Oberlin College & Conservatory

Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

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Deciding | Preparing | Timeline | MCAT | Choosing | Contacts

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You should begin planning for the MCAT as soon as you begin any of the prerequisite classes. The MCAT website offers detailed information about the content the exam covers, so you can pay special attention to those topics when you take the classes here. Perhaps you could even prepare a separate MCAT prep notebook to use for your class exams as well as for MCAT preparation later on.

The current MCAT exam is computer based and is available on specified dates in January, and again in April through September. The exact timetable is available through the MCAT website. You should plan to take the test no later than July of the year in which you apply to medical school. If you achieve less than a total of 30 or a score of 7 or lower on any individual test regardless of your total score, you should discuss with a Health Careers Adviser whether to retake the exam. Most successful applicants take the test only once after thorough preparation. Taking the test once for practice is not advised because medical schools see and consider all of your scores.

Some students prepare for the MCAT by taking one of the several commercial courses, e.g., Kaplan or Princeton Review. A less expensive, programmed course of self-study is offered by ExamKrackers. These courses review basic concepts and terms and familiarize students with the format and types of questions included in the exam. If you normally do well on standardized tests you don't need an expensive commercial course. While some of our students have found these courses helpful, others concede that they could have accomplished as much on their own. In general, it appears that the courses are of greatest benefit to students who are unable or unlikely to follow a schedule of review on their own or who have difficulty with standardized tests. Since the Kaplan and Princeton Review courses are expensive, you should consider whether or not the cost is justified by the possible benefits. Limited scholarship monies from the commercial programs may be available based on financial need. The ExamKrackers class is free except for the cost of the books (under $200).

If you decide to take the MCAT during the spring semester, try to plan for a relatively light academic schedule because the preparation time needed is extensive. Your MCAT score is a major factor in medical school acceptance, so your preparation needs to be thorough and systematic.