Depending on where you want to go to school, you may be able to get into medical school without taking the Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®). The MCAT® is used by most medical schools in the United States to determine whether or not to accept aspiring medical students, but schools outside of the United States typically have different admissions requirements. If you want to attend a medical school in the United States but don’t want to take the exam, you can look for schools that don’t require it and then meet their requirements. These schools’ requirements may vary, but many will accept students who do not have an MCAT® if they can demonstrate the ability to perform well. For example, if you have excellent SAT® scores and are graduating at the top of your college class, you may be able to get in without it.
The MCAT® is required for admission to most medical schools in the United States. However, just because you don’t take the MCAT® doesn’t mean you won’t be able to attend medical school in the United States. Some schools will assess you based on a different set of criteria. Some schools do not require the exam but will take your scores into account if you choose to submit them. Other admission requirements may be set by medical schools outside of the United States.
If you do not take the MCAT®, medical schools will likely expect you to have excellent grades if you do not take it. These schools may also decide whether or not to accept you based on your senior class rank. For example, if you graduate in the top one or two percent of your class, a medical school that does not require MCAT® scores may accept you.
Other types of standardized test results may also play a role in your ability to get into medical school without taking the MCAT®. For example, if you scored well on the SAT®, you might have a better chance of getting into medical school without taking the MCAT®. In this case, the minimum score may vary depending on the medical school you choose.
If there is a shortage of personnel available to provide medical care in the medical school’s jurisdiction, you may be admitted to medical school without taking the MCAT®. This option is typically only available through a special admissions program. However, you will almost always be required to demonstrate your suitability as a medical student by obtaining high grades and scores on other standardized tests.