The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is an admissions requirement of all medical schools in the United States.
At minimum, students should complete the following science, statistics, and social science courses prior to taking the MCAT: general and organic chemistry (CHEM 101, 102, 351, 352), biochemistry (CHEM 437 or BIOL 430), genetics (BIOL 302), cell & molecular biology (BIOL 303), physics (PHYS 111 & PHYS 112), a statistics course (either STAT 121 or STAT 350), introductory psychology (PSYC 100), and introductory sociology (SOCY 101). A visual map of the MCAT science prerequisite courses and the medical school admission prerequisites are posted here. Pre-medical students who desire to apply to medical school with the assistance of UMBC’s pre-health committee are required to take the MCAT by the end of the April which precedes the summer during which they submit their AMCAS and/or AACOMAS applications. Because the MCAT tests knowledge of biochemistry and in order to ensure students are making wise choices with testing dates, all premedical applicants in the Fall 2025 cohort (expected matriculation to medical school in Fall 2025) are required to complete a collegiate level biochemistry course by the end of the Spring 2024 semester. Similarly, future cohorts such as Fall 2026 and beyond will need to complete a collegiate biochemistry course by the end of the spring semester which precedes the summer AMCAS and/or AACOMAS application.
AAMC’s Taking the MCAT Exam (Check out the link to the MCAT Essentials download in the right-side column.)
AAMC’s Free Planning and Study Resources
AAMC’s Study for the MCAT Exam
AAMC’s Practice for the MCAT Exam
AAMC’s MCAT Retesters Data Tables
Johns Hopkins’ Odyssey Program MCAT Review Course
Medical School Headquarters’ The MCAT Podcast (check out “The Premed Years Podcast” too)
The UMBC PreMedical & PreDental Advising Office does not officially promote, sponsor or recommend any test preparation company. Information is gathered for students and made available to them.