Pre-Med students, who had started preparing for the August session of the Medical Test Admission Test (MCAT), had to tolerate the uncertainty of the date of the exam after war broke out in Lebanon. For the first two weeks, they studied continuously for their for their “life-determining exam.” With slashed veins of communication, and the impossibility of delivering the MCAT test papers to Lebanon due to the closed transportation channels, the chance of sitting for the exam grew dimmer.

When the medical students were informed that the August session in Beirut was cancelled, they became anxious and annoyed. Many students rearranged their study schedules entirely, putting off studying until the examination date was determined.

Meanwhile, Director of the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA) Karma El-Hassan coordinated with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) to agree on a new testing date. El-Hassan stated that AAMC were very concerned with the situation of MCAT applicants in Lebanon. After all, “according to statistics done by the AAMC, AUB is a near-perfect testing center.”

Many students were especially eager to finish with the MCAT so that they could apply to universities abroad. AAMC suggested that the students take the MCAT in other countries but OIRA deemed this unpractical due to the Israel siege. Only a few managed to leave the country.

In early September, El-Hassan received an e-mail from AAMC announcing that October 21 would be the new MCAT date. Students were informed of this decision on September 26. This was not sufficient time for some Pre-Med students. One said, “It was a very late and surprising notice. We stopped studying long ago.” Mohammed, another biology Pre-Med student, expressed his anger, “We were supposed to get, at least, a six-week notice.”

Another student explained that he had continued studying regularly despite the undetermined testing date.

El-Hassan said, “The AAMC will be busy preparing the January MCAT in November, after they write a whole new test for the Lebanese make-up session.” She also advises students to not take the exam this October if they are not ready, as there will be two other in January 2007.