The "Big Tests"
What is the scoring scale for graduate entrance exams? You can choose one to answer between MCAT, OAT, DAT, and GRE.
MCAT: 472-528, OAT: 200-400, DAT: 200-600, GRE: 130-170 (for verbal or quantitative reasoning), 0-6 (analytical writing)
This ethical concept protects a patient's right to keep their medical information private from third parties.
Confidentiality
What month(s) are primary applications for most services (AMCAS/AACOMAS/AADSAS) typically open for submission? (Two answers will be accepted)
May/June
While a professional resume for a job is typically limited to one page, this multi-page document used in academia and medicine allows for an exhaustive list of all publications, posters, and honors.
Curriculum Vitae or CV
Under the federal changes effective July 2026, this is the new annual borrowing cap for students pursuing a "professional degree" (MD, DO, DDS, DMD, DVM, PharmD)
$50,000 (with a lifetime cap of $200,000)
Category: Chemistry & Biochemistry: This term describes a pair of molecules that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other and have identical physical properties except for the direction in which they rotate plane-polarized light.
Enantiomers
This pillar of ethics refers to a patient's right to make their own decisions about their healthcare
Autonomy
What is the ideal maximal turnaround time for submitting a secondary application to keep your application "competitive"? (Answer in days, grace of +/- 2 days)
14 days (or less)
True or false: including "Hobbies" as one of your activities is often seen as a "filler", and you should avoid including anything that's not strictly professional on your application unless it involved a formal award or certification.
False! Admissions committees have noted that they enjoy learning more about an applicant by their hobbies and what they do in their free time away from other extracurriculars!
This online database allows MD applicants to view every school's median GPA, MCAT, and mission statement, alongside other helpful information
MSAR - Medical School Admissions Requirements (ChooseDO exists for DO programs, ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools, PA School Finder)
Unlike the MCAT, OAT, GRE, or other exams, the DAT includes this unique section:
Perceptual Ability Test/PAT
The obligation to not inflict harm on others, in other words, "do no harm".
Non-maleficence
During the months between submitting an application and hearing back from a program, students may send this type of formal document to inform schools of new grades, new clinical experiences, or a continued strong interest in the program.
Update letter / Letter of interest
How many characters (including spaces) are allowed for the experiences sections of CASPA, ADEA AADSAS, and OptomCAS?
600 characters
What is the average number of medical schools students apply to? OR What is the average number of PA schools students apply to? (If you are within the range you get the points :))
Medical schools: 15-20 (between MD & DO), PA schools: 8-12 programs.
Category: Biological & Biochemical Foundations: "In a state of prolonged starvation, the liver maintains blood glucose levels via gluconeogenesis. This 3-carbon intermediate is the primary non-carbohydrate precursor that enters the pathway after being converted from a common byproduct of anaerobic glycolysis in the muscles."
Lactate (pyruvate is also acceptable)
At what age did we discuss individuals are typically deemed "competent" in their own medical decision-making? (I'll accept +/-2 year)
13 years old discussed in class, recent studies show emerging competence around 12 years of age, however!
What type of tests are CASPer and PREview?
Situational Judgment Tests (SJTs). These tests may be required by some medical, dental, or other graduate programs.
What is it called when an admissions committee reviews and considers and applicant by the entirety of their application instead of focusing on just one category, like MCAT and GPA?
Holistic Review
According to the OBBBA, this popular pre-health pathway's graduate program is considered a "graduate degree program" and not a "professional degree program", with an annual federal borrowing of $20,500/year and a grad-level cap of $100,000.
Physician associate/assistant
Name 3 positions that may be on a hospital ethics board.
Doctor of Philosophy, Hospital Chaplain, Legal Counsel, Social Workers, Physicians, Nurses, and Bioethicists, to name a few.
True or false: You can submit your primary application before your Letters of Evaluation have been uploaded to the system.
True!
The AAMC lists this many "Core Competencies" for entering medical students. ("Bonus" if you can name one!)
17 (15 is also acceptable). They include: 11 professional competencies, 2 science competencies, and 4 thinking & reasoning competencies
With a total cost of attendance for med school A being approximately $100,000, student X will take out the max amount of federal loans. If they take out enough private loans to meet the COA at a fixed 10% interest rate, how much (in JUST PRIVATE LOANS) will they owe 10 years after STARTING med school? (+/- $50k)
$411,090.73