Whether you are a freshman or a senior, it doesn’t really matter if you are invested in the medical field and aiming to enter it. To enter the field, you need first to understand what you’re getting yourself into. The MCAT, also known as the Medical College Admissions Test, is a rigorous eight-hour exam; it is just one milestone on the path to medical school. But before we open a can of worms that we can’t close, let’s discuss the process of preparing for the MCAT.
The process starts right when you enter college. The test has prerequisite college courses; these are essentially courses that are “required” to participate in the exam. If you choose not to take them, yes, you are still allowed to take the exam; however, it will be ten times harder for you to study compared to your exam peers. There are seven main courses, which vary from subject to subject. These courses include English, General Biology with lab, Physics with lab, General Chemistry with lab, Organic Chemistry with lab, Biochemistry, and Psychology. These classes, which you will take over approximately a two-semester period, depending on your college schedule, will build a foundation for the ideas covered in the four sections of the exam.
The MCAT is split into four main sections. First is the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, which tests your understanding of biology, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and biochemistry. The second section, Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, focuses on biochemistry, biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics. The third section, Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior, examines the fundamental principles of psychology, sociology, and biology. Lastly, the fourth section is a slightly smaller part, comprising 6 fewer questions than the previous three. It is a 53-question multiple-choice module that provides passages covering information from humanities and social sciences disciplines, titled Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.
It’s clear that the MCAT is a highly challenging exam, but there is no need to be intimidated. Most individuals choose to take the exam during their junior year of college. So, yes, the MCAT is scary, but so is preparing and taking the SAT. If you can put your mind to it and apply yourself, really attempting it, you will do just fine. Studying, reviewing, and focusing will help you achieve your goals. Overall, the exam isn’t as terrifying as I might have made it out to be. Just try your best, and if you don’t do so well, you can always retake it!
