Meet your awesome MCAT Mastery Mentors
We’re more than just your tutors; we’re your friends that lift you up when you’re discouraged, we’re your coaches that hold you accountable and give you unfiltered feedback, we’re your strategy-focused mentors that show you the MCAT CAN be mastered and your score CAN improve quickly with a focus on strategy, mindset, practice, and learning exactly how to think through this exam like a future doctor.
MCAT Score: 524
Mehul Nimpal
Despite receiving poor practice scores and feeling lack of motivation to study, Mehul made the commitment to focused strategic studying. In 3.5 months, he launched his score from the low 500s to a 524 (100th percentile) on test day!
"Hi! My name is Mehul and I’m a currently studying neuroscience in Canada. I wrote the MCAT in summer 2020 and would love to help you achieve the MCAT score you’re aiming for! I know that the MCAT prep process can sometimes feel incredibly long and tedious, and that it’s hard at times to find the motivation to continue. I’ve also faced problems remaining positive in light of a poor practice test score or after continuing to make the same mistakes again and again for weeks on end. But I managed to overcome these hurdles, and totally believe that you can too! I’ve been tutoring in some form or another for about 7 years, and absolutely love teaching. I’m going to focus on strategies, tips, and tricks that I used during my MCAT experience as well as ways I learned to approach AAMC-style questions so that you can learn how to actually write the exam, not just study forward.

MCAT Score: 519
2.5 months before his test date, Joe was scoring in the 500-505 range. In less than 10 weeks, he ended up increasing his score by more than 14 points to a 519 on the MCAT! The most amazing part? As a firm believer in the importance of positivity and strategic improvement, while studying himself, Joe also helped his peer achieve a 15+ point increase in that same time frame!
"Hello! My name is Joseph and I am excited to be your tutor! I am from Phoenix, Arizona, and just recently graduated from Arizona State University with a BS in Microbiology. I love to play the cello and am passionate about music and both scientific and artistic aspects of life. I studied for the MCAT the summer after graduation and took it after 3 months of studying. I received a 97th percentile score, and have helped some of my friends with their studying too. I believe I have a good grasp of visualizing concepts and obtaining a higher level of understanding that will help you with your MCAT. I am always looking to help and encourage struggling students. To help you increase your score, I will teach you how to effectively eliminate wrong answer choices, and then demonstrate effective reasoning strategies that will lead you to a confident answer. I will ask you questions throughout that will hopefully guide you along the way. I’m looking forward to helping you raise your score!”
MCAT Score: 518
Sydney Thomas
Once she realized that she already had all the knowledge, she focused on reworking her approach and strategies. She was scoring around a 505 two months before her test date - before making a 10 points increase to a 515 in less than 30 days! On exam day, she achieved an awesome 518 and is now a medical student at the Brody School of Medicine!
Hi, I am Sydney! I found studying for the MCAT incredibly isolating, so beyond helping you improve your score, I hope to be someone you can talk to when things get tough! I love creating lists and charts and helping create study schedules that work best for you! We all have strengths and weaknesses and I will get to know yours so we can create a study plan that aligns with your goals. I began my MCAT studying journey by reading every Kaplan study book cover to cover, however when I began taking practice tests my scores did not reflect the level of knowledge I thought I had. With one month to go before taking the test, I had to turn my study plan upside down. In one short month, I learned that the MCAT is more than a test of knowledge - it tests your critical thinking, reading comprehension, and your ability to read through the fluff to understand what the question writers are really asking. Together, we can find what you need to "crack the MCAT code!"
MCAT Score: 520
Hanes Grafe
Starting his MCAT prep, Hanes knew he was going to be challenged. Keeping himself motivated was an obstacle and time management was complicated when he had a full schedule. As he continued his prep, he found himself scoring lower than he wanted because he was overthinking the passages. Once he started to approach with better strategies, he increased his score from a 500 to a 520 (98th percentile) in 3 months!
"I have a heart for helping students who are seeking a combination of motivation, confidence, and content-review in their MCAT journey. I focus on supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of my students as these areas were vital to my own MCAT success. Initially, the idea of doing well on the MCAT was an anxiety-provoking and unattainable goal. It took my own three-month journey of failing, learning, practicing, growing, and failing some more to turn that goal into a reality. I can’t wait to help you conquer the MCAT!"
