The MCAT is one of the deciding factors that will affect your admission to any medical school you choose to enroll in. Most medical schools in the country use MCAT as their standard entrance examination for their applicants.
However, students dread this examination because it is among the most challenging entrance exams for a graduate school administered in the U.S. and other countries worldwide. And it is also an extremely lengthy test that covers multiple academic subjects in medicine.
The good news is that you can get into medical school without taking the MCAT.
In this article, you will discover why and how you can get into the medical school of your dreams without the MCAT. Also, we have listed medical schools that do not require it.
What is the MCAT?
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is one of the primary admission requirements if you plan to enter any medical school in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and other countries worldwide.
MCAT is a standardized, multiple-choice, computer-based test that every medical school applicant must take. It is used by the admission committee of a medical school to test and evaluate an applicant's skills, content knowledge, reasoning, critical thinking, and worthiness to get into the institution and proceed to take up a medical degree.
The standardized entrance exam lasts for 7 hours and 30 minutes with optional breaks, including an hour for lunch.
The MCAT covers the fundamentals of medicine, including Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Psychology, and Sociology, all prerequisites for medical school.
It also tests the ability of the applicant skills on how to interpret and solve complex problems, which are all essential for a successful medical career.
The MCAT test contents are divided into four main test sections.Also, the MCAT is an integral part of the admission process in any medical school. Still, it does not mean it is the only factor considered by admission officers.
They also consider the applicant's characteristics, including academic strength and experiences in health care and medical research.
Also, one’s personality, interests, community engagement, maturity, and interpersonal skills matter.
How to Get Into Medical School Without the MCAT?
The most common way to get into medical school without MCAT is by taking up Baccalaureate-MD programs, including BA/MD, BS/MD, BFA/MD, and Early Admission Programs (EAPs), known as Guarantee Admission programs.
You can also proceed with Early Admission Programs and Medical Honors Program.
These programs allow students to earn a Bachelor’s degree and directly move to a medical program wherein they can forgo the typical medical school admission process before they graduate with their undergrad programs.
To know more about these programs, check them out below.
Flexible Admissions Programs
The Flexible Admission Program allows students to participate in any medical-related, global health opportunities, advanced courses, certificate programs, additional degrees, academic experiences such as research, community-based service learning, and more.
The students can experience these opportunities they wish to take under the Flexible Admission Program and be able to take a leave of absence from medical school for them to better serve communities and patients in various areas.
Also, with the help of this program, the student can extend their graduation date, and this program lasts up to six years.
Medical Honors Program
It is one of the programs that provide students with the advantage of being a part of the community in medical school while they are still taking up their undergraduate programs.
Also, it is a direct route to a medical degree for high school students with outstanding academic records. It leads to a baccalaureate degree and an M.D. degree after.
The Medical Honors Program usually takes up to 8 years, provided the student has completed and met the curriculum, activities, and medical school admission requirements.
BA/MD and BS/MD Programs
It is known as direct medical programs, which allow undergraduate students to earn a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree followed immediately by a Doctor of Medicine Degree without the need to go through any medical school admission process such as passing the MCAT, and more.
It is a dual-degree program lasting from 6 to 8 years and is designed to provide high school seniors interested in taking up a medical program with conditional acceptance into a medical school.
Early Assurance Programs (EAP)
The Early Assurance Program (EAP) is one of the programs that help students secure a spot in medical school before they even finish their undergraduate program.
Each school differs regarding EAP details; some may ask for high school transcripts, SAT, ACT scores, etc.
Also, it is best to check with the institution first where you want to apply for this specific program.
To apply for this, the student must process their application at the end of their second year or the beginning of their junior year.
It is the best option for students with excellent academic performance in their first two years of college to secure a seat in medical school.
Also, they do not have to worry about MCAT and sending many applications to different medical schools.
What are the Medical Schools that Don’t Require the MCAT?
Medical school admission is highly competitive and intense for those pursuing medicine.
Undeniably, the admission process of each institution is very taxing. Not to mention the different prerequisite requirements, MCAT, SAT/ACT score requirements, and much more that you must comply with and prepare for.
