MCAT/GPA questions| MCAT/GPA Questions |
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First off, what is the MCAT? MCAT stands for Medical College Admissions Test and is the standardized examination required by medical schools in the United States and Canada. The exam is divided into 4 sections namely, physical science (PS), verbal reasoning (VR), biological science (BS), and a writing section. The PS, VR, and BS sections are graded on a scale of 1-15 with 15 being the highest score. The writing section is graded on an alphabetic scale from J to T with T being the highest score. Thus, the highest score one can achieve on the exam is a 45J.
What MCAT/GPA do I need to get into medical school? The best way to determine whether your MCAT/GPA is competitive for medical school is by comparing your score with the average MCAT/GPA for accepted students at the school you are interested in. You can see the average GPA/MCAT score for all schools in the U.S. here. In general, allopathic (MD) medical schools in the United States are the most competitive and thus have slightly higher averages than osteopathic (DO) and foreign MD schools. According to AAMC, the average MCAT score for all test takers in 2009 was 25.1 (SD = 6.5). In 2009, the average applicant who was accepted into a U.S. allopathic medical school had a MCAT score of 30.8 and a GPA of 3.66. For osteopathic schools, the average MCAT for those who are accepted is roughly 25 with an average GPA around 3.5. As you can see, the competition is thick. Medical schools receive far more applicants than available slots and thus employ a competitive standard for admissions. Even with an MCAT score of 30, you are only average among those who will be accepted to allopathic schools within the U.S.
How many times can I take the MCAT? The MCAT may be taken 3 times per calendar year. If you are considering retaking the MCAT, there are a few things to consider. First, why are you retaking the exam? Is it because you weren't accepted to medical school and feel that a better score will increase your chances? Consider whether or not your score falls in line with the average MCAT score for the schools you've applied to if this is the case. Contact the schools you applied to and ask if your MCAT was a negative factor in your application. If you scored a 34 on the MCAT but feel you could have done better, it may be best to look for other aspects in your application which you can improve before retaking the MCAT since scoring lower the second time could hurt your chances. If, on the other hand, you are retaking the MCAT because you did poorly, try to find out why you didn't do well before making a second attempt. Was your score an accurate reflection of your current academic record? If so, it may be best to discover what is lacking in your current study habits that is keeping you from performing your best. Resolve any personal issues that may be holding you back. Whatever you do, don't take the exam a second time unprepared. A second bad score makes the first bad score look even worse so don't chance it.
How long is an MCAT score good for? It is up to the school to decide how long they will accept an MCAT score. Generally, an MCAT score within the last 2 years is acceptable by most medical schools, however, with an MCAT score older than a year, it is probably best to contact the schools you are interested in and ask.
How to prepare for the MCAT There are several resources out there for MCAT test preparation. The two big ones are Kaplan and Princeton Review. I went with Kaplan when preparing for the MCAT but was a little dissatisfied. The classes were taught by fellow undergrad students and I didn't get much out of them for the price (around $1,400) I had to pay. The material they gave us was great though. Lots of practice tests, review books, etc., however, for the price I felt I would have been much better off just paying for the material and studying on my own.
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