MCAT Score: 517
Sarah McDonald
Sarah found herself scoring in the low 500s for a large portion of her MCAT prep journey. In fact, just a little over a week before test day, she scored a 507 on a practice exam, which was nowhere near her score goal. Instead of giving up, Sarah used the little time she had left to revamp her study strategies, and her mindset, to end up increasing her score by 10 points and achieving a 517 (97th percentile) MCAT score!
"I'm also familiar with how comparing yourself to others, especially on the MCAT/medical school journey, can be really difficult and damaging. This is something I struggled with and I hope to use my story to inspire you so you can achieve success and reach your goals even if it feels unattainable in the face of perceived failure like a bad practice exam score, or unsuccessful med school admissions cycle as I have experienced both of those things. I'm really looking forward to learning about your study style and helping you through a plan that works for you individually and feeling empowered in your personal plan and experiences :)"
MCAT Score: 515
Alisha Agarwal
On her first practice exams, Alisha was only scoring around 500-505. Once she reworked her studying habits and found the proper strategies, her scores increased to 518-520! On her actual exam day, she ended up with an awesome 515 (a 10-15 point increase in only 9 weeks) and is now a medical student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College!
"Hello! My name is Alisha and I will be starting medical school in the Fall of 2022. I took the MCAT in August of 2020 after studying for nine straight weeks in the summer. MCAT studying was essentially my full time job where I started with some content review and flash cards in the morning, and practice questions and passages in the evening time. I created a study plan that served as a strong balance between understanding the content and understanding the exam. It helped me develop key test taking strategies that ultimately helped me earn a competitive MCAT score! I’m excited to share my experiences as I am a strong believer that with the right mindset, determination, and support, anyone can succeed in the MCAT!"
MCAT Score: 522
Joon Sung
With a lower GPA, Joon knew he needed to achieve a higher MCAT score to keep his dream of becoming a doctor possible. He started studying every day with no clear study plan until he began a full-time job, and everything suddenly became a lot more overwhelming! That's when Joon took a much more strategic approach, and his score improved from 498 to a 514 in just 3 months, where he plateaued, but on test day less than four weeks later, he scored an excellent 522 (129/132/129/132)!
"Hi! My name is Joon, and I grew up in Los Angeles, California. I went to Brown University and swam on the varsity team, so I can definitely relate to the hectic student-athlete lifestyle. While studying for the MCAT, I had just started working as a full-time research assistant. I spent most of my day in the lab, and I was definitely worried about whether or not I would have enough energy, let alone time, to do well on the MCAT. If you're having a hard time committing to a schedule or feeling unsure whether or not you have all the resources and tools you need, I am more than happy to work with you to figure out a feasible study schedule. With a solid foundation in the study plan and the resources you'll use, you can improve your score and feel more confident going into your exam, which I believe is the key to reaching your goal MCAT score. I look forward to helping you get there!"
MCAT Score: 518
Emily Reeson
When she first started, Emily was extremely frustrated that her scores didn’t increase, even though she’d spent 4 months studying. However, once she decided to focus on strategy instead of content, she saw massive increases, even citing an 8 point increase in one week just weeks before her test date. Shortly afterwards, she went on to score a 518 (97th percentile) on her actual exam!
"Hi! I’m Emily and when I first began studying for the MCAT, I was extremely overwhelmed. I had no idea where to start- and the sheer amount of content seemed daunting. So out of anxiety about all the information, I spent 4 months straight reviewing content. In that time, my practice exam scores plateaued. I wasn’t improving, which was very frustrating, considering all the time I’d put in. But then I began to realize that I needed to focus less on content and more on strategy to increase my score. Finally, my scores went up. Sometimes, it’s that simple. I was focusing on the wrong thing, and now that I know that, I want to make sure no other students fall into the same trap! I know how much of a challenge studying for this exam can be, so I want to help you maximize your time- and show you what strategies actually work- so that you can increase your score fast. You can reach your score goal! And I’m excited to help you get there!”
