Preparing for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a significant financial investment for premedical students. In addition to the registration cost of $320, you may also need to invest in study materials from textbooks and question banks to practice exams. These materials can range in price from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars.
You may also choose to enroll in an MCAT prep course, which can cost several thousand dollars. Additionally, you might have to take time off from work or reduce your course load to devote more time to studying, which can also have financial implications.
The loftier your goals, the more time you will have to devote to studying. For example, in my experience, I’ve observed that it often requires studying well beyond 500 hours to achieve a score of 520+.
Some of the top scorers I’ve worked with have dedicated over 1,000 hours to reach their goals. As the saying goes, time is money.
While some resources can offset these costs, such as scholarships and financial aid, it’s important to carefully consider the financial commitment required before embarking on your MCAT preparation journey.
If you’re concerned about the financial burden of studying for the MCAT, you’ve come to the right place. Learn how to study for the MCAT completely for free in 2024 with these 12 resources, including podcasts, video lessons, free CARS passages, an audio MCAT prep course, and more.
MCAT Basics: A Free MCAT Podcast
The MedSchoolCoach MCAT Basics podcast is a comprehensive and informative resource for students preparing to take the MCAT exam.
Hosted by Dr. Sam Smith, this podcast covers a wide range of topics related to the MCAT, including test-taking strategies, study tips, and content review. The podcast features interviews with experts in the field, who provide valuable insights and advice to help listeners succeed on the exam.
The MedSchoolCoach MCAT Basics podcast is an excellent tool for students looking to excel on the MCAT and gain admission to medical school. With its engaging format and expert guidance, this podcast is a must-listen for any student preparing for the MCAT exam.
MCAT Masterclass: Free Video Lessons for MCAT Content Review
In the MCAT Masterclass, learn how to tackle the various sections of the MCAT with the help of renowned expert Ken Tao. As you prepare for the MCAT, Dr. Tao will introduce you to critical topics that you will need to know as you prepare for the exam.
A number of additional lessons will be added to the masterclass throughout 2024, covering a wide range of topics that you need to know about in order to be successful on test day.
Jack Westin: Free CARS Passages
Jack Westin CARS passages are an essential resource for students preparing for the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) section of the MCAT exam. Jack Westin, an experienced MCAT tutor and founder of the MCAT CARS Strategy Course, has created a wide selection of CARS passages that are designed to mimic the style and difficulty level of the actual MCAT exam.
These passages cover a broad range of topics, including social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. They’re each accompanied by detailed explanations and analyses to help students better understand the reasoning behind each answer.
Westin’s CARS passages are an excellent tool for getting ready for the CARS section, focusing on critical thinking, analytical skills, and reading comprehension.
MCAT Go: An Audio MCAT Prep Course with Several Free Lessons
MCAT Go by MedSchoolCoach is a comprehensive and flexible MCAT prep program designed to help you prepare for the exam at your own pace. With MCAT Go, you’ll have access to over 300 hours of video content, including an in-depth review of all MCAT topics, plus hundreds of practice questions and full-length exams.
The program also includes personalized study plans, progress tracking, and access to expert tutors who can provide guidance and support. MCAT Go is an excellent choice if you want a comprehensive, self-paced MCAT prep program that can be tailored to fit your individual needs and schedule.
Anki — A Free Digital Flashcard App with Free MCAT Decks
Anki is a digital flashcard app that is widely used for memorization and learning. The app is based on spaced repetition, which is a learning technique that involves spacing out the review of material over increasing intervals of time. Anki uses algorithms to determine when to show users certain flashcards based on their previous performance, making the learning process more efficient and effective.
Anki can be used to create customized flashcards, allowing users to study a wide range of topics, from language learning to medical terminology. Anki is a popular tool for students preparing for exams such as the MCAT, as it allows for efficient memorization of complex material. Free Anki decks, such as MilesDown and Ortho528, are useful resources for content review.
MCAT Guidebook: 100 Free Tips from MCAT Experts
MedSchoolCoach has created a free guidebook with all their best MCAT tips. This guidebook contains 100 high-yield tips for the MCAT covering everything from your study plan to tips for how to attack the CARS section!
It was written by their MCAT tutoring team based on over 10,000 tutoring hours with pre-med students. (Their students increase their previous or practice exam scores by 12 points or more on average, so it seems to be working!)
Learn how to improve your score with study planning tips, and identify which topics are the highest yield on the MCAT.
Khan Academy: Free Videos for MCAT Content Review
Khan Academy’s MCAT resources are comprehensive tools for students preparing for the MCAT exam. The program covers all MCAT topics, including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology/Sociology, and provides detailed video lectures, practice questions, and practice exams.
The program is entirely free and accessible to students with very limited financial resources. Lectures are presented in a clear, concise manner, and the practice questions are designed to help you reinforce your understanding of the material.
MedSchoolCoach Half-Length Practice Exam: Test Your Knowledge
By combining years of MCAT expertise and unparalleled AAMC knowledge with a perfect technical simulation, MedSchoolCoach has created hundreds of unique passages and questions that replicate the actual MCAT for the most representative MCAT practice exams available.
Their analytics will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses so you can tailor your study planning. Evaluate your timing, performance across AAMC categories, and topic mastery quickly and easily. Using these tools, you’ll be able to adapt for your next MCAT practice exam and for the real deal.
Kaplan Quicksheets: Free PDF Note Sheets for High Yield MCAT Concepts
The Kaplan MCAT Quicksheets are a concise and portable review tool for students preparing for the MCAT exam. These quicksheets cover all of the key topics and concepts tested on the MCAT and are designed to be used as a quick reference guide during the final days of studying leading up to the exam.
The quicksheets are organized by subject and include formulas, equations, and key concepts in an easy-to-read format.
MilesDown Reviews: More Free PDF Note Sheets for High Yield MCAT Concepts
The MilesDown MCAT review sheets are a comprehensive and detailed resource for students preparing for the MCAT exam. The review sheets cover all of the key topics and concepts tested on the MCAT, including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology/Sociology. The review sheets include detailed explanations, diagrams, and mnemonics to help students understand and retain the material.
Additionally, the MilesDown review sheets are free and available for download, making them an accessible resource for students with limited financial resources. They also have a free Anki deck!
MCAT Flashcards Video Series: A Quick, High-Yield MCAT Content Review
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.
Equation Sheets: All the Important Formulas and Equations to Know for the MCAT
The MCAT Equations Sheet is a complete worksheet with all the equations you need to know for the Chem/Phys Section of the MCAT.
Studying for the MCAT can be an expensive endeavor, but there are ways to do it for free. By using the resources listed above, you can set yourself up for success without breaking the bank. While studying for the MCAT can be daunting, utilizing free resources can help make it a more manageable and affordable process.
