Why Do Medical Schools Require the MCAT?

Written by: Nick Asmus, Pre-Health Peer Advisor

 

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is known to be one of the most difficult entrance exams for undergraduate students, and is notorious for its strenuous 7.5-hour duration and demand to master hundreds of complex topics across the biological, physical, and social sciences. Virtually every medical school requires students take this exam to be considered for admission, so almost every pre-med student will go through the journey of studying for the MCAT. In this post, I discuss how a shift in perspective – understanding why medical schools require such an exam in the first place – made the process of studying for the MCAT more meaningful and fulfilling for me, and helped me structure my study plan.

By looking into the history of the MCAT and why it was first implemented, we can get a better understanding of why it is now a universal requirement across medical schools. Before the requirement of an entrance exam, up to 50% of students ended up dropping out due to not being able to handle the academic rigor of medical school. The MCAT is, therefore, one way students can not only demonstrate their academic preparedness to medical schools, but feel confident in their preparedness themselves. It is also important to note, though, that the MCAT is only a fraction of the medical school application, and there are also other ways to display preparedness. A high MCAT score does not necessarily guarantee students admission, and an ideal application has balance among all components.

When I studied for and took the MCAT, I approached it as an opportunity get an idea of how ready I would be to pursue medical school, because the studying process is known to be representative of what will be required of me later on. I knew there would be more standardized exams down the road, and MCAT prep was a great way to practice for the challenges that lie ahead. Thinking about the MCAT in this way made the journey a lot more meaningful to me. Instead of just taking the exam because it was a requirement, I viewed it as an opportunity to gain confidence in my abilities to succeed in medical school.

For me, succeeding on the MCAT required a well thought-out study plan and structure. A couple of months before I started seriously studying, I spent time thinking about a routine that would work with my lifestyle and study habits. It was important to me that I could fit in sufficient studying while also having time to still pursue my other passions such as running, lifting, reading, and spending time with friends and family. I created a routine I knew I would be able to stick to for the 6 months that I dedicated to studying; in other words, a routine with longevity. It is vital that your study routine be something you can stick with, because consistency will take you really far. I knew stress would be inevitable, but also realized that not leaving time to pursue my hobbies would only exacerbate that stress, make my studying less productive, and be less likely to facilitate consistency.

I really learned during my MCAT prep that more is not always better. Simply chasing more hours reading textbooks and doing practice questions was not what lead me to a good score, it was restraint that allowed me to succeed. More specifically, I gave myself a limit on how much time I would spend studying per day. Throughout the 6 months I spent preparing, that ceiling was usually 2-3 hours, and I would not let myself exceed that. If there were ever days that were difficult for personal reasons, I would lower that ceiling to 1 hour, so that I could come back stronger the next day. I’ve recognized in myself and many other students that it takes just as much discipline to practice this restraint as it does to do the studying in the first place. It is very easy to burnout when studying for a big exam, and spending more time taking care of myself helped me maintain motivation throughout my prep.

There is so much MCAT prep material and advice out there that it’s almost impossible not to be overwhelmed by it all. There is no one size fits all approach, so it is up to you to pick and choose what materials and advice to integrate into your plan. I shared that my emphasis on work/life balance influenced my prep structure the most, but you may place more value in other areas. I think this is a really important point and lesson I’ve learned: copying someone else’s routine exactly, even if it’s someone who did well, won’t guarantee you success. I have applied this lesson to areas of my life outside of school, emphasizing that what works for someone else won’t necessarily work for me and vice versa.

I hope reading this blog post gives you motivation to reframe your MCAT prep - and other challenges that will inevitably come as a pre-health student - as an opportunity, and I hope this helps you in your academic and professional career.