Is it better to just take the MCAT and void at this point, or should I cancel/reschedule?

[Saifa]

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itt premeds use their superior sleuthing abilities and critical thinking to promote taking the MCAT with the express purpose of voiding it

 

[badboy12435]

itt premeds use their superior sleuthing abilities and critical thinking to promote taking the MCAT with the express purpose of voiding it

I am not advising anyone to take and void the MCAT. Huge waste of money.

I just want the truth to be out there so that those who choose to void due to ACTUAL problems at the testing center don't have lingering doubts about ADCOMs potentially seeing it (no matter how minor that chance is).

 

[UBLI-EINSTEIN]

I am preparing for it but I am not yet prepared. So I actually may not be taking the mcat. But I am interested in still attempting the test to get a feel for the exam. Is an attempt without a score a negative point for an applicant if adcoms happen to manually check for that?

Voiding an exam is not as simple as you can imagine.
Although many people went through test with a 100% idea to void exam, they finally ended up scoring that because they were urged to know how they did.
It's really not helpful to practice in such a way. True, it will give you a sense, but really, just a little bit, and it mostly seem to be a waste of money.

 

[Goro]

Just to reiterate and clarify what I said above. The status "void" does not appear any where in the MCAT reporting system. It is an exam attempt with no score report. Whether it was technical glitch, registration, void, etc, none of that is ever listed in the index to look up any exam report for a particular applicant

The new MCAT has been around what, for two years now? In all that time of looking at admissions files, none of us have seen anything even remotely related to voids, or attempts, or whatever you call them. We only see scores and number of timed you took scored exams.

And good reading skills will be important for the CARS section. gonnif was simply stating that it might be possible for someone to see # of attempts, which are not the same as voids. Maybe Admissions deans can, but us grunts on the Adcom sure can't.

 

[badboy12435]

The new MCAT has been around what, for two years now? In all that time of looking at admissions files, none of us have seen anything even remotely related to voids, or attempts, or whatever you call them. We only see scores and number of timed you took scored exams.

And good reading skills will be important for the CARS section. gonnif was simply stating that it might be possible for someone to see # of attempts, which are not the same as voids. Maybe Admissions deans can, but us grunts on the Adcom sure can't.

I think someone needs a little CARS review after years in admissions...

When you use MIGHT to spread an unsubstantiated rumor, it hurts society.

If doctors state that vaccines MIGHT cause autism, then society has a new problem that doesn't exist.

Similarly, this "# of attempts" rumor diminishes the integrity of the SDN community.
If you find evidence that deans can see attempts, I will accept that I am wrong, but, until then, this is just a sorry way to scare premeds.

Looking for evidence is an integral part of being a good physician. You should question "MAYBE statements" when they have no basis. I can't believe I am explaining to an ADCOM member...

 

[Light at end of tunnel]

I think someone needs a little CARS review after years in admissions...

When you use MIGHT to spread an unsubstantiated rumor, it hurts society.

If doctors state that vaccines MIGHT cause autism, then society has a new problem that doesn't exist.

Similarly, this "# of attempts" rumor diminishes the integrity of the SDN community.
If you find evidence that deans can see attempts, I will accept that I am wrong, but, until then, this is just a sorry way to scare premeds.

Looking for evidence is an integral part of being a good physician. You should question "MAYBE statements" when they have no basis. I can't believe I am explaining to an ADCOM member...

Damn homie, slow your roll.

Why so harsh to Goro?

I hear you loud and clear on your points, but you're getting at a systemic issue not an individual issue.

Fight to change the system.

 

[MonkeyArrow]

:troll:

 

[UBLI-EINSTEIN]

I think someone needs a little CARS review after years in admissions...

When you use MIGHT to spread an unsubstantiated rumor, it hurts society.

If doctors state that vaccines MIGHT cause autism, then society has a new problem that doesn't exist.

Similarly, this "# of attempts" rumor diminishes the integrity of the SDN community.
If you find evidence that deans can see attempts, I will accept that I am wrong, but, until then, this is just a sorry way to scare premeds.

Looking for evidence is an integral part of being a good physician. You should question "MAYBE statements" when they have no basis. I can't believe I am explaining to an ADCOM member...

