OVERALL

 

The quality and quantity of MCAT course teachers, methods and books/material vary. As such, when choosing a course, you should first determine what's important for you, then determine which company will fit your needs best.

 

TEACHERS

Since the MCAT covers so many topics, you will likely have several different instructors. What should these instructors possess? Expertise and teaching experience. Additionally, they should be familiar with what material will actually appear on the MCAT, although they need not have taken an actual MCAT for this knowledge.

What about the teacher's experience with medical school? Doesn't matter. The MCAT tests basic science and verbal skills. As such, no knowledge of medicine is required to do well on the exam. If you have questions about med school or admissions, go to your school's pre-med counselor or another source.

What should a good MCAT teacher possess? The two most important things are experience in teaching the test and enthusiasm. When choosing a course, contact each company directly and ask about the specific teachers and their qualifications, rather than assuming that all teachers for a company are necessarily the same.

 

METHODS

One of the frustrations many MCAT students encounter is that in their MCAT courses they do not learn as many test-taking strategies as some of their friends who take LSAT classes do. You may have a pre-law friend who scored in the 48^th percentile on his/her first practice LSAT, took a prep course, and ended up scoring in the 93^rd percentile. So why don’t test prep companies do the same thing for the MCAT? The MCAT is a relatively straightforward exam which tests factual knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge; whereas the LSAT only tests logical reasoning and critical reading skills -- no facts. With the MCAT, either you know the material or you don’t. As such, you’ll learn basic test-taking strategies which will help you out, but those strategies alone are insufficient to make a large difference in your score; significant practice on MCAT exams is necessary.

 

BOOKS/OTHER MATERIALS

 

All the courses provide quality material. Check each company for the quantity of practice material provided.

SHOULD I TAKE AN ON-LINE COURSE? 

On-line courses provide essentially the same content you would find in a company's live course. These on-line options have the obvious advantage of great flexibility -- study when and where you want. This flexibility is a great advantage for those who live a great distance from any live courses, or for those with hectic schedules. Of course, the obvious negative is that you don't have a live teacher. Many on-line course options provide you with an e-mail contact if get really stuck, though. If you're okay without a teacher but want much more material than is found in a retail MCAT preparation book, then consider on-line options.  

WHICH COURSE SHOULD I TAKE?

 

Follow these steps:

 

Step 1- Decide what’s important to you –Plenty of Classroom Time or Loads of Practice Material? Live or On-line?

 

Step 2- Narrow down your choices to two or three companies, then contact the companies and get specifics on your local teachers’ experience and enthusiasm.

 

Step 3- Choose a course.