The CASPer is one of the most confusing tests to prepare for, and students often turn to CASPer test Reddit forums in the hopes of figuring out how to prepare for CASPer. The fact is, getting all your information about CASPer test from Reddit and other such online forums is a huge risk. In this blog, we’ll explain why using Reddit to prepare for the CASPer test is a mistake and what free resources you should be using instead.
>>Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<
Article Contents
13 min
read
Why You Should Avoid Using Reddit for CASPer Prep
For many students, the greatest obstacle in CASPer test prep is all the misinformation out there on the internet. You may turn to Reddit Premed and Premed 101 forums in all good faith, hoping to find some useful tips and advice about CASPer. But there is absolutely no guarantee about the kind of information you’ll find there.
Inefficient prep, backed by incorrect advice, is worse than no prep at all! The internet can be a wonderful resource, but you have to be careful about verifying what information you consume. When it comes to CASPer test Reddit forums, you have no way of verifying the accuracy of what you read and using them as a primary source of prep is hence a huge risk.
Let’s get into the top 5 reasons why you should NOT be relying on CASPer test Reddit forums for your CASPer prep:
Here’s a quick overview of why you should avoid premed forums:
Reason #1 to Avoid CASPer Reddit: Misinformation, Everywhere!
There’s no denying you’ll get a lot of information on CASPer test Reddit. The point is, is it actually useful advice? Will it help or hinder you? And crucially, how can you even judge which users are genuinely trying to help? The answer is: you can’t!
You’ll find all kinds of information about which schools require for CASPer, how the test is scored and its format, and how to prepare for it. None of it is verified, and a LOT of it is simply not true. Sometimes this is simply because of the nature of the admissions cycle – there could be changes to the test format every year. Someone may have been kind enough to compile a list of schools that require CASPer, but do they bother checking it year after year to ensure accuracy? They have no responsibility to do so, so why should they?
Other posters are simply not well-informed or not bothered enough to research their confident assertions. Remember, this is just how the internet works – anyone can offer a piece of advice couched in assertive, confident language, and set themselves up as experts, without any actual proof of their expertise. They end up perpetuating some dangerous myths that go against your best interests.
Myth #1 – You Can’t Prepare for CASPer
One of the biggest myths surrounding the CASPer test is that it’s impossible to prepare for this test. You’ll also find many users on Reddit claiming that due to the subjective nature of the test, there’s no point in preparing for it. Some even share their own experiences claiming that they didn’t prepare at all and still aced the test.
This kind of assertion often gets taken up by the “hive mind” of Reddit and is echoed in post after post, without any kind of actual credible evidence to back it up, just anecdotal personal experiences. This is called the survivorship bias. If someone is successful due to their experiences or even pure luck, they believe what happened to them is actually the norm. This is an example of misinformation being not only foolish, but also dangerous. If you decide to skip your own prep altogether, you will ultimately be paying the price by struggling through your CASPer test and facing admission rejection.
The point is this? Should you really be making life decisions based on Reddit?
And the truth is, you can prepare for the CASPer test, whether you chose to go down the self-study route or take on expert help from professional academic consultants. We've shown in this study for example that our students can improve their practice scores by up to 23%. Professional CASPer prep is a good option for students who particularly struggle with understanding the unique aspects of the CASPer test and how to truly showcase your suitability in your answers. Experts can help you to improve your communication skills, get comfortable with the test format, and learn how to use your answers to showcase the qualities admissions committees are looking for. There are also numerous strategies you can learn on your own to help you tackle the different types of CASPer questions.
"...I can quickly grasp how to improve my Casper responses with Dr. Henry's clear instruction and feedback. The clarity and brevity of his feedback allows us to cover a variety of topics, making each session incredibly productive. I struggle with attention and concentration at times and I really appreciated Dr. Henry's patience and him being able to maintain a calm, patient, and professional presence when I needed information to be repeated or re-explained. Thank you to the BeMO team and Dr. Henry for all your support!" - Helen, BeMo student.
Myth #2 – CASPer Test Prep Can be Done in a Few Hours
This is another false piece of information that is often circulated on CASPer test Reddit. It’s simply not applicable for the vast majority. For the majority of test-takers, we would recommend at least 6 to 8 weeks of CASPer prep time. That’s the time it takes to bring about meaningful change in your way of thinking and to consolidate ethical knowledge in your mind so that you can easily recall and synthesize it to answer CASPer questions.
