By Russell Schaffer
Every year Kaplan Test Prep surveys medical schools to provide pre-meds with the most accurate and up-to-date information on the admissions process. The results of the annual survey of medical school admissions officers survey have just recently been released. In brief: the vastly revamped MCAT set to launch in 2015 has the strong support of an important segment of the medical education community.
Nearly 9 out of 10 (87%) medical school admissions officers support the changes to the MCAT, while only 1% don’t support the changes; 12% aren’t sure. Similarly, 74% of admissions officers say the 2015 MCAT will better prepare aspiring doctors for medical school; just 5% say it won’t; and 21% aren’t sure of what its effects will mean.
But while medical school admissions officers think the 2015 MCAT will produce stronger medical students, many also believe the road to medical school may become more intense for pre-meds. 40% say that pre-meds’ course loads will increase because of the additional content they will have to learn as undergrads; 46% say their course loads will stay at their current levels; and 15% aren’t sure. No admissions officers say pre-meds’ course loads will become easier. Many pre-med programs have already revised their curricula or are in the process of doing so to ensure that students – particularly freshmen and sophomores – are prepared to tackle the exam’s new content come 2015.
51% of medical school admissions officers say an applicant’s MCAT score is the most important admissions factor – up from 43% in 2011’s survey; an applicant’s undergraduate GPA placed second at 23%, followed by relevant experience at 14%; the interview at 6%, letters of recommendation at 4%; and personal statement at 3%.
76% of medical schools say they use the traditional interview process – where applicants meet face-to-face with just a few officials for lengthier periods of time – down from 82% in Kaplan’s 2011 survey. 17% say they use the newer Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) process, where applicants are interviewed and assessed by many officials for shorter periods of time – only 6% said they used this process in Kaplan’s 2011 survey.
For the 2012 survey, 75 medical school admissions officers from the 141 Association of American Medical Colleges across the United States were polled by telephone between August and September 2012.
The full report can be found here: http://press.kaptest.com/press-relea…l-be-a-tough-p
This information is good to know. I have the choice to take the MCAT in either 2014 or 2015. I’m not sure which will benefit me more.
However, I am sure that I have learned much more by taking the extra courses required for the new MCAT. There is more to being a successful doctor than biology, chemistry, and physics knowledge.
Perhaps certain medical schools could be clearer about their operating metrics for admissions. When do they like to fill their classes, how many people do they expect to get off the wait list, when do they plan to notify applicants of their acceptance or rejection? What qualities would they use to evaluate two candidates with similar GPA and MCAT score? Until these answers are clear, thousands of applicants will continue to function under difficult circumstances, and schools will continue to sort through thousands of applications they may not want.