New Medical College Admissions Test® Approved today (Feb. 16, 12)

<p>Anyone taking the MCAT in 2015 or beyond may find this an interesting read.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.aamc.org/newsroom/newsreleases/273712/120216.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;https://www.aamc.org/newsroom/newsreleases/273712/120216.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>How many more classes does this add?</p>

<p>Thanks for the post! This should be fun, I will be (hopefully) taking the MCAT in 2016-2017 if everything goes as planned. Plus side is that there isn’t a writing section!!!</p>

<p>writing section was the best. pretty much an hour long break before the bio section</p>

<p>Does this mean we have to take 2 more classes? psych and sociology?</p>

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<p>Wow. I did all my pre-med work in one year plus a summer.</p>

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<p>Any course requirements will be med school specific, as they are today. My guess is that you could read a AP Psych prep book and cover what you will need to “know” for the exam. Whether a college requires the course, is up to them. But note, that some med schools, such as Hopkins and USC, already require social science coursework. Harvard recommends them.</p>

<p>From 'SC’s site (30 units required):</p>

<p>“Humanities & Social Sciences courses can be fulfilled by coursework in the following areas: Art History, Asian Studies, English Composition, Foreign Language, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Theater, Economics, History, Politics, and Sociology. Coursework should be equally distributed within these disciplines, as the Admissions Committee seeks applicants who demonstrate evidence of a diversified academic background.”</p>

<p>Hopkins (24 units required):</p>

<p>“HUMANITIES, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
The study of the humanities, social and behavioral sciences, is an essential foundation for the study and practice of medicine (24 semester hours). Please see 2. Communication Skills under Additional Requirements, below.
These disciplines foster broad understanding of humankind and the increasingly diverse cultural and social environment of our world.”</p>

<p>Harvard (16 units):
"Other Recommendations
Courses and extracurricular experiences and activities that prepare candidates to understand human behavior, to appreciate societal structure and function, and to achieve cultural awareness provide valuable preparation for the study and practice medicine. Courses in literature, languages, the arts, humanities, and the social sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology, and ethics) are encouraged. At least 16 hours should be completed in these areas. In addition, familiarity with computers is necessary. Honors courses and independent study or research are encouraged, because they permit a student to explore an area of knowledge in depth and provide a scholarly experience that will facilitate a lifelong habit of self-education.</p>

<p>I am wondering if a student getting a poor score during 2014 may have a clean slate with a better score from the new test taken in 2015. Were there any discussions on that?</p>

<p>2014 (and all prior years) exam results will continue be reported for 3 years after the original test date. Taking the “new” test will not erase “old” MCAT results.</p>

<p>What would be a compettiive MCAT score now? 40/60?</p>

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<p>Old scores will be always be reported to schools you apply to - i.e. it doesn’t matter when you’ve taken the MCAT or how long ago it was - as long as you have a complete examination and a score on file, it will be reported. However, schools generally set a limit on how long a score is considered “valid” for the purposes of applying, usually 2-3 years. But they still see all scores.</p>

<p>There is no getting a “clean slate” - this is why it’s such a poor decision to go into this test unprepared. You can’t just wait for some time limit to expire - that score is with you for life.</p>

<p>So if I am graduating in 2015 I would still take the old MCAT right? </p>

<p>Oh so today my school had an AAMC representative come talk to our school and she was telling us that MD schools no longer care about your undergraduate but I literally just read a post about how they do care so what is it?</p>

<p>What do you mean “they dont’ care about your undergraduate”?</p>

<p>Charlie, ??? I’m pretty sure they CARE! lol</p>

<p>Whats going to be easier than, the new MCAT or the old one? I’m graduating in 2015 so this is interesting.</p>

<p>@Charlie: If you’re graduating college in 2015, you would’ve had to take the MCAT in 2014. So, yes, you will still take the “old” version.</p>

<p>@Columbia: It depends on what your strengths are. Even though I’m a freshman and have a long way to go before the MCAT, I’m considering myself lucky that I will still be taking the “old” version of the MCAT in 2013.</p>

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Oh, no, two additional classes at many colleges (especially those which have an established reputation of being a premed factory) will become cutthroat and less enjoyable, unless the professors from these two departments refuse to be an extension of medical school adcoms. (Many professors hate to serve that role: After they give the lecture to a premed class, they find out that the most pressing question the students have is: Is this going to be in the test? Of course, a “smart” premed will not ask it directly in this way.)</p>

<p>On the other hand, this may help dispel the myth that only science or engineering classes are hard at any campus. Any class can be made easy or hard at this level. – Students who do not understand why this is so likely have not completed the premed journey yet.</p>

<p>i anticipate i will be taking the MCAT in the spring or summer of 2015. do you think med schools will have leniency with scores because it is the first year the new test is being administered? and it’s a bummer because i was trying to avoid taking psych in college. guess i have to take it now.</p>

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<p>hahahahahahaha</p>

<p>Scores are part of USNews rankings. Scores matter. (And that is why amcas announced this change a couple of years ago, so prospies can plan.)</p>

<p>btw: if Psych is not an easy A for a premed, you are doing something wrong.</p>

<p>How do we prepare for the new section?</p>

<p>Do you think its necessary to take psych and sociology or self study them</p>