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Division of Academic and Student Affairs 
Health Professions Advising

Admissions Exams and Preparation

Exam Information
Admissions tests are typically taken the spring of your junior year before you wish to matriculate. They are offered in different formats with varying frequencies (i.e. some offered daily, others during specific time frames). See the following websites for updated information on each of the tests regarding their format options, schedules, lengths, subjects, costs, and other information:

DAT (Dental)
GRE (General Grad and Subject Grad)
MCAT (Med, Allopathic, Osteopathic, Podiatry)
OAT (Optometry)
PCAT (Pharmacy)

Exam Preparation
There are several resources and courses available to help you prepare for admissions tests. The variety of options enable you to choose a preparation plan that fits your schedule, budget, and learning preferences.

Some examples of review materials and courses are available from the following groups:

Remember these tips:

  • Avoid taking an admissions test “once for practice” and then preparing for it! Schools vary on how they review scores – some average the scores, some take the best subject combinations, and some review all scores. Also, some schools/programs impose limits on the number of test attempts such as the Dental Admission Test (DAT) having a 3-test limit. You should plan to take your first (and hopefully only) attempt at your admissions test no later than April or May of the year preceding the year in which you plan to enter school.
  • Admissions tests are based on college-level work in the areas of chemistry, biology, and physics as well as your reading comprehension skills and in some cases perceptual skills. It is highly recommended that you complete 1 year of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, 1 year of Physics, and 1 year of Biology before taking a test. You are, however, strongly advised to complete other beneficial classes if possible such as biochemistry, genetics, anatomy and physiology, and cell biology if your curriculum and schedule allow. Although these latter examples are not required, our students have found them to be beneficial in their performance. There is no calculus on any of the tests, but there are sections that evaluate an applicant’s reading and quantitative ability on each of the standardized exams as well as writing for some.