Staff Report
Admissions officials at UNM's School of Medicine say a new policy that allows medical colleges to see all of an applicant's Medical College Admission Test scores will be a "non-issue" at the University.
In the past, students who take the MCAT multiple times have been able to choose which scores a school has access to. The new policy, called "Full Disclosure," makes all of a student's scores from 2003 forward available to admissions offices.
According to its Web site, MCAT implemented the policy to simplify the process for examinees and admissions officials. Some schools, the Web site states, have always required students to include all their scores on applications.
"My point of view is that this shouldn't change anything" about the way the School of Medicine screens applications, said Roger Radloff, assistant dean for admissions at the school.
Radloff said his office looks at the most recent scores and the best scores, but added that MCAT results are not the only factor used when considering students for admission. Complete applications are also comprised of several, pieces of information, including grade point averages, and MCAT scores don't necessarily carry "any extra weight," he added.
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There are two reasons why students take the exam more than once, Radloff said: if the school of choice rejects an applicant, or to increase the score, thereby becoming more competitive in the admissions process.
"Unless the drop (from the first score to subsequent ones) is significant, it doesn't really matter," he said. "In fact, it's nothing but beneficial to know if students have increased their scores."
MCAT results often are good indicators of how students will fare on U.S. Medical Licensing Tests during and after school, and how they will adapt to UNM curriculums, Radloff added.
"That's why we look at low scores," he said.
Higher scores, Radloff said, give the admissions office less cause for pause.
