It was the beginning of the Fall semester and I was sitting in Microbiology Lab with my new lab buddies when one of them started talking about the MCAT. The MCAT was the last thing on my mind at this point, so I wasn’t really paying too much attention. I figured that the MCAT was months away for me and that I would just study for just a single month before...
How to Study for the MCAT While Working or in School
When I was preparing for the MCAT, I wasn’t in a position to “pause” everything else in my life. I was in full-time school, tutoring high school subjects to support myself, and doing clinical volunteering. I kept hearing stories of people who took three months off, studied 6-10 hours a day, and built their lives around the MCAT, but that just wasn’t...
AAMC Bio/Biochem Strategy for the MCAT
You memorized every amino acid, reviewed every pathway, and still struggled on Bio/Biochem questions. Sound familiar? You are not alone. This section feels like a content marathon, but the students who score highest are not the ones who memorize the most. They are the ones who know how to think like researchers. Yes, you still need strong content...
How to Develop an AAMC Mindset: Thinking Like the MCAT Test-Maker
When one of my students came to me frustrated after scoring over 85% on third-party materials but tanking their AAMC section bank, I wasn’t surprised. I’ve seen this pattern so many times. It’s incredibly common for students to feel like they know the content, yet somehow still struggle on official AAMC MCAT materials. They’ll say things like, “All the...
5 Essential MCAT Self Prep Resources
If you are reading this blog post, you are likely in one of two boats: 1) You have signed up for MCAT Self Prep (yay!) but are not sure where to start, or 2) You are deciding on which MCAT prep course/resources to use and are considering MCAT Self Prep as an option. Whatever stage you are at in your MCAT prep journey, this blog post will help you determine...
How to Use AI to Study for the MCAT
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a daunting milestone for pre-medical students. It's a comprehensive exam that tests not only your scientific knowledge, but also your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), there are new strategies to help prepare for this challenging exam. Here's how you can...
When to start doing practice questions for the MCAT
When to start doing practice questions for the MCAT You’ve started studying for the MCAT. You’ve created a study plan, watched your lecture playlists, and made loads of flashcards. Now that you feel confident about mastering content, you have one remaining question: when do you start answering practice questions? When to start doing practice questions for...
The New AAMC Section Bank Volume 2: Everything You Should Know
What to Know About the AAMC New Section Bank Volume 2 Last month, the AAMC released the long awaited second volume of their MCAT Official Question Section Bank. This set of 300 questions covers the three science-based sections on the MCAT: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, and...
How a Third Time MCAT Taker Scored a 519 on the MCAT
My First MCAT Attempt I began my MCAT journey by self-studying only with the help of free resources, Kaplan books, and free full length practice exams. After receiving a “good but not good enough” score as I deemed it, I decided I needed to retake the test. My Second MCAT Attempt With no good pre-med advisory board at school, I rushed into my second test...
How to Use the Official AAMC Content Outline
After the 2023 MCAT season ended, the AAMC released their first ever content outline for the MCAT. Why hasn’t this received more attention? It has been buried in their Online MCAT Prep Hub, making it difficult to find and revisit. However, it has some great material, combining online textbook links with some of the already officially endorsed Khan Academy...
What Should I Bring (and Not Bring) on MCAT Test Day?
Knowing exactly what to bring and not bring on your official MCAT test day can be stressful. Although the AAMC has official guidelines, it is always nerve wracking not knowing how strict a testing center will be and how much you can read between the lines. Here, I have condensed these guidelines and added my own tips, tricks, and insights that helped earn...
