Welcome to the CARS Courtroom.

CARS is the most dreaded MCAT section.

It is also the most misunderstood.

In a past post, where I had readers eat the MCAT to simplify it – CARS was the salad.

To reiterate: salads are purposeful. They are healthy and ought to be eaten. One can enjoy this process, but to adhere to standards of health they ought to adhere to its intake.

A better, and far more useful, analogy for CARS is a courtroom.

Why?

Because a courtroom is an intimidating location where fear of unescapable, balanced Justice mandates facts; not feelings.

Great.

The CARS Courtroom.
Whoo. Hoo.

….what does this have to do with the MCAT again?

BIAS. You are human.

Ergo, you have bias.

As I write this – the nation is burning, enraged by injustices. I would postulate you have biases against this very article’s reference of a courtroom.

Bias is a homicidal maniac: the slayer of MCAT CARS scores.

How do we overcome said bias? We have to be cold.

Adding to my musings on the correct MCAT attitude, CARS is cold.

(Perhaps the word you are better familiar with is “dry”.)

Ok, Mike. If CARS is so cold, how in the world are we supposed to endure it? What gets us through CARS.

Glad you asked! Passion.
A fiery burning passion to find the truth.

See, in that CARS courtroom, is a fireplace.
In said fireplace are the fires of truth.

Coldly seek the fires of truth, and you will find it, on autopilot.

The AAMC itself builds CARS from your ability to collect evidence and discern truth.

There are three CARS criteria in the AAMC official guide:

1. Foundations of Comprehension

2. Reasoning within the Text

3. Reasoning beyond the Text

First dimension. Second dimension. Third dimension. Put on your 3D glasses, as a judge.

The first dimension is your unbiased ability to understand the witness’ testimony.

The second dimension is your unbiased ability to piece the evidence together and judge its intent.

The third dimension challenges you to place the witness in a new scenario and make evidential predictions.

12 Angry Men is a fantastic film about conquering bias. Given you barely have time to read this article, a 10-minute summary is above. Or, watch the full film in a study break.

Given current racial tensions at the publication of this article, the film is even more relevant.

In the film, a man is about to be wrongfully convicted for murder. A rational man upholds evidence first, and answers an array of questions to ensure the wrong decision is not made. Be this man on the MCAT. The AAMC wants you to join the 12 Angry Men. Don’t. Why?

In the film, a man is about to be wrongfully convicted for murder. On the MCAT, you are about to be wrongfully convicted as “inept for Medical Practice”.

On the MCAT, don’t let emotions wrongfully convict yourself in the CARS courtroom.

Expediently analyze the witness’ testimony: be it about baseball, African dance rituals, or animals defecating.

In this court, the only consequences will be to yourself.

I recommend you start enjoying courtroom dramas. In no time: you will start enjoying CARS.

Our CARS page will continue to post helpful insights, but it need be said once more:

DON’T. BE. BIASED!!!!!

The AAMC knows this.

The makers of MCAT – the same people who know how to trick you – know this.

Don’t believe me?

It’s on their website.

Later, we will discuss how to evidence your rulings. In CARS, just remember to always do so!

Whether you expected it or not, you’ve been placed on jury duty.

It’s on the same date you scheduled your MCAT.

(Wouldn’t that be a disaster!)

SO, let’s get comfortable in the CARS Courtroom. Find that fireplace and stretch your feet in truth’s warmth. The MCAT is about to get 25% easier.