Catching Covid while taking the MCAT

[MyOdyssey]

---

Members do not see this ad.

"MCAT Test-Takers Come Down with Covid-19"

MCAT Test-Takers Come Down With COVID-19

Reports raise new concern about precautions at testing centers

www.medpagetoday.com

"The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is again the subject of controversy, with several medical school applicants testing positive for COVID-19 from 2 to 7 days after taking the in-person exam."

Are MCAT test takers being required to wear masks during the exam?

Has anyone taken the MCAT recently and can report on protective measures being used at exam centers?

Has anyone tried wearing an N-95 mask while taking the real MCAT?

 

[sevenout]

June 5th tester,

Totally understand this was just my experience BUT it is hard to imagine something safer than exam day aside from literally staying at home, even then probably not a ton safer.

Staggered check in and breaks. I was never on break with more than one other test taker at a time and with the five or six chairs in the testing center he was always pretty far from me (I'd say about 8 feet away.) Even then it was only five of the ten minutes we shared on break. Proctors always stood a great distance from me, with everyone so far away and masks being mandatory it is really hard to believe even if the proctor had COVID that I would have gotten it.

As I walked out of my 12 noon exam I did see a 6pm tester entering with a N-95 mask. Not sure how that went for them.


I would say that going to the grocery store is a much more dangerous endeavor than taking the MCAT.

 

[MyOdyssey]

June 5th tester,

Totally understand this was just my experience BUT it is hard to imagine something safer than exam day aside from literally staying at home, even then probably not a ton safer.

Staggered check in and breaks. I was never on break with more than one other test taker at a time and with the five or six chairs in the testing center he was always pretty far from me (I'd say about 8 feet away.) Even then it was only five of the ten minutes we shared on break. Proctors always stood a great distance from me, with everyone so far away and masks being mandatory it is really hard to believe even if the proctor had COVID that I would have gotten it.

As I walked out of my 12 noon exam I did see a 6pm tester entering with a N-95 mask. Not sure how that went for them.


I would say that going to the grocery store is a much more dangerous endeavor than taking the MCAT.

So masks WERE mandatory?

What kind of mask did you wear, where did you purchase it and how did it affect your test taking?

Did you take the MCAT in a big city testing center or some place more remote? I'm surprised your location wasn't packed.

 

[deleted1044561]

Yes masks ARE mandatory.

I would say that going to the grocery store is a much more dangerous endeavor than taking the MCAT.

Not necessarily.. Some premeds have clinical jobs that require them to work with COVID patients all day long.

 

[jamaica jan sun princess]

All Pearson test centers are requiring masks.

 

[NY_Med]

So masks WERE mandatory?

What kind of mask did you wear, where did you purchase it and how did it affect your test taking?

Did you take the MCAT in a big city testing center or some place more remote? I'm surprised your location wasn't packed.

1) yea they were mandatory

2)a. I wore a surgical mask I got at work, its BYOM (Bring Your Own Mask) so its whatever you want.

2)b. I work in the ICU, did not affect my ability to take it at all. Second nature at this point.

3) Took it in downtown of a 300,000 pop city. They do a great job of spacing it out.

 

[NY_Med]

Yes masks ARE mandatory.


Not necessarily.. Some premeds have clinical jobs that require them to work with COVID patients all day long.

I work(ed) in the COVID ICU and I would disagree with that statement. Yeah we worked with COVID + patients, but we KNEW they were COVID +, so insane (and necessary) PPE precautions were taken.

Whereas a grocery store NO ONE KNOWS who potentially has it and is asymptomatic. n=1 but I would say a grocery store is more dangerous.

 

[sevenout]

Major Metro Area (1+ million)
Also had a mask from work and took 7 of my 13 practice exams while wearing it, so it was not an issue

While I understand that there is a disproportionate amount of healthcare workers that take the MCAT compared to going to the gas station or out for groceries, I was not near anyone for them to essentially breathe COVID onto me. Even though I think transmission from touching objects is probably pretty minimal, my stupid opinion on that would not matter either because I was not touching anything that was a high touch area and was forced to dose my hands with sanitizer before starting the exam.

 

[Justapremedguy]

I work(ed) in the COVID ICU and I would disagree with that statement. Yeah we worked with COVID + patients, but we KNEW they were COVID +, so insane (and necessary) PPE precautions were taken.