CASPer test prep is not unlike MMI interview prep, and there are quite a few similarities between these two admission components. In fact, our latest study about BeMo’s CASPer and MMI prep proves that both CASPer and MMI are highly coachable and students show significant improvement in performance with the right help. Through a program of learning proven strategies and participating in realistic CASPer practice sessions, you can definitely improve your score. The secret to gaining any kind of skills in life is preparation and practice, and that applies for your CASPer test, too.
Reason #2 to Avoid CASPer Reddit: Unproven, Subjective Advice
On Reddit, many users want to share experiences with others who are in the same boat as them; they want a support system to help them contextualize their own challenges. This is completely understandable, but you should remember that advice you get on the internet is not verified, and it might not apply to you at all. As we’ve described above, there’s plenty of false information on CASPer test Reddit, but there’s also a lot of information that isn’t necessarily false and yet won’t work for you.
In general, the CASPer test is not very popular amongst students. Reading such posts could provide a cathartic release for a student bogged down by the stresses of med school admissions, but actually following the advice would be a terrible idea! For instance, many Reddit users seem to dismiss the CASPer test, consider it unimportant in the admissions process, and in general take it very lightly. Now, this might be true from their perspective – maybe they’re only applying to schools that don’t require CASPer, or maybe they already have the skills to ace the test – but it’s an entirely subjective opinion that does not apply for the majority of students.
Similarly, a lot of students share detailed preparation guides for CASPer that worked for them, but may not work for you. Such information isn’t necessarily wrong or malicious. But every student has their own strengths, weaknesses, and study styles. One Reddit user’s detailed CASPer test strategy focuses mostly on studying sample questions and strategizing answers, without much time for practice sessions. That might work for them but following the same strategy could let down a student with poor communication skills, who needs a lot of practice to internalize the strategies.
This is why we recommend getting advice from proven experts:
"BeMo Casper prep. Review for Dr. Joseph Narusis. I found the Casper Prep review sessions that I had with Dr. Joseph Narusis extremely helpful, as he explained the ways that I can progress and improve for my Casper test. He also provided great resources for me to work on as homework, in my review session with him: after taking my simulations through my BeMo account, which I found to be the key for me through my progress journey." - BeMo student.
CASPer test Reddit is also home to a lot of well-meaning tips and generic advice, that might sound great on paper, but doesn’t match up to the reality of how the test is taken or scored. For instance, you’ll see a lot of people claiming that grammar and spelling are irrelevant in CASPer so students can feel free to make as many mistakes as they like. This assertion stems from the fact that, technically, CASPer evaluators are asked not to consider grammar and spelling so as to not penalize students for their adherence to the time limit. The reality is that testers are human, and answers riddled with errors are more difficult to comprehend – and hence more likely to be unconsciously marked lower. So, while you shouldn’t overtly stress about or focus on grammar and spelling during the test, you should do your best to avoid errors.
Want to learn some more proven CASPer test strategies? Check out this video:
Reason #3 to Avoid CASPer Reddit: Lack of Accountability
We’ve already talked about how there’s a lot of myths about the CASPer test that are carelessly perpetuated on CASPer Reddit forums. One of the main reasons this happens is due of the total lack of accountability for posters in such forums. Nobody is checking these posts to make sure the information is accurate, and none of these users take any responsibility for the disastrous consequences of following their advice.
For instance, you’ll see a lot of posters on CASPer test Reddit claiming that when it comes to CASPer, there are no wrong answers. This is also something the official test administrators like to claim. The CASPer is not an academic test, and it’s meant to be a framework to bring out the true personality of the individual. However, if there really are no wrong answers, then why is the test scored at all? A score necessarily indicates that some answers are better than others. There might not be any “wrong” answers but there are definitely inappropriate answers that you need to avoid!
When Reddit users dismiss the importance of the test, claim it doesn’t require any prep, or that any CASPer practice is a waste of time (and money), they are talking from their own perspective which does not apply to the majority of students. You should be wary of any advice couched in malicious terms, for instance, comments dismissing any students who decide to get expert help for their CASPer prep. In fact, you could be making a serious mistake and the only one to suffer the consequences will be you, not Reddit users.
Taking their advice, you could end up with several medical school rejections, and since CASPer test scores are not released to the applicants, you most likely won’t even know why! And neither will any of the online forums be able to help you identify what you did wrong or how you can do better next time.
It’s best to avoid taking advice from people who don’t know anything about you and have no real investment in your future.
