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MEDICAL COLLEGE ADMISSION TEST

(MCAT)BOISE PRE-MEDICAL SUMMIT

SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2018

BENJAMIN CHAN, MD, MBA

ASSOCIATE DEAN, ADMISSIONS AND IDAHO AFFAIRS

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OVERVIEW

• History of the MCT• Recent Changes (MCAT 2015)• How medical schools view MCAT• Tips on how to improve• Questions?

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HISTORY OF MCAT

Why?Reflects history of medical education and admissions

Literally the “wild wild west”Flexner Report 1911Standardize the educational systemGerman (or Johns Hopkins) model

My personal story regarding the MCAT

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RECENT CHANGES

• MCAT 2015• Increased emphasis on the behavioral sciences – Why?

• Offered 25 times/year

• 7.5 hours long• 53-59 questions per section – 90-95 minutes/section

• 4 sections• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (CPBS)• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (BBLS)• Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior (PSBB)

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DATA

• Each section is scored from 118-132• Median Score = 125

• Total score = 472-528• Median Score = 500

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DATA

• Each section is scored from 118-132• Median Score = 125

• Total score = 472-528• Median Score = 500

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ACCEPTANCE RATE

• Idaho = 65/170 = 38.2%

• Utah = 204/606 = 33.6%

• Washington = 433/1072 = 40.4%

• California = 2441/5984 = 40.8%

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WHEN TO TAKE THE MCAT

Short Answer: When you feel readyLong answer:

43% within 1 year of graduation44% between 1-4 years after graduation13% after 5 years post graduation

Most medical schools (including UUSOM) only consider MCAT 3 years prior to application – For incoming of 2019, need to take MCAT from 2016-2019

We take the MOST RECENT score. Some medical schools do an AVERAGE of all the scores.

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HOW MEDICAL SCHOOLS VIEW MCAT

• Holistic Review • “Thinning the Herd”• How do you perform on high stakes tests?• More standardized tests coming

• Step 1 = End of second year of medical school• Step 2 (Clinical Knowledge, Clinical Skills) = During Fourth year• Step 3 = During first year of residency (internship)• Specialty Boards (Board Eligible/Board Certified or BE/BC)• Maintenance of Certification (MOC)

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WHAT CAN YOU DO TO IMPROVE YOUR MCAT?

• Retake the test• Average of 12 weeks of preparation leading up to MCAT

• 23 hours of studying/week• Seek out additional help

• Local resources through college/university• AAMC website itself

• 3 scored practice exams• Vendors/commercial entities• Online test prep material (Example: Khan Academy – 1100 free videos and

3000 review questions)

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QUESTIONS?