MCAT Score: 521
Grace Olson
Grace’s MCAT journey was not easy. She especially struggled with juggling her time as a student, along with the rest of her responsibilities while studying for the MCAT. But even with her busy schedule, within the first two months of her prep, she figured out the right strategies to increase her score from 500 to 513-515! And in the next eight weeks, her score jumped to 521(99th percentile) on test day!
Hi I'm Grace! When I first began my MCAT journey, I knew I was not a naturally strong test taker, so I worked hard to find strategies that resonated with me. I think that studying is not a one-size-fits-all sort of thing, and it is important to identify what works for you and what doesn't. As a tutor, I want to help students find the ideal approach to their studying, building off of my previous teaching experiences. While I can help with content, practice problems, and building schedules, I also hope to help you realize the importance of mental well-being and healthy studying practices for the MCAT.
MCAT Score: 520
Luke Passannante
Luke started his career in finance and eventually realized that it’s not for him. He decided to pursue a career change to medicine and began the hard road to prep for the MCAT. Knowing he had an uphill battle, he enrolled in a postbac program to help him on his content. He took his first MCAT exam in May 2022 and got a 514. However, he wanted something higher to really solidify his chance of achieving his dream. He continued to persevere to find the right strategies for him. Luke wrote the MCAT again on August 2022 and his hard work paid off when he scored a fantastic 520!
"As a career-changer post bacc, I took an unusual path to medicine. At Williams College, I studied Economics and English. After working in investment banking and private equity for a few years in New York City, I realized that my career lacked sufficient service to others. I took the MCAT for the first time in May 2022 at the end of my post bacc and was unsatisfied with my results in Bio/Biochem and Chem/Phys. I retook the exam later than summer and improved both sections tremendously, resulting in a 520. I have personal experience making huge strides in my MCAT score in a short period of time and look forward to working with people looking to do the same!"

MCAT Score: 521
Mollie Westrick
When Mollie started her prep for the MCAT, she scored a 492 on her first practice test. It took some patience and time to get her score up to 506 - and that's where she plateaued hard. However she figured out how to revamp her approach and strategy, and in less than 60 days, she skyrocketed her score by 15 points to a 521 on test day!
Hi I'm Mollie!I graduated from UPenn in 2020. As a Division 1 athlete and Neuroscience major, I needed to manage my time wisely. When I was studying for the MCAT, I needed to balance my studying time with full-time work at a doctor’s office. After struggling to see any increases in scores from practice tests, I was very discouraged. I needed to learn how to change my strategies in order to improve, and my scores subsequently increased from there on out. Building my confidence was not easy, but through hard work, I was able to do so. Throughout my studying, I increased my score almost 30 points from my diagnostic test. I have previously worked as a tutor for High School and College students in the sciences, and have coached swimming for those of all ages. I pride myself on my ability to find the communication style that best fits those I work with.
MCAT Score: 520
Jennifer Murphy
As a non-traditional test taker, studying multiple hours per day while juggling a full-time job was no easy task, but her experience as a full-time teacher proved to be especially useful in analyzing her own weaknesses and strengths. Implementing focused study strategies allowed her to increase her score from a 507 to a 515 in under 60 days. Jennifer's hard work would eventually pay off when scored an amazing 520 on her test day!
"Hello, I’m Jennifer! After spending my first two years out of undergrad as a middle school science teacher, I felt ready to begin the process of applying to medical school by taking the MCAT. It hit me that it had been over two years since I had finished my science coursework and I began to fear that I had forgotten too much content knowledge. On top of that, the daunting scope of the MCAT left me feeling directionless and isolated as I began studying. I decided to put on my teacher cap and approach the content as I would a middle school lesson I was preparing to teach. Over time, I realized how applicable the strategies I used in the classroom were to the MCAT. My confidence grew as my score of 507 rose to 515 after 2 months of content review and a 523 after an additional month of test prep, before settling at a 520 on test day. I look forward to helping you!"
MCAT Score: 518
Julia Wickman
After 400+ hours of studying while taking undergraduate classes and working several part-time internships, Julia found herself plateauing at a 507/508 just 6 weeks before her test date... Until she figured out the right strategies and her scores jumped to 513-519 on practice exams! Ultimately in those final 45 days, she managed to increase her score by 11 points and achieved a 518 (96th percentile) on her official MCAT! She is now in medical school!
