Should I take the MCAT in Sept and void

[maybemed2013]

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I am really thinking abt taking an MCAT in Sept and voiding so I can see what the MCAT is like. In addition I want to know will I be fine taking the test in the testing center or should I apply for accommodations...... I would get extra time and probably would be able to take the mcat over a 3 day period.... my friend got accommodations and this is what she got.

 

[PanRoasted]

I'm pretty sure accommodations are for people who legitimately need them due to disabilities or something... not for people who to take the MCAT for practice and decide it's too much pressure so they apply for accommodations.

Also, spending $275 for a practice MCAT is extremely silly, and won't even accurately portray how you're going to feel on your real test day.

 

[shaboobly]

I am really thinking abt taking an MCAT in Sept and voiding so I can see what the MCAT is like. In addition I want to know will I be fine taking the test in the testing center or should I apply for accommodations...... I would get extra time and probably would be able to take the mcat over a 3 day period.... my friend got accommodations and this is what she got.

you signed up for the mcat just to see what it's like? dang that's a lot of money. they have a free test you can take. if you need accommodations then try to get them.

 

[rubisco88]

I am really thinking abt taking an MCAT in Sept and voiding so I can see what the MCAT is like. In addition I want to know will I be fine taking the test in the testing center or should I apply for accommodations...... I would get extra time and probably would be able to take the mcat over a 3 day period.... my friend got accommodations and this is what she got.

Are you serious? You only get accomodations if you have some kind of disability. No, you're not getting special treatment.

 

[maybemed2013]

I do have a disability... I have received accommodations throughout college.

 

[shaboobly]

I do have a disability... I have received accommodations throughout college.

college =/= real life. they wont give you accommodations in the real world.. as in being a physician.

 

[PanRoasted]

I do have a disability... I have received accommodations throughout college.

...Then obviously, yes, just apply for accommodations. If you get it, great, if not, sucks. But don't pay to take an actual MCAT with the intent of voiding it afterward just to "see what it's like." If there's no pressure for you to do well, you're not going to get the same experience as someone who is seriously taking the exam, so it's really just a very stupid way to spend ~5 hours and $275.

Plenty of people receive accommodations while on the job if they are disabled... I don't see most hospitals barring employment from doctors who require glasses or walking implements.

 

[BABSstudent]

I am really thinking abt taking an MCAT in Sept and voiding so I can see what the MCAT is like. In addition I want to know will I be fine taking the test in the testing center or should I apply for accommodations...... I would get extra time and probably would be able to take the mcat over a 3 day period.... my friend got accommodations and this is what she got.

I have an idea that will save you $275.

Go to e-mcat.com and sign up to take the free AAMC test. If you want another, then spend $35 and get another test.

As for accommodations, you can get them for a disability. HOWEVER!!!! Your score has an asterisk next to it. Schools can log in and see what type of accommodations you got. If you got a 28* and someone else got a 28, same score breakdowns, the school will let in the normal score first.

 

[angldrps]

I am really thinking abt taking an MCAT in Sept and voiding so I can see what the MCAT is like. In addition I want to know will I be fine taking the test in the testing center or should I apply for accommodations...... I would get extra time and probably would be able to take the mcat over a 3 day period.... my friend got accommodations and this is what she got.

W-H-A-T?! 😱😱

 

[titleist975j]

if you have the money, go for it. no big deal.

 

[bpatient]

Forget what the other people say, do what is best for you and will give you the highest score in the end.If that means dropping about $300 on a practice test to give you the confidence to do well then do it, if you need accommodations then apply, there are physicians out there that need accommodations too.

 

[PanRoasted]

Forget what the other people say, do what is best for you and will give you the highest score in the end.If that means dropping about $300 on a practice test to give you the confidence to do well then do it, if you need accommodations then apply, there are physicians out there that need accommodations too.

