The Medical College Admission Test is a computer-based standardized examination for prospective medical students in the United States, Australia, Canada, and Caribbean Islands. It is designed to assess problem solving, critical thinking, written analysis and knowledge of scientific concepts and principles.

PREPARING FOR THE MCAT 
The MCAT exam has four test sections (learn more here):

  • Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
  • Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
  • Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
  • Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

The new MCAT re-designed in 2015 represents a new way of thinking in terms of standardized exams (sample exam questions). There is a greater emphasis on critical thinking skills and scenarios that represent current medical research. Students will be expected to analyze and draw conclusions from data represented in graphs and tables. Thus, a strong laboratory and research background will greatly aid pre-medical students in topics of science literacy and data analysis; along with a good understanding of basic statistics. Learn more here. 

Supplement content review and practice questions with readings from the biomedical literature. I recommend that students read one or two journal articles per week during their prep period to gain more insight into how medical experiments are designed, implemented and ultimately analyzed. Focus on understanding these central concepts, rather than the minutiae of the articles. -US News and World Reports, Anubodh Varshney, MD

MCAT STUDY PLAN 
It is strongly recommended that students plan to spend a significant portion of the semester prior to taking the MCAT doing MCAT prep. Often students who have AP credits or additional coursework will under-load this semester, particularly if they are taking a formal MCAT prep course. However, the option of under-loading should be discussed fully with your major advisor as each student's academic needs are unique. The MCAT should be taken in April or May (latest June) as the Director and Chair of the Health Professions Advisory Committee strongly encourage you to submit a competitive application to AMCAS in early June. 

MCAT PREP AT SEWANEE 
Sewanee has partnered with Kaplan to bring two Kaplan prep courses to Sewanee students at a significant discount. Please see our Brightspace course for details, registration information, and the scholarship application.

Please note that this course is recommended for students intending to take the MCAT this year. Typically, you would take the MCAT your junior or senior year. You can sign up for the MCAT here (NOTE: new testing dates might not be up yet). Scores are generally accepted for 3 years. The AMCAS application cycle typically opens in early May, and we recommend students complete their MCAT in April/May and apply by June 1st.

MOCK MCAT
Every semester, the OMHP offers a mock MCAT at no cost to students. Take advantage of this opportunity to assess your knowledge and improve your test-taking skills.

MCAT QUESTION OF THE DAY
Look for questions on the screens outside the Office of Medical and Health Programs, or sign up to receive a link to the daily question. Each correct response earns you an entry into a weekly drawing for a Stirling’s gift card. On weekends you can earn up to 5 entries by answering the Super Question, a passage-based question set. 

MCAT PREP EMAIL LIST
Register to receive emails about MCAT preparation.

RESOURCES
Good MCAT prep resources include: