The EDUFAX Educational FAQ

Question #20:

I have a BA in Liberal Arts. I am preparing for the MCAT. I have been told that as long as I have my BA from an accredited college I don't have to take any more science classes and that I can take the MCAT. What is your advice?

Answer #20:

It is true you are not required to have more than a BA for admission to medical school, but many medical schools require an undergraduate courseload which includes the traditional pre-med subjects, e.g.: Organic Chemistry, Biology, etc. Additionally, you need to score well on the MCAT, which has specific science categories requiring extensive knowledge in certain scientific fields. If you did not take a science-rich curriculum as an undergraduate, you will probably need coaching in these fields. For this reason, there are many programs which offer one or two year pre-med, premed, post BA/BS programs. If, however, you have a strong undergraduate science back- ground, you can take the MCAT and consider your chances. If I were you, I would have a serious discussion with some of the advisers at the medical school you are considering. Many schools have special programs for re-entry students. Check out the complete listing of schools which offer post-baccalaureate pre-med preparation programs. EDUFAX provides services for the Graduate School Applicant.

Students who read this question were also interested in: Q.#5 : How can I get a personalized School Selection web page? If this information was helpful, please click on the smiley

 take me back to the list of questions