If you’re searching for medical schools that don’t require the MCAT, the answer is yes, there are legitimate pathways in the U.S. and Canada where the MCAT is waived. These options typically include BS/MD programs, early assurance pathways, select DO programs, and several Canadian medical schools. Below is a complete, up-to-date list, followed by an explanation of why these pathways exist and whether skipping the MCAT is the right choice for you.

 

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Article Contents
11 min read
US Medical Schools that Don't Require MCAT Canadian Medical Schools that Don't Require MCAT Why Do Premeds Want to Avoid the MCAT? Is It Possible to Get into Medical School Without the MCAT? Should You Avoid Writing the MCAT? How to Improve Your MCAT Score If You Can’t Skip the Exam FAQs

US Medical Schools that Don't Require the MCAT

BA/MD and BS/MD programs that Don't Require the MCAT

These joint programs offer the opportunity for exceptional high school students to secure a spot in medical school before even beginning undergraduate studies. Students will obtain either a Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and secure their place in a medical school before they graduate from their undergrad then proceed directly to medical school to obtain a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD). 

Note: While we do everything we can to ensure that this information is accurate, admissions information is subject to change. Follow-up with schools that you are interested in to verify current policies.

CUNY School of Medicine

  • MCAT Policy: Not required
  • Admission Requirements: Students apply after completing their bachelor’s degree requirements through the Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program.

Drexel University College of Medicine

  • MCAT Policy: Not required
  • Admission Requirements: Competitive GPA and test scores, strong extracurriculars, and a proven commitment to medicine. SAT or ACT scores are mandatory for eligibility.

George Washington University

  • MCAT Policy: Practice MCAT scores only (no official score required)
  • Admission Requirements: Minimum 3.6 GPA and evidence of significant clinical experience and leadership.

Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine

  • MCAT Policy: Not required
  • Admission Requirements: Academic rigor in pre-med coursework, recommendations, and a strong commitment to rural health.

Montclair State University

  • MCAT Policy: Not required
  • Admission Requirements: SAT scores, strong academic performance, and relevant extracurriculars.

University of Missouri-Kansas City

  • MCAT Policy: Accepted alternatives (SAT/ACT); MCAT optional
  • Admission Requirements: Competitive SAT/ACT scores, rigorous high school coursework, and healthcare-related extracurriculars. Applicants must achieve an unweighted GPA of 3.0 in the 17 core requirements of the university.

Early Assurance Programs that Don't Require the MCAT

Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine

  • MCAT Policy: Waived for eligible students
  • Admission Requirements: Rigorous application process with a focus on academic excellence and a demonstrated passion for healthcare.

University at Albany State University of New York Early Assurance Pathway

  • MCAT Policy: Waived for eligible students
  • Admission Requirements: Strong academic performance, commitment to healthcare, and faculty recommendations.

Union College Early Assurance Program

  • MCAT Policy: Not required
  • Admission Requirements: Strong GPA, leadership potential, and commitment to service.

Dartmouth University Geisel School of Medicine Early Assurance Program

  • MCAT Policy: Waived for eligible students
  • Admission Requirements: Minimum GPA of 3.5, significant clinical or research experience, and leadership qualities.

Georgetown University School of Medicine Early Assurance Program

  • MCAT Policy: Not required
  • Admission Requirements: Strong academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.6 (BCPM and overall), healthcare experience, and commitment to service.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, FlexMed Program

  • MCAT Policy: Waived for eligible students
  • Admission Requirements: Outstanding academic performance, leadership, and a non-traditional approach to medicine.

Syracuse University Early Assurance Program

  • MCAT Policy: Waived for eligible students
  • Admission Requirements: High GPA, faculty endorsements, and healthcare-related experiences.

University of Pittsburgh Guaranteed Admission Program

  • MCAT Policy: Accepted alternatives (SAT/ACT); MCAT optional
  • Admission Requirements: Exceptional SAT/ACT scores, outstanding academic record, and service-oriented activities.

Tufts University School of Medicine Early Assurance Program

  • MCAT Policy: Waived for eligible students
  • Admission Requirements: GPA of 3.7 or higher (BCPM and overall), strong academic foundation, and demonstrated interest in healthcare.

