Applying to the Caribbean? Why you should write the MCAT

Not all Caribbean medical schools require the MCAT. Some, like the Big Four Caribbean schools, do require it with average entering scores around 493-498. This can be very appealing to some students for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you didn’t score what you wanted. Perhaps you’re looking for a lower MCAT requirement so that you don’t have to worry about getting a high score. Whatever the reason, if you think you’ll be applying to the Caribbean, here’s why you should write the MCAT – and aim to do well.

Scholarships

This is really the only reason. But this alone should be enough motivation to do well on the MCAT. If you have potential Caribbean schools in mind, look up what scholarships they offer and the requirements for each. These requirements will probably be higher than the average entering GPA and MCAT scores. And these are the scores that you want to aim for.

While standardized tests certainly have their flaws, schools do need some quantitative measures to assess applicants. A good MCAT score can also help offset a lower GPA. Because of how rigorous the MCAT is, a good score can reassure the school of your ability to handle large volumes of material and perform under stress. Afterall, this is sort of the format that’s going to continue throughout medical school and with board exams. While the MCAT is a pain, a few months of studying is definitely worth it if it helps you land a scholarship. Like it helped me.

I secured a large scholarship at my medical school because of my GPA and MCAT combined. My scholarship covers almost a third of my tuition. This is money that I don’t need to pay back! More than that, when I couldn’t get a loan from the bank, I believe my GPA and MCAT are why the school offered me an institutional loan. This is a loan that I need to pay back to the school with interest once I graduate. So, I have both a scholarship, which I don’t pay back, plus a loan that covers the remaining tuition over 4 years. In a way, my MCAT score made it possible for me to fund my medical education.

Networking

While not as significant, an advantage of having a large scholarship is that it sets you apart from other students and brings you to the attention of the admissions team. That was my experience in undergrad when I also received a major entrance scholarship. Having good relations with the university staff opened new opportunities that I would not have known otherwise. When the staff know you, they’re even more willing to help. Although I’m speculating, these relationships now in medical school might be helpful later down the line when preparing for clinical rotations and maybe even residency.

But this is an added benefit, almost an entry point as networking requires additional time and effort. The immediate benefit of a good MCAT score is the scholarship money. Needless to say – medical school is very expensive. By the end of 4 years at a Caribbean medical school, you could be $500,000 CAD in debt, including living costs. Every little bit of funding that you don’t have to pay back helps. Just think about how many months of work it would take to pay that amount. And remember, at the start of residency, you’re not earning all that much.

So if you’re considering applying to a Caribbean medical school, aim for a strong MCAT score. It will pay off.

If you’re writing the MCAT this year, how are you preparing for it?

-M

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