How To Get Into Medical School
Medical School Admission – Important Facts You Should Know
The Medical College Admissions Test, or MCAT, is a computerized exam that plays an important role in medical school admissions decisions. The exam tests knowledge in three substantive areas: the physical sciences, the biological sciences, and verbal reasoning. The exam includes multiple-choice sections testing those subjects, along with two writing sections. This article explains MCAT scoring, including the average MCAT score for leading medical schools.
MCAT Scoring
The multiple-choice sections have reported scores on a 15-point scale. The higher the actual score of the section, the closer the reported score will be to 15 points. Only correct answers are scored; there is no scoring penalty for incorrect or blank answers.
Medical School Admission Test – Writing Section
The exam’s writing sections are each read twice. One human reader and a computerized scoring program reads each writing sample. Therefore, the writing portion of each exam receives four scores – the scores are combined into the ultimate written grade that is reported. The highest grade is a T and the lowest grade is a J.
The MCAT Score
The MCAT score that is reported to the examinee and to the various medical schools is a combination of those multiple-choice scores and the score from writing samples. A score would look something like 30P.
MCAT Scoring Statistics
The Association of American Medical Colleges releases scoring statistics annually. The most recent statistics, released for 2009, report an average score of 25.1. The Association reports writing sample percentages. For 2009, the 75th percentile was a Q, the 50th percentile was an O, and the 25th percentile was an M. The Association also provided averages for each individual subject: physical sciences – 8.3, biological sciences – 8.7, and verbal reasoning – 8.1.
Medical School Admission – Average MCAT Scores
Noteworthy medical colleges have released the following average scores: Boston University – 10.7Q; Georgetown University – 10.3Q; Stanford University – 11.7Q; UCLA – 11Q; UC San Francisco – 11.7Q; University of Illinois – 10.3P; University of Michigan – 11.7Q; and Yale University – 11.7Q. (The numerical portion averages the three multiple-choice section scores.)
Potential medical students must take a number of courses as undergraduates to have the required foundational knowledge for the MCAT. The relevant subjects are reading and writing, general and organic chemistry, biology, physics, and calculus. Intensely studying these subjects will help MCAT examinees achieve their best score.
Preparing For MCAT
For most pre-medical students, just taking the above courses isn’t sufficient to prepare for the MCAT. Many students seek out professional MCAT preparation courses. These courses help students review the relevant undergraduate coursework, while learning the important strategic approaches to succeed on the MCAT.
It’s important to note that the MCAT isn’t the only consideration for admissions officers at medical colleges. Comparing your score to the average MCAT score isn’t the only admissions consideration. GPAs are also considered. They also look the applicant’s faculty recommendations, personal statements, and their work in student activities and civic engagement.