The 2015 MCAT

[premed4]

<p>What exactly is going to be changing on the 2015 MCAT? because assuming I'm still hoping to become a doctor in 4 years that's the one I'll be taking. What subjects are being added and what is being taken away? What is the new emphasis going to be on?</p>

[WayOutWestMom]

<p>

Among the recommended changes are the redivision of the test into four new sections—molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, behavioral and social sciences, and critical analysis and reasoning—and the addition of 90 minutes to the current exam, bringing the total test time to seven hours.</p>

<p>The revisions to the exam are designed to “[give] attention to concepts that future physicians are likely to need,” including a better understanding of cultural and social sensitivity and of modern research methods and statistics, according to the recommendations.</p>

<p>…the amount of science material covered will be“roughly double the current content,” though he predicted that organic chemistry and physics will be de-emphasized in the new exam.

</p>

<p>[Overhauled</a> MCAT to Be Released in 2015 | News | The Harvard Crimson](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/4/11/students-mcat-new-more/]Overhauled”>Overhauled MCAT to Be Released in 2015 | News | The Harvard Crimson)</p>

<p>

The proposed changes aim to balance the exam’s focus on the natural sciences with the testing of critical analysis and reasoning skills, and direct attention to the behavioral and social sciences by:</p>

<pre><code> Updating the exam’s two natural sciences sections to reflect current science and test how examinees solve problems in a way that helps demonstrate their scientific thinking and research skills;
Adding a new test of the behavioral and social sciences concepts that lay the foundation for medical students’ learning about the human and social issues of medicine;
Revising the current verbal section to test the way examinees reason through passages in ethics and philosophy, cross-cultural studies, population health, and other subjects to communicate the need for students to read broadly in preparing for their medical education.
</code></pre>

<p>Other differences between the current exam and the proposed new version would be the deletion of the Writing Sample test section. The more comprehensive content in the new recommended exam would increase testing time by approximately 90 minutes.

</p>

<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/newsroom/newsreleases/2011/182652/110331.html[/url]”>https://www.aamc.org/newsroom/newsreleases/2011/182652/110331.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[UncannyCrayon]

<p>If you are entering college this fall, you most likely will be taking the MCAT in 2014.</p>

[WayOutWestMom]

<p>^^Not necessarily true. Only if you take the exam after your junior year of college–which not all applicants do.</p>

<p>I’ve been browsing thru the US New Medical School site and I’ve been surprised at how many schools–including Top 10 ranked schools–have significant numbers of non trads* making up their student body. Many have non trads making up 50% or more of their student enrollment.</p>

<ul>
<li>non trad defined as a medical student who does not matriculate into medical school directly after undergraduate, but has a break of one or more years intervening between undergrad and beginning of medical studies.</li>
</ul>

[premed4]

<p>Yea, and I’m not going to be entering college next year.</p>

[bluebayou]

<p>WayOutWestMom:</p>

<p>I think I read somewhere that the mean age of all matriculants to med school is ~24, so a ‘non-trad’ really ‘non’? :)</p>

[WayOutWestMom]

<p>Well, I know that my kids are doing their part to raise the mean. ;-)</p>