Do You Have to Pay Again to Take the Mcat Tests
Applying to Med/PA School
Everything You Need to Know Almost Registering for the MCAT
About Kasey
Kasey Isaacs is a senior at Morehead State University and is pursuing his Available'southward degree in Biomedical Sciences, with an emphasis in Pre-Medicine. A recipient of the Atlantis Pre-med Leaders Scholarship, he spent three weeks on an Atlantis Clinical Shadowing Fellowship in Milan, Italy in Summertime 2017.
MCAT Test and Registration Dates
As spring quickly approaches, bleary-eyed pre-med students are emerging from the scientific discipline halls of universities across the nation to brainstorm training for the MCAT. Studying for this infamous exam is a herculean chore in itself, and the logistics shouldn't add actress stress to the procedure. Despite this, examination registration tends to be a indicate of needless confusion for already harried students. Is there an optimal fourth dimension to take the exam? You might be wondering. Can I take information technology too early or too late, and if I do, how volition that affect my success? In the post-obit commodity, I hope to lighten your load and clarify these questions through tips I've developed from my own experience.
The proper fourth dimension to take the MCAT depends on a lot of factors—including your personal schedule, goals, and strategies—only regardless of your preferences it is always important to stay informed. The AAMC has created a very helpful chart which goes into great detail about MCAT test and registration dates. Understanding this nautical chart will permit you to brand the most informed decision this yr.
When choosing a test date, it can be a bit confusing to sift through the verbiage. What does the AAMC mean by Gold, Silver, and Statuary zones?
Golden Zone:
This registration zone generally encompasses the period 29 days before the test date (e.g. the gold zone borderline for the June 1 test appointment is May three). This is the ideal fourth dimension to schedule your exam, specially if y'all want the flexibility of irresolute your exam date. Within the gold zone, you will receive the best exam registration price ($315) and the fee to reschedule your exam will be lower ($95) than those in the other zones. This is also the simply time menses in which you can receive a partial refund for canceling ($155).
Silver Zone:
This registration zone's borderline is fifteen days prior to exam day, so the zone itself includes all days between the gold zone deadline and the silver zone deadline. Within this time frame you all the same can annals for an test at the normal registration charge ($315), but the rescheduling fee rises to $155. There are no fractional refunds for exams within this period.
Bronze Zone:
This is the final registration zone with a deadline viii days prior to the exam twenty-four hour period. Thus the bronze zone incorporates the time between the silver zone deadline and the bronze zone deadline. The bronze zone deadline represents the final day in which you lot tin can register for a particular test appointment. Within this zone, you will be charged a higher registration fee of $370 and you cannot reschedule or receive any refunds for a cancelation.
To observe out more almost registration fees and information regarding international students, check out the AAMC'south official site.
Choosing a Test Date
As I struggled to make up one's mind the best course of action for myself, I sought the advice of endless professors, mentors, friends and family members who had navigated the process before me. Although I was met with a broad range of opinions on timing and scheduling, I condensed their communication into this helpful maxim: strive for the intersection of early and prepared. In other words, have the MCAT every bit early on as yous possibly tin can without compromising your level of preparation.
Merely here is the reality: only you know when you lot are fully prepared and what you lot must practice to go far at that goal. This may involve a bit of self-reflection. Personally, I dislike alter of routine, I prefer to feel "over-prepared" for assessments, and I have discovered that studying more than than five weeks prior to an exam is wasted time. I recognize that these may not exist your exact quirks. Nonetheless, I'd similar to walk you through my own determination process to give yous an idea of how I integrated the advice I received into my own situation.
"Take the MCAT as early as you peradventure can without compromising your level of preparation."
In the months leading up to my examination, I decided that I would not waver from my normal routine in the semester prior to information technology, every bit the very thought of doing so caused me a peachy deal of stress. From my perspective, the value of staying fully committed to my schoolwork throughout the semester outweighed whatever potential value in studying MCAT review material. I was further justified in this reasoning every bit I felt that all of my classes practical in some style to the MCAT, and by mastering the class content I was actually reducing the quantity of material I would need to review prior to exam day.
