The Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT, was made by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). It is an exam that is usually taken by premed students who would like to attend medical school.
When wondering about who should take the MCAT, those who are interested in studying in medical school within the next 2-3 years should. But can anyone take the MCAT and undergo the MCAT registration process? Read on to find out!
Who Should and Can Take the MCAT?
As mentioned, premed students interested in applying for medical school should take the MCAT. In terms of eligibility, the AAMC states that students are eligible to take the MCAT if they are planning to apply to health professions schools.
If you are a student that is interested in allopathic, podiatric, osteopathic, and/or veterinary medicine, then you can take the MCAT. All premed students will fall under the category.
For international students, you are still eligible to take the MCAT. However, the process might be a bit more confusing, which is why you need to contact or check the AAMC webpage for more information regarding taking the MCAT as an international student.
What if you are only an interested test taker that has no plans of applying for a medical school? No, they aren’t eligible to take the MCAT, nor are current medical students, as they have already taken the MCAT and are currently enrolled in medical school already.
With that said, the AAMC may grant “special permission” for people to take the test. Yes, there are some people interested in taking the test without the desire to apply for a medical school. If ever you are interested in taking the MCAT but have no plans on applying for medical school, you will need to contact the AAMC for special permission.
For instance, test preparation companies would have their developers take the MCAT every year. This is done so companies can design their courses and materials (like the MCAT practice test) well, as a way to help premed students prepare for their tests.
The Limitations of MCAT
The AAMC set limits after the new version of MCAT was released in 2015. This limit involves how often students are able to take the MCAT.
Students can take the MCAT three times in 1 year, four times within 2 years, and 7 times in an entire lifetime. Meaning, those who have taken the MCAT 7 times will not be permitted to take the test again.
If you are a premed student who wants to take the MCAT to apply to medical schools, you can take the MCAT. Just be sure that you follow the limitations set by the AAMC and take the test less than 7 times in a lifetime. However, as much as possible, it’s best to pass and get a great grade on your MCAT in just one take!
This is why you should focus more on your studies rather than your eligibility in taking the MCAT. Good luck!
Comments are closed.