Princeton Review MCAT Prep Review In 2024

The MCAT is the kind of exam you only want to sit for once and happily be completely done with it. 

As such, students often need all the help they can get to guarantee an excellent score that will get them into a good medical school without having to retake the exam.

One approach many often opt for is to sign up for a reliable and competent test prep course that will provide them with the necessary material and much-needed structure during their MCAT study period.

However, is it worth paying thousands of dollars for an MCAT test prep program? Well, let us dive into this Princeton Review MCAT review and find out. 

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Princeton Review MCAT Options Compared

Princeton Review MCAT Prep Overview

Princeton Review offers a variety of MCAT test prep courses tailored to different students’ study needs. The courses are:

1. MCAT® Online
2. MCAT® LiveOnline
3. MCAT® 513+
4. MCAT® 515+ Immersion

Regardless of which Princeton Review MCAT course option you go for, ALL the Princeton MCAT prep courses will grant you access to:

• LiveOnline Classes.
• Recorded lessons available anytime.
• Unlimited live Q&A sessions.
• Thousands of practice questions with detailed explanations.
• 16 full-length online practice tests.
• ALL released AAMC material.
• 500+ MedFlix MCAT content videos.
• 11 MCAT books.
• Interactive score reports.
• The Princeton Review Guarantee.

a) MCAT® Online

This is Princeton’s most flexible on-demand MCAT prep course and comes with the following:

• 90 hours of topic-specific live instruction.

b) MCAT® LiveOnline

The difference between MCAT Online and Live Online is that the latter offers a more structured study approach. Additionally, you get guidance on how to approach the questions strategically, so you can score your best in each section.

MCAT® LiveOnline comes with the following features:

• 16 sessions of MCAT mastery.
• Medical School Admissions Advantage Sessions
• 40 hours of live instruction.
• Unlimited access to MCAT Topic Focus.
• 4-6 subject matter experts.
• 35 diagnostic exams. 
• 4 single-subject practice tests.

c) MCAT® 513+

Designed to span over 3 months, this structured course guarantees you at least a 13-point score increase or a 513+ MCAT score.

MCAT® 513+ features the following:

• Medical School Admissions Advantage Sessions
• 123 hours of live instruction.
• 4-6 subject matter experts.
• 35 diagnostic exams. 
• 12+ MCAT Topic Focus sessions.
• 1:1 Expert Study Advisor.
• More section-specific practice.

d) MCAT® 515+ Immersion

This intensive course features the following:

• 860+ hours of instruction, practice, and support. 
• 123 hours of live instruction.
• 35 diagnostic exams. 
• MCAT Topic Focus and Office Hour.
• 1-1 Personalized Study Advisor.
• Unlimited 24/7 On-Demand Tutoring.
• More section-specific practice.
• Extended practice on every topic area.
• Adaptive drilling tools.

Princeton Review MCAT Review For 2024

LiveOnline Classroom

Princeton’s MCAT in-class experience is pretty incredible.

First off, the Princeton Review MCAT classes are led by highly trained online teaching experts who are very knowledgeable in their respective topics of specialization. At the same time, the teachers are very engaging, effectively conveying the important concepts in a timely manner.

Aside from the top-notch teachers, the interactive classroom allows you to interact with your teacher and classmates in real-time as you follow along with the lesson.

Scheduling options are pretty flexible, ranging from early morning to late night. You even have the option of scheduling your classes for specific days of the week. So you never have to worry about missing any classes, even if you have a crazy hectic schedule.

Better yet, every LiveOnline lesson is recorded, so you can go back and rewatch a specific lesson any time you want while reviewing tough concepts or if you simply need a refresher. 

MCAT Books

You are provided with 7 MCAT subject-specific review books covering each MCAT subject, i.e. Biology; Biochemistry; General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry; Physics and Math; Psychology and Sociology; and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.

These 7 books provide in-depth subject review coverage and thousands of practice questions and passages to cement your content grasp. The well-written books feature diagrams, full-color illustrations, and tables to aid visual comprehension. 

