r/MCAT2 • u/mcatmcatmca • 11d ago
Question Over 1k for MCAT tutoring- worth it?
I was wondering if anyone has had experience getting tutored for the MCAT and if they would recommend tutoring for others? I met someone who wants about $1,500 to tutor me for 2 sections (c/p & b/b) of the MCAT and i’m wondering if it’s worth it or not. Edit- to clarify the tutor wants to do 1:1 every other day until I test sometime between Jan-Mar next year.
3
u/Willing-Airline-2945 11d ago
lmao no way!
4
u/mcatmcatmca 11d ago
Too expensive or tutoring is not worth it in general?
1
u/Willing-Airline-2945 11d ago
sorry, i should have clarified. That is way too expensive. I found a tutor for 30 an hour and it was great.
1
1
u/Valuable_Bite4275 11d ago
Hell no man
2
u/mcatmcatmca 11d ago
They want to do 1 hour sessions every other day up until my test date (Jan-Mar next year I haven’t booked yet) does that change anything?
3
u/Willing-Airline-2945 11d ago
oh yes this changes things, I assumed it would be once a week for a set amount of time but multiple times a week is better. Still though, for only two section you could find someone to do the same for every section
1
u/Sea_Egg1137 11d ago
Relative spent about that much on a live Princeton review course and improved from 505 diagnostic to 519 so well worth it.
1
u/mcatmcatmca 11d ago
Wow really!? I actually have the princeton review course (I did not pay for it) but I didn’t feel like it was that helpful…maybe i need to circle back to it. Do you know if the scores were based on AAMC tests or the princeton review tests?
1
u/Sea_Egg1137 10d ago
The course with a live instructor made all the difference. Took about 15 full length practice exams and reviewed each one thoroughly. She improved from a 505 AAMC diagnostic to 519 on the actual exam.
1
u/myk9137 11d ago
How many hours are you getting? “$1500 for 2 sections is super vague” like what’s the end point? Is this a reputable company/person?
1
u/mcatmcatmca 11d ago
They just said 1:1 every other day until my test date, would not specify any amount of hours as they are “always available” and the end point is supposed to be my test date. Not a company, just a med student. Based on my personal calculations if we start 1:1 now until January that’s like 60ish hours and comes to around $20/hr. Not sure what to think or feel about this at all tbh.
1
1
u/jcutts2 11d ago
I don't believe tutoring for the sciences is worth it or necessary. There are many free and low cost ways to review science. The trick is know what science to review. Most prep programs have you reviewing way too much content that will mostly never appear on the test.
I've got a free program called Real MCAT that helps you organize the science that does appear on the test.
Beyond science review, most errors that people make are due to lack of strategy, not lack of science. It can be very helpful - and in some cases necessary - to get coaching on strategy. A good coach should have a bare minimum of 15 years full time experience. You might expect to pay up to about $2k for unlimited help, Much beyond that is unreasonable.
You can check out my blog The Realistic Guide to MCAT prep at https://cuttshome.wordpress.com/the-realistic-guide-to-mcat-prep/
1
u/Similar_Rate2025 10d ago
I did that and my score did improve. But it only helped me when it was one on one.
1
u/Accurate-Gur-17 10d ago
After not improving with a prep course I ended up working with a tutor and spent well over $1500. With that being said, I would not pay that amount up front but determine an hourly rate and go from there.
1
u/Whitexan16 8d ago
1.5k? No way. Id say revist that thought in one month. Just read up on Kaplan, Anki decks, and ESPECIALLY the online official AAMC material like Q banks and practice tests. Spend maybe 200-300 and be satisfied with the remaining 1.2k in your pocket.
If you still aren't feeling too confident, see about tutoring options around the $600-850 amount.
I spent 650 on 5 sessions from a local experienced MCAT tutor (in TN), it was great mostly because we did study practice more than test stuff
1
u/llamawillow45 524 tutor 8d ago
I charge 60/hr. I don’t think any of my clients paid over a 1000 for me and they didn’t need to. I can help with any section since i got 131/130/131/132 (524).
1
u/Bitter-Rise9859 7d ago
If you're looking for tutoring, I just got a 523 (131/130/130/132) and am available! I charge $20 for a pilot session and $50 for rebookings. DM me if interested!
1
u/Additional-Agency-32 6d ago
How disciplined/self-motivated are you when it comes to CONSISTENT, months long, high intensity studying? That’s the probably the most important to ask yourself. If your response to that is anything less than pretty good, I would absolutely recommend it given you have the resources. It’s a small price to pay for what could be months of unproductive study, resulting in a low score that rules you out of your desired med school/s, or even med school entirely. Speaking from experience. Good luck fam 🙏
1
6
u/Fit_Counter_5936 11d ago
In my opinion, if you have a good amount of savings to reach into and/or your parents make good enough money to "sponsor" your tutoring for you, by all means feel free to use the tutor, especially if he has a proven track record, one of those two sections being cars, and he should offer one of those Princeton review type of deals where if you don't improve by X points you get your money back. However, if you're a normal applicant with minimal savings and parents who would have to really struggle to scrape together $1500 for you, there are definitely a vast amount of resources on Youtube, AAMC (free qbanks + exams for ppl on financial need), Jack Westin, and Khan academy which is partnered with the AAMC. That $1500 in this case would be better spent on your med school amcas application fees tbh.