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®ljp Albany Ubiitral Nmts Vol. 2, No. 2 ©1979 The Student Newspaper of the Albany Medical College, Albany, New York Friday, October 12, 1979 MCAT future cloudy at AMC By BRUCE SABATINO applying for next year’s Freshman The recently passed New York class have already taken the State Truth in Testing law is slated MCAT, and their scores will be part to go into effect on Jan 1, 1980. of the “ track record” evaluated by Under this law, examinations given the admissions committee during for admissions purposes in New this admissions season. Next York State will be subject to season’s applications (for Sept. disclosure provisions designed to 1981) will not be marled out until protect the rights of the examinee. July o f 1980, and so for the time be The chief provision of the law is ing, the committee has only had that the examination questions and “preliminary discussions” on the answers used in determining exam MCAT issue. Dr. Edmonds said scores must be made available to that the committee is “ still reac the examinee and to independent ting” to the AAMC threat to pull test experts wishing to scrutinize the the MCAT out of New York. character of the exam. Dr. Edmonds believes that the admissions committee will be able Regarding the MCAT, John to react to the situation such that “ a A.D. Cooper, president of the reasonable and fair system of ad m m m m American Association of Medical Eric Scyferth/Nexus missions criteria will be insured The latest additions to AMC tradition, at work already Colleges (AAMC), has said that the regardless of whether or not the disclosure requirement “ makes it MCAT is used.” He stressed that* impossible to fulfill the goals of the currently,' the MCAT is only a part test design.” AAMC spokesman of the overall profile of the appli Freshman and freshman orientation Charles Fentress told this reporter cant, and that “low MCAT scores that AAMC plans to discontinue in and of themselves would pro giving the MCAT in N.Y. State — both well-received bably not disqualify an applicant after January 1 unless the legisla By RICHARD ADLER want to make life pleasant before the hundred students are from N.Y.; 18 for admissions to AMC.” Dr. Ed tion is amended to exempt the As expected, fall rolled around deluge. There was also a used book are from Massachusetts, New monds indicated that any decision MCAT. He said that the AAMC is and brought with it a new school sale, movies and a Friday afternoon Jersey, Connecticut, New to waive the MCAT as an admis scheduled to meet on October 2 year and a new freshman class — the beer blast during the orientation. Hampshire and Pennsylvania sions credential, or any change in with Senator Kenneth T. LaValle, Class of 1983. The applications and But who are the 128? No article on combined. California came in with a admissions policy resulting from the sponsor of the law, and that MCATs and interviews were now a freshman class is complete without surprising ten; Stanford is the alma committee’s inability to use MCAT Senator LaValle “ has expressed a behind them; at 9 o’clock the day the “breakdown”, etc. (and of mater of six students in AM C ‘83. scores from a legal standpoint willingness to talk” about this pro after Labor Day, they gathered in course, in MCATs and GPA’s this This year’s class had 40 women, would be forthcoming before July spect. If the MCAT were released the Wiggers auditorium for class topped last year’s). They came representing an increase of twelve 1980. Such decisions would be from disclosure requirements, it introductory remarks from the from seven states in all. One continued on page 4 made by the Executive Faculty and would continue to be administered Orientation Committee. It was an Dean’s office, with inputs from the to the over 5000 students testing exhilarating moment for many. Admissions and Student Affairs of twice each year in 26 centers They were on time, caught up on fices. AMC anatomical gifts throughout New York State. Other their work and reasonably awake — In view of the fact that California wise, students in New York colleges a rare combination during anyone’s already has a similar Truth in wishing to take the MCAT will have AMC career! alive and well Testing law, and other states are to do so in neighboring states or in What followed was five days of considering such legislation, one Carley adds that such executions Canada. orientation activities, from the usual By DAVID BAUM can theorize that Congress will see were not frequent. So, he says, tour of the school, payment of Because of a rapidly expanding If the MCAT were not given in fit to enact a national law at some anatomists would “ buy dead bodies tuition, etc. to some new and student