossible, lets be friends I am still going tonight to Kitchener. I'll relay as best I can anything exciting that happens. I went up for a tour on Monday of the Hamilton campus. I was in love yay! friendsies! lol Isn't the Hamilton one in July?! I was thinking of going to it..:S Oh and please do relay back! I really really really want to go to the Hamilton one but I work so its hard....it sucks that its on a Tuesday because I live really far away so I would have to take Monday to Wednesday off to be able to make the trip worth while! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skarletstarlet Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 I am going to the Kitchener one, just out of convenience. My aunt lives out there and my gran is visiting from the UK so I can take her to go visit my aunt afterwards. I wish I could go to all of them, lol. I want McMaster to know I want to go to THAT school! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oops_letstryagain Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 Remember, if your GPA is low, then you can compensate by rewriting until you score very high on the VR. If both your GPA and MCAT are low, then it's difficult to get an interview no matter how well you do on CASPer, but if you have a low GPA with a high VR, it will offset itself in the formula. There just aren't that many applicants with >=13 MCAT VR. (Obviously because it's incredibly hard to do that well). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprinkles Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 omg me too! I wish I could just tell em how much I want it and thenthey would let me in. COULD YOU IMAGINE?! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSJ Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 I scored 10 on VR... I'm thinking about re-taking it tho... but still undecided on that part... How about yourself? I'm considering about attending the one on July 24th @ Hamilton Campus If you have a decent GPA, then 10 is fine. I got 10 on VR and got an acceptance this year. Even if your GPA is not excellent, there is still a way to offset that with a strong CASPer performance. Unless you know you can do better, I wouldnt write the MCAT again. Just my opinon though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impossible910 Posted June 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 If you have a decent GPA, then 10 is fine. I got 10 on VR and got an acceptance this year.Even if your GPA is not excellent, there is still a way to offset that with a strong CASPer performance. Unless you know you can do better, I wouldnt write the MCAT again. Just my opinon though. Hey, My GPA is around 3.73... Should I try to score > 10 on VR or focus on my CASPER? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skarletstarlet Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 Hey, My GPA is around 3.73... Should I try to score > 10 on VR or focus on my CASPER? I would personally focus on CASPER, but that's just the strategy I've seen outlined on here. How did you last prepare for your MCAT? I have the Kaplan book and the examkrackers series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSJ Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 Hey, My GPA is around 3.73... Should I try to score > 10 on VR or focus on my CASPER? It all depends on how likely you think you are to improve on VR. If you're sure that after a bit of studying you can improve your score by a few points, go for it! However, if you're going to study all summer and you don't think its likely that you'll improve by much, I'd say focus on other things that will increase your change of getting in. CASPer is a stressful process! In each section, you get 5 minutes to formuate answers to 3 questions. That doesn't give you much time so practice forming an informed opinion quickly and being able to articulate your thoughts. My advice would be to find someone to practice debating with. Put a bunch of controversial issues in a hat. Draw out scenarios and give yourself 1 minute to prepare before engaging in discussion. You can also do this alone but I think that listening to someone elses opinos may help one see things from different perspectives (which is an imporatnt skill for the MMI). Also, know yourself. Be able to answer typical interview questions. I'm no expert on the process or CASPer but let me know if you have any further questions. I'd be glad to help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impossible910 Posted June 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 It all depends on how likely you think you are to improve on VR. If you're sure that after a bit of studying you can improve your score by a few points, go for it! However, if you're going to study all summer and you don't think its likely that you'll improve by much, I'd say focus on other things that will increase your change of getting in. CASPer is a stressful process! In each section, you get 5 minutes to formuate answers to 3 questions. That doesn't give you much time so practice forming an informed opinion quickly and being able to articulate your thoughts. My advice would be to find someone to practice debating with. Put a bunch of controversial issues in a hat. Draw out scenarios and give yourself 1 minute to prepare before engaging in discussion. You can also do this alone but I think that listening to someone elses opinos may help one see things from different perspectives (which is an imporatnt skill for the MMI).Also, know yourself. Be able to answer typical interview questions. I'm no expert on the process or CASPer but let me know if you have any further questions. I'd be glad to help. I see. If you don't mind can you come on flashchat for a few mins? Thanks in advance! http://www.premed101.com/forums/chat/flashchat.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All_nighter05 Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 It all depends on how likely you think you are to improve on VR. If you're sure that after a bit of studying you can improve your score by a few points, go for it! However, if you're going to study all summer and you don't think its likely that you'll improve by much, I'd say focus on other things that will increase your change of getting in. CASPer is a stressful process! In each section, you get 5 minutes to formuate answers to 3 questions. That doesn't give you much time so practice forming an informed opinion quickly and being able to articulate your thoughts. My advice would be to find someone to practice debating with. Put a bunch of controversial issues in a hat. Draw out scenarios and give yourself 1 minute to prepare before engaging in discussion. You can also do this alone but I think that listening to someone elses opinos may help one see things from different perspectives (which is an imporatnt skill for the MMI).Also, know yourself. Be able to answer typical interview questions. I'm no expert on the process or CASPer but let me know if you have any further questions. I'd be glad to help. The theme in this thread has been high VR, lower GPA. What do you think about a high GPA, but low VR? I also had a lot of practice with the CASPer beforehand, so although I don't know how well I did, I don't think that I bombed it. I'd be happy to share the exact numbers over PM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nurse Posted December 21, 2012 Report Share Posted December 21, 2012 What about a very low gpa(3.05) and a VR score of 14? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trojjanhorse Posted December 22, 2012 Report Share Posted December 22, 2012 What about a very low gpa(3.05) and a VR score of 14? I don't think you stand a change to be frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troplondon14 Posted December 22, 2012 Report Share Posted December 22, 2012 What about a very low gpa(3.05) and a VR score of 14? It is possible! 21 people got accepted with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.49! http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/mdprog/documents/Classof2015.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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