FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
To help you better understand how the MCAT fits into medical school requirements, the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) Office of Admissions has compiled a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about the MCAT. Check out the FAQs, and the answers, below.
Medical school admissions committees such as AUC’s look very closely at an applicant’s MCAT scores when evaluating their readiness for medical school.
That’s not necessarily because we think an MCAT score defines the applicant—it doesn’t. Rather, it’s because studies show that a student’s MCAT performance can be directly correlated to that individual’s future medical school performance.
AUC takes a holistic approach when considering you for our program. The MCAT is just one piece of your overall profile, along with your undergraduate performance and adherence to personal attributes that AUC looks for in a candidate, like volunteerism and social maturity.
Many schools, AUC included, offer merit-based scholarships that take your MCAT score into account along with your other qualifications.
MCAT stands for Medical College Admission Test. The MCAT—previously known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test for Medical Schools—was first officially administered in 1947. The test has been revamped and reformatted several times since then. MCAT standards were last revised in 2015.
A good MCAT score is the average score for your targeted medical school. For medical schools like AUC, applications are reviewed holistically, which means they look at more than just your MCAT score. That said, the higher your score, the better your chance of admission.
Yes. The AAMC offers an unscored Free Sample Test and a Free Practice Exam with a scaled score and percentile rank. The AAMC also offers full-length practice exams for purchase.
To try for higher scores, students may take the MCAT up to three times in one year, four times in two years, or seven times in a lifetime.
*“Table A-16: MCAT Scores and GPAs for Applicants and Matriculants to U.S. MD-Granting Medical Schools, 2018 Through 2022-2023,” AAMC, October 2022, accessed February 28, 2023, https://www.aamc.org/media/6056/download?attachment.