By Leo Cora
Are you planning to pursue a medical degree? One of the things you need to prioritize is the mcat registration and test itself. This test is what will get you qualified to push through the application process to your chosen medical schools.
What’s great is that even more people are applying to medical school and taking the MCAT as non-traditional applicants! This is a group of people who are attending graduate school, pursuing other careers, or are older than the typical applicant.
It is possible to take and pass the MCAT if you are a non-traditional applicant. You will need to have a strategic study plan and follow the effective tips to pass. Read on to learn more!
Can Non-Traditional Applicants Pass the MCAT?
Not only can non-traditional students pass the MCAT, they can also get into medical school. However, you will need to strengthen your application further and take the time to prepare for the MCAT.
Remember, an excellent MCAT score is crucial for all medical school applicants, but especially so if you are a non-traditional one. Medical schools would change their grading scales and curricular requirements throughout the years, so your GPA back then may not be comparable to another applicant who has graduated recently.
While grades from post-bacc courses are vital, there’s a variation in grading policies in undergraduate courses and post-bacc programs of the same field. This is why you should take the time to prepare for the MCAT and achieve a competitive score that will pique the interest of admission officers.
Taking the MCAT
If you took the MCAT before 2015 (when the test was reformatted), then it’s best to take it again. For those who did take it recently, evaluate your scores. If your performance is on the lower end of the accepted scores of your dream medical schools, then consider retaking it, despite having a strong GPA.
For those who have low GPA scores, then you should take more time studying for the MCAT and taking an mcat practice test to offset your GPA (but to a small extent).
Here are some helpful strategies non-traditional MCAT applicants can follow to increase their chances of a higher MCAT score:
- Do active reading, which can help you further understand the subjects you are studying. Don’t just skim through passages, you may want to even read them out loud!
- Practice reading challenging problems and passages. This can help with your comprehension and analytical skills, which are needed when taking the MCAT.
- You will need approximately 300-350 hours of study time to fully prep for the MCAT. That said, you may need more if you are a non-traditional student from an older batch or in another non-pre-med course. Evaluate your knowledge and skills so you can create an effective study plan, giving yourself ample time to ace the test.
Wrapping It Up
Besides the MCAT, there are other factors non-traditional students should focus on to get into medical school. These information and tips on MCAT are a great way to start. Good luck!