And to save you from the challenging entrance exam, there are ways you can get into medical school without the need to take the MCAT and secure a spot in the institution of your choice.
Also, several medical schools do not require such as long as you take some special programs, including BS/MD Program, BA/MD Programs, an Early Admission Program, and others.
Below are medical schools that do not require MCAT upon admission.
Hampton University/Eastern Virginia Medical School
Location: Hampton/Norfolk, Virginia
The Hampton University School of Science, in partnership with the Eastern Virginia Medical School, offers BS/MD Program with no MCAT requirement upon admission.
Undergraduates are selected at the end of their sophomore year based on their academic merit, extracurricular and leadership activities attended, including scientific research, healthcare experiences in local health centers and hospitals, and more.
Also, the students who are admitted to the BS/MD program are given opportunities to participate in clinical and academic experiences at Eastern Virginia Medical School during their summer break.
After finishing the summer programs, they are automatically admitted to the medical school without any hassle of undergoing its admission process.
Educational Institution | Hampton University/Eastern Virginia Medical School |
|---|---|
Medical Program/Institution Ranking: | Hampton University Medical School Ranking: #6 in Historically Balck Colleges and Universities #99 in Top Performers on Social Mobility (TIE) #130 in Best Undergraduate Engineering #176 in Best Colleges for Veterans (TIE) #219 in National Universities (TIE) Eastern Virginia Medical School Ranking: #56 in Best Medical Schools: Primary Care (TIE) #69 in Most Graduates Practicing in Medically Underserved Areas (TIE) #74 in Most Graduates Practicing in Primary Care Fields #87 in Best Medical Schools: Research (TIE) |
Acceptance rate: | 80.1% / 3.4% |
Tuition Fee: | USD 34,442 (In-State Students) USD 57,510 (Out-State Students) |
Average MCAT Score Requirement: | No MCAT Required |
Minimum GPA Score Requirement: | 3.0 |
Financial Aid/Scholarships Offered: |
University of Missouri - Kansas City
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
The University of Missouri - Kansas City is part of the University of Missouri System and one of the members with a medical school. The institution aims to build a robust curriculum with an excellent clinical training program for every aspiring medical student.
Also, the UMKC School of Medicine offers a B.A./M.D. program where students can choose their undergraduate major and then continue with a medical degree.
The program’s curriculum has a strong foundation in medical science and clinical skills with integrated courses in liberal arts and humanities.
Students admitted under the B.A./M.D. program of the school do not need or are required to take the MCAT. They can directly undergo the admission process without the need to submit their MCAT results.
However, the school requires applicants to submit their GPA, SAT/ACT score, and other requirements.
Educational Institution | University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine |
|---|---|
Medical Program/Institution Ranking: | |
Acceptance rate: | 5.9% |
Tuition Fee: | USD 35,280 (Missouri Residents) USD 68,348 (Non-Residents) |
Average MCAT Score Requirement: | No MCAT Required |
Minimum GPA Score Requirement: | 3.9 |
Financial Aid/Scholarships Offered: |
UMKC School of Medicine Scholarships: A.L. Crawford Memorial Scholarship Ada Mae Clough Scholarship for Medical Students Alpha Omega Alpha Scholarship Endowment (AOA) Barron Family Scholarship in the School of Medicine Barbara H. Baker Domann Medical Student Scholarship Betty Groshong Memorial Scholarship Brim Family Medical Scholarship Endowment Charles B. Lusk Endowment Fund Christy M. Welliver Multiple Sclerosis Neuroscience Scholarship Award Claude K. Leeper, M.D. Scholarship Fund Conway A. Jones Endowed Scholarship CoxHealth Springfield Clinical Campus Scholarship Fund Donald B. Harrison Memorial Scholarship Fund Doud Scholarship Medical School Minority Scholarship Medical Student Affairs Council Scholarship Fund Minority Medical Student Scholarship Fund Nouri Sandoval Scholarship Endowment Ruby and Frasier McVean Medical Scholarship Fund Russ and Mary Nall Endowment Fund in Medicine S.E. Kerr Memorial Scholarship Fund William L. Knapp Scholarship for Women in Medicine |
Rochester Institute of Technology
Location: Rochester, New York
The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) offers premed programs, including Doctoral Programs in Medicine (M.D./D.O.), Dentistry (DDS/DSM), Pharmacy (PharmD), Physical Therapy (DPT), Optometry (OD), Chiropractic (DC), Occupational Therapy (OTD).
