Low-Cost MCAT Preparation Methods
Preparing for the MCAT can be daunting. We’ve previously talked about the general approach to the four sections of the MCAT and how to get a sense of whether you’re ready to take it.
One of the most daunting parts of preparing for the MCAT test is the cost of preparation. Some of the test preparation can cost upwards of thousands of dollars. Moreover, many sets of books cost hundreds of dollars.
Some suggestions for methods to save money include:
- Inheriting Used Textbooks: I started my preparation by asking if any friends had recently taken the MCAT and were willing to part with their textbooks for free or at a discounted price. Through my network of friends, two people were generous enough to give me their sets of books for free. Remember to pay it forward by giving your books away when you finish the test! Though old textbooks may not include all the new information, it is an excellent place to start. I didn’t read any of the books cover-to-cover but only read sections where I missed a lot of questions.
- Khan Academy: I’ve utilized Khan Academy throughout my entire education. The strength of Khan Academy is that it has both practice questions and teaching videos. This might be the place to review concepts if you’re an audio/visual learner.
- Anki: I started using Anki in medical school but wished I had started earlier. Anki is a flashcard system that can be used on computer and mobile devices. Specifically, it uses recall in a delayed way to improve retention of topics studied. The power of Anki is being able to download decks that other people have made, helping you save time in acquiring and organizing the information. Many of these decks are provided free on the internet. I would suggest the best way to start is by reading about the various decks and their strengths/weaknesses. This will help you to decide if a particular deck is right for you. We will have a later series on the various ways to set up Anki.
- AAMC: The AAMC provides a practice exam for free. I would suggest using the test to benchmark your study after you have completed the initial preparation for your exam. Additional to having a free practice exam, there is also a fee assistance program, which can help with the cost of the MCAT and medical school application process. I highly suggest checking this resource out as it helps at multiple stages of the preparation and application process.
- Podcasts: If you are an auditory learner or if you have a long commute to work or school, there are several great podcasts for MCAT preparation. These are often free, and some recommendations include the following:
o The MCAT Podcast
o MCAT Basics Podcast
o The Med School Tutors Podcast
o MCAT Mastery
One method to have more practice questions in a low-cost strategy is joining a group of friends to generate questions for each other. The downside is difficulty generating passage-based questions.
Feel free to write us with any questions on test preparation.