Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) 2015
At Penn, we have positioned our program to prepare pre-medical students for the changes to the MCAT 2015 and changing medical school requirements. The Pre-Health Programs advising team is your best resource for current information on changing required and recommended coursework for medical school admissions. Our advisors review your academic record and assist you in outlining course selection and sequencing from the wide array of undergraduate courses at Penn. In addition, Pre-Health Programs students at Penn have access to test prep discounts via an institutional partnership with The Princeton Review.
The Association of American Medical Colleges also provides information about changes to the MCAT and resource materials.
Application to medical school
Each year the majority of our students are applying to medical school: allopathic (MD), osteopathic (DO) and/or MD/PhD programs. Every applicant to medical school needs to complete the MCAT. The MCAT, offered January-September, is a computerized test that provides a mechanism for medical schools to assess all applicants on a single criterion. This is an important part of your credentials.
The MCAT requires extensive preparation, and should only be taken after all the basic science courses are completed. The test is arduous, and students should begin preparing for this exam months in advance. While many students prepare successfully on their own, commercial test preparation services are easily available to Penn students.
Detailed information about the test can be found on the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website.
In addition to reviewing medical school admission websites, the following professional resources are very valuable when it comes time to navigate medical school admission requirements and how to develop your school list when it comes time to apply to medical school:
- AAMC MSAR: Medical School Admission Requirements
- AACOM Choose DO Explorer: https://choosedo.org/explorer/
Application to dental school
With our proximity to the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, a number of our students who enter our program are interested in applying to dental school. Information about dental school programs and requirements can be found on the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) website.
The ADEA also publishes an official guide for entering dental school and what the admission requirements are each year.
As part of the dental school application process, applicants must take the Dental Admission Test (DAT). The DAT requires extensive preparation, and should only be taken after all the basic science courses are completed, specifically general biology, inorganic/general and organic chemistry. The test is arduous, and students should begin preparing for this exam months in advance. While many students prepare successfully on their own, commercial test preparation services are easily available to Penn students. Detailed information about the test can be found on the American Dental Association (DAT) website.
The primary application used by most dental schools is known as the AADSAS: Associated American Dental Schools Application Service.
Application to veterinary school
With our proximity to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, we additionally have a number of students preparing to become veterinarians. Information about programs and the application process is found at the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges website.
A valuable resource is the Veterinary Medical School Admissions Requirements (VMSAR) which outlines each veterinary school's admission requirements. The majority of veterinary medical school applicants must complete the GRE revised General Test prior to applying to veterinary medical school.
Get more information regarding the GRE revised General Test.
The primary application service for pre-vet applicants to apply to the majority of veterinary medical colleges is called VMCAS: Veterinary Medical College Application Services.