I don't see any problem here.
I've seen people complained their low score because of headache during the MCAT, and I usually criticized them why not to void the test.
In short, to void exam score may not be bad, but rather it could be a good judgement.
If adcom really has a question, I believe it might be brought up in the interview. Or if there's no question, then I believe that this will not be an issue at all.
So why bother? Nothing will change regardless of whether adcom can see your void or not.
What student need to do is always the same. Take the MCAT only when they are fully prepared, and to void that in case any accident occurs.

 

[badboy12435]

Damn homie, slow your roll.

Why so harsh to Goro?

I hear you loud and clear on your points, but you're getting at a systemic issue not an individual issue.

Fight to change the system.

I was not trying to make it an individual issue until Goro decided to point out my reading comprehension skills (not relevant to this conversation and doesn't enhance Goro's argument).

I don't see any problem here.
I've seen people complained their low score because of headache during the MCAT, and I usually criticized them why not to void the test.
In short, to void exam score may not be bad, but rather it could be a good judgement.
If adcom really has a question, I believe it might be brought up in the interview. Or if there's no question, then I believe that this will not be an issue at all.
So why bother? Nothing will change regardless of whether adcom can see your void or not.
What student need to do is always the same. Take the MCAT only when they are fully prepared, and to void that in case any accident occurs.

I see what you are saying, but I think that some students may feel less confident in their decision to void if ADCOMs or Deans can see "No of attempts." Moreover, if this rumor becomes commonplace, then some students may elect to take the full exam and score it even though they have circumstances which require a void.

:troll:

I am sorry for questioning assumptions...

 

[UBLI-EINSTEIN]

I see what you are saying, but I think that some students may feel less confident in their decision to void if ADCOMs or Deans can see "No of attempts." Moreover, if this rumor becomes commonplace, then some students may elect to take the full exam and score it even though they have circumstances which require a void.

Then it really comes to be an issue of judgement about void vs. scoring bad. I still think this is their own responsibility.
It's not very meaningful to over concern the risk that our void can be seen by adcom, because there can be just so many reasons to void the MCAT.
On the other side, when student got a bad grade on MCAT, it's just a bad grade and likely there's no any excuse for that.
adcom can always ask: if you scored low because your family members passed away, why don't you postpone or void that MCAT? etc.

Students should be clear that to void the MCAT is always better than to have a bad MCAT. I think this is equally true regardless whether it could be seen.

 

[dr.Breezy]

If voids aren't reported on AMCAS I don't see how schools can see the number of voided attempts


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[badboy12435]

Then it really comes to be an issue of judgement about void vs. scoring bad. I still think this is their own responsibility.
It's not very meaningful to over concern the risk that our void can be seen by adcom, because there can be just so many reasons to void the MCAT.
On the other side, when student got a bad grade on MCAT, it's just a bad grade and likely there's no any excuse for that.
adcom can always ask: if you scored low because your family members passed away, why don't you postpone or void that MCAT? etc.

Students should be clear that to void the MCAT is always better than to have a bad MCAT. I think this is equally true regardless whether it could be seen.

I was thinking about a scenario where someone gets really sick during the exam and they know that they are going to do poorly. They may choose to score it rather than void it if they believed these rumors to be true. All I am saying that some students won't think "to void the MCAT is always better than to have a bad MCAT" if ADCOMs see it.

They cant see the number of voided attempts

They can see all scheduled exams of an student, which would have all attempts, including voided exams. However it will never say void, just a list of exams taken by the student. If I were to click on an exam that does not have a score (which includes voids) it will simply say no score report available. that could be technical glitch, an investigation, a no show, etc.

Again, there is absolutely NO EVIDENCE that ADCOMs can see all attempts. There is NO EVIDENCE. AAMC has declared many times that this is a rumor created by online trolls.

 

[UBLI-EINSTEIN]

I was thinking about a scenario where someone gets really sick during the exam and they know that they are going to do poorly. They may choose to score it rather than void it if they believed these rumors to be true. All I am saying that some students won't think "to void the MCAT is always better than to have a bad MCAT" if ADCOMs see it.

I won't disagree with you in this case, because I've seen so many students having illusions and ultimately making wrong decisions.
Nevertheless, I think there should be a consensus that to voide the MCAT is always better than to have a bad MCAT.
For those students who could not realize this, I'm afraid that they will not be accepted to desired medical schools due to reasons other than MCAT.

