Alternatives to Khan Academy for MCAT Studying

Khan Academy Will No Longer Be Offering MCAT Videos. We’ve Got Alternatives Here for You.

Khan Academy, the non-profit organization that revolutionized online studying with free videos from high-quality instructors, just announced that on July 15, 2020 (update, they changed the date to the end of September at 7:15 pm EST on 6/12/20), they will retire some of its older and partner courses. This includes the Khan Academy MCAT videos, which served for years as a great resource for pre-med students around the world. As the official partner of the AAMC (American Association of Medical Colleges), the news was quite sudden and unexpected amongst the pre-med MCAT community.

After quite a bit of backlash from the pre-med community, Khan Academy decided to change the date of their MCAT product discontinuation to 9/30/20. Unfortunately, that still leaves many students with the potential to not have the resource in the future.

We hear you.
We know our MCAT course has been important for so many of you.
As a small nonprofit, we don’t have the resources to maintain it at our high standards of quality.
Based on your concerns, we are extending availability through 9/30/20, the end of this testing year.

— Khan Academy (@khanacademy) June 12, 2020

Why Is Khan Academy Is Stopping MCAT Videos?

Khan Academy is a small nonprofit that works to make world-class content available free to educators and students around the globe. However, their limited resources require prioritization. Over the last few years, they have deepened their focus on core academic content and seen the usage of that content grow considerably. By retiring content that is outside this focus area, their team will be able to devote more care and energy to maintaining and improving this highly utilized content.

Will AAMC Give Me Access to the Videos?

According to the AAMC twitter account, the Khan Academy MCAT Collection will also be available through the AAMC Free Planning and Study Resources page for the rest of the testing year. That likely means in late 2020, this will no longer be available for free.

The Khan Academy MCAT Collection will be available for free through this testing year. We’re working w/Khan Academy to maintain this free resource after. It’s crucial that all students continue to have free access to resources like this.

— MCAT (@AAMC_MCAT) June 12, 2020

There are other great (and free) MCAT resources out there. We’ve listed several alternatives and supplements below that include podcasts, free practice exams and other free videos:

1. 1. 1. MCAT video course, flashcards & practice questions: MCAT Prep App by MedSchoolCoach – a free MCAT mobile app that gives you access to Khan Academy-type videos for the entire MCAT curriculum, plus flashcards and questions. This app is specifically made for the MCAT, so it’s a resource that is a great alternative if Khan Academy videos are unavailable.
      2. Podcasts: There are three great podcast recommendations for MCAT test-takers:
         • The MCAT Podcast by MedEdMedia – New episodes of The MCAT Podcast are released every Wednesday. The podcast is hosted by Dr. Ryan Gray of MedicalSchoolHQ and is a great resource for students studying for the MCAT.
         • The MCAT Basics Podcast by ProspectiveDoctor – hosted by Sam Smith of MedSchoolCoach, this podcast takes users through a high yield MCAT topic weekly. It’s an awesome review of MCAT content in a fun and enjoyable format.
         • The CARS Podcast by MedEdMedia – Also hosted by Ryan Gray and with guest Jack Westin, this podcast focuses on CARS related material and is a great listen.
      3. Lecture & Video Series: We’ve compiled resources of great MCAT material that is free for students to explore:
         • Leah4sci – Where complex science is simplified through full-color tutorial videos and simple explanations.
         • AKLectures – They are on a mission to create a library of lectures that provide simple explanations to many difficult topics in the sciences.
         • Chad’s Prep – Taking the stress out of science learning, Chad breaks down science concepts with high-quality videos.
         • Kaplan Youtube videos – Kaplan provides a variety of resources and materials to help you get the MCAT score you need to become a doctor.
         • Mneumonic Mondays YouTube Videos – Each week we discuss helpful tricks using clever letter associations to help you prepare for the test.
         • MCAT Flashcards YouTube Videos – Flashcards are a great study aid, but sometimes not detailed enough to completely understand a term. In these short 1-2 minute videos, MedSchoolCoach MCAT expert, Ken Tao, provides concise, but thorough explanations of each term to help you prepare for the MCAT.
         • Organic Chemistry Tutor YouTube Videos – Great physics and orgo videos on YouTube.
      4. Mobile Apps: there are several great mobile applications where you can take MCAT studying on the go. This includes Ready4MCAT, Magoosh MCAT Flashcards, MCAT Prep by Varsity Tutors and MCAT Prep by MedSchoolCoach. Some of these resources are free, while others require subscriptions that are typically fairly affordable. We’ve compiled a list here of the Best MCAT Mobile Apps.
      5. Practice Questions – Next Step Test Prep offers a free full length practice test that MCAT test takers should take advantage of!

   
   We hope this list provides a starting point for students looking for free MCAT resources as an alternative to Khan Academy. Enjoy!