Which MCAT Materials are the Best for Me?

Session 11

Your questions, answered here on the OldPreMeds Podcast. Ryan and Rich again dive into the forums over at OldPreMeds.org where they pull a question and deliver the answers right on to you.

Today, they discuss about the best resource for studying for the MCAT, what you need to do, and some things you need to consider to find your best resource.

OldPreMeds Question of the Week:

Looking at retaking the MCAT with a 19 on the old exam and trying to avoid going to the Caribbean. What is the most useful resource for studying for the MCAT?

Here are the insights from Ryan & Rich

MCAT used to be a 3-part exam:

Biological sciences

Physical sciences

Verbal Reasoning

In 2015, MCAT now covers 4 sections:

Chemical and physical foundations for systems

Critical analysis and reasoning

Biological and biochemical foundations

Psychosocial and biologic foundations of behavior

What you need to do for the MCAT:

1. Have a preparation plan.
   • The courses you take as an undergrad are not enough preparation,
   
   
2. Understand how the exam works.
   • Understand the strategies for reading and answering the questions.
   • Practice, practice, practice.
   • It's not just knowing the content or how to approach the exams, but it's having a head game to take the exam.
   • Don't take the exam until you're ready to do so.
   • Get started with the AAMC exams (the closest thing as the real exam as possible.)
   • Get another set of exams with one of the providers.
   
   

"How Many Practice MCAT Exams Should I Take?"

Rich's rule of thumb is to do 4-6 practice exams under realistic conditions in getting scores you're comfortable with before you take the actual exam.

"Which MCAT Prep Company Should I Use?"

Look at your finances. It could cost $2,000-$3,000 to take a course.

You may self-study (if you have good habits and can be disciplined) and get retail books provided by an MCAT prep companies  such as Kaplan, Examkrackers, Princeton Review.

Live classroom or live online?

That's your personal preference.

Which of the courses of these companies are going to work for you?

Kaplan stresses the most amount of strategy to take an exam.

Princeton Review is a content-heavy course.

Examkrackers offers online and in-classroom classes but there are mixed reviews about their classrooms.

Free online resources like the Khan Academy (a few years ago, they hooked up with AAMC to run a contest and funding for people to rate MCAT prep materials for their system)

Things to consider here when choosing your resources:

Your learning style

Your discipline in studying

Your financial considerations

Understand where you are in the process and how are you going to be able to schedule all these things

Major takeaway from this episode

Rich personally believes that everyone should be in some sort of formal course (online or classroom). If you're thinking about investing a couple hundred thousand dollars of debt to go to med school, then $2,500 to pay for a prep class is not that expensive.

Links and Other Resources

Check out AAMC’s MCAT 2015 practice test.

Test prep companies:

Kaplan

Princeton Review

Examkrackers

Khan Academy

If you have questions you want answered here on the OldPremeds Podcast, go to oldpremeds.org and register for an account. Go into the forums and ask a question.

Go to medicalschoolhq.net/mcat for a ton of great MCAT information. Listen to our first episode at OPMPodcast.com/1 to find out more about who we are.

Also check out the Premed Years Podcast at www.medicalschoolhq.net.

Find us on iTunes and go to opmpodcast.com/itunes and leave us a rating and review.

Check out MedEdMedia.com for all the shows that we produce including The Premed Years and the OldPreMeds Podcast. We will soon be launching a medical school podcast as well so stay tuned!

Email Dr. Ryan Gray at ryan@medicalschoolhq.net or connect with him on Twitter @medicalschoolhq.