 

[UBLI-EINSTEIN]

While a void is better than a bad score, the issue is going into an MCAT with the intent of voiding.

I think that badboy12345 and I are discussing something beyond OP's thread.
Also, in terms of OP's thinking, I definitely think he should reschedule the MCAT instead of taking it with an intention to void that.

 

[badboy12435]

I think that badboy12345 and I are discussing something beyond OP's thread.
Also, in terms of OP's thinking, I definitely think he should reschedule the MCAT instead of taking it with an intention to void that.

I agree.

 

[Goro]

I think someone needs a little CARS review after years in admissions...

When you use MIGHT to spread an unsubstantiated rumor, it hurts society.

If doctors state that vaccines MIGHT cause autism, then society has a new problem that doesn't exist.

Similarly, this "# of attempts" rumor diminishes the integrity of the SDN community.
If you find evidence that deans can see attempts, I will accept that I am wrong, but, until then, this is just a sorry way to scare premeds.

Looking for evidence is an integral part of being a good physician. You should question "MAYBE statements" when they have no basis. I can't believe I am explaining to an ADCOM member...

Calm down, badboy! You're heading into loose cannon territory.

Will it make you feel any better if you know what when I see your app, all I see are the scores?

And if somebody goes to take the MCAT and then voids it for whatever reason, that actually is a sign of wisdom. There have been tons of posts from people who astound me that they took the MCAT when sick, or injured, or immediately after a bad life event.

That right there is a sign of bad choice making, something we Adcoms are allergic to.

And good call on catching that Stanford troll.

 

[badboy12435]

Calm down, badboy! You're heading into loose cannon territory.

Will it make you feel any better if you know what when I see your app, all I see are the scores?

And if somebody goes to take the MCAT and then voids it for whatever reason, actually is a sign of wisdom. There have been tons of posts from people who astound me that they took the MCAT when sick, or injured, or immediately after a bad life event. That right there is a sign of bad choice making, something we Adcoms are allergic to.

And good call on catching that Stanford troll.

Not for me personally. For students who had a legitimate test day reason to void their exam: probably.

And, thank you for the statement about the Stanford troll.

 

[badboy12435]

AAMC is quite correct that at no time can any adcom ever see anything that uses the word "void" associated with an MCAT attempt in any way, shape or form.

A user with proper rights, such as a admissions director, can look up any applicant by AMCAS ID, see a list of all scheduled MCATS (which keeps every attempt that will count towards a student's lifetime maximum of 7), select a date, and get a score report. In the initial version of this new system in 2015 you would get a message "no score available" if nonw was when clicking on it. In the updated version, I believe the score report is grayed out if none is available. you do not see "voided attempt" or anything similar. It simply has no score available with no explanation. Since a voided exam is never scored and is discarded, only the registration stub remains, which is needed for tracking the max 7 attempts for a student. If an exam was scored but the score was not released, it would have one of the following codes:

Canceled (C): MCAT cancels a score either prior to or after score release as a result of an AAMC decision that there was misconduct or serious rules violations.
Deleted (D): MCAT prevents score release or recalls scores after a release due to a MCAT testing or scoring error.
Hold (H): MCAT places a temporary hold on a score either prior to or after score release. Scores may be placed on hold for financial reasons or an internal review process related to an alleged irregularity, which results either in the scores being distributed or being reclassified as C (Canceled).

For exam attempts that never have a score associated with them, such a technical glitch, a no show, or a void, there simply "no score available" or greyed out box not allowing an admissions director or dean from selecting it. With the current automated delivery system of MCAT scores, the only time admissions would even remotely likely to manually look it, is if student has a planned MCAT on the application and no score shows up on release date, a very conscientious admission officer may go take the trouble to look it up manually. And all they would see is "no score available" and absolutely nothing else. No have no idea whether its a technical glitch, a no show, or whatever else.

Now, if you want to think that I am an online troll, even though I am probably one of the few people on SDN that you can find my name and former position without too much effort, please feel free to think so. The only thing I think about that is if you had a "W" written in each of your butt checks, when you dropped your pants and bent over, the word "WOW" would appear. Actually, I dont think that. Thinking would imply doubt

Now, if you could list where you found this information, I would be glad to say that I was wrong and accept that these "admission directors" could see the number of MCAT attempts. I will also call AAMC and begin a journey to get to the bottom of this, as they would have lied to me at least three different times (all are recorded). If you just state something like "I know because I am an expert," then that is not evidence.