population over the past New York State, what impact point. If, as a result, the MCAT is from grave robbers. At the time no innovative events. The band party at couple decades, medical schools would this have on medical school discontinued altogether, many ap one objected because it was the the dorm (boy, the drinks were have found the task of supplying an admissions at AMC? Will New plicants who would otherwise be paupers and the blacks who were strong; G and T’s with “a hint” of adequate number of cadavers to York State medical schools have passed over due to low performance being unearthed.” tonic) and the champagne and bagel freshmen medical students to be in legal access to MCAT scores? on the MCAT, may be extended On several occasions, Carley brunch on Sunday were two new creasingly difficult. In some hard- Would the MCAT be waived as an medical school interviews based on relates, the grave robbers would not events that were well-received. put schools, eight students are being admissions requirement, as has heavier weighting of other data. even wait until someone had died. Mitch Bamberger and Randy assigned toone body instead of the already been done in several other Alternatively, those students who Rather, perhaps because business Martin co-chaired the committee traditional four. medical schools in the State? What feel that exceedingly high perfor was lagging, the grave robbers and were committed to infusing The situation is especially acute other criteria would be used to fill mance on the MCAT was a big help would kill someone and then sell the more social activities into the in those regions in which several the gap? At this time, AMC Admis in their being admitted, may see a body to the anatomists. Therefore, orientation program. Working with hospital-teaching centers are sions Chairman Dr. Richard H. Ed time when they are thankful to have in the early years of medical educa a limited budget, they axed the located in close proximity to one monds is not overly concerned with applied before the MCAT ceased to tion in the United States, body luncheon given during last year’s another. Since the main source for these issues. The students currently exist. Freshman Orientation, provided cadavers in New York State is donation was not strictly voluntary. coffee and donuts at the noon-time through voluntary donation, closely The present scarcity of bodies has break on Tuesday and used the located schools must compete with forced some schools to seek alter saved funds for the band party and. one another in order to secure the native methods in the teaching of brunch. donations. anatomy courses. Computers and Dr. Jack Davies, professor of According to Matt Carley, a first audio-visual materials are used to Pathology, was the keynote speaker year medical student and a graduate fill the existing void in these cases. for this year’s program. Just as the from Union College who has done Albany Medical College has been Class of ‘82 has found him research into the history of human an exception to the nationwide personable and erudite, the dissection, medical colleges such as trend of inadequate body supply for incoming freshmen were also Albany faced a similar crisis in the its students and maintains a 4 to 1 impressed. Members of the Class of mid-1800s. At that time he notes, student to cadaver ratio. ‘83 commented that his talk was states began requiring that medical Being the only major medical- ‘comforting, calming . extVemely schools teach a course in anatomy. teaching center in the region, AMC humanistic’. Arnie Rosen gave a Because of religious restrictions, is able to obtain bodies from a high surprise presentation from the “people were loathe to donating population, multi-county area and sophomores; candid slides and witty their bodies.” Carley says, “The need not participate in intense com narrative. The Faculty Wives’ medical schools were caught in a petition for cadavers that exists in reception was a hit, as always. bind. The only bodies that the places such as New York City. AMC has possessed an anatomical Punch, homemade cookies and light medical schools could obtain were Eric Seyferth/Nexus conversation are the traditional fare; those of criminals who had been ex gift program since 1962. Dr. those ladies know what it’s like to ecuted. Dissection was seen as a fur Richard Gdmons, professor in the Students and faculty, driven to Thacher Park by their first full week of classes, recreated at the annual AMC Fall Picnic. contend with their husbands and ther punishment for these people.” continued on page 4 Page 2 □ October 12, 1979 □ Albany Medical Nexus (Stratum tjickel€3’ 6<d again Sophmores organize By NEAL KOTIN academic year, a cost analysis was copy has been in existence.