While other University students celebrated the end of the spring semester, Gil Harmon spent all of his free time studying for the Medical College Admission Test, commonly referred to as the MCAT, in a library. Harmon said he studied extensively for the exam because he believes a student’s score is an important component of a student’s medical school application.

“Pre-med students know they need to take the exam, and they have more than ample time to prepare for it,” said Harmon, a senior in LAS who plans to be either an international or emergency doctor. “How students score on the test depends on their willingness to prepare and understand the material.”

A recent survey conducted by Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions concurred with Harmon’s belief. The survey found receiving a good MCAT score and having a strong GPA are the top two factors medical school admissions workers look for in applicants.

Kaplan surveyed 83 medical schools, which provided it with insights regarding critical application factors, future admittance plans and a timetable of when students should take the MCAT.

“Having a strong GPA is important because it reveals that a student can show progress through rigorous course work,” said Matt Fidler, MCAT program manager for Kaplan. “The MCAT is a leading factor because it demonstrates a student’s critical thinking ability, which is a necessary skill for doctors to have.”

The survey also reported that 60 percent of admissions officers said that the medical school admissions process has become more competitive in the last five years.

“We’ve had many more applicants apply to our medical school in the past few years,” said Jim Hall, associate dean for student affairs and the Medical Scholars Program at the University. “We used to only have 4,000 applicants. Now we have 7,000 students applying for only 300 openings.”

Jake Marganski, a junior in LAS who said he will be taking the MCAT in May, said that the increased competition is evident on campus.

“I’ve noticed that all the pre-med students are extremely competitive,” Marganski said. “This constant, competitive environment can be very stressful.”

Despite the increasing competition, the survey said that 42 percent of medical schools are considering increasing the number of students they admit into their programs.

“Any additional seats medical schools can open would be great,” Fidler said. “With the aging population needing more care, more doctors are always better for us.”

A time frame for this expansion, however, is uncertain, Fidler said.

The survey also examined the best times for students to take the exam. April of a student’s junior year was judged the best time to take it by 39 percent of admissions officers because they will receive their results in time for the June application process. January was rated the ideal time by 27 percent of the officials because students can prepare during semester break.

Hall said that regardless of the date students pick to take the exam, they must be prepared.

“Students should begin preparing for the exam as freshmen and study as hard as they can in their core classes,” Hall said. “They must attend to all aspects of their education.”