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Entrance Exams

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Medicine (MCAT)

Students applying to schools of allopathic, osteopathic, and podiatric medicine are required to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).

The MCAT is a standardized, multiple-choice examination designed to help medical school admissions committees predict which of their applicants will perform adequately in the medical school curriculum. The MCAT assesses facility with scientific problem solving, critical thinking and writing skills, as well as understanding of science concepts and principles identified as a prerequisite to the study of medicine. The four parts of the MCAT are Verbal Reasoning, Physical Sciences, Writing Sample, and Biological Sciences. The MCAT is delivered exclusively at Thomson Prometric computer-based testing sites. The MCAT is no longer available as a paper and pencil exam. Thomson Prometric delivers the computer-based MCAT on behalf of the AAMC multiple times per year, at hundreds of testing sites. For more information on the computer-based MCAT, see http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/cbt.htm. It is strongly recommended that students take the test in the spring or early summer of their junior year. This strategy is important for two reasons: 1) Most medical schools accept students on a rolling admissions basis. Simply put, the “early bird catches the worm.” Applying early in the application process is advantageous because interview slots are assigned as candidate files are processed. Most medical schools will consider your file incomplete if your MCAT scores have not been reported. 2) If you are not satisfied with your score the first time you take the MCAT, you may opt to retake the exam later in the summer or early fall and have the second set of scores considered as well. (Be sure to consult your advisor before deciding to retake the MCAT). It is best to have completed most of the science courses required for admission before taking the MCAT.

The MCAT registration fee is $210 (spring 2007). Online registration for each testing date will open six months prior to the testing date. Thomson Prometric will reserve seats for MCAT examinees until 60 days before each testing date. Students are strongly encouraged to register for the exam as soon as registration opens. The number of seats available for taking the MCAT in the Columbia area is extremely limited.

Reviewing a preparatory manual to familiarize yourself with the test format is very helpful. Topics for the physical and biological science sections are available at http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/topics.pdf. The AAMC offers a series of full-length MCAT Practice Tests that are comprised of items previously used in "live" administrations of the MCAT: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/practicetests.htm. Flowers', Barron's, and other preparation guides are available at most bookstores (or from on-line resources like Amazon.com). Both Kaplan and Princeton offer MCAT review courses. For more details about the Stanley Kaplan course in Columbia, call 443-8378 or 1-800-527-8378. The number for the Princeton Review course is 1-800-273-8439. The Honors College maintains a library of full-length MCAT practice exams that may be checked out for review.