Admission Tests
Admissions Tests
What, When and How: Several admissions tests are required for admittance to professional schools. Typically, the tests are taken at the end of the junior or beginning of the senior year. Most registration materials are available online or from the chair of HPAC. The table below outlines the necessary information. (The AHPAT and VCAT, which were designed for allied health and veterinary admissions respectively, have been discontinued).
Professional School
Test Dates Given How to Register Dentistry DAT On computer by appointment ADA Testing Services (800) 232-2162 www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/index.asp
Medicine (MD, DO, DPM)
MCAT
On computer on dates mainly between April and August
MCAT Program Office (202) 828-0690 mcat@aamc.org www.aamc.org/students/mcat/
Optometry
OAT
On computer by appointment
OAT Program (800) 232-2159 www.opted.org
Pharmacy
PCAT
January, June, July, October
Pharmacy College Admission Test (800) 622-3231 scoring.services@harcourt.com www.pcatweb.info
Veterinary and Allied Health
GRE
On computer by appointment
Educational Testing Services (800) GRE-CALL www.gre.org
Preparation:
You must be well-prepared to take these examinations. DO NOT TRY TO TAKE THEM COLD! There are several ways that you can prepare yourself for these exams:
1. take good notes in prerequisite courses, that is what you will be tested on.
(BIOL 141, 142; CHEM 141, 142, 201, 301; PHYS 121, 122; ENGL 101, 201)
2. take a review course.
(There are MCAT and GRE reviews held on campus)
3. take practice exams.
(The HPAC library has some materials and most are available online)
Numbers to Shoot For:
The following data provide a general guideline on test scores and GPAs you will need to be competitive for admission to health professional schools in various fields. The listed values are averages for students accepted into the following programs, either nationally or within Florida.
Dentistry GPA: 3.40 (Nova Se) 3.60 (UF)
DAT: 18 avg. 19 avg.
a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to be considered
Medicine (MD) GPA: 3.66 (National) 3.7 (FL schools)
MCAT: 30.9 30.8
a minimum GPA of 3.0 and MCAT of 24 are required to be considered
Medicine (DO) GPA: 3.50 (National) 3.40 (LECOM-Bradenton)
MCAT: 26 27
Occupational Therapy GPA: 3.20 (National)
GRE: 920
Optometry GPA: 3.2-3.6 (National)
OAT: 283-368 avg.
Pharmacy GPA: 3.40 (Nova Se) 3.50 (UF)
PCAT: 85th percentile 86th percentile
Physician Assistant GPA: 3.30 (Barry)
GRE: 1150
Physical Therapy GPA: 3.37 (National)
GRE: 1000
Podiatry GPA: 3.20 (Barry)
MCAT: 21.2
Veterinary Medicine GPA: 3.52 (UF)
GRE: 1194