So, the time has come for you to pick out your MCAT test date. Are you excited? Nervous? Freaking out a little? Don’t worry! Every other pre-med student is right there with you, and I’ve been there myself too.
I promise, registering for the MCAT doesn’t have to be scary. In this guide, I’ll tell you exactly how to do it and even give you some tips to help you make sure you pick the best possible MCAT date for your future.
This post is all about how to register for the MCAT.
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Learn How To Register For The MCAT
Your MCAT Registration Guide
Welcome to your very own comprehensive MCAT registration guide! Let’s go over the step-by-step instructions for where, when, and how to register for the MCAT as well as a couple of frequently asked questions that are probably living at the top of your brain as we speak.
When to Register for the MCAT
You’re probably wondering how far in advance to register for the MCAT, but first we have to cover a more basic question: When does MCAT registration open? Exact dates vary from year to year, but in general, there are registration dates available across the country starting in January and March and extending through September.
Registration opens at different times depending on which cycle of test dates you have in mind. For the January test dates, registration tends to open in mid-October. For the July through September test dates, you should be able to register starting in late February.
The last day to register for the MCAT changes according to individual test dates. Each test date will have a 60 day deadline, a 30 day deadline, and a 10 day deadline for registration. So, the last possible moment you could potentially register for a given MCAT exam is usually 10 days prior to the scheduled test date (in case there are still open spots available).
But I recommend scheduling much, much sooner than that! You want to make sure you pick a date that aligns well with your projected studying timeline, which will probably be at least a few weeks long, if not several months. Ideally, you want to give yourself enough wiggle-room to be able to reschedule your test date in the event that your study plan doesn’t pan out exactly the way you thought it would.
Even if you don’t hop on and choose your test date the day registration opens, you should try to schedule your MCAT test date a few weeks or months in advance. It helps to pick out a few back-up dates as well, just in case your preferred test date is full by the time you register. Hopefully, you can avoid that issue by registering far enough ahead of time, though.
Unsure how long you might need to study? Go to my blog post How Long to Study for the MCAT? 3 Realistic Timelines where I help you to calculate your own MCAT date with this easy (but realistic) formula!
Where to Register for the MCAT
Once you’ve picked out your test date (and back-up test dates), registering for the MCAT is way easier than you think it is. The first thing you’ll need is an AAMC account if you don’t already have one. To make an account, simply click on this link and follow the steps onscreen.
After you make your AAMC account, you can head over to the MCAT Registration System and fill out your background information by clicking “Start Exam Registration.” You can do this before the next round of registration even begins. This allows you to skip straight to registering for your preferred date when you’re ready to do so, letting you get first dibs on the date you want.
As you fill out your information, make sure it matches exactly with the ID you plan to take with you on test day. Examples of acceptable forms of ID include:
- State driver’s license
- Passport
- Passport card
- Permanent resident card
- Employment Authorization Document
- Canada health card
- Consular ID card
- Canadian aviation card
To give you an inside look into what kinds of questions you have to answer during the registration process:
Once your forms are all done, you can click “Schedule an MCAT Exam” to pick out your desired test date and location. Remember to turn on notifications if the test date you had in mind is already full so you can receive an alert if a spot opens up.
How Much Does it Cost to Register for the MCAT?
When you’re all done scheduling, you can go ahead and click “Proceed to Checkout” to pay for your MCAT exam. The standard registration fee is $335 or $140 through the Fee Assistance Registration Program.
It’s important to keep in mind that rescheduling your exam will cost an extra change fee depending on how far in advance you reschedule. Here’s a quick breakdown of the change fees and cancellation refunds for different timelines:
- 60 or more days before the exam: $50 to change or $165 cancellation refund.
- 30-59 days before the exam: $100 to change or $165 cancellation refund.
- 10-29 days before the exam: $200 to change or $0 cancellation refund.
For the full breakdown as well as tips on how to earn the extra cash, go to my blog post How Much Does It Cost to Take the MCAT? + Premed Side-Hustle Tips.
Can You Register for Two MCAT Dates?
Unfortunately, you cannot register for more than one MCAT date at a time. So you won’t be able to register for your ideal date and a back-up date just in case. Instead, you’ll have to pay the change fees if you end up changing your mind post-registration.
Still, don’t let that hold you back from registering early! It’s better to grab your ideal test date and then wind up changing it later than risk getting stuck with a date that doesn’t work for you at all because everything else was full.
Tips for Registration Day
Use these tips to help you navigate the registration process on opening day or whenever you decide to register for your MCAT exam.
1. Know Your Dates in Advance
Check out the MCAT calendar beforehand so you can plan out which dates will work best for you. You don’t want to be stuck making a split-second decision, then be forced to change your test date later when you could’ve picked the best one the first time. Make sure to pick out a few back-up dates as well in case your ideal date is full.
You can find the 2024 MCAT calendar here.
2. Sign Up for Notifications
Follow AAMC on Twitter or subscribe to the AAMC email list to make sure you always have all the most recent information about registration updates. AAMC might also hand out other helpful tips for your pre-med journey, so it doesn’t hurt to sign up and follow along!
3. Have Everything You Need Ready to Go
You’ll need to input information from your AAMC account, ID, and credit card throughout the registration process, so it helps to gather all those materials together before you log in. Remember to create your AAMC account in advance and pre-enter some of your information if you can to save time on registration day.
Final Thoughts
You’re about to take the next big step in your pre-med journey: registering for the MCAT. I hope this guide gave you all the information you need to feel prepared for your registration day so you can log in with confidence and be ready to schedule your test. Remember to select your test date carefully and provide yourself plenty of time to study and prepare in the months leading up to the exam.
Good luck, and happy scheduling!
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