what course to do well on mcat

by Assunta Sipes 8 min read

Completing biology, biochemistry, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, psychology and sociology during your undergraduate years provides you with the foundational skills necessary to succeed on the first three parts of the MCAT.

What courses should you take before the MCAT? The AAMC suggests a year each of general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biology, plus a semester each of psychology, sociology, and biochemistry.

Full Answer

What classes should you take to prepare for the MCAT?

  • 1 year of Biology
  • 1 year of General Chemistry
  • 1 year of Physics
  • 1 year of Organic chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • intro to psychology and sociology

What are the best MCAT study courses?

Top 7 Best MCAT Prep Courses of 2022 Reviewed

  • Blueprint Online MCAT Prep Course – Best Overall MCAT Prep Course
  • Kaplan MCAT Prep Courses – Most Comprehensive MCAT Prep Courses
  • MCAT Self Prep – Best Self Study MCAT Course Online
  • The Gold Standard MCAT Exam Course Software – Best Self Study MCAT Exam Course
  • Magoosh MCAT Prep Course – Best Low Cost Option
  • Adapt Prep MCAT Review

What courses are required/recommended for the MCAT?

What Classes Do I Need to Take for the MCAT?

  • Biology. Those planning to take the MCAT will need at least two years of biology -- the study of the physiological processes of living things.
  • General and Organic Chemistry. Students preparing for the MCAT will need one year of general chemistry with lab, along with one year of organic chemistry and lab.
  • Physics. ...
  • Math. ...
  • Verbal Reasoning. ...

When should I start to study for MCAT?

Your calendar should have the following:

  • Content review – note exactly what you’ll be covering and for approximately how long
  • Break days – pace yourself so that you do not burnout!
  • Mock exam days – a scheduled time when you intend to write a full-length practice test

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What classes should I take to do well on the MCAT?

We recommend completing the following courses before attempting the MCAT exam:General Chemistry I and II.Organic Chemistry I and II.Physics I and II.Cell Biology.Molecular Biology.Biochemistry.Human Anatomy.Introduction to Human Physiology.More items...

Is a prep course worth it MCAT?

So, are MCAT prep courses actually worth it? MCAT Prep courses are probably only worth it if you need structure, support and don't feel confident self-studying for the MCAT. Many students score well on the exam without ever having taken (or paid a lot of money for) a course. It's definitely not a necessity.

Is the Kaplan MCAT course worth it?

Kaplan MCAT prep is a great choice to get you ready for the MCAT. Many have gone through the course and had great success and you do have the higher score guarantee, which means Kaplan stands behind their work. Kaplan is a great choice if you learn mainly by lecture/video and practice questions.

Is Kaplan or Princeton Review better for MCAT?

The primary difference between the Kaplan and Princeton Review MCAT offerings revolves around instruction. Kaplan provides better quality on demand, video-based instruction, while we tend to like the quantity and approach of Princeton's live classes better.

When should you take MCAT prep courses?

We generally recommend that students give themselves at least three to five months to prepare for the MCAT. As such, if you want to test in January or March, then you'll want to get started in September or October.

Is the Princeton Review MCAT prep course worth it?

Is the Princeton Review worth it? Yes! Princeton Review has a great course that has helped students raise their score through effective content and an easy-to-use platform. Their 510+ score guarantee is especially valuable for students who need to hit a specific score for admissions.

How many hours a day should I study for the MCAT?

Most people need 10–15 hours per week to study for the MCAT over a period of at least four to six months . In total, you should aim for at least 200 to 300 hours of MCAT study time.

Can you do well on the MCAT without studying?

Study Mistake #1: Not Studying Most thought that taking the prerequisite courses for the exam in college was sufficient but, unfortunately, that's not the case. The MCAT is not like the SAT or ACT that you can take in high school without studying and do fine.

What is the best MCAT prep course?

After reviewing numerous courses , we found that Princeton Review and Blueprint were the best MCAT prep courses. Both courses offer some grea...

Are MCAT prep courses worth it?

MCAT prep courses are a great way to learn new material and refresh yourself on old material. Some factors to consider might be your budget, learni...

How far in advance should you study for the MCAT?

The amount of time it takes to study for the MCAT will vary from person to person. It is recommended that students give themselves adequate time to...

Is Kaplan or Princeton Review better for MCAT?

Both prep courses are great options when studying for the MCAT. Princeton Review is a little cheaper and has a couple of different features versu...

How difficult is MCAT?

The MCAT is a very difficult exam. Many students spend months preparing for the MCAT exam. MCAT prep courses are an efficient way to study and ta...

How long does it take to study for the MCAT?

It is recommended that students give themselves adequate time to prepare for the MCAT (6-12 months). MCAT prep courses are a great way to stay on track when studying for the MCAT.

Why is MCAT prep important?

The MCAT is challenging, and high scores are critical. MCAT prep courses are a great way for students to refresh their knowledge on multiple topics while also learning new material. MCAT prep courses will help students become more comfortable taking the MCAT by offering strategies and test taking tips.

What is the purpose of MCAT prep?

MCAT prep courses are a great way to learn new material and refresh yourself on old material. Some factors to consider might be your budget, learning style, and self-discipline. MCAT prep courses will help identify strengths and weaknesses, simulate the actual test, and provide a study plan.

How much does the Dr Flowers MCAT cost?

