MCAT

[ Premed, MCAT Scores and Medical Schools ]

MCAT

What is the MCAT?

The new Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a prerequisite for admission to nearly all the medical schools in North America. Each year, over 50,000 applicants to American and Canadian medical schools submit MCAT test results. While the actual weight given to MCAT scores in the admissions process varies from school to school, often they are regarded in a similar manner to your premed college/university GPA (i.e. your academic standing).

In applying for medicine at some medical schools , for example, the MCAT score is as important as your four years of undergraduate study! On the other hand, some universities will set a minimum level of performance on the MCAT and then analyze school grades to decide who will be invited to the medical school interviews . Either way, doing well is imperative for most applicants.

The MCAT is administered on a Saturday biannually, at the beginning of the academic year (usu. August) and at the end of the academic year (usu. April). To register for the MCAT, you should consult your premed adviser or contact:

MCAT Program
P.O. Box 4056
Iowa City, Iowa, 52243
Phone: (319) 337-1357

Is the MCAT Valid?

There are many organizations and studies that have questioned the validity of the MCAT. What makes the situation complex is that once the studies are released, the MCAT often changes ostensibly to address the criticisms. The 2007 MCAT changes is the latest in a string of modifications.

MCAT Prep

There are companies dedicated to online MCAT Prep and some companies which are mostly classroom based: Kaplan and Princeton Review .

There is an MCAT Store which sells the most popular MCAT materials such as The Gold Standard MCAT, Kaplan, Princeton Review and Examkrackers Audio Osmosis.

The MCAT will not only test your scientific knowledge in biology, physics, general chemistry and organic chemistry, but will also measure your problem-solving, critical thinking and writing skills. The MCAT is divided into four sections: Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, the Writing Sample and Biological Sciences.

The Physical Sciences section contains MCAT physics and MCAT general chemistry. The Biological Sciences section contains MCAT biology and MCAT organic chemistry. All questions, save the MCAT Writing Sample, are multiple choice with four choices per question.

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