Knowing that I wanted to maintain a normal semester, this limited my test appointment options to those directly following winter break (in Jan) or to dates in summer and beyond (May-September). My pre-med advisor, mentors and physician friends recommended avoiding any dates afterward than July, as this would stall my entire application process. Medical schools generally operate under a organisation of "rolling admission"; thus it is in the bidder'south all-time interest to submit his or her AMCAS or AACOMAS (the medical school awarding services) every bit quickly as possible (for more on the application procedure, encounter this link). This narrowed my time window a chip more than, leaving simply the dates in January, May, and June.
The thought of taking the test in January appealed to my inner overachiever, just I felt I would miss the important content from key classes that I would accept in the spring semester—notably Physics Ii and Developmental Biology. Thus, I was left with the dates in May and June. In choosing between these two months, I knew that I wanted a month for rigorous review. My semester ended the first week of May, speedily ruling out the May dates. Afterward some personal considerations (I was actually getting married that same summer), I decided that the mid-June date (June 16 my year, June 15 higher up) was the opportune time.
Delight remember that I arrived at my decision based off of the realities of my situation. I certainly am not suggesting that this is the only time menstruation in which yous should take the MCAT. What I am suggesting is that selecting a test appointment requires proper planning time, seeking the advice of trusted mentors, and taking the fourth dimension to honestly cocky-evaluate personal factors that can influence test grooming and timing. Choosing a test appointment can be stressful, but proper preparation and thought will enable you to commence on the path to achieving your MCAT score goals with more confidence and less confusion (for more on MCAT scoring, check out this quick guide).
How to Annals for the MCAT
Once yous accept consulted the proper mentors and carefully decided which test date is appropriate for your situation, how do you actually go almost registering for the MCAT?
The registration process is all online. You volition first need to make an account with the AAMC (salvage this password and username, you will demand it for the application process). Next, simply follow the "Register for the MCAT Exam" prompt from this folio. You will be asked to login using your newly-created AAMC business relationship, and and so you can follow the "Outset Exam Registration" push button. The residue is straightforward.
Summary
The road to medical schoolhouse is fraught with little complexities that can make the process seem overwhelming at times—even the registration process to sign upward for the MCAT is complex. However, with some proper preparation and thought you tin can master it. In summary:
1. Don't procrastinate.
Begin the registration process, or at to the lowest degree plan your plan, early on. Your test appointment helps define your MCAT study programme and needs to be decided well in advance.
2. Tap your connections.
Your professors, pre-med advisors, and the physicians you meet every bit a pre-med student take valuable feel that tin help guide you through the registration procedure. If you are a younger pre-med, first building these connections! Y'all will demand guidance and professional mentorship throughout the application process (not to mention a few messages of recommendation).
3. Honestly evaluate your situation.
As cliché as it may seem, you lot know yourself better than anyone. Consider the collective advice of your mentors (who may or may not agree with one another) in the context of your personal study habits, skills, and struggles. This will shape how y'all study for the MCAT, and thus when yous choose to schedule your examination day. If you are a younger pupil, experiment with unlike report styles to help mold yourself into the nigh efficient student that y'all tin become.
Our Alumni Enter Great Medical Schools
John Daines
- Atlantis '17
- Brigham Young University 'xix
- Washington U. in St. Louis Doc '23
Zoey Petitt
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Arizona '18
- Duke Dr. '23
Zoey Petitt
Republic of hungary '17 || Academy of Arizona (undergraduate) 'xviii
Completed Atlantis Plan Location and Date:
Republic of hungary, Summertime 2017
Practise you believe your Atlantis experience helped you become into your graduate program?
I believe it was very helpful.
Generally, why do you lot think Atlantis helped you get into your graduate programme?
For me, my Atlantis experience played a key office in confirming my decision to become into medicine. This was of import for me to discuss during the admissions procedure.
Specifically, did you talk about Atlantis in your interviews?