"Hi! I’m Julia, and I’m looking forward to tutoring you! Like most MCAT writers, my journey with the MCAT was not a smooth one. At the beginning of my process, I had a hard time seeing that the MCAT was so much more than a content-based exam, but rather a test of strategy and pacing as well! I felt like I was burning out, and didn’t know if I could do it, but once I realized both that I needed better testing strategies and that I had to be more positive in my approach, I started seeing the improvements. A 518, which seemed inaccessible before, became a reality! I’m looking forward to coaching you towards a positive frame of mind, where you can view the MCAT as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. You don’t know how capable you are. Anyone can master the MCAT! Your score goal is possible, and I’m looking forward to working with you so that you can get there!”
MCAT Score: 519
Matt Larsen
Matt began his MCAT journey scoring a 506 on his first ever practice exam. Determined to improve before his upcoming test date, Matt review content using Kaplan books along with many fulllengths. A month before his test date, Matt was scoring 520+. On exam day, Matt scored an impressive 519! Matt is currently in his final year of medschool, looking forward to his residency.
"I am a recent graduate from USF medical school and am currently transitioning to my first year of residency later in 2023. I studied for my MCAT while working full-time as a medical scribe, volunteering, and researching. I attribute my success to effective utilization of available study resources, efficiency in studying, and strong test-taking skills. I can help students increase their scores by identifying and bolstering any weaknesses in their test taking, ensuring mastery of high-yield information across different sections of the MCAT, and by providing students the encourgement they need to tackle this challenging exam."
Why Choose To Work With Us If You Need MCAT Help: Reason 1
We all ACTUALLY struggled in our MCAT journey
NONE of us were "naturals" who scored 90+ percentile with ease and barely any prep. No one becomes a mentor with us just because of their score. If they can't relate to your experience, how can they truly help you? We all have memories of scary MCAT prep moments where scores were stuck or had gone down, or when we actually took the MCAT and scored much lower than expected. Many of us have memories of literally breaking down after getting the results of a practice (or real) MCAT test, wondering if we were cut out to be doctors. We had to push through it all. Alone.
We had to figure out the most efficient methods for EVERYTHING from creating schedules/study plans, to memorizing content, understanding it all deeply, thinking critically when it comes to passages, improving our timing/stamina, to how preparing mentally for exam day, and SO much more. We spent way too much time figuring out how to study effectively, as we struggled through this journey alone. You don't have to.
MCAT Score: 517
Sherry Gu
Sherry started her MCAT journey feeling lost. The combination of stress and confusion on content led her to not see any score improvement. About 6 weeks before test date, Sherry was scoring a 507. At this point, she realized that strategies and improving her mindset would be the key to increasing her score. After changing her approach, her score shot up to a 516-520 just weeks later on her practice tests, before ultimately scoring a 517 on her official MCAT!
"Hi! My name is Sherry. When I first started preparing for the MCAT, I was really overwhelmed with the amount of information. As a result, I wasted several months of time just trying to memorize everything. After several burnouts and seeing a downward trend in the low 500s on my practice tests , I became so discouraged that studying felt like torture to me. It wasn't until several more tests that I realized that test strategies and having a positive mindset is equally important. As a fellow MCAT test taker, I know how important mental health is in this process and I hope to also help cultivate a growth mindset in my tutees. I have confidence that each one of you reading this is capable of reaching whatever goal you have, and I look forward to helping you reach that target score!”
MCAT Score: 518
Emmajane Rhodenhiser
Going into her MCAT prep, Emmajane knew that she wouldn't be able to dedicate a lot of time to the MCAT. Between sports, academics, and work she only gave herself 3 and half weeks to prepare for her exam! Taking a more strategic approach to the prep meant that in less than 30 days, her score went from a 500 on practice to an amazing 518 on exam day!! (Even citing a 520 on a practice exam shortly before test day!)
"Hi! I'm Emmajane! I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, before going to Brown University. I had to be strategic and efficient in this time crunch, because every day was a huge opportunity for raising my score. I like to plan and think strategically, so I will be able to help students figure out how to triage, organize, and approach their studying. For example, figuring out the highest priority items to memorize vs. items that just need to be recognizable. I also have a lot of experience tutoring the topics that are on the MCAT, so I've practiced different ways of explaining and drawing out concepts so that they can be digestible and intuitive. I look forward to helping you reach your goal score!”
