How to Approach MCAT Research-based Passages

More Stuff Does Not Equal Better MCAT Prep Course

Laureano Andrade Vicenty, MD21 July 23rd, 2019 124 comments

     When you go and you google MCAT prep courses, you will often find that they offer a massive amount of resources, most of which you will never use, and most of which are either subpar or utterly useless. Here is an example of what comes with a purchase of a very popular MCAT prep course vendor, and my thoughts on the course contents.

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15 full-length practice tests: Most MCAT test-takers do 5-8 full lengths before taking their final exam, not 15. 3 of those full-lengths come the makers of the MCAT, AAMC. You do not need 15 practice exams.

130 Interactive science review videos: You have a limited amount of time as a premedical student to study for the MCAT, and for most, every second matters. The videos by K are on average 50 minutes long, and so if you were to watch all 130, it would take you about 108 hours assuming you did not pause at all to think. 108 hours. 108 hours on only the science topics. MCAT Disciples covers all topics tested by the MCAT in less than 100. This comparison reveals bare the lack of efficiency in using K’s videos for review.


540 hours of total instruction and practice: In order to form long-term memories, we must rehearse and review material several times over. If your review material is 540 hours long, if you studied 8 hours a day, 7 days a week, it would take you ~2.5 months to review the material just once! Taking this many hours to review material once is not conducive to long term memory formation and thereby not conducive towards a good MCAT score.

7-book MCAT Subject Review Set: While I enjoy a good reading from time to time, particularly before watching a lecture, I have never found a dense, bland set of textbooks to be my main source of learning. I prefer that someone more knowledgeable and experienced guide me through the material! Ask yourself, when you were in college, how often did you use the textbooks that your school assigned for you to read? If you are in the majority of students in undergraduate education, the answer is almost never! The MCAT can be a similar experience, if you pick the right MCAT prep course!

Cost of $1,799: This is a ridiculously high price. MCAT Disciples offers a similar course for 3x less than this course. Visit mcatdisciple.com to read more about how MCAT Disciples can help you prepare for the MCAT.

     Don’t be fooled by the marketing techniques, more does not equal better. When judging an MCAT prep course for its value, try their practice materials and view their trial lectures before deciding on spending!

In the Market for an MCAT Prep Course?

Sign up for The MCAT Disciples trial course!

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Laureano Andrade Vicenty ( Professor )

Laureano Andrade Vicenty graduated from Rockland Community College with an associates degree in math and science. In 2016, he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelors degree in biochemistry from Stony Brook University. Laureano is a medical student at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University. Laureano scored in the 97th percentile on the new 2016 MCAT, and serves as the main lecturer for The MCAT Disciples.

Comments

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Kimberly S.

6 days ago

Thanks for the info, it saved me from buying a really expensive course!

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