Best Prep Company

[deleted600623]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi all,

I'm starting to do research on what type of prep I want to do for studying for the MCAT. My plan right now is to study from January to April or May and take the test right after. However, I've been looking at prep companies and TPR seems very attractive with its amplifire software. I've heard good things about Kaplan as well. I actually began prep with Altius back in the fall but realized it was way too much to study for the MCAT and take courses at the same time. So in the spring, I will be working 20 hours as a scribe but will devote the rest of the time to MCAT prep. Any advice for what prep company or whether I should prep with a company as opposed to study on my own.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Asaeed90cc]

Both are good but I chose TPR become of proximity purposes. I will be starting my course in September. However, if you do purchase TPR at this moment they will give you a discount of $200 and an extra FREE CARS Accelerator Liveonline course. This package basically sealed the deal for me.

 

[deleted600623]

@Asaeed90cc When does it end? Will you take the MCAT right after or continue studying?

 

[Asaeed90cc]

It'll end early December. I chose this timing because then I have all 5-6 weeks of winter break to finish up my studying. So it won't be much longer after i finish up my prep course but enough time for me to go over material that I feel like I need to work on.

 

[BYUCougar2011]

I would suggest saving your money and studying on your own. My friend and I both performed similarly in Organic Chemistry, and my friend went with a prep company and I decided to study on my own for the MCAT. He scored a 515 and I was able to score a 522. I am sure we both worked equally hard, but I think the difference comes from being able to control your study and being able to use the best resources. Test prep companies will train you using their resources, which includes very few of the official AAMC practice problems (problems written by the people who wrote the MCAT!). During my study I found test prep companies' practice exams and practice questions to be subpar. I feel like they take you off track more than help you. I would suggest making a study plan that uses various resources (AAMC, Khan, Kaplan, Princeton, ExamKrakers). Variety is your friend.
Also, if you feel like you need more structure/someone to guide you through the study process and help you with challenging questions, I would suggest finding a tutor. Test prep companies will charge you outrageous prices for tutoring. If you search around online, you can find better deals on tutors. It is helpful to tutor with someone that performed well on the exam already and can give you peace of mind about your preparation.
Lastly, I enjoyed studying on my own because I was able to make the plan that worked for me. I was able to study from home and study only as much as I could each week (very helpful since I was still taking classes during my exam prep). Best of luck with your preparation!