And the institution’s premed programs are one of the most highly recognized and robust in the country, offering students excellent academic preparation and opportunities.
In addition, it covers research, shadowing, and volunteering in laboratories and clinics.
Also, the Rochester Institute of Technology School of Medicine and Dentistry offers an Early Medical Scholars Program (EMSP) to help students speed up their medical school applications.
Also, the EMSP is an 8-year BA/BS/MD program designed for undergraduates pursuing a medical career.
Students under this program have a conditional guarantee of admission to the MD program, are exempted from taking the MCAT, and get to experience hands-on opportunities in medical clinics and laboratories.
Educational Institution | Rochester Institute of Technology - School of Medicine and Dentistry |
|---|---|
Medical Program/Institution Ranking: | |
Acceptance rate: | 80 to 85% |
Tuition Fee: | USD 69,496 |
Average MCAT Score Requirement: | No MCAT Required |
Minimum GPA Score Requirement: | 3.8 |
Financial Aid/Scholarships Offered: |
Scholarships and Military Benefits Undergraduate Scholarships & Awards First-Year and Transfer Students Need-Based Grants Graduate Scholarships & Awards Military and Veteran Benefits Veteran Benefits (GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation, Yellow Ribbon Program) ROTC Scholarships (Army ROTC, Air Force ROTC, Navy ROTC) Loans Federal Loans for Students (FAFSA) Federal PLUS Loans for Parents and Graduate/Professional Students |
University of Florida
Location: Gainesville, Florida
The University of Florida, College of Medicine, offers a Medical Honors Program (MHP) known before as the Junior Medical Program (JHMP). It is a combined and accelerated 7-year B.S./M.D. Program for those applicants who want to get a medical degree program.
To apply for this program, the school does not require an MCAT result for admission.
However, they need the applicants to have a minimum SAT of 1400 for both Reading and Math subjects or a minimum ACT result of 32.
Also, the required GPA is 3.90, with no course grades less than C on the GPA scale.
As part of the Medical Honors Program of the University of Florida College of Medicine, applicants must complete an Honors Research thesis during their junior year. And they must have experience in volunteer activities, especially in the medical field.
Also, the program is open to all residents of Florida who wish to have a medical degree and those non-residents who want to avail of the said program.
However, the applicants for this program must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents to be considered for admission.
The University of Pittsburgh
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine offers a Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP) known as Early Admission Program. It is offered primarily for those high school seniors with excellent academic records who are studying in the university for their undergraduate program and want to pursue medicine.
It is an alternative admission route that students can take without the need to undergo the strenuous admission process for medical school.
The program did not require MCAT results for admitted students who submitted their SAT/ACT scores during enrollment.
The minimum SAT score requirement of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is 1490 for Evidenced-Based Reading, Writing, and Math subject areas.
If accepted for the Early Admission Program of the school, the student should complete an undergraduate program within four years, complete the required coursework, participate in undergraduate research, engage in extracurricular activities, and more.
Educational Institution | University of Pittsburgh - School of Medicine |
|---|---|
Medical Program/Institution Ranking: | #14 in Best Medical Schools: Research #10 in Best Medical Schools: Primary Care #1 Public University in Pennsylvania #23 Public University in the United States #50 in Most Diverse Medical Schools (TIE) #62 in National Universities Ranking #62 in Most Graduates Practicing in Rural Areas #92 in Most Graduates Practicing in Medically Underserved Areas (TIE) |
Acceptance rate: | 6.02% |
Tuition Fee: | USD 59,126 |
Average MCAT Score Requirement: | No MCAT Required |
Minimum GPA Score Requirement: | 3.75 |
Financial Aid/Scholarships Offered: |
Outside Administered Aid Service-Related Programs The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program The Armed Forces Health Profession Scholarship Program Additional Resources The Joan Harvey, MD, School of Medicine Student Emergency Fund |