Reason #4 to Avoid CASPer Reddit: Impersonal Guidance and Short-Term Strategies
One of the key aspects of CASPer test prep is practice. Reddit is full of generic, impersonal advice that is hard for you to actually incorporate in your prep. Relying on online guides and theories you find in CASPer test Reddit forums can only take you so far! Like with any functional skills, you need practice to improve your CASPer test performance and the only way to get that practice is through realistic CASPer mock tests that closely imitate the actual test conditions.
Moreover, this kind of intensive, practice-oriented preparation helps with the one of the biggest obstacles to CASPer success – test day nerves! During CASPer you need to answer pre-recorded questions, using your limited time to deliver succinct, eloquent answers that effectively communicate what medical schools are looking for.
Practicing helps you get the confidence you need to remain calm and collected during the test and deal with each question as it comes. If you don’t have the skill to parse questions quickly and think out your answers on the spot, you’ll find CASPer questions extremely challenging. Practice will help you build these skills. And you won’t get that kind of practice from any online forums. Even practice sessions with friends and family don’t really help much. While your friends and family members may have the best of intentions, they lack the knowledge and expertise to give you accurate feedback. In fact, bad advice from amateurs can sometimes make your performance even worse than before! On the other hand, if you opt for consulting services from professionals, you’ll get expert feedback that can help you pinpoint your weaknesses as well as customized strategies to help you improve.
"I had a highly beneficial session with Dr. Helen Martin, who guided me effectively through my Casper scenarios. She helped me break down my performance with an objective approach, highlighting strengths and growth areas. This constructive feedback reinforced my confidence and provided a solid strategy for tackling challenging or tricky Casper scenarios in the future. Their guidance was invaluable in building my analytical skills and setting a clear framework for my responses. I feel much more confident about my preparation technique now. Thank you!" - Anusha, BeMo student.
Want some expert advice on how to answer CASPer questions? Here are 5 Official CASPer test questions and our expert responses!
Reason #5 to Avoid CASPer Reddit: Source of Anxiety and Stress
Most likely, you're looking on CASPer Reddit to find some reassurance, support, and guidance for this critical part of the admissions process. The irony is, too much time on Reddit can actually leave you feeling anxious and overwhelmed.
To begin with, there’s just way too much information out there in these forums. Wading through pages and pages of discussions, tips, strategies, all full of opposing takes and unverified claims, can be very overwhelming. Despite the barrage of information, you leave retaining nothing of importance, and with increased anxiety around what needs to be done. There’s no supervision or established format for how information is presented on Reddit and other such forums. It takes tremendous mental effort to go through all the pages to actually find something useful. And even then, you won’t have that mental assurance that the information you’ve found is actually verified or reliable.
Worse, coming across strategies and tips that you either don’t understand or can’t implement can cause tremendous stress and make you doubt yourself. Remember that one of the biggest criticisms that the CASPer test faces is that the test-scorers are unable to keep their bias out of their evaluations. This often means that students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds might be penalized in their score simply because they don’t exhibit the desired tricks of body language and communication that their more privileged peers do. Additionally, students from elite schools might already have the knowledge and skills required to ace the CASPer test and reading posts from their perspective can make you feel inadequate and hopeless about your own chances of success.
That’s why it’s important to remember that every student is unique and has their own strengths and weaknesses. If there’s any part of your med school application you’re struggling with, including CASPer prep, you can always get help to gain the necessary skills and improve your performance. In fact, working towards improving yourself and recognizing your areas for improvement proves you have determination, humility, and clarity of mind – all very important characteristics in a future doctor!
Need CASPer prep help? Start by learning about the 4 things you must avoid during your CASPer test:
Free Resources You Can Use Instead of CASPer Reddit
So, does this mean you should be avoiding the internet altogether as a resource for CASPer prep? Not at all! Reddit and other premed forums aren’t reliable sources of help, for all the reasons mentioned above, but there are other, more dependable resources you can leverage to make your CASPer prep easier. You should be looking for resources that can provide tried and tested strategies to help you tackle this test, and that are written and vetted by experts who know what they’re talking about and have your best interests at heart.
BeMo’s resources include books and webinars as well as informative, detailed blogs about CASPer and engaging videos for those who prefer an audio-visual learning medium. All of these resources are free and available for any student who wishes to use them.
If you have an independent style of study and find it easy to incorporate strategies you’ve read about in your own performance, then these CASPer prep resources might be enough for you. However, even if you chose to self-study for your CASPer prep, make sure you complete at least one practice CASPer sim session, so you are familiar with the test format, setting, technical requirements, and so on. The official CASPer website offers basic test prep tips as well as some sample CASPer test questions that you can use for this purpose.