University of Rochester School of Medicine Early Assurance Program

  • MCAT Policy: Not required
  • Admission Requirements: High GPA, meaningful healthcare experiences, and faculty recommendations.

University of Toledo College of Medicine MedStart Program

  • MCAT Policy: Waived for eligible students
  • Admission Requirements: Competitive GPA of 3.5 or higher, leadership qualities, and community involvement.

DO Schools that Don’t Require the MCAT

Some osteopathic medical schools do not fully waive the MCAT but allow applicants to be evaluated using standardized test alternatives, such as the SAT or ACT.

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)

  • MCAT Policy: Accepted alternatives (SAT/ACT); MCAT optional

Canadian Medical Schools that Don't Require the MCAT

In Canada, the situation is slightly different and there are actually traditional allopathic 3- and 4-year medical schools in Canada that do not require the MCAT:

Would you rather watch a video?

Why Do Premeds Want to Avoid the MCAT?

Premed students often want to avoid the MCAT because of its difficulty, cost, time commitment, and the risk that a low score will limit where they can apply.

Let’s let the students speak for themselves:

“I currently am discouraged… I am dreading having to redo MCAT. I currently don't know whether I should just take a gap year to do it… I have lots to think about.” – Alexander C., BeMo Student

Our student Melissa was disappointed when she saw her MCAT score because it limited which schools she could apply to:

“After I took my MCAT, I could only choose from roughly one-third of the medical schools I wanted to apply to…” – Melissa, BeMo Student

The MCAT is incredibly hard to prepare for. Here’s what our student Charley had to say about their preparation:

“There is a much greater breadth of material to cover for the MCAT than originally expected. The concepts tested are not merely presented but are inquired over in depth. Classical study methods do not work for a test that covers so much in a rapid succession of strenuous passages. Reading passages qualitatively and effectively is the most important foundation for succeeding on the MCAT.” – Charley F., BeMo Student

These are just a few of the experiences that illustrate why students all over the US and Canada look for medical schools that do not require the MCAT. If you're one of them, you are not alone!

Students often underestimate the difficulty of the MCAT; if they're used to performing well on their college or university tests, they assume that naturally, they'll perform well on the MCAT. Unfortunately, the MCAT is no pop quiz, and countless hours of review and practice are necessary to succeed. Did you know that on average, 24% of all test takers write the MCAT more than once, trying to improve their scores? According to the AAMC, in the last 3-5 years, over 85% of MCAT examinees completed courses in biology, biochemistry, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics prior to taking the test. In addition, nearly half of those test takers completed a commercial, university, or medical school preparation course.

With that said, out of roughly 185,000 students who wrote the MCAT during this period, nearly a quarter of them decided to take the test again, likely in hopes of scoring better the second time around. How hard is the MCAT? Very hard, but not impossible. With dedicated MCAT test prep and study, it is certainly possible to do well.

These concerns explain why many applicants explore MCAT-waived pathways. However, not everyone qualifies. In the next section, we clarify when medical school without the MCAT is actually possible.

What makes the MCAT a difficult test? Here's a breakdown:

Is It Possible to Get into Medical School Without the MCAT?

Yes, in the U.S. it is possible to go to medical school without taking the MCAT, but only through specific early-entry or guaranteed-admission programs with strict eligibility requirements.

This route is usually reserved for those who have known that they want to become a physician for a while. There are several accelerated medical school programs like BS/MD and BA/MD and early assurance programs, such as FlexMed, that forgo the MCAT (and we list them above!) Typically, only students who are certain of their choice early on in their academic career apply to these options.

Are you currently an undergraduate student or have already completed your degree and still want to skip taking the MCAT? There are currently no schools without the MCAT requirement for regular admissions, so as a traditional or non-traditional applicant you will need to take the MCAT. If you plan to pursue a graduate degree, however, there are special master's programs with linkage to medical schools that offer MCAT tutoring and other resources to help you ace the test and get into medical school.

And while there is an accelerated program in Canada that does not require the MCAT, QuARMS, the rest of the schools we listed above are all full-fledged MD programs traditional premeds and non-traditional medical school applicants can pursue.

