Medical Schools With no MCAT Requirement

Those With a Poor MCAT Score Have Some Options

Nov 4, 2009

Although there are Canadian and Caribbean medical schools that take students without an MCAT score, most students should consider improving their score instead.

Due to job losses and a down economy, there is huge demand from many who want to pursue a career in medicine. However, many people are unable to get a good MCAT score. Old scores expire after five years. Others who have taken coursework in biology and organic chemistry may not remember anything from those classes to take the MCAT. And finally, some students do not do well on standardized tests.

Fortunately, there are medical schools that do not require a MCAT score, but there are some significant drawbacks.

Caribbean Medical Schools

The top four Caribbean medical schools (Ross, SGU, AUC, and Saba) require applicants to take the MCAT. A typical medical school student at those four schools has a score in the mid 20s. The reason those schools are competitive is because their graduates are currently allowed to practice medicine in all 50 states. Beyond the top four, the remaining Caribbean schools have far more relaxed entrance requirements, including no MCAT required, but they may have low USMLE pass rates and low match rates which may impair the student's ability to practice medicine in the United States.

Other factors to consider include whether financial aid is available for a particular Caribbean school. For example, the US Department of Education does not fund student loans for most Caribbean schools other than the four mentioned above. Private student loans may or may not be available, depending on the school and the student's credit score.

Canadian Medical Schools

There are a few Canadian medical schools, mostly francophone institutions in Quebec, that do not require a MCAT score. Some examples include the University of Ottawa and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Canadian schools that do not require the MCAT get far more applications than those that require the exam. For example, Northern Ontario receives over 2,000 med school applications for 56 spots.

Post-Baccalaureate Premed Programs

Another option is to continue pre-medical studies after the awarding of the bachelor's degree. There are many post-baccalaureate premed programs all over the United States. During this time, a student can use knowledge gained in the premed courses to study for the MCAT.

Before considering any of these options, keep in mind that a low MCAT score could be a sign that medicine might not be the best choice for a career. Those that receive poor scores should validate aptitude as a future doctor by retaking the MCAT and doing well. That's better than spending a few hundred thousand dollars to a medical school just to find out medicine was a bad choice.

Yarbrough, Marcus. The Student Doctor Network Caribbean Medical School Primer: Everything you need to know before you go. Coralville, IA: MedRounds Publications, Inc. 2007.

The copyright of the article Medical Schools With no MCAT Requirement in College Degrees/Programs is owned by John Wu. Permission to republish Medical Schools With no MCAT Requirement in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.