4 wednesday, march 7, 2012
The california Aggie
MCAT to face significant content changes in 2015 Writing sample portion of the test removed, other sections added By ROHIT RAVIKUMAR Aggie News Writer
For 80 years, the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) has served as perhaps the most daunting challenge for pre-meds throughout their undergraduate careers, with 43 percent of medical school admissions officers considering the test the most important admissions factor. Starting in 2015, this exam will be receiving a significant overhaul, with the addition of biochemistry and behavioral and social sciences, the removal of the writing sample, and an overall increase in length by 90 minutes. An exam administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the MCAT has been periodically reviewed and revised since its creation in 1928; the upcoming revision will be its fifth, the last since 1991. “[This particular update was
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made] in the context of the role of the MCAT and changes to the medical field,” said Kaplan Test Prep’s pre-health director Dr. Jeff Koetje. While the addition of biochemistry is generally because the AAMC considers it important for medical students, the addition of behavioral and social sciences is meant to reflect a more holistic view of patient care, according to Koetje. The removal of the writing sample, which currently consists of two essays, stems from a general consensus from universities that its purpose is better served by the applicant’s personal statement or interview. The length of the exam will be increasing from five and a half hours to seven, partially because of the increased content but also because on the current test, students’ scores on individual sections are not considered statistically significant. When the exam was still on pen and paper, the test was roughly the
in the UC Davis department of human and community development. “Organic as a set of standards faces its own challenges and blind spots.” “Organic does not necessarily mean safe, and vice versa, so even organic products need to be tested for health effects,” Galt said. Sarah Hawkins, who graduated from UC Davis in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, owns Castle Rock Farm in Vacaville, California and sells goat’s milk at the Davis Farmers Market. “People play the system, so the [certified organic] rules have to be written more and more specifically,” Hawkins said. If one of Hawkins’ goats gets sick and needs medicine, that goat then has to be placed in a different barn and cannot ever be used again for the organic milk that she sells. “If you get pneumonia, are you going to stay away from the hospital?” Hawkins asked. Clay Jenkinson, the author of Becoming Jefferson’s People: Re-Inventing the American Republic in the Twenty-First Century, makes the connection between the downside of conventional farming and our rising health care costs. “We’re making the wrong choices and counting on the industrial [health care] paradigm to save us,” Jenkinson said. “This is clearly not a sustainable path. Health care is unaffordable. Costs are too high [and are] rationed for the privileged. We need to make the right [food] choices and use the industrial paradigm to help us with things we can’t control.”
Cont. from page 3 Central Park in Davis have these seals. Michelle Rossi, who shops at the Davis Farmers market and works for the Upper Crust Bakery Company, likes to develop her food purchasing relationships with local growers. “Some growers don’t use chemicals, but can’t say it, because they don’t want to spend the money to become certified organic,” Rossi said. “You’ve got to ask people, so you can put a face on the label.” “Why do we want to put toxins into the soil and food supply?” asks Jim Eldon of Fiddler’s Green Farm, another Davis Farmers Market vendor. “That they’re bad is really a no-brainer from the perspective of health and ecology.” Views on the benefits of organic compared to industrialized, also called “conventional,” farming methods are often polarized with some exaggerated claims on both sides, said Johan Six, a professor of agroecology in the UC Davis plant sciences department. He is also affiliated with UC Davis Agricultural Sustainability Institute. “I strongly believe that there is a ‘golden mean’ between those two [polarized views] and that is where our agriculture needs to move to,” Six explained. “Conventional agriculture and food depends heavily on agrochemicals that are not strongly regulated and that have been shown to have many negative health effects,” said Ryan Galt, who is an assistant professor of agricultur- BRIAN RILEY can be reached at science@ al sustainability and society theaggie.org.
length it will be again in 2015; when it was changed to electronic form in 2006, the number of questions was reduced by almost a third. While Kaplan’s press release described the new MCAT as “more challenging”, UC Davis pre-health advisor Linda Scott disagreed. “Some people will be glad that the writing section is being taken away,” she said. “... students don’t need to worry about it being harder.” She also said that the new scoring will help students’ achievements in a particular section stand out more. Though the actual changes have been approved by the AAMC, medical schools have yet to decide whether they will accept old MCAT scores for Fall 2015 admissions. As a result, it is currently unclear whether current first-year students will need to take the new MCAT. ROHIT RAVIKUMAR can be reached at campus@ theaggie.org.
