The American Medical Women’s Association holds the position that fair and equitable admissions processes must be the standard in every sphere of the medical establishment. Medical school applicants face substantial and unforeseen barriers this application cycle. Applicants from groups traditionally and persistently under-represented in medicine are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and related application barriers. AMWA is committed to championing diversity and equity, and is concerned about the potential impact of these barriers on the future of our medical workforce. Recognizing the substantial barriers that students face during this application cycle, AMWA posits that the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) should be optional for the current cycle and that applicants planning on retaking the MCAT be allowed to blind their previous scores. If these barriers persist, the MCAT should continue to be optional.
Read the full position paper here.
