It is recommended that students take the MCAT during the summer of their second or third year because the test covers material often covered during first or second year courses. The MCAT Exam Website is a great resource about the test.
Students can either take a prep course or self study for the MCAT. Depending on how you choose to study, MCAT preparation can cost anywhere from $300 to $2,000.
Self study is the cheaper of the two options though you need the discipline to study and there is quite a lot of material (7 books from Kaplan) that could be daunting. But if you prefer self study and have the discipline then it may be a better option since the course sometimes feels slow and will make you want to study less. If you are highly self-motivated, you may choose to prepare for the MCAT on your own. While there are many ways to guide your study, here are a few of the most popular guides:
SN2ed Three Month MCAT Study Schedule
Most companies that offer courses also offer book sets for self study that will come with online small lessons on the harder concepts and (usually) 4-5 full length practice MCATS.If you prefer structure when you study and would like the benefit of having someone guide you through the studying process, there are numerous MCAT prep courses to choose from. Some of the largest companies include:
The course is expesive and that is the major con. The pros are that the people taking the course will have insider information and tips about writing while also keeping you on track. It will also be helpful if you write the MCAT after you took the class (so if you are writing the MCAT after 3rd or 4th year but need to know first year bio information) the presence of a teacher type person will help.