Introduction
Did you know that nearly 25% of all students who write the MCAT go on to write it again? Most of those students are highly prepared, too. According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, 85% of pre-med students take courses in biology, biochemistry, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics to prepare for the MCAT. Still, 25% of them opt to write it again. This trend shows just how hard the MCAT is. It shows that studying and preparing for it doesn’t guarantee the score you want on your first try.
What if we told you that you can bypass the MCAT? What if you could save yourself from all that stress and instead focus on other aspects of your medical school application? Well, the good news is, you might be able to do just that. There are a few different routes you can take to get past it. In today’s blog, we’re going over these options. In the United States and Canada, there are multiple medical schools that don’t require the MCAT.
Ready to learn more? Keep reading to learn about the medical schools that don’t require the MCAT.
U.S. Schools: BA/MD and BS/MD Programs
Have you ever heard of a BA/MD or BS/MD program? Upon acceptance into one of these programs, students start their undergrad studies right out of high school, as you would expect. But when you’re finished with your BA or BS, you go right on to medical school. So, not only do these programs allow you to bypass the MCAT, but they allow you to skip the stressful medical school application process that usually comes toward the end of your undergraduate studies. There’s a catch, though. These programs are extremely difficult to get into, and some of them do require the MCAT.
Listed below are the medical schools that currently don’t require the MCAT for BA/MD and BS/MD programs. This list is accurate as of December 22, 2021.
- University at Albany/Upstate Medical University
- CUNY School of Medicine
- Drexel University College of Medicine
- Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
- Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
- The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
- University of Florida College of Medicine
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Applying to a BA/MD or BS/MD program is a lofty goal, so if you apply to one, be sure to apply to several other programs as well. For example, apply to your top choice BA/MD or BS/MD program, and then apply to several regular programs.
Even though you’ll need to take the MCAT for regular programs, it’s a good precaution to take. It’s better to apply to several schools and get in than it is to place all your bets on one school. If you don’t get into the BA/MD or BS/MD program to which you apply, then you’ll still have a chance of getting into medical school for that application cycle.
On the other hand, if you only apply to BA/MD or BS/MD programs, then you’ll only have a very limited chance of getting into medical school. And it’s already challenging to get into medical school!
In short, the MCAT is very difficult to take, but it’s better to take it than to risk not getting into medical school at all.
U.S. Schools: Early Assurance Medical School Programs
Early assurance medical school programs allow you to apply to medical school early. Instead of waiting until your senior year of college, you can apply as early as your sophomore year.
You’re accepted with the contingency that you’ll fulfill all the requirements that the medical school has for you to begin. For example, you might be required to earn certain grades in specific classes. Failure to do so could affect your ability to enter the program. You might lose your acceptance or be deferred.
So, even though you’re bypassing the MCAT with some of these programs, there are other stressors to consider. You’ll need to gauge what stresses are worth taking on. If you think an early assurance program might work well for you, consider applying to the following medical schools that don’t require the MCAT.
- Albany Medical College
- Brody School of Medicine
- Dartmouth University Geisel School of Medicine
- Georgetown University School of Medicine
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Tufts University School of Medicine
- University of Rochester School of Medicine
- University of Toledo College of Medicine
Canada: Allopathic Schools
Canada is home to multiple allopathic medical schools that confer the Doctor of Medicine degree upon worthy recipients. These schools are highly reputable and provide the same excellent education as medical schools in the United States. Some of those schools don’t require the MCAT.
- University of Ottawa
- Northern Ontario School of Medicine
- McGill University
- Université Laval
- Université de Montréal
- Université de Sherbrooke
McGill University requires you to complete your undergrad studies at a Canadian school. But other than McGill University, you may complete your undergraduate coursework at an American college and then transfer to a Canadian school for your MD.
Keep in mind that applying to medical school in Canada will involve some legalities that you won’t deal with in the United States. It will be easy if you have dual citizenship. But if not, there will be lots of paperwork to fill out.
Conclusion
Applying to medical school is a big deal. It’s stressful, time-consuming and complex. So, we totally get it if you want to bypass the MCAT. Thankfully, it’s possible through some exclusive programs in the United States and at some allopathic medical schools in Canada.
At the end of the day, bypassing the MCAT might not be the best option for you. That’s for you to decide. If you’re unsure of what path to take, consider medical school admissions consulting. International Medical Aid offers medical school admissions consulting to pre-med students. We can advise you on what programs might work best for you.
Still looking at which medical schools are right for you? Check out our series of definitive guides to getting into medical school. We update our blog with new schools regularly, so be sure to check back often.
- California Northstate University College of Medicine
- Touro University of California
- CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine
- UC Davis School of Medicine
- Harvard Medical School
- UC Riverside School of Medicine
- USC Keck School of Medicine
- UT Southwestern Medical School
- Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio
- University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
- UT Austin’s Dell Medical School
- UTMB School of Medicine
- McGovern Medical School at UT Health
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- McGovern Medical School at UT Health
- The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
- UNT Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
- University of Houston College of Medicine
- Texas A&M College of Medicine
- Johns Hopkins Medical School
- Baylor College of Medicine
- George Washington University School of Medicine
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
- St. George’s University School of Medicine
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (in Pennsylvania)
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine
- Western University of Health Sciences (in California)
- Drexel University College of Medicine
- Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago
- Georgetown University School of Medicine
- Yale School of Medicine
- Perelman School of Medicine
- UCLA Medical School
- NYU Medical School
- Washington University School of Medicine
- Brown Medical School
Good luck on your medical school journey, and good luck avoiding the MCAT!