Additionally, the chapter summaries and extensive glossaries are handy when you need an immediate reference or a quick review. These books also include techniques and test-taking strategies so you can take the MCAT effectively.

Besides the 7 MCAT subject-specific review books, Princeton additionally provides 4 titles exclusive to students who sign up for their courses.

Medflix Content Videos

Crafted by experienced instructors, Princeton’s Medflix content videos are short videos designed to target specific content areas. This way, whenever the need arises, you can focus your review exactly where you need it. 

Each of these on-demand videos is about 5-20 minutes long, and they work pretty well to reinforce any areas you may be weak in.

Because Princeton Review’s MCAT books are rather lengthy and content-heavy, the idea is that students who have already completed their content review and do not wish to go into that much detail may opt to watch these short video lessons instead.

Better yet, these videos correlate to the book chapters in the MCAT books, so you may as well use both resources side by side for a more comprehensive review.

Flashcards App

Available on both Apple and Android, the MCAT Princeton Review Flashcard App gives you access to 550 MCAT flashcards so you can easily study on the go.

The in-depth flashcards cover concepts in all the MCAT subjects in the form of bite-sized detailed concept definitions to enhance quick absorption. Better yet, you can create your own custom cards using themed decks for a personalized study experience.

From within this App, you can favorite flashcards, set alerts, and even reach out to customer service in case you need any help.

You can also track your progress from the convenient progress report page available on the App. This allows you to see your progress in all concepts, with stats including the cards you have mastered and those you need to study again. 

Section-Specific Practice

This relatively new feature contains fresh content based on the recent trends in the MCAT exam.

The various online materials provided include new section-specific practice tests, new subject-specific Topic Focus modules, and new homework passages. 

Diagnostic Exams

The first thing that you should note is that diagnostic exams are not the thing as practice tests.

While a practice test is a mock MCAT designed to look and feel like the actual exam, diagnostic exams are much longer because they are meant to be content-comprehensive, covering all MCAT content.

Princeton Review offers 35 subject-specific diagnostic exams that are pretty long. For instance, the Biology diagnostic exams include a total of almost 150 questions, while the physics exams have almost 130 questions. 

The 35 diagnostic exams are divided into 5 full sets of diagnostic exams for each subject, i.e. Biology Diagnostic Exams 1A and 1B count as one set, Biology Diagnostic Exams 2A and 2B are another set, etc. 

Sets A and B are written to be very similar but not identical in that both tests test the same concepts but in different ways. This way, you can gauge your improvement from the first set to the second.

A subject syllabus has been provided for each content area, and this syllabus outlines which particular diagnostic exam you should take at any particular point in the coursework. 

Another thing to note is that, unlike the science exams, CARS diagnostic exams are timed because doing well in CARS very much depends on your ability to pace yourself effectively. 

Interactive Score Reports

Princeton Review provides Drill score reports, Diagnostic exam score reports, and Practice test score reports after every drill, diagnostic exam, and practice test.

While the practice test scores are reported in a similar style to the official MCAT score, the scores for the drills and diagnostic exams are reported simply as a percentage and do not correlate with MCAT scores.

Nevertheless, your overall diagnostic exam score is less important than your performance in the individual subtopics, which is where your focus and attention should lie.

The score reports provide a detailed explanation of each question on every test. 

It allows you to easily determine the subjects, subtopics and CARS question types you are weakest in and need to improve on. This information will then help guide your homework and study throughout the course.

Personalized Study Advisors

The MCAT® 513+ and 515+ prep courses come with an expert study advisor for each student.

These personalized advisors help keep you on track throughout your study period, seeing to it that you study smart and are using your MCAT prep time correctly and efficiently.

The idea behind having these study advisors is to have someone help you navigate the MCAT prep course so that you make full use of all the resources offered. At the same time, the advisor will help you use these resources in a personalized way that meets your specific MCAT study needs.

In a way, think of it as having someone keep you accountable, so you don’t stray from your MCAT goals and miss out on getting admitted to the school of your dreams. 

