AMCAS Application, MCAT Date and Content Changes & COVID's Impact on Med School Admission | MedEdits

UPDATE - The CARS section will be 81 minutes long (not 76 minutes). Total MCAT content time: 5 hours 15 minutes.

AMCAS Application, MCAT Date Changes, MCAT Content Changes, and how COVID-19 is Changing the 2020 Medical School Application Cycle

Time Stamps

1:13 AMCAS Application Date Changes
2:04 MCAT Changes
2:20 MCAT Test Date Changes
2:40 MCAT Testing Times (SEE UPDATE: CARS is 81 minutes)
2:50 MCAT Total Time
2:55 MCAT Registration Date
3:30 MCAT Content Changes
4:20 MCAT Test Day Schedule and Differences
7:20 Possible Changes Ahead

As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic sweeps the nation and the world, MedEdits’ goal is to serve as a centralized resource for premeds and medical school applicants to understand the overall impact COVID-19 is having on medical school admissions, the MCAT, and the medical school application process. Our primary concern at MedEdits is that everyone stay safe and work collaboratively to get through this stressful time together. 

We anticipate that this admissions season will be a fluid process and the Association of American Medical Colleges, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine will work with medical schools to determine the best course of action as the admissions season and the COVID pandemic progresses. Applicants and premeds will need to cope with a degree of uncertainty and flexibility as deadlines and requirements could change over the course of the year.

COVID-19 Medical Admissions and Education Updates
April 6th, 2020

California Medical School Update:
Joint Statement from the Admissions Deans of California Medical Schools Regarding Academic Work and MCAT Tests that are Affected by the COVID-19 Outbreak

The purpose of this message is to address concerns from prospective applicants who are experiencing unprecedented educational upheaval during the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants for the upcoming application cycle can count on our common commitment to the following principles:

Pass/Fail Grades – Our schools will accept pass/fail grades, without prejudice, for courses taken during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has always been our practice to consider grades in the context of numerous other aspects of the application, and an international crisis certainly provides a unique and compelling context. In making this statement, we are cognizant of the fact that some undergraduate schools are providing an option for students to take courses either for grades or on a Pass/Fail basis. We therefore want to be explicit that applicants should not feel pressured by us to choose the graded option. Students and their families are facing many challenges at the moment – maybe even life and death challenges. The pressure for grades need not be one of them.

MCAT Tests – We will accept applications from individuals who were unable to take the MCAT due to COVID-related test cancellations. For these candidates, we will base secondary application decisions on the information that is available to us at the time of the application. Assuming that MCAT testing resumes prior to October, we will require applicants to have taken the MCAT before we make admissions decisions for the Class of 2025. Accordingly, applicants should not delay applying simply because an MCAT score is not yet available.

[elverdad]

Thank you for making & posting this video!

[taliamenezes]

the AAMC has since updated us saying that there are 81 minutes for the 48 questions for the CARS sections

[angelkhokhar]

so just to clarify. It is okay to take the MCAT at the end of July or August and proceed to submit the application without it being viewed negatively or late?

[unknown-evxr]

I have a question on pass/fail option my cgpa is a 3.9+ till now but I took last semes an english course as a pass/fail and similiarly this semester because they require work and usually profs tend to be subjective in such courses, how would this impact me? My college didn't list these courses as prerequisites

[kashfiamahmud]

Hi Dr. Freedman! So the end of August or September Mcat will not be viewed negatively for this cycle?

[garvens]

Would I be looked down upon if I were to not retake a 499 MCAT by the admissions committee, But my GPA is also on the lower end at a 3.2

[raegana]

Any idea the time it opens on May 7th?

[monasweet]

Is it a good idea to submit my Amcas application with a low score but I’m planning to retake it!

[joemourey]

Could someone clarify the July 10th date please? Does that mean the first day to submit AMCAS is still May 28th?