How to Do Well on the Casper Test by Eric, First Year Medical Student

Introduction

• Eric is a first-year medical student in Canada.
• He emphasizes the importance of compassion and humanity in medicine.
• Focuses on giving general tips and advice for doing well on the Casper test.

What is Casper?

• Casper: Computer-based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics.
• Duration: 90 minutes, 12 stations.
• Stations: Mix of video prompts and text prompts depicting ethical situations.
• Format: You have five minutes to type out your response for each station.
• Responses are reviewed and graded by actual people.

Importance of Casper

• Evaluates who you are beyond grades and test scores.
• Focuses on qualities like communication, empathy, ethics, professionalism, etc.

Eric's Qualifications

• While Casper doesn't release scores, Eric received interviews at schools that emphasize Casper, implying he did well.

Tips for Doing Well on Casper

1. Open Mind

• Avoid biases and stereotypes.
• Keep an open mind and don't let your own assumptions cloud your judgment.
• Focus on observing facts rather than relying on preconceived notions.

2. Ethical Situations

• No right or wrong answers, more about understanding different perspectives.
• Approach complex ethical issues with a nuanced view.
• Aim to provide a balanced solution that considers all parties involved.

3. Typing Speed

• Important due to time constraints.
• Practice on websites like 10fastfingers.com.
• Grammar and spelling don't count, but clarity does.

4. Clear Communication

• Compassionate and clear answers are crucial.
• Use wording that conveys empathy and understanding.
• Example:
  • Basic: "I would take them aside and talk with them."
  • Improved: "I would bring her aside so that she would feel comfortable sharing her thoughts with me."

5. Practice with Groups

• Work with a diverse group of individuals to get different perspectives.
• Limit the group size to 3-4 people.
• Choose people with different viewpoints and opinions.
• Consider branching out from your usual friend group.

Final Thoughts

• Casper is shorter than the MCAT and can be an enjoyable experience.
• Keep practicing, focus on conveying your humanity, and consider multiple perspectives.

Additional Resources

• Eric offers more videos and resources on how to get into medical school in a playlist linked in the video.