Should You Avoid Writing the MCAT?

When making this decision, consider the following:

#1 MCAT Gives You a Solid Foundation

If you did not major in the physical sciences, the MCAT may be the biggest reason for you to complete and do well in your medical school prerequisites. Even if you are one of those students looking to get into medical school with limited science knowledge, you cannot avoid the sciences if you decide to pursue medicine. So, by skipping the MCAT, you are still not in the clear, so to speak. Needing to study and take the MCAT will give you a solid foundation for your years in medical school and beyond.

#2 MCAT is Far from Being Your Last Extensive Medical School Exam

Whether you pursue an MD or DO program, the MCAT is far from being the last test you will take. So, if you are avoiding the test due to its length, size, prep commitment, and so on, medical school might not be the best choice for you. USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2, and USMLE Step 3, as well as different shelf exams and OSCE exams are going to be your constant companions throughout medical school and beyond. If you are planning to be a medical school student in Canada, prepare to take on the extensive MCCQE Part 1, as well as the NAC OSCE if you are an international medical graduate.

So, if you are trying to avoid the MCAT because you do not like tests, face the fact that you will be required to complete and do well on many other exams once you are in medical school, including licensing exams.

#3 MCAT Costs

Taking the MCAT is not cheap, and we’re not referring to the administrative fees you pay to actually take the exam. MCAT test prep is a significant expense. Whether you do the prep on your own or hire an MCAT tutor, it will cost you. If you are studying independently, even if you use the cheap or free MCAT prep resources, you will still need to access MCAT prep books, practice tests, and so on. Your expenses will increase if you are looking to work with MCAT teachers or MCAT prep courses. While your first reaction may be to avoid this professional prep help, we want to warn you that retaking the MCAT or reapplying to medical school due to a bad MCAT score is even more expensive. Keep this in mind when you plan your prep.

Food for thought: if you have a limited budget and need to save money, it is nevertheless important to remember that medical school involves significant costs throughout the process, in addition to tuition. You can apply to medical schools that do not require CASPer, look for schools without secondary essays, or even apply to the cheapest medical schools out there, but attending medical school will still be expensive. Most medical school students will need to carefully arrange financing and plan a reasonable budget.

#4 MCAT Gives You More Options

The biggest advantage of taking the MCAT is that if you do get a good score, a lot more metaphorical medical school doors open for you. You will have a lot more choice if you write the MCAT and get a competitive score. While the MCAT is intimidating, it is possible to prepare and get a high score that will allow you to pick and choose out of hundreds of schools in the US and Canada. This does not mean that you want to apply to an endless number of institutions, but you do want to apply widely. Here’s what Dr. Neel Mistry, MD and our medical school admissions expert had to say about the MCAT:

“I have seen many students over the years with perfect GPAs and MCAT not get in, while those with less impressive statistics get in. All that to say, if getting into medical school is your ultimate goal, it is important to apply to as many schools as possible. Like Gretzky said, “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD

As you can see, a perfect MCAT is not a guarantee of acceptance, but if you get a good MCAT score, your application is more likely to be reviewed in its entirety, so you can impress the admissions committee with your personal statement, activities sections, recommendations, and so on. Remember that many schools use your MCAT score as a benchmark. If you do not meet the requirement, then you are less likely to have the rest of your application reviewed as you'll be weeded out of the applicant pool. A high MCAT score will give you the chance to impress the admissions committee with the rest of your application.

It's possible to get into medical school even with a low MCAT score!

How to Improve Your MCAT Score If You Can’t Skip the Exam

In the video below, Kannan explains how he approached the medical school application process after realizing he could not skip the MCAT.

"The first [test] was a 497, so not too hot! But then when I took some time off and I [prepared] for a longer time, I was able to jump 13 points to a 510." - Kannan, BeMo student

While this is a huge improvement, 510 is still not a super competitive score for medical schools in the US and Canada. So, here's Kannan's strategy that got him accepted to 4 medical schools!