Depression Cont. from page 3 and loss of interest. Although most, if not all, college students occasionally feel sad or anxious, these emotions usually pass quickly — within a couple of days. But when these feelings don’t go away, depression is usually the cause. “It is normal to feel run down every once in a while, but being down and out, not functioning, for more than a couple weeks would be a clear sign that it’s a good time to get to a health professional,” Jennette said. Depression does not have a single cause and can be triggered by many different factors. Many of these factors are prevalent in college. “Relationship issues, anxiety about school and increased stress level can all trigger depression,” said Jacqueline Horn, a UC Davis professor of psychology. “Also, depression involves loss, so sometimes just returning to school after a break can trigger feel-
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gymnastics PREVIEW Teams: UC Davis vs. Friday’s quadrangular meet Sacramento State, Central in the Pavilion, but they will Michigan and Seattle Pacific have a good chance to better Where: The Nest — that finish on Sunday. Sacramento Although UC Davis has fallWhen: Sunday at 2 p.m. en in both of its match-ups Who to watch: Sophomore with Sacramento State, the Anna Shumaker was a key Aggies have fared well against performer for the Aggies in Seattle Pacific, who UC Davis last week’s home meet. has defeated twice this season — including once The Alameda, in the Falcon’s home Calif. native scored gym. a 9.700 on vault and a squad-high 9.750 Still, the Aggies on beam. are expecting Seattle Did you know? Pacific to battle them Sunday’s meet will be tough. the third of UC Davis’ “We’re ranked four match-ups with very close to [Seattle rival Sacramento Pacific],” said coach State this season. John Lavallee, “and Anna Shumaker they will be looking for The Aggies sophomore ward to meeting us.” are currently 0-2 against the Hornets And with only a in 2012 and will be looking to few weeks left in the season, get in the win column against Lavallee is excited about the Sacramento State this week. intensity Sunday could bring. Preview: With just two “This will be a good test meets remaining before the for us to perform well on the Mountain Pacific Sports road,” he said. “This team Federation Championships, likes to be in a high-enerthe Aggies are looking to start gy environment. Getting out building momentum as they and running with the horses head down the home stretch. is greatly exhilarating.” The Aggies are coming off — Trevor Cramer a fourth-place finish in last
ings of depression.” Although depression can be very prevalent in college, many resources are available to students, and psychologists suggest seeking help as soon as possible before the problem gets out of hand. “For many students, college is a time to learn how to cope with difficulties. An effective array of coping strategies can be key to preventing a setback from becoming a knockdown,” Jennette said. Jennette explained that CAPS has professionals who know the proven ways to handle depression, and CAPS mental health staff is available by phone 24/7. Student Health and Counseling Services also have a free anonymous screening questionnaire on its website that helps to assess depression. Most mental health professionals acknowledge that reaching out for help can be the hardest step. But the Davis community has made it easier by providing services that appeal to all students. The House, a confidential peer-counseling center af-
birth control range from none to extreme. While not everyone interviewed experienced every side effect, it is important to know what the possible side effects are. According to the Planned Parenthood birth control information website, the pill can cause weight gain, water retention and increased risk for heart attack and stroke. Women on the hormonal birth control pill should also not smoke cigarettes, as this can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke even further. Every woman who is considering hormonal birth control should consult a doctor for a professional opinion, as well as talk to people who are actually taking it. Women should weigh the pros and cons carefully in order to decide if the birth control pill is right for their health.
Cont. from page 3 for one or two days, and they are not bad at all.” Other women have not been so fortunate in their experiences. As with any medication, different people experience different side effects. Some of these side effects are severe enough to forgo hormonal birth control all together in favor of other methods. “It [the pill] made me an emotional wreck,” Janice said. “It made me an absolute crazy person. It completely changed my personality. I got terrible mood swings, had trouble sleeping and couldn’t get myself to do my schoolwork.” “I was sickly — had nausea and fatigue on a daily basis,” Erin said . “I am a super busy college student so I am sticking to condoms and spermicide.” HUDSON LOFCHIE can be reached at science@ The side effects of hormonal theaggie.org.
Movies influence teen drinking, research shows By Sophia Dipaolo
The Dartmouth (Dartmouth College)
Teenagers who watch movies with scenes depicting alcohol consumption are twice as likely to begin drinking as those who are not exposed to on-screen drinking, according to a study conducted by researchers at DartmouthHitchcock Medical Center. The study has attracted attention from multiple national news outlets such as Fox News and U.S. News and World Report. The study began in 2000 as a survey of teens in northern New England, according to James Sargent, a pediatrics professor at Dartmouth Medical School and one of the leading authors of the study. “The thing that’s striking about our research is how strong the data is across studies and across study designs,” Sargent said. The study — which surveyed 6,500 participants between the ages of 10 and 14 in the U.S. — regularly quizzed adolescents over a two-year
period about levels of alcohol consumption and potential sources of influence, including movies and marketing, home environment, peer pressure and personal rebellion. The study’s authors randomly selected 50 movies from the top 100 U.S. box office hits in each of the past five years, as well as 32 films that had grossed more than $15 million in the first quarter of 2003, the survey’s first year, according to DHMC’s website. Coders charted the number of seconds of on-screen alcohol use in each of these movies, as well as alcoholic beverage product placement. The researchers found that the adolescents had viewed approximately 4.5 hours of on-screen alcohol use on average, with many viewing more than eight hours. The participants who had been exposed to the most on-screen alcohol use were twice as likely as their peers to begin drinking, according to the study. They were also 63 percent more likely to progress to binge drinking.
