Hi Eleanor,
 
I did not take an MCAT prep course, and actually self studied for the entire summer. I can tell you that I am very happy with my score and that I am very glad that I self-studied because I was able to tailor my study schedule to match my strengths and weaknesses. You can see read more about my MCAT experience and our other advisors here: (https://premedhubumich.com/studying-for-the-mcat/). Briefly, I spent 3 months studying for the MCAT. The first month consisted of reading the Kaplan Prep Books, the second month I completed more practice exam questions using UWorld, and the last month I practiced using the Official AAMC Material. All in all, I think this study strategy was a much better use of my time. However, many people like the structure of the prep courses, and if you feel that you would benefit from it then perhaps you could look into the TPR. I know a lot of people who used the TPR and scored very well.
 
Please drop into office hours if you have any other questions!
 
Karan Joseph

Hi Eleanor! I would also add that I took a Princeton Review Course, but ultimately chose it because it fit in my schedule better (ie. I wanted a morning class that didn\’t meet on Fridays). Other students often chose Kaplan or Princeton based mostly on scheduling reasons as well. In the end, the class will only set knowledge foundations for you, and help you have some structure to you studying, so the bulk of how successful your MCAT-ing is will be dependent on how much effort you put in.   Hope this helps! Sincerely, Lindsay (Co-Pres)

Hey Eleanor! 
I took Kaplan and I really enjoyed the resources I got access to after signing up for a course. It also gave me a base-line structure on how to study. With that being said, after my course ended I did self-study and I enjoyed the balance of both. 
Overall, I think the choice to take a course, which course, and whether to self study is a personal decision based on your schedule and study techniques. Drop by our advising hours and we can talk more about what might work best for you!

Thank you for your answers.  would you be able to comment on the what sources you found most helpful for the four sections:  BB, CP, CARS and Psych?
How did you approach content review? Did you take notes, make flashcards, watched Khan videos????  when did you start taking full lengths?  Thank you for all your advice.

Hi Eleanor!
 
So glad you’re finding our resources helpful. In terms of making an MCAT study plan and schedule, it is highly individual for each person. We would highly recommend that you come in to make one that works best for you — your other commitments, budget, and prior experience with each subject. Let us know if our hours don’t work for you and we can also schedule a meeting.
 
PMH Staff