[Official MCAT News from the  Association of American Medical Colleges]

Vol 1 Issue 9

[Pre-Med Resources  From the Association of American Medical Colleges]

The last time the MCAT exam went through major revisions was in 1991. If you have done the math, that is 24 years ago! Fast forward to 2015, and you can imagine a lot has changed since then, especially in the field of medicine. With major advancements in medical research and scientific knowledge, our ever-increasing diverse and aging population, and the rapidly changing healthcare delivery system (just to name a few), it is clear the knowledge and skills that future physicians will need to be able to study and practice medicine are much different than that of 24 years ago.

So, it was time the MCAT exam caught up. In February 2012, the AAMC approved the changes to the new MCAT exam to address the new needs of tomorrow's doctors.

To do this, one of the most significant changes to the MCAT exam was the decision to add the new Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section. Testing concepts in introductory psychology, sociology, and biology as they relate to behavior, the new section emphasizes concepts that you as an aspiring physician need to know in order to serve an increasingly diverse population and have a clear understanding of the impact of behavior on health. Simply put, the physicians of tomorrow need to be able to interact, communicate, and understand every unique patient.

While it is important to understand the value of this new section, particularly as you enter medical school, it can be sometimes hard to look beyond the task at hand-preparing for the psychology and sociology content in this section. And we get that. Here are a few resources available to you to help you get ready for the section:

  1.  The Psychology and Sociology Textbook Resource<http://echo4.bluehornet.com/ct/68066827:31015208179:m:1:2692870743:6F9A23540F31B253E30D44D9BC810279:r>. The AAMC reached out to publishers of introductory psychology and sociology textbooks who provided a "roadmap" to where the MCAT foundational concepts and content categories can be found in their textbooks. This is a free, downloadable PDF.
  2.  Khan Academy MCAT Collection<http://echo4.bluehornet.com/ct/68066828:31015208179:m:1:2692870743:6F9A23540F31B253E30D44D9BC810279:r>. The collection includes videos and review questions covering all the content of the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section. This collection is free and open access.

Remember, you also have access to your campus library, class notes, study groups, and even faculty on campus to help you brush up, review, or ask questions about the content. So, whether you take a formal course or are studying independently, there are many options to help you prepare for this section.

But, maybe every now and then, remind yourself why the changes to the exam are important as you embark on your career as a physician, particularly as it relates to the new section of the exam. President and CEO Dr. Darrell Kirch commented in an open letter to pre-med students explaining the changes made to the new exam in 2012, "...being a good physician is more than scientific knowledge. It is about understanding people-how they think interact, and make decisions."

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