MCAT Matchmaker: Find the Resources That Actually Fit Your Study Style

Drowning in MCAT Prep Options? Here’s How to Find What Actually Works from a 510+ scorer

The MCAT Resource Overload Is Real

• The MCAT is hard. The MCAT is important…. hahaha do you get instant anxiety from the spam ads you see on YT? 😂

• Ever feel like there are more MCAT resources than molecules in a chemistry passage? When I was studying for the MCAT, I remember watching YouTube videos, scrolling through Reddit and TikTok, and asking any upperclassmen I knew for their recommendations. I wanted to avoid purchasing resources that wouldn’t work, but also get the ones that would be the most beneficial.

• Before you start studying for the MCAT, it often seems daunting. Everyone says you need at least 3 months and up to 6+ months to study for it. I wondered how much I could possibly need to learn or practice. What I quickly learned was that the time was necessary because it takes that long to begin gaining pattern recognition and adequately practice answering MCAT-style questions, which is more like a skill than a conceptual understanding. Like any sport or activity, practice is done incrementally over a long time. And the MCAT, unlike your university tests, is no different.

• Today, in this pre-health scaries Monday post, I will help you choose MCAT resources tailored to how you learn, not just what’s popular.

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Know Thyself: Identifying Your Study Habits and Preferences

• Before you throw down hundreds on a prep course, ask yourself…

  • Do you learn best by reading, watching, doing, or discussing?

  • Are you a solo studier or do you thrive in group settings?

  • Do you need a rigid schedule or flexible, self-paced materials?

  • What’s your current content base? First-time learner or needing a review?

  • How much time do you have until your test date?

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Resource Matchmaking: Best Tools Based on Learning Styles

• Visual Learners:

  • Khan Academy videos (free and content-aligned)

  • Blueprint videos and Sketchy for science-heavy concepts

    • Towards the end of my studying, orgo and gen chem sketchy videos I found for free on YouTube, surprisingly, helped with memorizing all those pesky details

• Auditory Learners:

  • Podcasts (e.g., MCAT Bros, The MCAT Podcast)

  • UWorld with explanation audio (if available)

  • YouTube videos are useful if you want dual visual and auditory components, which is how I personally learn best

• Reading/Writing Learners:

  • Kaplan/Princeton Review books (I got PDF versions on Etsy for $15)

  • AAMC materials + Anki (MilesDown Deck ofc)

  • Making summary sheets of what you read/watch

• Kinesthetic Learners (Doers):

  • Practice-heavy resources like UWorld and AAMC Qbanks

  • Concept-mapping and active recall tools

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Structure vs. Freedom: Prep Course vs. DIY

• When to consider a course:

  • You need accountability

  • You want structured scheduling and coaching

  • You have funding or access to scholarships

  • Besides MCAT prep, you would appreciate relearning foundational STEM content before med school

• When DIY might work:

  • You’re a self-starter with a plan

    • This includes that you know yourself so well that you can prevent falling into your bad habits, such as procrastination

  • You’ve already taken most prereqs

  • You’re balancing work or other time constraints

I did not use a prep course because I knew I wanted to focus more on practice questions and only limited content review (I finished all prereqs already). All the content review I did was mainly from YouTube. If you’re similar to me, but also want to get a little extra support, you could buy some tutoring hours toward the end of your study period without getting a whole prep course. MedLife Mastery offers competitive prices compared to other companies in the market.

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Budgeting: Smart Spending for Score Gains

• Low-cost essentials: Khan Academy, MilesDown Anki Deck (check reddit), Jack Westin CARS, AAMC bundle

• Mid-range DIY: Books + UWorld

• High-cost, high-support: Blueprint, Kaplan, Princeton Review

• Pro tip: Buy used or digital books, share access with study buddies (where allowed)

• Need help making a study schedule? Make a customized one for free here!

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Trial & Error Is Normal

• Normalize switching strategies after a few weeks if something doesn’t click

  • I had a meltdown over my “strategy” multiple times throughout the 4 months I studied LOL ← I can only laugh about it now, a year later…

• Reminder: Just because a resource works for a Redditor doesn’t mean it’ll work for you.

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Final Tips & Encouragement

• Trust your instincts and learning style.

• The goal isn’t to use every resource—it’s to master the ones that fit you.

• You’ve got this. MCAT prep is hard, but picking your tools shouldn’t be.

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CTA (Call to Action)

• Struggling to choose between UWorld and Blueprint? Email me with your learning style and timeline—we’ll help you pick!

• If you’re interested in utilizing a free study-style quiz to help give you the answer to which MCAT resource to get, fill out the poll below!