Looking for parental advice

[Em&M]

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I really need some advice right now because I am at a total loss of what to do...

My daughter will be in second grade this year and being that she goes to a Catholic school, this is the year that she will be recieving her First Holy Communion. This is a very sacred event for us, one that we have been looking forward to for a very long time. The problem is that I just found out that the April MCAT, the test that I need to take in order to apply for med schools in June, is on the same day as her First Communion.

The worst part is that I am a single Mom and her father is hardly involved and certainly has had nothing to do with her spiritual upbringing, so I need to be there.

What am I supposed to do? I am freaking out because I don't know if I should postpone the test (my stats are not stellar hence the April MCAT and early applications...) or take it and risk the guilt of not being there when my daughter needs me.

If there are any parents out there, please share your thoughts or advice. I feel that no matter what my decision, I will regret one or the other for a very long time and I don't know what to do.

Thanks for any advice you might have.

 

[efex101]

I would call up the AAMC and see if you can change the date of your exam some exceptions have been granted for religious purposes...although not sure what that entails. Good luck!

 

[unfrozencaveman]

I would call up the AAMC and see if you can change the date of your exam some exceptions have been granted for religious purposes...although not sure what that entails. Good luck!

Yes- they also offer the test the next day, on Sunday, for those with extenuating circumstances.

 

[Em&M]

I don't want to sound condescending, but are you *sure* her First Communion is during the Saturday mass? Usually they are done during one of the Sunday masses, especially since weddings are performed on Saturdays. Just want to make sure that wasn't an oversight. Also, if her 1st communion is on a Saturday, what time is the mass? (4pm, 5pm, 6pm?) If you are taking the test in the same city - you might be able to do both if you can get someone to get her over to the church.

The final option is to try to get an allowance to take it the following Sunday, or to take it in August.

Good luck!

The First Communion is at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 22. At St. Charles, we don't do it in a formal Mass (as they do for baptisms...) Further, the First Communion is something the kids (and parents) prepare for all year, especially being a Catholic school and it all culminates in an intimate ceremony with families and friends on that Saturday morning...

I appreciate the advice to see if it is possible to take the test on a Sunday, I will make a call tomorrow to aamc and see if that will even be a possibility for me. I really hope it is because I just don't think that I have it in my heart to sacrifice my daughter's needs for my own (but I also cannot afford to spend thousands on applying to med schools when I will have a markedly decreased chance by applying late...)

Thanks All For the Advice!

 

[efex101]

Remember that as long as you submit AMCAS *before* you wait for August scores your are still fine and will not be "late" for all schools will be waiting for is MCAT scores. What does put folks in the late pool is waiting to submit AMCAS "after" they see their scores sometime in October.

 

[QofQuimica]

I agree with the advice about taking it on Sunday. That test date is explicitly set up for people with religious and other conflicts. Here's what it says in the 2005 MCAT Essentials manual:

If your religious convictions prevent you from taking the examination on Saturday or if you have an unavoidable conflict, you may request a Sunday testing. Be sure to check the CBT registration website to see if Sunday test days are offered domestically. Sunday administrations are always held on the day immediately after the Saturday administration. To register for Sunday examinations, you must pay a fee of $10.00 in addition to the regular fee of $200.00 and complete an online written request stating your reason for taking the exam on Sunday. Registration deadlines are the same for both Saturday and Sunday testing. Registrations for Sunday testing submitted during the late registration period must also include the non-refundable late fee of $50.00.​