Issues with rescheduling the MCAT from one country to the other

Question

Hey all! I was curious if anyone else ran into this problem. I originally scheduled my exam in Canada due to everywhere near me in Seattle being fully booked up but I kept notifications on for the testing centers in Seattle as the rescheduling fee would roughly be cheaper than it would be for me to plan food, lodging and transport. Coupled with it being less of a hassle to just take it here in Seattle it seemed like the right plan. I have been getting the notifications but every time I try to reschedule it says I can't do it due to switching countries that I'm taking the test in. When I called AAMC the person talking to me said they'd never heard of that error before, and said I can schedule it over the phone with them if it's available but it seems like its only ever available when someone drops out middle of the night and not during their business hours so I can't call them about it. I was wondering if anyone else has had this issue? It's not the end of the world just more of a nuisance as I can't see a reason why this error would exist, and am wondering if I'm alone here or if anyone has has similar issues in the past. ​ Also, obligatory thanks for all the help so far! Been a lurker for awhile! ​

Answer 1

Hey! You’re definitely not the only one who’s run into this — it’s actually a pretty common issue. Unfortunately, the AAMC system doesn’t let you reschedule across countries through the regular online portal. Even if a seat opens up in Seattle, it won’t let you switch from Canada to the U.S. without canceling and re-registering entirely.

Calling AAMC is really your best shot, but yeah... it’s tricky because those last-minute spots tend to open late at night, outside of their phone hours. I’ve had students in the same boat, and sometimes if you call during business hours and explain the situation, they’ll flag your account or walk you through what to do if a spot opens.

That said, if it looks like a hassle and your Canada plans are solid, it might be worth sticking with your original test site just to save yourself the stress... seems this was many years ago but in case anyone else comes across this issue...