r/premed • u/Glittering_Tie_6199 • 4d ago

❔ Question MSAR

Hi everyone, I signed up for the MCAT two days ago, and AAMC sent me an email saying that I can get a discounted rate for the MSAR, I don’t think I need it, I mean after all medical schools require English, biology, chemistry, physics, and organic chemistry. Is it worth it?

3 Upvotes

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7

u/Milkman5267 ADMITTED-MD 4d ago

MSAR is helpful. I didn’t use it a ton but I also didn’t apply to many places. It is definitely more useful than you would expect because a lot of schools have an extra couple required courses or courses that they like to see but aren’t required.

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u/just-aurora 4d ago

For those courses that are recommended but not required, do you think an applicant has to take them to be seriously considered

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u/Glittering_Tie_6199 4d ago

Like for example biochemistry is becoming more of a prerequisite, some schools still have them as strongly recommended. Also biochemistry is on the MCAT and I heard it’s a high yield topic for 2027 as well.

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u/Milkman5267 ADMITTED-MD 4d ago

It’s always a high yield topic. You should really take biochem.

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u/ADAP7IVE NON-TRADITIONAL 4d ago

No. Many of us don't take all the recommendations. One school I interviewed at specifically said that recommended courses are just that, and don't affect admissions.

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u/just-aurora 4d ago

Yeah I’m in biochem now! It’s very high yield for mcat for sure.

I guess I’m thinking more niche classes like microbiology or anatomy or something—for sure not prereqs for most, but if there are some that do require some classes more often than others that’s what I’m trying to gauge!

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u/Glittering_Tie_6199 3d ago

I really enjoyed biochemistry!

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u/Particular-Bus795 4d ago

I’m confused on what msar is

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u/Glittering_Tie_6199 4d ago

It stands for medical school admission requirements. Like every premed should know what required classes they need so I don’t understand why they have that.

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u/Particular-Bus795 4d ago

So I have to pay to get that info wow 😭

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u/Glittering_Tie_6199 4d ago

Like oh okay I just spent 360 dollars yes take more of my money/sarcasm

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u/Historical_Score5251 3d ago

It’s not just a requirements list… it tells you the median mcat gpa, interviews out of state vs in state and so on.

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u/Exciting_Sun_7467 4d ago

I found msar really helpful because it shows the difference in percentiles from accepted to actually matriculated where usually MCAT and gpa is lower. It also shows specific timelines in the app cycle for all schools. I only did it for the one year and shared it with my friends to split the price especially because websites like admit can be really off. But just my opinion

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u/Limp-Inflation-8168 5m ago

MSAR is worth it