However, many students find that they need additional expert guidance to understand strategies they’ve read about, and want hands-on advice and customized, targeted strategies to help them improve their CASPer test performance. Most importantly, they want to not only learn the strategies of how to excel at CASPer, but also practice the actual test, and receive expert feedback on their performance so they can understand their areas for improvement. If you’re such a student, you can consider scheduling a one-on-one consultation to avail the advice and guidance of BeMo’s CASPer prep experts.
FAQs
1. Should I use Reddit for CASPer prep?
No, you should not be using Reddit, Premed101, or any other online crowd-sourced forums as a source of information for your CASPer prep. Remember that while it’s tempting to seek out advice and tips from people so confidently and freely proclaiming them on the internet, there’s absolutely no guarantee that the information they provide is verified or accurate in any way. Moreover, since the CASPer test is still the subject of much debate and confusion, the scope for misinformation and unsolicited advice increases all the more.
2. Is all the information on CASPer Reddit forums incorrect or unreliable?
Not necessarily! In fact, there are a few genuinely informative posts outlining CASPer prep strategies and providing useful test information. The problem is, with so much misinformation crowding up the CASPer test Reddit forums, it might be difficult for you to differentiate between the “good” posts and “bad” posts. Moreover, even well-meaning posters who provide strategies and tips, are doing so based on their own personal experiences and biases. What works for them, might not work for you.
3. Is it even possible to prepare for CASPer?
One of the most common myths surrounding the CASPer test is that it is impossible to prep for, or that it doesn’t require prep at all! The fact is, you absolutely need to prepare for CASPer or else you’re taking a big risk with your medical school application. While the CASPer test consists of non-academic, scenario-based questions designed to evaluate your soft skills, it’s still possible to learn effective strategies to tackle each question.
4. What reliable free resources are available for CASPer prep?
Firstly, you should check the official CASPer website for some basic CASPer prep strategies and tips. For more detailed information, you can check BeMo’s series of informative blogs and videos, as well as the books and webinars we offer on this topic.
5. How can I prepare for CASPer?
To prepare for CASPer, you should first research and understand the test format, types of questions, timing, and what is being evaluated. Make sure you use reliable sources of information such as our blogs, videos, and webinars. Next, you should learn strategies to help you tackle the different types of CASPer questions. Finally, practice is extremely important when it comes to CASPer.
6. Do all medical schools ask for CASPer test scores?
No, not all medical schools require the CASPer test. You should check if the CASPer test is required on the admissions website of the schools you’re applying to.
7. Is it worth it to pay consulting services for their help with CASPer prep?
BeMo’s CASPer test prep program is delivered by experts and provides the highest quality consultation services for our students. Moreover, our claims are backed up by the amazing success rates of our students and their glowing testimonials. We stand by the quality of our paid services! What you need to consider is the cost-to-worth ratio of taking on additional help for your CASPer prep. If CASPer questions are confusing you and you have no clear idea of how to do well in this test, or if you’re pretty well-versed in the CASPer prep strategies but want multiple practice sessions and expert feedback to improve your actual performance, then taking on expert help might be the right idea.
8. Is CASPer important in the medical school admissions process?
A common misconception among students is that CASPer is a negligible or unimportant factor in the medical school admissions process. Just think about it: if CASPer was so unimportant, then why would schools include it at all? Schools use the CASPer test results in many different ways. Some may consider it along with students’ primary applications to determine who receives secondary applications, while others consider it as a pre-interview step and have mandatory CASPer score cut-offs for their interview invitees. CASPer scores could also be considered to determine which students on the waitlist are offered a place.
To your success,
Your friends at BeMo
BeMo Academic Consulting
Disclaimer: CASPer stands for computer-based assessment for sampling personal characteristics and is claimed to be a trademark of McMaster & Altus. BeMo does not recommend, endorse nor affiliate with CASPer, Altus or McMaster and vice versa. BeMo only provides preparation services and practice tests. To take CASPer, contact Altus directly.
Like our blog? Write for us! >>
Have a question? Ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions!
3 Comments
Mel
Hi I am preparing for CASPer where can I find practice tests?
ReplyA.L
Insightful! Great takeaways. Thanks for this.
ReplyA
I know you recommend starting to prepare for CASPer up to 8 weeks in advance, but do you have any guidance about how much time should be spent studying each week? Thanks!
Reply