Again, you bring up your "credentials" to prove your point. Only those without evidence bring in unnecessary information to disturb dialogue.

 

[dr.Breezy]

AAMC is quite correct that at no time can any adcom ever see anything that uses the word "void" associated with an MCAT attempt in any way, shape or form.

A user with proper rights, such as a admissions director, can look up any applicant by AMCAS ID, see a list of all scheduled MCATS (which keeps every attempt that will count towards a student's lifetime maximum of 7), select a date, and get a score report. In the initial version of this new system in 2015 you would get a message "no score available" if nonw was when clicking on it. In the updated version, I believe the score report is grayed out if none is available. you do not see "voided attempt" or anything similar. It simply has no score available with no explanation. Since a voided exam is never scored and is discarded, only the registration stub remains, which is needed for tracking the max 7 attempts for a student. If an exam was scored but the score was not released, it would have one of the following codes:

Canceled (C): MCAT cancels a score either prior to or after score release as a result of an AAMC decision that there was misconduct or serious rules violations.
Deleted (D): MCAT prevents score release or recalls scores after a release due to a MCAT testing or scoring error.
Hold (H): MCAT places a temporary hold on a score either prior to or after score release. Scores may be placed on hold for financial reasons or an internal review process related to an alleged irregularity, which results either in the scores being distributed or being reclassified as C (Canceled).

For exam attempts that never have a score associated with them, such a technical glitch, a no show, or a void, there simply "no score available" or greyed out box not allowing an admissions director or dean from selecting it. With the current automated delivery system of MCAT scores, the only time admissions would even remotely likely to manually look it, is if student has a planned MCAT on the application and no score shows up on release date, a very conscientious admission officer may go take the trouble to look it up manually. And all they would see is "no score available" and absolutely nothing else. No have no idea whether its a technical glitch, a no show, or whatever else.

Now, if you want to think that I am an online troll, even though I am probably one of the few people on SDN that you can find my name and former position without too much effort, please feel free to think so. The only thing I think about that is if you had a "W" written in each of your butt checks, when you dropped your pants and bent over, the word "WOW" would appear. Actually, I dont think that. Thinking would imply doubt

If this is true, that's pretty interesting. So for anyone that voids/ no shows an exam, 9 times out of ten ad com members won't even notice that there is a scheduled mcat that has no score. Only if they manually go through the trouble of looking it up (which they won't do for every applicant, but mainly for people that report a future mcat and then no score appears) will they find something.


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[dr.Breezy]

Now, if you could list where you found this information, I would be glad to say that I was wrong and accept that these "admission directors" could see the number of MCAT attempts. I will also call AAMC and begin a journey to get to the bottom of this, as they would have lied to me at least three different times (all are recorded). If you just state something like "I know because I am an expert," then that is not evidence.

Again, you bring up your "credentials" to prove your point. Only those without evidence bring in unnecessary information to disturb dialogue.

Lol if gonnif is spitting facts, it's probably info that would not be easy to find, especially not from AAMC. Adcoms being able to manually see all attempts from a student if they tried hard enough seems like something that wouldn't be advertised heavily. If it were common knowledge, neurotic premeds as neurotic as they are, would be more likely to not void (given a situation in which voiding is justified) because they would come up with some reason to think that since Adcoms can see, it would negatively affect them in some way. Voiding would become moot with that mentality, and I would assume AAMC wouldn't want that


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[badboy12435]

Lol if gonnif is spitting facts, it's probably info that would not be easy to find, especially not from AAMC. Adcoms being able to manually see all attempts from a student if they tried hard enough seems like something that wouldn't be advertised heavily. If it were common knowledge, neurotic premeds as neurotic as they are, would be more likely to not void (given a situation in which voiding is justified) because they would come up with some reason to think that since Adcoms can see, it would negatively affect them in some way. Voiding would become moot with that mentality, and I would assume AAMC wouldn't want that


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The reasons you have mentioned are why someone could create this whole back story (with no proof) and make it sound like it could be possible. Think of it this way: if it was really possible, then why hasn't someone who is in an official position come out with it yet? Why hasn't anyone outside of forums like these provided any evidence of this happening? And, why would AAMC lie to students about this when someone could potentially destroy the reputation of the company? I am sure AAMC doesn't want some random student dragging them to court over this topic.