Dr. Flowers MCAT offers 3 different pricing options. The first one is an 8-week course available for $299. The second one is a 12-week course available for $419. The third one is a 16-week course available for $539 and the one we reviewed.

How much does Princeton Review cost for MCAT?

The Princeton Review offers a very thorough MCAT prep course. The online, self-paced course retails for $1499 and is available to students for 12 months. The course features 1000’s of free-standing and passage-based questions – all of which have detailed answer explanations.

Is MCAT prep expensive?

Budget MCAT prep courses can get expensive. If money is tight, consider our best value recommendation, or self-study with MCAT prep books. Learning style – if you have a history of successfully studying with books, a self-study approach with a good MCAT prep book may be your best plan.

Is MCAT prep course good?

If your score needs improvement, an MCAT prep course may be a good option. Need for encouragement – if you need encouragement, feedback and motivation, a prep course with an instructor (either in-person or online) is a good option. Budget – MCAT prep courses can get expensive. If money is tight, consider our best value recommendation, ...

Why is blueprint the best MCAT prep?

Why We Chose It: Blueprint is our choice for the best MCAT prep course because of its strong student support, impressive instructors, breadth of study materials, and access to full-length practice exams.

What is the MCAT 2021?

The MCAT is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and consists of multiple-choice questions on problem-solving; critical thinking; and knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science required for students who want to study medicine. The best MCAT prep courses are those that are engaging, ...

How much is Kaplan online course?

Kaplan’s Live Online Course is available for six months for $2,499. You can also choose the Live Online Course Plus for $2,999 which includes everything in the Live Online Course plus three hours of one-on-one tutoring, MCAT foundation courses, and more.

Why is Kaplan the best online course?

Why We Chose It: Kaplan is our choice for the best live-online course because of its full schedule and study plan, access to live classes, and the ability to ask questions to off-screen teachers throughout the lessons.

Who is the founder of MCAT?

MCAT Self Prep was founded by Andrew George who developed his own study method when preparing for the MCAT. Today, the company offers four study prep options based on the research of the study habits of students who scored in the top fifth percentile on the MCAT.

Does Princeton Review refund MCAT?

You can also access an extensive video library, MCAT textbooks, and thousands of practice questions. If, after completing the course, you don’t see an improvement in your score, The Princeton Review will refund your tuition. If you’re not satisfied with the course, the company will let you repeat it for free.

Is Princeton Review a bootcamp?

Each course comes with its own features, score guarantee, and refund policy. The Princeton Review was founded in 1981 and has since become a top name in the prep course industry. Today it offers a wide selection of test prep courses including four MCAT prep options and a bootcamp.

What is the MCAT?

The MCAT, short for Medical College Admission Test, is a standardized test that students must take if they’re hoping to be admitted into medical school.

The 5 Best MCAT Prep Courses

The Princeton Review has been offering standardized test prep for many years, and it’s good at what it does. Currently, it offers four different MCAT prep courses.

Conclusion- Best MCAT Prep Courses

We sincerely hope this information gave you some good insight on choosing from the best MCAT prep courses to be found online.

What is the MCAT exam?

It’s a standardized, multiple choice exam that aspiring doctors take prior to applying to medical schools. MCAT scores are analyzed by medical school admissions professionals, in addition to other application materials, such as personal statements, your GPA, and letters of recommendation. In the 2018–19 school year, ...

How long did Annalise Panthofer study for the MCAT?

Aspiring physician Annalise Panthofer began studying mid-June for her September MCAT exam. Over the course of the summer, she studied for three months and took practice exams roughly every weekend leading up to the big day. While this method worked for her, many students may need additional time to study — be sure to take ...

What is the average score for medical school?

However, the average MCAT score of those accepted into medical school was 511. As you can see, medical school admissions are competitive. You’re going to want to score higher than average to improve your odds of getting into medical school. To do that, you can help set yourself up for success by preparing all you can for the MCAT.

What is the first step to becoming a doctor?

And to make that happen, you need to take the first step — tackling the MCAT, or the Medical College Admission Test. The MCAT is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges. It’s a standardized, multiple choice exam ...

Find Connections Between Your MCAT Studies and Your Premed Courses

Chances are as a premed student you will be taking some sort of science course. Possibly even one of the premed prerequisites. Take advantage of the fact that you are studying for the MCAT while taking these courses to help you excel in both the MCAT and your class.

Come Up With a Routine

You should come up with a routine and stick to it as much as possible. For instance, if your classes don’t start until 9am or 10am, consider waking up a few hours early every morning.

You Must Be Flexible

So we discussed that routine is important, but you have to be flexible too! The reality is, in college every week is different. Some weeks you will have nothing going on while other weeks you will have 3 exams at once.

Make Your Semester as Easy as Possible

We all know that some semesters in college are much more difficult than others. Try to time your MCAT studying with an easier semester. And I’m not just talking about a decreased class load, I’m also talking about limiting your extracurriculars.

Make Sure You Are Being Held Accountable

Some of us are very self-disciplined but the majority of us are not. We may think we can handle keeping ourselves on track but I’ve seen plenty of students, including myself, fall behind due to a lack of accountability.

Set Goals and Stick to Them

Your schedule will not be consistent due to your workload from school, however, set up checkpoints/goals throughout and work hard on keeping them.

Are you Wasting Time?

The thing I hate the most in this world is wasting time. I would rather watch a mediocre Nicolas Cage movie than spend an extra 15 minutes of my evening going back and forth between what movie to watch.

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