TCU plans to make some changes to its curriculum requirements in an effort to better accommodate the new Medical College Admission Test.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the new MCAT was officially released in April due to the dramatic increase of knowledge in medicine and science.

The MCAT is a test that pre-med students take before they apply to medical school.  Medical schools use the test as one of the factors to decide which applicants they accept.

Revisions to the MCAT were made to ensure that future doctors will be prepared for real life situations in the medical field.

“Being a good doctor is about more than scientific knowledge,” Darrell G. Kirch, M.D. and AAMC president and CEO, said in a news release.  “The new exam will better prepare students to build strong knowledge of the socio-cultural and behavioral determinants of health.”

TCU is making changes to ensure that students will be prepared for the new version of the test.

The university is now requiring that pre-med students take sociology and psychology before taking the MCAT, said Dr. Matt Chumchal, associate professor and director of the pre-health professions institute.

The university is also planning to add a biostatistics course and hire a biochemist to help students feel more prepared for these sections of the MCAT, Chumchal said.

Pre-med students say they think the changes are a great addition to their curriculum.

“Adding sociology, psychology, and biostatistics to the pre-med required courses will only help students preparing to take the MCAT,” said Haley Egan, a junior neuroscience major. “The pre-health department is only doing what it can to help students be successful.”

Pre-med students who have recently taken the new MCAT agree that the changes to the curriculum will help students be better prepared for the test.

“I think it’s great that advisors are recommending specific courses to take in preparation for the MCAT because there are a lot of helpful courses that aren’t necessarily required,” Lauren Burgess, a senior biology major, said.