MCAT Score: 522
Saanya Lingineni
While juggling her university course load, she was also dealing with the stress of having to learn all the MCAT material and getting over numerous mental blocks in such a short time. With perseverance and having found more efficient and effective strategies, she ended up making a 22 points increase in a 90 days! - to score an amazing 522 on her test day!
"Hi, I am Saanya! Learning content and testing out strategies are important, but what is often overlooked is overcoming the mental block that many students have that prevent them from performing their best in this often anxiety-inducing test. It's something I had to learn to recognize and work around, along with the time crunch I had of studying within only 1.5 months, I often found myself telling myself that I couldn't achieve the score I wanted. Once I realized that this was detrimental to my progress, I learned to use the time crunch I had to my advantage, and I want to help you do the same. I know what it's like to feel unprepared for this test and only have a small amount of time left- I would love to help you strategize your time for what works for you! At the end of the day, I'm here to cheer you on through your ups and downs until you're confident about your studying process!"
MCAT Score: 515
Maya Duffy
For months, while juggling a full course load and her personal life, Maya would passively study without making any significant improvements. Confused and defeated, she would end up pushing her test back a total of 7 times. Knowing that she couldn’t continue this way, she changed up her strategies and mindset.
Three months of vigorous, efficient practice led her to an awesome balanced 515 MCAT score! Maya is a student at Medical University of South Carolina’s College of Medicine!
"Hi! My name is Maya, and I'm an experienced tutor with a B.S. in Biology. I know how daunting and unapproachable the MCAT can seem, but I'm here to tell you that
When I first started studying for the MCAT, I was surprised at how much I struggled to pass the 500 mark. Traditional study strategies didn't feel like they were working for me, and I pushed back my test numerous times until I finally decided to start from scratch and develop my own study plan based on anecdotal advice from hundreds of top scorers. I've spent months researching and personally testing out every strategy in the book, and I want to help you identify and apply those strategies to your own studying to help you kill the MCAT!”
MCAT Score: 516
Hieu Nguyen
In between research positions and university courses, Hieu quickly found that having a full schedule meant that he needed more efficient and effective studying techniques. With this in mind, he reworked his approach and ended up scoring a 506 two weeks from his exam date. On his actual exam, he would end up with a 516 (a 10 points increase in 14 days!)!
"Hello! I’m Hieu! I attended Washington and Lee University, majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Film. My MCAT journey was very long and tedious. It was a lot of trial and error, but I eventually figured out how to best study for it. I had to balance studying for the MCAT with classes, working, and summer internships. At first, I thought I was prepared after studying for the MCAT during the summer. However, I still wasn’t prepared. After delaying my first exam date for another semester, I used that time to practice and hone my learning skills. I figured out the best method to study to increase my score. I look forward to helping you with your journey!"
MCAT Score: 522
Pooja Kadakia
Pooja initially struggled with practice exams, spending so much time focused on content review and feeling defeated by a lack of improvement. She quickly improved her strategy and confidence for the MCAT and increased her score from a 499 to 508/509 in her first 4 weeks of full time studying! That's where she hit a hard plateau but once again, revamped her strategy and with less than 30 days left before her MCAT date, she once again skyrocketed her score to 522!
"Before the MCAT, during my first and second years in college, I was a chemistry tutor. I watched people get frustrated because they had learned the concepts years ago and were out of practice, or got frustrated because they understood the ideas and just couldn't get it right. When it was my turn to then study for my MCAT, I was expecting the journey to be easier, but I'm so grateful it wasn't. At the start, I thought it was just content coverage, but when I started writing practice exams, it was clearly more about rewiring my brain not only to think in the ways the MCAT asks, but also to train it to believe in myself, even when I wasn't performing up to my standards. I thought I was failing for the longest time, looking at my scores. It was then that I truly understood the feelings of my past students. Ultimately, once I started having faith in my ability to improve, I finally started seeing results. I know what it's like to feel exhausted with studying, and to doubt yourself. When I found my faith, I realized that the dedication, hard work, and confidence required to take this exam are the qualities necessary to be a successful physician. I can't give up on my future patients, no matter how difficult their cases are, so should I give up on the MCAT, or my ability to become a better test-taker? No. I got into the mindset that this journey was preparing me to become a better physician to my patients, and the gratitude I felt helped me in my darkest moments. I refuse to give up on them, and if I'm your tutor, I won't give up on you either!”