Aye
Yong-hun Kim
- Atlantis '17
- Stanford 'xix
- Mayo Clinic Medico '24
Yong-Hun Kim
Budapest, Hungary '17 || Stanford University
Program:
Budapest, Hungary – Winter 2017
Undergraduate:
Stanford University class of 2019
Major:
Figurer Scientific discipline
Honors:
Bio-X Grant (honor for inquiry)
Undergraduate Activities:
President and Founder of Stanford Undergraduate Hospice and Palliative Care, Volunteer for Pacific Complimentary Clinic, Inquiry Assistant in Wernig Pathology Lab, President of Hong Kong Student Association, violin performance
Describe Atlantis in 3 words:
Eye-opening. Spontaneous. Exhilarating.
Why did you cull Atlantis?
I chose the Atlantis program considering it combines opportunities to shadow physicians and travel abroad, both of which I had footling prior exposure to.
What was your favorite experience every bit an Atlantis participant?
My favorite experience as an Atlantis participant came in the stories exchanged over meals or excursions and the breadth of conversation that reflected the multifariousness of backgrounds within our cohort and site managers.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
I appreciated the chance to speak with physicians in Budapest and hear their personal motivations for pursuing medicine because it really helped better contextualize and validate my own involvement in medicine. The physicians were also only really welcoming, relatable, and down-to-world people.
How has Atlantis helped equip y'all for the future?
The Atlantis program has equipped me with a improve understanding of what a career in medicine looks like, which I think is an invaluable souvenir because the long road alee of those who aspire to be a doc.
How has Atlantis equipped you for active leadership in the medical field?
The ability to interact and understand with patients of diverse backgrounds and communities is a necessity to be a leader in the medical field. I think the Atlantis programme, through my interactions with mentors and their patients, has helped me take my first steps toward attaining the cultural vocabulary and literacy required of a physician.
Megan Branson
- Atlantis 'xviii
- U. of Montana '19
- U. of Washington Dr. '24
Sarah Emerick
- Atlantis '19
- Eckerd College '20
- Indiana U. MD '25
Elorm Yevudza
- Atlantis '16
- Amherst '19
- Columbia Dr. '24
Elorm Yevudza
Ciudad Real, Espana '16 || Amherst Higher
Program:
Ciudad Real – Kingdom of spain – 2016
Undergraduate:
Amherst College course of 2019
Major:
Neuroscience
Extracurricular Activities:
Track and Field, International Students Association, Charles Drew Health Professions Society
Describe Atlantis in three words:
A transformative experience.
Why did you choose the Atlantis programme?
The opportunity to shadow doctors in a European country profoundly appealed to me. Every bit an international student from Ghana, I value the subtle differences in arroyo that doctors, depending on the country in which they are trained, use to achieve a common result: alleviating illness and improving the quality of lives.
How is Atlantis Unique?
In an increasingly globalized globe, having kickoff-hand feel with the subtleties of healthcare in unlike parts of the world is vital to a future wellness professional person. Atlantis exposes participants to these nuances in healthcare approaches, and in effect helps aspiring health professionals gain a global perspective on healthcare.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
Experiencing the urban center and culture of Ciudad Real was an experience that is etched in my retention. As I good my very elementary Spanish with the locals and discussed various health-related issues with the doctors I adumbral, I was reminded of the uniqueness of man life. I was likewise reminded of the part of a health professional in guild: to preserve and improve the quality of human life.
What was the well-nigh meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
My discussions with doctors about their relations with patients was near meaningful to me. Our discussions highlighted a tendency I had spotted when I adumbral doctors in Republic of ghana: that the core of healthcare is near alleviating illness and improving the quality of life. My conversations with doctors in Ciudad Real underscored the importance of treating patients not simply every bit cases, but equally people.
How has Atlantis helped equip you lot for the future?
The Atlantis program has given me a broader perspective on the field of healthcare. The program has also brought wonderful people into my life. The participants that I shadowed, explored, and conversed with impressed me with their passion for healthcare. The program has too taught me to exist a lifelong leader, and the importance of fostering a curiosity that volition help gear up me for my future in the medical field.
