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Dispelling the Myths about the MCAT
and Admissions
MYTH: You need a knowledge of upper-division sciences in order to do well on the MCAT.
FACT: According to the AAMC, you only need an introductory level of knowledge of physics, general chemistry, biology, and organic chemistry for the MCAT. Some passages may describe upper-division topics, but correctly answering the questions will not require upper-division knowledge.
MYTH: You don't need to prepare thoroughly for the MCAT if you're doing well in your pre-med courses.
FACT: Nearly 50% of all MCAT test takers sit for the MCAT a second time due to inadequate preparation the first time, and many of those people are doing just fine in their science courses. Believe it or not, most students who do well on the MCAT spend between 200 and 300 hours preparing for the exam. Control the things you can control, namely your preparation for this exam. Trust us, you don't want to have to take it a second time.
MYTH: The MCAT tests science skills. You don't need to worry as much about the Verbal section.
FACT: Good reading skills are very important for the MCAT, even in the Science sections. For example, Humanities majors out-perform Biological Sciences major on every part of the MCAT, not just the Verbal
MYTH: There is a "magic number" that you must score on the MCAT in order to get into a competitive medical school.
FACT: While it's true that most very competitive medical schools look for a combined score of 30+ on the MCAT, your score alone will not predict your acceptance or rejection into a competitive medical school. There is a wide range in scores that medical schools deem to be acceptable, and they will also look at your other application elements before making a final determination. If your MCAT scores are lower, you'll most likely need a higher GPA and a more substantial clinical/research record to compensate.
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