There is no guarantee that dropping $300 will give him anything but a hole in his bank account where $300 used to be. I won't presume to know "what's best for him," but what is essentially just a practice exam (meaning, minus the pressure and anxiety associated with a normal test) is NOT among the list of things that are worth $300. If you want to get a more "authentic" experience, take a drive down to your local library, park yourself inside a library cubicle and open a practice exam on your laptop. Time yourself exactly, take whatever breaks are given, and you just saved yourself $300.

 

[nisarg2010]

There is no guarantee that dropping $300 will give him anything but a hole in his bank account where $300 used to be. I won't presume to know "what's best for him," but what is essentially just a practice exam (meaning, minus the pressure and anxiety associated with a normal test) is NOT among the list of things that are worth $300. If you want to get a more "authentic" experience, take a drive down to your local library, park yourself inside a library cubicle and open a practice exam on your laptop. Time yourself exactly, take whatever breaks are given, and you just saved yourself $300.

+1

This would be more helpful since you would get to review the test. If you just take a test and void, you didnt really get anything out of it other than wasting 5 hrs. If you want to know what tests are like than just take one of the published AAMC and look through the threds of recent tests dates and see what everyone though of the test i.e did they think it was harder or easier than the AAMC tests.

 

[DocGodfather]

If I choose to void the MCAT after taking it, will there be some kind of notation on my record that I took it? I was led to believe there would be no record, but my friend said that there will be a record showing a voided exam.

 

[Mehd School]

. If you got a 28* and someone else got a 28, same score breakdowns, the school will let in the normal score first.

According to whom? I think that in some cases accommodations won't look ideal but I also think that your post may be baseless.

With that said, stretching the test out over three days is an absurd and borderline unfair accommodation. I can understand more time per section, but stretching it out like that removes an entire aspect of the test.

 

[brood910]

It is stupid to listen to other ppl when you KNOW your own way of studying.
If you have a lot of money, it is not a bad idea at all since you will get to know what the computer screen is like in your testing center, etc.

 

[BABSstudent]

According to whom? I think that in some cases accommodations won't look ideal but I also think that your post may be baseless.

With that said, stretching the test out over three days is an absurd and borderline unfair accommodation. I can understand more time per section, but stretching it out like that removes an entire aspect of the test.

I was referring to the huge disability that you are referring to. If a person gets 3 days to do the test and they can only get a 28, I seriously doubt a medical school will give them much consideration.

 

[Mehd School]

I was referring to the huge disability that you are referring to. If a person gets 3 days to do the test and they can only get a 28, I seriously doubt a medical school will give them much consideration.

That's what I thought, subjective information. While I agree with you that the asterisk may make someone raise an eyebrow, neither you nor myself is in any position to tell others how that would Impact their admissions.

 

[Qester]

According to whom? I think that in some cases accommodations won't look ideal but I also think that your post may be baseless.

With that said, stretching the test out over three days is an absurd and borderline unfair accommodation. I can understand more time per section, but stretching it out like that removes an entire aspect of the test.

I would be interested in seeing what the correlations are per section in this case as in comparison to the regular testing environment in regards to USMLE step 1 scores.

 

[kmp0410]

I personally think its wrong, not that you should care what I think. You should do whatever you want to do. But if your really have the money then I think that's an unfair advantage to just blow 270 in a dishonest fashion to give yourself extra prep that other people could not afford to do.That said, that's tough crap on my part.

But even still it seems like a waste, your not going to find out much by taking and voiding. The content will not be the same, the style is not that drastically different from the practice AAMCs, its just about being able to read new information and apply what you know. That's what makes the MCAT difficult and a lot of people don't get that, they think they should just know everything on the test. Especially considering you won't even get to review it...really pointless.

And as for accommodations, if you need them then by all means. I won't argue the validity of what the AAMC deems appropriate because it won't matter anyways. 3 days seems a bit ridiculous though, I can understand extended time (for physical reasons) but half the test is mental stamina.

 

[sbhav]

I agree with many other in stating that this is an extremely silly idea. Every MCAT is extremely different, meaning you have no idea what topics/concepts you are going to be tested on. It is in no way indicative of what you will or have on the actual test day. If you really feel strongly about it, then go ahead. It seems like a waste of 4 hours and $270 to me.