Tiffany Hu
- Atlantis '16
- U. of Maryland '17
- U. of Michigan MD '22
Tiffany Hu
Tereul, Spain '16 || U Michigan Medical School
Programme:
Teruel, Spain – Summertime 2016
Undergraduate:
University of Maryland class of 2017
Admitted medical student at:
Academy of Michigan Medical School
Major:
Neurobiology
Honors:
Honors Integrated Life Sciences Program, Banneker/Key Scholarship
Extracurricular Activities:
American Medical Student Association Co-President & Advocacy 24-hour interval Liaison, Alternative Breaks Experience Leader, Health Professions Advising Function Educatee Advisory Lath, Biology Teach Assistant, Health Leads, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, NIH Inquiry Intern, Physicians for Social Responsibility Surroundings & Health Intern
Draw Atlantis in Three Words:
Educational. Heart-opening. Exhilarating.
Why did yous choose Atlantis?
I wanted to expand my horizons and understand a culture of health different from the ones I am accustomed to. I had shadowed doctors in the United states and Taiwan prior to my Atlantis plan experience, and being able to see first-hand the healthcare arrangement in Kingdom of spain immune me to draw comparisons between the different circuitous healthcare systems.
What was your favorite feel every bit an Atlantis participant?
Bonding with the other participants and jubilant our fourth dimension together along with the doctors we adumbral. We would talk over our interests, passions, and motivation for medicine, and information technology was an incredible experience to learn from and alongside them.
What was your experience with the doctors you were shadowing?
Considering of the pre-established relationships with the hospitals in which nosotros shadowed, all the doctors were very welcoming and all-around. They were willing to translate for us and explain in detail all of their medical decisions. My doctors and I had wonderful conversations about the differences between life in Spain vs. the United states.
What was the most meaningful attribute of your time shadowing?
I was excited to scrub in on surgeries and picket equally the md explained what he was doing throughout the operation. Before and after surgeries, likewise as in my other rotations, I observed how the doctors reassured and communicated with their patients. I was able to glean insight into differences between the experience of health in Espana versus the United States through observation as well equally conversations with the doctors.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
Besides the wealth of medical knowledge I gained from shadowing the doctors, I challenged myself to step outside of my cultural comfort zone and explore more than I thought I was capable of. Atlantis immune me to brand connections with people from all around the United states and abroad, and the friendships I gained helped me acquire so much more than than I would have on my own.
Lauren Cox
- Atlantis '18
- Louisiana Tech '20
- U. of Arkansas Physician '24
Lauren Cox
Libson, Portugal 'xviii || Louisiana Tech
Completed Atlantis Plan Location(due south):
Lisbon, Portugal
Year of most recent program:
Fall '17 – Summer '18
Flavour of almost recent program:
Summer
Exercise you believe your Atlantis experience helped you lot get into your graduate plan?
Extremely helpful
Generally, why do you think Atlantis helped you get into your graduate program?
It exposed me to shadowing that was hard to come past in the states. It also gave me a chance to see other systems of healthcare.
Specifically, did you lot talk about Atlantis in your interviews? If and then, how much relative to other topics?
Yes – they wanted to know about my experience, and specifically how the healthcare I saw in another country compared to what I had seen in the United states.
Kayla Riegler
- Atlantis 'eighteen
- U. of Kentucky '20
- U. of Kentucky Physician '24
About Atlantis
Atlantis is the leader in pre-health shadowing and clinical experience, offering brusk-term programs (i-10 weeks) over bookish breaks for U.S. pre-wellness undergraduates. Medical schools want 3 things: (ane)healthcare exposure, (ii)GPA/MCAT, and (3)sure competencies. Atlantis gives you a great version of (1), frees you lot to focus on (2), and cultivates/shows (3) to medical school admissions committees.
Lookout Video: The Atlantis Shadowing Experience and How it Helps In Your Med/PA Admissions Future
Source: https://joinatlantis.com/blog/registering-for-the-mcat/
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