MCAT Test Preparation

MCAT Prep Course Policy

The Combined BA/MD Degree Program requires that all students complete a Kaplan MCAT preparatory course during the Spring or Summer of their 3rd year in the Program. The purpose of the MCAT prep course is to both assist in preparing students for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in content review and standardized test taking strategy. The MCAT prep course also provides valuable help in preparing for standardized tests, principally the MCAT, but these strategies will also be useful for Step 1 and Step 2 in medical school. As such, the Program requires that all students take the class. All students are required to register, via the BA/MD advisors, to take a MCAT prep course by November 1st  of their junior year.

For these reasons the Program requires students to choose from either a regular “on‐site” Kaplan MCAT prep course offered in the Spring or the “BA/MD” Kaplan MCAT prep course which is offered during the summer (May and June). Of these two options, the Program recommends the Summer option for two reasons:

    • The student will not be trying to manage a full course load with an intensive preparatory course.
    • Students will then have completed all SOM admission pre‐med course pre‐requisites.

However, to allow for curriculum flexibility, if the spring course is chosen, students must have completed or be concurrently enrolled in all SOM admission pre‐med course pre‐requisites. If the summer course is chosen, students must have completed all SOM admission pre‐med course pre‐requisites.

Students must attend all Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) preparatory classes and practice exams, with no more than two absences for any reason. Any missed classes and/or exams should be made up. Students are required to complete the assigned homework online each week.

The course is paid for by the BA/MD Program. The BA/MD Program will only pay for one MCAT preparatory course. If a student does not complete (attend all classes, complete all readings, quizzes and practice exams, etc.) the prep course, they will receive a professionalism violation and be responsible for repaying the cost of the prep course to the Program.

MCAT Preparatory course policy regarding petitioning out:

The deadline to sign up for the MCAT preparatory course is November 1st of the junior year. Students may not petition to place out of the MCAT prep course earlier than their junior year.

Students may petition to place out of the MCAT prep course if they have achieved the minimum score required by the UNM School of Medicine Committee on Admissions by November 1st of their 3rd year.

MCAT Testing and Score Policy:

The BA/MD Program follows the testing cycle policy of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) who administers the MCAT.  The policy allows students to take the MCAT up to 3 times per annual testing cycle, 4 times in two consecutive years, and 7 times in a lifetime.

Students must earn a score on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) consistent with the minimum acceptable threshold for admission into the MD Program at the UNM School of Medicine in their seventh regular semester (fall semester of fourth/final undergraduate academic year) due by October 15th.

Be advised that a student taking the MCAT early (before the minimum acceptable threshold is set for the year of their admission) will still need to meet the new minimum acceptable threshold for that year.

Upon completion of their eighth regular semester in the Program, students who fail to earn a score on the MCAT consistent with the minimum acceptable threshold for admission to UNM SOM will be released from the Program. 

MCAT Prep Course Options

 The Combined BA/MD Degree Program requires that all students complete a Kaplan MCAT Prep course during the Spring or Summer of their 3rd year.  The purpose of the MCAT Prep course is to both assist in preparing students for the exam and being successful on the MCAT.  For these reasons the program requires students to choose from either a regular “on-site” Kaplan MCAT Prep course or the “BA/MD” Kaplan MCAT Prep course.  The Kaplan MCAT prep course is learning strategy and assumes you already have all the content knowledge necessary.  It is required that you have completed or be currently enrolled in the final pre-medical core courses before enrolling in the prep course.  The course is paid for by the program. 

When the BA/MD Kaplan Prep course is offered is determined by student interest (majority rule determines if the course is offered Spring or Summer).  The program surveys students in fall of their 3rd year to determine when they prefer to take the course.

Summer “BA/MD” Kaplan Prep course:

    • May - June
    • Monday - Thursday, 9:00 am - 11:00 pm (times are tentative and subject to change); Friday open for full length practice MCAT 
    • Time outside of class to complete homework assignments daily is required (students claim it to be equivalent to homework for two regular 3 credit hour courses)
    • Offered live online
    • Course is PAID for
    • NO housing or living stipend
    • 6 weeks to focus solely on MCAT prep
    • Limits the testing season from July - September

Summer Regular “On-site” Kaplan MCAT Prep course (only an option if BA/MD Kaplan course is offered in the Spring):

    • Take during Spring semester - you choose which course you want
    • Typically meets 2-3 times a week for 3 hours each class
    • Homework assigned each class and due the following class (students claim it to be equivalent to homework for two regular 3 credit hour courses)
    • Course is PAID for
    • No housing or living stipend
    • Limited classes offered - might be hard to find one that fits your schedule
    • Offered offsite )UNM’s Continuing Education, NMSU ABQ branch, etc.)
    • Testing season from July - September
    • Course can be canceled by Kaplan at any time - not contracted with BA/MD to offer these courses

Spring "BA/MD" Kaplan Prep course:

    • January - March
    • Monday/Wednesday, 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm (times are tentative and subject to change)
    • Homework assigned each class and due the following class (students claim it to be equivalent to homework for two regular 3 credit hour courses - very intense while taking a full spring load)
    • Offered on UNM campus (location to be determined)
    • Course is PAID for
    • Able to take exam soon after completing course
    • Testing season from April - September

Spring Regular Kaplan MCAT Prep course (only an option if BA/MD Kaplan course is offered in the Summer):

    • Take during Spring semester - you choose which course you want within mid-December to mid-April; Saturdays offered by program full length practice MCAT
    • Typically meets 1-3 times a week for 3 hours each class
    • Homework assigned each class and due the following class (students claim it to be equivalent to homework for two regular 3 credit hour courses - very intense while taking a full spring load)
    • Offered live online
    • Competes with spring classes
    • Course is PAID for
    • Testing season from April - September
    • Course can be canceled by Kaplan at any time - not contracted with BA/MD to offer these courses