MUN Medicine To Help Develop New MCAT
September 25th, 2013
Memorial University’s Medical School has been the named as the only school in Canada to participate in researching the development of a new Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). In partnership with the Association of American Medical Colleges, MUN will be joining ten American schools in redeveloping the test, which was last updated in 1991.
The study will focus on the addition of a new Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behaviour section (PSB). This section will draw upon concepts from introductory psychology, sociology, biology, research methods and statistics.
“This addition, we hope, will broaden the scope of the test,” said Dr. James Rourke, Dean of Medicine. “This research will help us select students with the greatest potential to become tomorrow’s best doctors.”
The PSB section, which largely draws upon socio-cultural and behavioural health-determinants, will be tested in addition to the current Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, and Biological Sciences section. The new section will not be assessed on an applicant’s overall score, and will replace the previous essay portion of the exam, which was phased out earlier this year.
Like many Canadian medical schools, MUN requires all applicants to complete the MCAT. However, it is not the sole consideration in a candidate’s application.
“The MCAT is just one part of the admissions process, and considered with an applicant’s academic record,” said Dr. Rourke “We also consider their extra-curricular activities, work experience and related information, as well our interview process.”
This trial test will be implemented at MUN immediately, and continue to be evaluated throughout 2014. A widespread implementation will commence in January 2015.