Whereas a grocery store NO ONE KNOWS who potentially has it and is asymptomatic. n=1 but I would say a grocery store is more dangerous.

Agreed. Worked as an EMT and we went all out PPE for COVID patients. Medically, not even considered exposed at that point because all precautions were taken. Going to a store where people ignore the rules is worse

 

[sevenout]

NO ONE KNOWS who potentially has it and is asymptomatic

Had not even thought of that, I have to get tested once a week, it's quite annoying but in that regard, my presence in the testing center was even less of a risk than say my fiance going to the grocery store in the predicament you laid out.

 

[deleted987519]

Agreed. Worked as an EMT and we went all out PPE for COVID patients. Medically, not even considered exposed at that point because all precautions were taken. Going to a store where people ignore the rules is worse

mind if ask specifically what PPE you wear for COVID-+ patient

 

[deleted804295]

June 5th tester,

Totally understand this was just my experience BUT it is hard to imagine something safer than exam day aside from literally staying at home, even then probably not a ton safer.

Staggered check in and breaks. I was never on break with more than one other test taker at a time and with the five or six chairs in the testing center he was always pretty far from me (I'd say about 8 feet away.) Even then it was only five of the ten minutes we shared on break. Proctors always stood a great distance from me, with everyone so far away and masks being mandatory it is really hard to believe even if the proctor had COVID that I would have gotten it.

As I walked out of my 12 noon exam I did see a 6pm tester entering with a N-95 mask. Not sure how that went for them.


I would say that going to the grocery store is a much more dangerous endeavor than taking the MCAT.

I took my MCAT exam last year and we were so segregated from each test taker then that I can't imagine how safe this year's protocol is.

 

[deleted804295]

I work(ed) in the COVID ICU and I would disagree with that statement. Yeah we worked with COVID + patients, but we KNEW they were COVID +, so insane (and necessary) PPE precautions were taken.

Whereas a grocery store NO ONE KNOWS who potentially has it and is asymptomatic. n=1 but I would say a grocery store is more dangerous.

That's great for the ICU but students that work in the ER don't have this luxury.

 

[deleted804295]

mind if ask specifically what PPE you wear for COVID-+ patient

Probably gown, gloves, N95, surgical face mask, and face shield.

 

[Justapremedguy]

mind if ask specifically what PPE you wear for COVID-+ patient

Probably gown, gloves, N95, surgical face mask, and face shield.

Correct! And goggles

 

[ThetisAntithesis]

I think the point here is you're more likely to catch COVID elsewhere than at an MCAT testing site.

 

[NY_Med]

That's great for the ICU but students that work in the ER don't have this luxury.

Thats a valid point. However, the mandatory PPE is still very much required.

Edit: at least in my NY hospital

 

[MyOdyssey]

Has anyone taken the MCAT since Covid in a testing center that didn't require all test takers to wear a face mask?

 

[SunMouse]

I think the point here is you're more likely to catch COVID elsewhere than at an MCAT testing site.

I think the counter argument is that it’s kind of an extra “unnecessary” risk though. Why add another possible exposure?

I sat for it recently, and because I live with high-risk individuals I did worry, however unfounded, about being in an enclosed space with potentially ill people for 6 hours. A cloth/surgical mask was required.

 

[KnightDoc]

I think the counter argument is that it’s kind of an extra “unnecessary” risk though. Why add another possible exposure?

I sat for it recently, and because I live with high-risk individuals I did worry, however unfounded, about being in an enclosed space with potentially ill people for 6 hours. A cloth/surgical mask was required.

Yup. It's as necessary or unnecessary as anything else that requires your leaving your home. If you don't need money or you can work from home, you don't need to go to work. If you've already taken the test, or don't want to apply this cycle, you don't need to be in a socially distanced enclosed space with some potentially ill people wearing masks for 6 hours. If you don't need food or have delivery services available, you don't need to go to the grocery. If you don't need gas for your car, you don't need to go to a gas station. Etc., etc., etc.

We all have a bunch of choices to make during the pandemic, and while a lot of people have been planning on applying to med school this cycle, in many cases for years, nobody NEEDS to if they are uncomfortable taking "extra "unnecessary" risks."