With the rise of the Internet, the options for MCAT prep have multiplied. Certain types of prep will suit certain prospective medical school students, but key characteristics like learning style and personality affect who should choose what. Below are three common scenarios by which students begin their prep, with review suggestions tailored to specific learning styles.
— If you are a self-starter: Of the students who take the MCAT, a small percentage are true self-starters, with the necessary motivation to successfully guide their review plans. They will ensure that they study — they simply need a road map and the right tools first.
Like all MCAT test-takers, self-starters will require comprehensive review resources, including numerous practice questions. Linguistic learners can benefit from guidebooks, but for students who prefer to listen to an illustrated lecture — like auditory and visual learners — video tutorials are key. Again, access to MCAT questions, such as the question packs from Association of American Medical Colleges, the organization behind the exam, is an absolute must for all students.
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— If you do best with structure: Students who crave structure may be highly accomplished in college, but when faced with MCAT prep, they are uncertain about what to study and where to begin. They may also recognize that without an external guide, they will not complete their review.
For these students, a prep course, either in person or online, or a tutor — also in person or online — is a great idea. Prep courses can be expensive, but they are also highly flexible.
For kinesthetic learners in particular, a chapter in a guidebook or an individual lecture may prove ineffective, but diagramming biochemical principles with a tutor may quickly clarify difficult content. Remember, too, that online options offer ease of access, but the downside is the lack of a personal connection that helps some students remain motivated.
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— If you have content deficits: Not all students will sail through their MCAT prep. Some individuals may find that their undergraduate coursework was insufficient, or that they have difficulty integrating MCAT concepts for a number of reasons — one being a disconnect between their learning style and their current prep materials.
With the proliferation of video-conferencing software and on-demand lectures, these students may find an online prep course useful, but if they are social learners, the online environment may not be sufficient. They may not be able to ask questions in real time, or to work in groups. In-person tutors can alleviate this problem, so long as students realize that not every tutor can handle every subject area on the MCAT.
[Check outfree online tools and apps to support MCAT prep.]
Students should also be realistic about the time and cost that tutoring entails. Twenty hours of one-on-one tutoring will not replace a four-year curriculum, but this tutoring can help students develop a comprehensive prep plan that suits their unique needs and it can efficiently address their greatest weaknesses.
Just as there are many students who will take the MCAT, there are many different learning styles and personalities that can affect prep. However, with a strong prep program that addresses their knowledge and study habits, students can utilize traditional or more modern methods of review to do their very best on the MCAT.
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Match MCAT Prep to Your Learning Style originally appeared on usnews.com