"So, basically, I used MSAR, which has the stats for every med school, so I used that to classify schools into "reaches", about mid-tier, and also lower-tier [that were good] targets for me. I also applied to about five or six DO schools. The "reaches" would be like anything like 515-516 and the ones that are more targets were closer to 511-512 or anything around that... I read online about how important the personal statement and the work and activities [were], and also writing the secondaries... So that's when I decided to get like some professional help because [I just wanted] to make sure they're like really well written because at a certain point stats can get you so far, but making sure you can present yourself a certain way ultimately helps you land acceptance..." - Kannan, BeMo student

Kannan successfully navigated the application and interview process to attend Western University of Health Sciences!

Below are verified experiences from students who prepared for the MCAT after determining that an MCAT-waived pathway was not available to them.

"Mr. Benoit did an excellent job at thoroughly going over today’s passage. In addition, he would have me answer question about why the other options are incorrect so that I could have a deeper understanding of the question. I hope to work him again soon!" - Wes Nijim, BeMo student. 

"My MCAT CARS session with Dr. Nyasha Gondora was incredibly helpful! She really took the time to listen to my reasoning, offered thoughtful corrections, and guided me through the areas I need to work on. It was a great opportunity to actively engage with the material and make sure I’m on the right track for test day." - Anonymous, BeMo student. 

Whether you’re aiming to avoid the MCAT entirely or deciding how to proceed if it’s unavoidable, understanding these pathways early can help you plan a stronger, more strategic application.

FAQs

1. Are there medical schools that do not require the MCAT?

Yes. MCAT-waived options include certain BS/MD and BA/MD programs, early assurance pathways, some DO programs that accept alternatives, and several Canadian medical schools that do not require the MCAT.

2. Are there any US MD programs that do not require the MCAT for regular admissions?

No. Outside of combined programs and early assurance pathways, U.S. MD programs require the MCAT for traditional admissions.

3. What are the pros and cons of skipping the MCAT?

The main benefit is avoiding MCAT prep time and cost. The main drawback is that you significantly limit your options because MCAT-free pathways are restricted to specific program types and eligibility rules. Also, avoiding the MCAT does not mean avoiding exams—medical training includes multiple high-stakes tests.

4. How do I apply to a medical school without taking the MCAT?

You must apply through a pathway where the MCAT is waived, such as BS/MD or BA/MD programs or an early assurance program. Requirements vary, but often include a strong GPA, competitive SAT/ACT scores (where applicable), letters of recommendation, and sustained clinical or service experience.

5. Are medical schools without the MCAT less competitive?

No. Many MCAT-waived programs are highly selective. They often expect exceptional academic performance, strong extracurricular involvement, and a clear long-term commitment to medicine.

6. What are BS/MD or BA/MD programs, and how do they work?

BS/MD and BA/MD programs combine undergraduate study with a direct pathway into medical school. Students typically apply early (often from high school), complete required milestones during undergrad, and transition into an affiliated MD program without taking the MCAT.

7. Are there early assurance programs that waive the MCAT?

Many do. Early assurance programs provide a conditional or guaranteed pathway from an undergraduate institution to a medical school, and the MCAT may be waived if students meet GPA, coursework, and program-specific requirements

8. Can international students apply to medical schools that don’t require the MCAT?

Sometimes, but eligibility varies by program. Some BS/MD, BA/MD, and early assurance pathways restrict eligibility to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and Canadian schools often have their own policies for international applicants. Always verify requirements directly with each program.

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

Please note: although we have made every effort to provide the most accurate information, admissions information changes frequently. Therefore, we encourage you to verify these details with the official university admissions office. You are responsible for your own results. BeMo does not endorse nor affiliate with any official universities, colleges, or test administrators and vice versa. If you see an error here, please notify us with the updated information, and we’ll send you a FREE copy of a BeMo ebook of your choosing! You can receive our Ultimate Guide to Med School Admissions, our Ultimate Guide to MMI Prep, our Ultimate Guide to Medical School Personal Statements & Secondary Essays or our Ultimate Guide to CASPer Prep! Please email us at content [at] bemoacademicconsulting.com with any corrections, and we’ll arrange to send you your free ebook upon confirming the information.