Pre-Health Advising Navigation
Pre-Health Advising
Health Professions Standardized Testing
MCAT
Medical College Admissions Test
- Field
- Allopathic Medical School
- Osteopathic Medical School
- Podiatry School
- Veterinary School (varied between MCAT & GRE)
- Format
- Computer based
-
Four sections in 6.25 hours:
- biological and biochemical foundations of living systems,
- chemical and physical foundations of biological systems,
- psycho,logical, social, and biological foundations of behavior,
- critical analysis and reasoning skills
- Timing
- Offered 22 times throughout the year, January - September
- Many applicants take it the summer before they apply.
- Latest administration for applications
- No later than the April before the summer during which you apply.
- Sign up tips
- Sign ups open in October for January - May tests, in February for June - September tests. Seats fill quickly.
- Follow AAMC-MCAT on Twitter for registration opening announcements.
- Sign up to receive email updates on MCAT registration and announcements.
- Free Study Resources
- KHAN Academy
- Free resources from AAMC
- MCAT content in psychology and sociology textbooks
- MCAT Organic Chemistry Free Course
- Free practice exam
- One full diagnostic exam and one free full length practice exam
- Free 1/3 length practice exam and sample study plans
- The OAR has an inventory of MCAT Test Prep books that have been generously donated to us throughout the years. The books are first come, first study. We only ask you to return when no longer needed.
- Recommended prep time
- 300-500 hours
- Cost
- $325 regular registration
- Fee Assistance Program
- AAMC Fee Assistance Program: should be completed at least three weeks prior to registration.
- Accommodations
- AAMC Instructions
CASPer
- Field
- Medical School + additional health professions
- Format
- An open-response, situational judgment test that evaluates aspects of your social intelligence and professionalism such as ethics, empathy, problem-solving and collaboration.
-
For 2022/23 test takers:
- 2 sections (typed and video response).
- 15 scenarios (9 video-based and 6 word-based).
- First section, typed responses: 3 word-based and 6 video-based scenarios. For each scenario, you are provided a total of 5 minutes to respond to 3 open-ended questions at once.
- Second section, video responses: 2 word-based and 4 video-based scenarios. For each scenario, you are provided a total of 1 minute to record your response to each of the 3 open-ended questions.
- 100-120 minutes to complete.
- Latest administration for applications
- They are offered year round. Most medical school applicants take it in June or July.
- Sign up tips
- Casper is administered as part of a trio of assessments called Altus Suite
- Reserve your test at least 3 days in advance of your Casper test date and time, to allow for time to prep by running through the System Requirements Check and taking the Sample test.
- Free Study Resources
- Video Based examples
- Cost
- $12 registration, with an additional $12 fee for every med school requesting it. This fee covers all three Altus Suite assessments. It is valid for a single application cycle.
- Accommodations
- Accommodations Instructions and Request form
AAMC PREview
AAMC PREview professional readiness exam (formerly known as the AAMC Situational Judgment Test)
- Field
- Medical School
- Format
-
Several sections in 5 hours:
- Service orientation
- Social skills
- Cultural competence
- Teamwork
- Oral communication
- Ethical responsibility to self and others
- Reliability and dependability
- Resilience and adaptability
- Capacity for improvement
- Timing
- June-September; requested by medical schools
- Sign up tips
- Verify that you have an AAMC account.
- Confirm that your name matches the name on the ID you will present on exam day exactly.
- Schedule your example on the Measure system that the AAMC system will automatically direct you to.
- Free Study Resources
- Situational Judgement: Example Questions
- Take Practice Tests to Familiarise Yourself with the Online Testing Experience
- Cost
- $100
- Fee Assistance Program
- Free for those approved for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program
- Accommodations
- AAMC Instructions
DAT
- Field
- Dental School
- Format
-
Four sections:
- Survey of natural sciences- biology, general & organic chemistry
- Perceptual ability test
- Comprehension test
- Quantitative reasoning
- Timing
- Testing available year-round. Many applicants take it the summer before they apply.
- Latest administration for applications
- No later than the April before the summer during which you apply.
- Sign up tips
- You must secure a Dental Personal identification Number (DENTPIN).
- Recommended prep time
- 200–250 hours; three hours per day, five days per week, for three months
- Cost
- $475
- Fee Assistance Program
- In documented cases of severe financial hardships, a limited number of partial fee waivers are available to DAT examinees each calendar year (January - December). The partial fee waiver covers 50% of the DAT fee.
Dental Admission Test details (scroll to “Can I get a Fee Waiver”) - Accommodations
- DAT Instructions
GRE
- Field
- Veterinary School (varied between GRE & MCAT)
- Various Health Professions: Physician Assistant, Nursing, etc.
- Format
-
Computer-delivered test with three sections:
- analytical writing
- verbal reasoning
- quantitative reasoning
- Timing
- All year round, and can be taken at home or at a testing center.
- Can take it multiple times, but only once every 21 days and up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period.
- Latest administration for applications
- Depends on the program.
- Cost
- $205
- Fee Assistance Program
- GRE Fee reduction voucher request form
- Accommodations
- GRE Instructions
PCAT
Pharmacy College Admission Test.
- Field
- Pharmacy
- Format
-
Five sections:
- Writing
- Biological processes (general biology, microbiology, human anatomy & physiology)
- Chemical processes (general, organic, & biochemistry)
- Critical reading (comprehension, analysis, evaluation)
- Quantitative reasoning (basic math, algebra, probability & statistics, pre-calculus, & calculus)
- Timing
- 2022–2023 Testing Cycle. Registration Opens April 14, 2022
- July 7–8, 2022
- September 8–9, 2022
- October 17–28, 2022
- January 4, 2023
- February 1–4, 2023
- March 27–31, 2023
- Fee Assistance Program
- N/A
- Accommodations
- PCAT Instructions