MCAT Topic Focus

Another feature only available for The MCAT® 513+ and 515+, MCAT Topic Focus refers to expert-led sessions that focus on various MCAT topic weaknesses whereby these instructors guide you through the toughest MCAT questions with helpful expert advice.

There are 12+ sessions a week which you can attend as you wish, based on your areas of weakness and any specific questions you may have.

This flexibility to attend the Office Hours sessions ensures that you focus your full attention only where you truly need the help and additional support.

The subject-specific sessions in maybe Physics, Organic Chemistry, Biology, etc., are led by your questions, and these sessions are about 1-hour long.

On the other hand, the topic-specific session in Genetics, IUPAC Nomenclature, etc., will include guided practice and in-depth passage explanations, and these sessions typically last about 1.5 hours.

Medical School Admissions Advantage Sessions

Led by an admissions expert, these sessions feature a ton of tips on how you can beat the typical 42% acceptance rate. You get to learn what admissions committees are actually looking for so you can fortify your weak areas and craft your application accordingly.

You start off by touching base with your coach in an hour-long session whereby they perform an overall assessment. 

The coach will professionally measure where you currently stand as a medical school applicant, taking into consideration your GPA, MCAT score, current academic record, and experiences. With this information, they can then assess where and how you can improve.

From helping you compile a list of schools and programs based on your strengths and interest to helping you plot your strategy for letters of recommendation, the Medical School Admissions Advantage sessions are invaluable. 

Princeton Review MCAT Prep Pros & Cons

Verdict

Princeton Review is a tried and tested content-heavy MCAT prep course that does an excellent job at preparing students for the exam to guarantee better scores.

Whether you go for the private tutoring option or one of the self-study programs, you will love Princeton’s vast amount of course materials.

Another thing you are bound to love is the flexibility. You can attend a LiveOnline class at 10 pm if that’s what works for you, and choose your preferred days, so you never have to miss out on that Friday afternoon hangout with your friends. 

Ultimately, studying for the MCAT can be consuming. Still, it is all about balance, and Princeton’s flexibility allows you to retain a semblance of sanity even while you are deep in the trenches of MCAT prep.

The subject syllabi and homework schedules help guide and structure your studying to effectively and efficiently utilize all the MCAT resources provided.

Overall, the Princeton Review may be a little pricey compared to other MCAT prep course programs in the market. However, this prep company provides a myriad of prep resources that offer excellent value for money. 

So, if you can afford it, go ahead and sign up for the Princeton Review prep course that best aligns with your study needs. You won’t regret it!

Princeton Review MCAT Prep FAQs

Is The Princeton Review Good For MCAT Prep?

Yes, the Princeton Review is good for MCAT prep. (but we think Prep101 is better than Princeton. Find out why in this article)

From the myriad of study resources offered to the flexible scheduling options to the immersive subject- and topic-specific review sessions available, you are guaranteed to get excellent MCAT prep.

Better yet, the comprehensively detailed content review is guaranteed to eliminate any knowledge gaps you might have, even for non-traditional students who have been away from the classroom for a few years.

Princeton Review Vs. Kaplan For MCAT?

Kaplan and Princeton Review and two respected names in the MCAT industry. 

Both test prep companies are very content-heavy, offering excellent MCAT practice to prepare their students for the real exam.

While Kaplan has far better video lessons that are more engaging and have better production quality, Princeton Review’s content is better structured to have a more logical flow. 

At the same time, Princeton has a far superior score improvement guarantee, even though that means that the courses are much pricier than Kaplan’s.

Ultimately, your choice between the two will depend on your specific study needs and just how much you are willing to spend to guarantee admission into your dream Medical School.

Are Princeton Review Practice Tests Harder Than MCAT?

Yes, Princeton Review practice tests are harder than the MCAT.

All 3rd party test prep tests are typically designed this way to ensure you get excellent practice to eliminate any knowledge gaps you may have. 

At the same time, harder practice tests are a good thing because the real exam will feel that much easier in comparison, making you feel more composed and at ease on exam day.