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Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571

New York, NY (November 18, 2011) – Reflecting advances in science, behavioral impact on health, and a diversifying population, the MCAT is scheduled to introduce a host of changes in 2015 designed to better prepare tomorrow’s doctors – and the data shows most medical school admissions officers support the recommended changes. The recommendations were finalized in November and will be voted on by the Association of American Medical Colleges’ (AAMC) Board of Directors in February 2012.

According to Kaplan Test Prep’s 2011 survey of medical school admissions officers*, 73% say the recommended changes, which include the addition of behavioral and social sciences, advanced science content, and expanded critical thinking, will better prepare students for the medical school experience.

However, two-thirds (67%) of medical school admissions officers surveyed also say it’s necessary for colleges to revise their pre-med curricula to cover the exam’s additional content to adequately prepare test takers – and only a narrow majority – 52% – think they have enough time to make the necessary course revisions before the first round of new MCATs in 2015.

“Today’s medicine includes scientific advances that didn’t exist a generation ago, so the MCAT is evolving to be more relevant for the next generation of doctors, which impacts thousands of current college freshmen and sophomores who plan to take the exam in 2015 and beyond,” said Amjed Saffarini, executive director of pre-health programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “This puts pressure on undergraduate pre-med programs to quickly ensure their curricula cover the expanded MCAT content, which includes a host of new topics: cellular biology, biochemistry, research and statistics, psychology and sociology topics. The changes will make for a better test, but it will also be harder.”

Kaplan’s survey results come on the heels of the November national meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the organization that administers the MCAT, where members received the final recommended changes to the exam. This represented the research crest of an 8 year effort started in 2008 during which an AAMC-appointed committee conducted extensive due diligence with undergraduate and medical school faculty, administrators, residents, and medical students. (For more on the changes, click here.) To make room for all the additional content, the 2015 MCAT will be 115 minutes longer than the current exam, taking an exam that is 5 ½ hours long to one that will be over 7 hours long.

Saffarini, who attended the AAMC’s November meeting, added that beginning in January 2013, MCAT takers will see the addition of an un-scored experimental section that will include the new content, including biochemistry, at the end of the exam. “For many takers who have not taken these advanced sciences prior to taking the MCAT, and have not adequately prepared for the new content, the additional content of the un-scored experimental section is akin to having a French section added to the end of the exam.”

Other survey results from Kaplan Test Prep’s 2011 survey of medical school admissions officers:

• MCAT Remains Critical to Admissions: 43% of medical school admissions officers said the MCAT is the most important admissions factor. An applicant’s undergraduate GPA placed second at 28%, followed by relevant experience at 19%, and the interview at 9%.
• The Interview Process: While 82% of medical schools say they use the traditional interview process where applicants meet face-to-face with just a few officials for lengthier periods of time. This is in contrast to the 6% who say they use the newer Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) process, where applicants are interviewed and assessed by many officials for shorter periods of time.

In 2010, 42,742 aspiring physicians applied to medical school, a slight increase over 2009. Of those who applied, about 43% were accepted. According to unpublished data shared at the AAMC annual meeting, this trend continued throughout 2011, which has already seen an all-time high in the number of first-time applicants.

For more information about Kaplan’s survey on the medical school admissions landscape and the upcoming MCAT changes, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or212.453.7538. Pre-med students will also find a host of resources at www.KaplanMCAT.com.

*The survey was conducted by phone in July and August 2011 and included responses from 69 of the nation’s 135 Association of American Medical Colleges-accredited medical schools.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.