The 10 Best MCAT Test Prep Courses
What's the Best Online MCAT Prep on the Market?
While the answer to that question is going to depend on your specific needs (tutoring vs. online classes, directed study vs. self-paced prep), the MCAT itself is unavoidable if you dream of being a doctor. Standing for the Medical College Admissions Test, the MCAT is a valuable metric that can set you apart from your peers in the gauntlet of admissions to prestigious and well-regarded medical institutions.
Scoring well on the MCAT is critically important in the medical school admissions process. Admissions committees use MCAT scores as a standardized metric to assess the academic preparedness of applicants. A strong MCAT score can significantly enhance an applicant's chances of gaining admission to their desired medical school, opening doors to a fulfilling career in medicine.
Saturday, February 8th
2025 MCAT Test Prep Course Reviews
UWorld
Specialists in reasonably priced MCAT test-preparation, Uworld is by far the top choice on our list. Their flash-card based, easily comprehensible preparatory materials can fit into any kind of study plan. Instead of focusing on recordings of various lessons and lectures, Uworld leverages its mobile/online format for interactive, well-explained study questions and prep. If budget-conscious, self-paced prep is first on your list, Uworld is an excellent choice, and its mixture of quality and relative affordability have earned it the top spot on our list.
Blueprint
Promoting their module-based, customizable mix of module-based MCAT learning, Blueprint provides some of the best-value self-lead and live-online courses on our list. While Blueprint tends towards a higher price than their competitors, that price will get you access to integrated module-based study plans, office-hours support across every plan, plus MCAT scoring instructors and tutors who scored 517+ themselves. In short, while Blueprint is expensive, we think that out of the pricey self-lead and live-online MCAT courses out there, Blueprint offers some of the best value for the money.
Wyzant
Wyzant is an online job board for tutors looking to find students. When compared to other tutor-brokers on our list, Wyzant is incredibly easy to use, with simple search and rating functions, a wide range of tutors-by-price, and a 1-hour refund guarantee. If you're looking to add one-on-one tutoring to your MCAT prep, Wyzant is one of the best places to do it.
Prep 101
With expensive (but slightly less pricey than some) MCAT offerings, Prep 101 can be a good choice for those looking for a well-reviewed MCAT course online. While Prep 101 doesn't have any super-premium boot camps or the intensive tutoring services of their competitors, they offer some good materials for a competitive price, and are well worth your consideration if you need the accountability of a teacher and classroom for your MCAT prep.
Kaplan
Founded in 1938, Kaplan is one of the largest test prep companies out there. Simultaneously, they are one of the most expensive on our list. With a wide range of pricing options, Kaplan can be a good choice if you need your test prep to be heavily structured. However, independent learners would do best to avoid high-price, inclusive packages such as Kaplan's.
The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review is infamous for its advertising practices (which seem to follow you everywhere across the web). While they are persistent advertisers, their products are priced at a premium, and overall comparable (but not the best) to other live-online and self-led MCAT classes. If you need a heavily structured class, then The Princeton Review should be on the roster for your MCAT prep. Otherwise, you would be better served with less heavily-directed MCAT materials.
Magoosh
As a highly-regarded Silicon Valley ed-tech startup turned test prep staple, Magoosh is well known for their low-priced plans, and for being an excellent place to work. When it comes to their MCAT, however, we find that their bare-bones approach is just a bit too bare compared to the robust offerings of their competitors. So, while they have a 10+ score guarantee and are great for your budget, don't expect anything groundbreaking from Magoosh.
Varsity Tutors
While Varsity Tutors offers a nice range of vetted and well-qualified tutors, we are extremely disappointed that they use foot-in-the door techniques by hiding their actual prices behind a phone call. While this isn't a huge deal, there are tutoring brokers out there that will tell you prices beforehand, and they won't force you into a sales pitch just to find out a price. In short, there are better MCAT tutoring platforms out there, and we recommend you check out those competitors before going with Varsity Tutors.
Peterson's
Peterson's is a test-prep company that appears to gain most of its customers through strategic partnerships with the U.S. military. As their focus primarily seems to lie in providing CLEP test materials for ex-military members seeking college credit, their MCAT offerings are not ideal. While friendly for your pocketbook, and not necessarily terrible, for MCAT test prep there are better budget options out there than Peterson's.
MCAT Prep
MCAT Prep offers some very slim preparatory materials that - while seemingly budget - are overpriced for what you actually receive. With a poorly-updated website and little in the way of office hours support, no score guarantee, and few prep materials offered, MCAT Prep does not offer good value for the price, and we do not recommend it as a viable option for your studies.
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The MCAT is designed to assess a wide range of skills and knowledge crucial for success in medical education and practice. Beyond evaluating factual knowledge, the test looks at critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. These qualities are indispensable for medical professionals who must navigate complex medical cases, make timely decisions, and adapt to rapidly evolving medical advancements.
The MCAT also mirrors the evolving demands of the medical field. Medicine is becoming increasingly integrated and patient-centered, requiring professionals to understand not only the scientific aspects of health but also the socio-cultural and ethical dimensions. The MCAT's inclusion of sections that assess psychological, social, and ethical concepts acknowledges the need for physicians who are empathetic, culturally competent, and capable of delivering holistic care.
While far from perfect, the MCAT provides a benchmark for comparing applicants from diverse educational backgrounds, ensuring that medical schools admit students who possess the foundational knowledge required for their rigorous curricula. By incorporating an emphasis on natural sciences, critical analysis, and reasoning, the MCAT tries to ensure that candidates are well-rounded and equipped to tackle the interdisciplinary nature of modern healthcare. This uniform evaluation method helps institutions make informed and fair decisions when considering a large pool of candidates.
Before you start browsing our curated list of MCAT preparatory services, we have a few tips that might serve you well as you do your due diligence:
- Time: First, do you have enough for a class, and second, how well can you manage your schedule? Be honest with yourself about your ability and availability, and choose a self-paced or live-online class accordingly.
- Money: MCAT test prep is just plain expensive, even more so if you choose to take a class. As such, be strategic about which prep you choose based on your needs: a well-made self-paced prep package could net you higher scores than a mid-tier, ineffective classroom.
- Score Guarantees: Many services come with various refunds and "score guarantees”, but contain caveats around them. Whether you have to establish a baseline score, or complete all provided coursework, be sure to check the parameters of their guarantee before you buy the service.
Here at Top Consumer Reviews we have done our due diligence to make your MCAT test preparations less strenuous (and, hopefully, less expensive). With a bit of elbow grease and determination, you will be able to improve your score. So take a deep breath, and start preparing with our curated list of the top MCAT test prep available today.
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