Can your MCAT score be used for non-health graduate school admissions?

[Evergrey]

This is perhaps an odd question, but I was wondering: if one decides that medical school isn't right for them, but still has a good MCAT score, does anyone know of any non-medical schools/other programs that would accept them for admissions in lieu of other scores (e.g. the GRE)? Like if you wanted to do MS in Chemistry or something... Just wanted to know what my options are!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[neuromd03]

This is perhaps an odd question, but I was wondering: if one decides that medical school isn't right for them, but still has a good MCAT score, does anyone know of any non-medical schools/other programs that would accept them for admissions in lieu of other scores (e.g. the GRE)? Like if you wanted to do MS in Chemistry or something... Just wanted to know what my options are!

Not really.

You can't even use it for Mensa membership.

 

[Ableton]

The MCAT and LSAT don't substitute for the GRE at most business schools... I highly doubt they would for MS programs either.

 

[neuromd03]

The MCAT and LSAT don't substitute for the GRE at most business schools... I highly doubt they would for MS programs either.

Business schools use the GMAT...

 

[Wiingy]

Most MPH programs will accept an MCAT score instead of requiring the GRE.

 

[Contrarian]

Some md/MBA programs will take the mcat over the GMAT.

 

[Ableton]

Business schools use the GMAT...

Yeah, mixed them up. Sorry. Although a number of lower-tiered business schools, along with Stanford, do actually accept the GRE in lieu of the GMAT.

Some md/MBA programs will take the mcat over the GMAT.

I thought for MD/MBA programs you need to apply to the two programs separately, with the appropriate test for each program.

 

[Contrarian]

I thought for MD/MBA programs you need to apply to the two programs separately, with the appropriate test for each program.

you do in most cases, but I have seen some (UCI off the top of my head) that will allow you to substitute the MCAT for the GMAT if you are a medical student at the corresponding med school.

 

[womp]

Many pharmacy schools accept MCAT.

 

[Contrarian]

somewhat off topic, but is the MCAT considered the most difficult graduate admissions exam? I guess they all have a different focus, but on average what's the consensus?

 

[locus000]

somewhat off topic, but is the MCAT considered the most difficult graduate admissions exam? I guess they all have a different focus, but on average what's the consensus?

You are right each test are cover different subjects. We dont do math on the MCAT but the GRE has a math section.. i would have killed in that section 😀

 

[loveoforganic]

We do so do math on the MCAT :O Not specifically, but it's very needed, lol.

 

[SireSpanky]

Some PA programs take them. Also, some kinesiology depts take them for kine PhD applicants.

 

[BBender716]

Actually, interestingly enough, some management consulting companies ask for it if you have it.

 

[MossPoh]

GMAT is a joke. Many applications will have spots for other standardized tests, but it isn't a substitute. Just additional information.

 

[debbidala]

I just applied to Hopkins' biomedical engineering PhD program and they accepted the MCAT in lieu of the GRE.

 

[brooklynblunder]

Actually, interestingly enough, some management consulting companies ask for it if you have it.

yea i wouldnt put down the mcat score during job apps in case you dont have a good enough reason for why you would not want to go to med school in the immediate future

 

[BBender716]

yea i wouldnt put down the mcat score during job apps in case you dont have a good enough reason for why you would not want to go to med school in the immediate future

Word. But sometimes they like to see it if you are a grad. student/MD who has finished school and looking to go into consulting. They take a ton of med schools grads who don't want to practice and compensate them handsomely.

 

[Evergrey]

Ugh. $225.. Why can't everyone just use the same test 😛 Ah well. I got some soul-searching to do.

 

[Mattabet]

somewhat off topic, but is the MCAT considered the most difficult graduate admissions exam? I guess they all have a different focus, but on average what's the consensus?

The LSAT seems pretty tough, there are some sample questions online. It probably depends if you have a background in formal logic, and it might be the kind of thing you can learn to do. But it's harder than the MCAT in the sense that you can't fall back on outside knowledge.

On the original question, you can use the MCAT instead of a GRE in some cases. There was a program at the University of Virginia that would take an MCAT instead, for example. I would think it would be all the more likely if the graduate field was health science related (not sure how much good it would do if you wanted to be a Philosophy Ph. D. though).

 

[Contrarian]

I don't know, I looked over some LSAT questions with friends and they were quite fun. I think I would have enjoyed that kind of logic stuff.

 

[schrizto]

I think some (bio) science PhD programs will accept the MCAT in lieu of the GRE. I remember reading that on a school's website somewhere. Although the GRE is easy to prep for compared to the MCAT, so simply taking the GRE to fulfill the requirements of all the programs one is applying to would likely be easier than finding out whether individual programs accept the MCAT or not.

 

[boaz]

I think some (bio) science PhD programs will accept the MCAT in lieu of the GRE. I remember reading that on a school's website somewhere. Although the GRE is easy to prep for compared to the MCAT, so simply taking the GRE to fulfill the requirements of all the programs one is applying to would likely be easier than finding out whether individual programs accept the MCAT or not.

In addition, if the MCAT score in question happens to be exceptionally high, I'm sure grad schools that are not at all biomedical related would see that very favorably...

 

[schrizto]

In addition, if the MCAT score in question happens to be exceptionally high, I'm sure grad schools that are not at all biomedical related would see that very favorably...

Possibly, although one can't guarantee that adcoms will be familiar with a test's scoring system if they're not used to seeing it. For example, a law school adcom would know what a good LSAT score is out of 180 but maybe not an MCAT score out of 45. They might not know that though a couple people 180 the LSAT every year it's nearly impossible to 45 the MCAT, etc.

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

GMAT is a joke. Many applications will have spots for other standardized tests, but it isn't a substitute. Just additional information.

So true, same with the GRE. If you can do well on the MCAT, you'll breeze into a MS in Chemistry program because you're obviously smart enough to crush whatever little grad school exam they make you take.

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

The LSAT seems pretty tough, there are some sample questions online. It probably depends if you have a background in formal logic, and it might be the kind of thing you can learn to do. But it's harder than the MCAT in the sense that you can't fall back on outside knowledge.

On the original question, you can use the MCAT instead of a GRE in some cases. There was a program at the University of Virginia that would take an MCAT instead, for example. I would think it would be all the more likely if the graduate field was health science related (not sure how much good it would do if you wanted to be a Philosophy Ph. D. though).

I took a practice LSAT and I liked it for the exact reason you said it's harder. You don't have to actually know anything. It's beautiful.

 

[deleted74029]

I took a practice LSAT and I liked it for the exact reason you said it's harder. You don't have to actually know anything. It's beautiful.

I agree, hate to derail the thread but its also much easier to get into a law school with a slightly above average LSAT. You can score in the 60th percentile and still get into a top 100 school,which is considered pretty good. While scoring in the 60th percentile on the MCAT will barely get you a look at alot of places.