If this was really happening, then it is much harder to cover up than you are making it seem, especially because people inside and outside AAMC would know about it. A secret like that is not really a secret and would have been leaked by now through a legitimate news source not through an online forum filled with trolls.

 

[badboy12435]

Your right my evidence is solely from from being involved in the automation of Admissions Systems and Processing from its inception in the late 1990s both at the association and the school level and from using this system before my retirement in 2016. Guess my mentioning credentials is just a ploy to dissaude your superior mind or at least louder screaming.

If you believe in it, then publish your experience with evidence in a reputable news source.

And, I can compare your statement to one like this:
"I went through years of schooling to become a doctor. I completed undergrad, med school, residency, and fellowship. I have also practiced for over 30 years before retiring. Vaccines MIGHT cause autism."

Your disregard for providing solid evidence and blatant personal attacks makes me question your statements even more.

 

[Light at end of tunnel]

If you believe in it, then publish your experience with evidence in a reputable news source.

And, I can compare your statement to one like this:
"I went through years of schooling to become a doctor. I completed undergrad, med school, residency, and fellowship. I have also practiced for over 30 years before retiring. Vaccines MIGHT cause autism."

Your disregard for providing solid evidence and blatant personal attacks makes me question your statements even more.

Some really HATE being questioned or challenged on their points of view. And because you are pointing this out to them, please expect to be labelled a Troll any minute now, with certain censorship to follow.

 

[Sir Alanna Trebond]

From the r/MCat AAMC AMA:

"Medical schools won’t have any record of exams in which you chose void or no-showed. They also don’t have the ability to access any system that shows whether you voided or no-showed. Only you will have a record of these exams through the MCAT Score Reporting System. Only the exams you score will be visible to medical schools. Voids and no-shows count as an attempt and toward testing limits."

Maybe it's changed since the new MCAT was first administered, but it seems like medical schools can't see the exams from voids/no-shows at all.

www.reddit.com/r/Mcat/comments/6mw47j/aamcs_mcat_team_here_ama/dk69ipo/?st=j5zfv4l5&sh=5fd2a370

 

[dr.Breezy]

The reasons you have mentioned are why someone could create this whole back story (with no proof) and make it sound like it could be possible. Think of it this way: if it was really possible, then why hasn't someone who is in an official position come out with it yet? Why hasn't anyone outside of forums like these provided any evidence of this happening? And, why would AAMC lie to students about this when someone could potentially destroy the reputation of the company? I am sure AAMC doesn't want some random student dragging them to court over this topic.

If this was really happening, then it is much harder to cover up than you are making it seem, especially because people inside and outside AAMC would know about it. A secret like that is not really a secret and would have been leaked by now through a legitimate news source not through an online forum filled with trolls.

You're right, a reputable, evidence based source is required.


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[Goro]

Some really HATE being questioned or challenged on their points of view. And because you are pointing this out to them, please expect to be labelled a Troll any minute now, with certain censorship to follow.

We especially dislike it when it comes from a standpoint of ignorance of the admissions process. We also dislike the smell of cognitive dissonance.

 

[badboy12435]

We especially dislike it when it comes from a standpoint of ignorance of the admissions process. We also dislike the smell of cognitive dissonance.

"Wow! That decompensated quickly. Placing on Ignore. You'll feel some slight pressure between the ears. Try not to let it hurt your little brain."

Lol

 

[ymedex]

If you aren't ready and have any doubt that you won't perform your best, then do not take the test. Adcoms can only see what AMCAS submits to the schools. When you void the exam, it is like you have never taken the test. But keep in mind that if you take the test and get it scored, that score will stay with you forever. I learned that the hard way. If you retake the exam, as per AAMC recommendation, your score is going to be averaged at 75% of the schools. As for taking the exam just for practice, you will be putting yourself through seven hours of misery and then leave wondering what if you have scored really high and just voided that score.

Completely agree; there's enough practice material available to meet your needs; your reasoning seems stress-inducing, not alleviating.

 

[MonkeyArrow]

Your disregard for providing solid evidence and blatant personal attacks makes me question your statements even more.

Where is your solid evidence? You've stated that you have called AAMC three times, but how are we to believe that you actually called them? Are you sure that these supposedly recorded called are not illegally recorded?