Product placement in films plays a large role in motivating teens to drink, according to the study. While product placement for cigarettes has been forbidden in the U.S., it is “legal and commonplace” for alcohol companies to promote their products in films, the study says. Drinking scenes, however, should be subjected to the same scrutiny as cigarette product placement, according to the study’s authors. Dartmouth psychology professor Todd Heatherton said the researchers’ findings reflect the intentions of marketing, built on the premise that the portrayal of certain behaviors can influence consumers. “I do think it’s very interesting, though, and a little bit scary, for parents especially to know how much the media can affect a child’s behavior,” Heatherton said. In addition to documenting the effects of on-screen alcohol consumption, researchers found that teens with friends who drank, felt the need to rebel or owned
branded merchandise featuring the name of a beer, wine or spirit company were also more likely to begin drinking and then progress to binge drinking. The study’s authors also found that parent drinking habits and availability of alcohol in the home were motivators for teens to drink, but did not necessarily cause them to progress to binge drinking. Students interviewed by The Dartmouth said the results of the study were compelling. “I think growing up and seeing parents have a glass of wine at dinner encourages kids to have an image of alcohol that leads them to think of drinking as something to be done in an adult, composed situation,” Bridget Shaia said. Shaia said the results of the study are not surprising given the “powerful” role television and movies can play on influencing young people’s decisions. The study was published on Feb. 20 in the online medical journal BMJ Open.
filiated with CAPS, offers a variety of free and confidential services to UC Davis students. “We offer drop-in peer counseling from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. We also have classes on meditation and yoga and a biofeedback machine in which a computer program leads you through exercises that measure heart rate to help modulate your breathing and bring down your anxiety and stress level,” said Kong Lor, a senior psychology major and peer counselor at The House. Horn also warns that seeing depression in yourself can sometimes be difficult. Thus, friends can often be a student’s best support system. “Usually people are less likely to notice this in themselves, but their friends often will. I’d encourage [students] to listen to their friends, and if their friends express concern, then talk to someone who can help,” Horn said. CLAIRE MALDARELLI can be reached at science@theaggie. org.
nutrition Cont. from page 3 their nutritional needs with the food they are eating. “Sometimes students are really busy, so they skip breakfast,” Applegate said. “What students need to realize is that this affects how you think and how you perform.” According to Applegate, one of the greatest problems with students’ diets is they do not consume enough fruits and vegetables and don’t select whole grains, along with the fact that fiber intake is commonly low. Fiber is important to keeping the lower digestive system regular, while whole grains are important to cardiovascular health and maintaining cholesterol levels. “Older age groups’ nutritional habits are motivated by health. You try telling that to a 20-year old, and it sounds irrelevant,” Applegate said. “I try to relate it to performance issues, such as students’ performance on tests.” Not consuming enough fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fiber can have more detrimental effects than just a poor performance on a test, though. “Heart disease and erectile dysfunction can be caused by nutritional problems,” Applegate said. Applegate does not believe the argument that students cannot eat more healthfully as a result of being on a budget. “No, it doesn’t cost more to eat healthfully. I don’t buy that; you can buy beans and whole grains,” Applegate said. “It can be done; it just takes time and motivation, since we’ve fallen into a lifestyle of eating away from home.” Applegate recommends that people make their own meals and incorporate as many fruits and vegetables into their diet as they can. “Don’t skip meals, and don’t shift calories all to one time of the day,” Applegate said. According to Applegate, students will be more tired from not eating well and not eating well enough. “Food is very powerful. Never underestimate the power of the food you’re eating,” Applegate said. Lucia Kaiser, specialist in the cooperative extension of the department of nutrition at UC Davis, believes that the nutritional problems are not just limited to students; according to Kaiser, only 5 to 7 percent of the U.S. population eats enough fruits and vegetables. “We need to get doctors communicating well to people, and we need to get parents role-modeling good nutritional habits in the home,” Kaiser said. “There’s a social influence with the family.” According to Kaiser, many children don’t consume enough fruits and vegetables either, something she believes is worsened by the prevalence of fast foods and sweetened beverages. “[Sweetened drinks are] a factor influencing obesity in children,” Kaiser said. “Consuming calories and sugar in that form causes over-consumption.” Kaiser believes that students should reduce the amount of sweetened drinks consumed, and notes that people would be surprised to find out how many calories are actually in their drinks. For instance, 16 ounces of a Starbucks Blended Frappuccino Coffee contains 240 calories and 49 grams of sugar. “Maybe 35 percent of the [U.S.] population is on the way to diabetes,” Kaiser said. “One thing that can help is to have a balanced diet.” According to choosemyplate.gov, an updated government resource aimed at helping people with their nutritional needs, people should have half their plates made up of fruits and vegetables. The government resource also recommends that people make at least half of the daily grains consumed whole grains and choose lean or low-fat meat and poultry. ERIC C. LIPSKY can be reached science@theaggie.org.