Confused about new general requirements

[soverytired]

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Hey everyone I just have a few questions about the MCAT's and class requirements. I know that in 2015 the MCAT is changing and that starting 2016 you have to have additional classes required to complete the pre-med curriculum.

I plan on taking my MCAT in 2014 and should hopefully be done with school by December of 2014. I've heard MCAT scores are good for 3 years, does this mean I can apply and not have to take the newer classes? If I apply for medical school in 2015, will I still be qualified? If I'm rejected first cycle and have to put off getting in till 2016 do the qualifications still hold? Also if I decide to do a MPH program in order to boost my chances after graduating do I still have to take them?

Sorry for the string of very similar questions, I appreciate anyone who takes the time to answer.

Also many apologies if this question has been answered before, don't mean to contribute to the overall spam content.

 

[prado]

Whenever you decide to take the mcat, your score will be good for at least 3 years (at 99% of schools), regardless of the change in format.

 

[soverytired]

Whenever you decide to take the mcat, your score will be good for at least 3 years (at 99% of schools), regardless of the change in format.

I appreciate the response. Just to clarify does this mean that if, hypothetically if I apply in 2017 I won't be required to have psychology and sociology on my transcript because the MCAT I took didn't test on them?

 

[prado]

I appreciate the response. Just to clarify does this mean that if, hypothetically if I apply in 2017 I won't be required to have psychology and sociology on my transcript because the MCAT I took didn't test on them?

What the MCAT tests on and a school's specific prerequisites are two different things. A school will generally put out their prerequisite list and any changes a bit prior to the upcoming application cycle. So regardless of when you take your mcat, you will be required to complete a school's prerequisite if it is listed on their admissions site. Does this make sense?

Basically, you can take the mcat whenever you want and the score will be good at most school for 3 years. However, this doesn't exempt you from having to complete school specific prereqs

 

[dsoz]

This is just conjecture on my part, but I would imagine that the "new requirements" will be phased in over time. With some of the older applicants grandfathered in with the old requirements.

But then again, I could be wrong. There are schools like U of Arizona, Phoenix that already put in place the new admission requirements. Look at this years school specific thread and you will see that it caused quite an uproar with some applicants because they didn't have some of the new required classes, thus were inelligable for application.

Sometimes the application process is a little messy, and you need to be prepared for it. If you are looking at applying this early, there should be no excuse why you can't meet the new requirements. It is only adding a couple of classes of social science. It is not like they are springing it on you at the last minute (like some claimed UA Phoenix did this year).

dsoz

 

[soverytired]

Sometimes the application process is a little messy, and you need to be prepared for it. If you are looking at applying this early, there should be no excuse why you can't meet the new requirements. It is only adding a couple of classes of social science. It is not like they are springing it on you at the last minute (like some claimed UA Phoenix did this year).

dsoz

Thanks a lot for the clarification. I know it's not a lot and I have plenty of time I just wanted to know if I could get out of it. By the time I graduate in 2014 it will be my sixth year in undergrad (transferred schools and changed majors after my second year) and I wanted to see if I could avoid adding an addition year to my schooling. But I have no qualms about doing it if that's what it takes to get into medical school.

Basically, you can take the mcat whenever you want and the score will be good at most school for 3 years. However, this doesn't exempt you from having to complete school specific prereqs

Gotcha, thanks for your input

 

[UrbanRiver]

I would email a few schools (copy paste the same question) and ask them directly. I know you dont know what schools you'll be applying to but take a few you know you for sure will. Like if you live in California, email all the UCs.

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