MCAT Score: 516
Henry Nguyen
Self-teaching content he didn't learn from pre-reqs and working a full-time job to support his family made Henry's MCAT prep journey very challenging. With only 5 weeks left until his test date, Henry was stuck at a 500. However, in those last 35 days, Henry implemented new and focused strategies which helped boost his score by 16 points and let him score a 516 on his actual MCAT!
"Hi! My name is Henry and unlike most premeds, I actually took the MCAT during the summer of my sophomore year, yet I was still able to achieve a great score without taking pre-reqs like Biochemistry and Sociology. Since I self-taught and relearned many subjects from scratch, I know exactly what topics to focus on for the MCAT and how they’re commonly tested. During my prep, I also continued to work full time to support my family and I know exactly what it’s like to be on a major time crunch while preparing for the MCAT. I attribute my successful self-teaching to my past teaching experiences as a supplemental instructor in upper level classes (like Genetics and Anatomy and Physiology), so I will provide the same level of tutoring to our sessions. I maintain a very busy schedule, but am always ready to go above and beyond for my students! I’m so excited to help you reach your score goal!”
MCAT Score: 519
Nivi Arunkumar
At the start of her prep, Nivi was extremely overwhelmed and intimidated by the exam- so like many of us. After a lot of frustration and scoring below her score goal on practice tests (490s), she knew she needed to change her study habits. Beginning to take into account her mental and physical well-being, along with shifting from focusing on content to strategy, Nivi was able to raise her score to a 517 on test date! In fact, in 8 weeks she increased her score by 20 points from 499 to a 519 (highest score on practice test!).
"Hi! I’m Nivi and when I first started studying for the MCAT, I was absolutely overwhelmed! I spent a lot of time trying to force myself to take notes/make flashcards for content review and I would use not being done with content as a reason to push back practice tests. When I finally started taking full-length practice tests, I freaked out on every section. Adding to that, even after months of studying, I got my lowest score yet on a FL, which was extremely discouraging. I took a break and came back determined to study in a way that worked for me. For example, I’m a visual learner so I began relying on diagrams and started watching a lot more videos for content review. Additionally, I also realized the importance of mental/physical well-being so I started exercising more regularly and meditating before my practice exams, which helped a lot. In our sessions, I’ll work with you to make sure you can be confident while studying and are focusing on techniques and methods that will actually get you the score that you want. I’m looking forward to helping you with your prep- and getting you to your score goal by your test date!”
MCAT Score: 521
Deven Singh
Deven spent the beginning of his MCAT prep journey hyperfocusing on the content, until his plateauing scores made him realize his approach was not working. In the following weeks leading up to his exam, Deven had to completely start from scratch and revamped his study strategies. In just 6 weeks, Deven increased his practice score from the mid-500s to an awesome 521 on actual exam day!
“Two months prior to my test date, I took my first practice test and quickly realized I was inadequately prepared. I had to rework my entire study approach over the following weeks. I also had to prioritize and address multiple areas of improvement while maintaining my mental composure throughout the process. I understand that studying for the MCAT is a nerve-wracking process because the end result is hundreds of hours of work distilled into a single score. By helping you build resilience and execute a well-designed plan, I want to assure you are using your time efficiently while preparing for the MCAT. I look forward to helping you!”
MCAT Score: 517
Savannah Runge
For months, Savannah felt extremely discouraged due to constantly getting the same MCAT practice score of 505. With only 21 days left left, Savannah decided she really needed to reevaluate her strategies and get past her self-doubt... And that shift in strategy and mindset payed off because Savannah increased her score by 12 points to a 517 by test date!
"Hi! My name is Savannah, and I’m looking forward to working with you! I am a recent graduate of Northwestern University, and I took the MCAT this past August. I come from a theatre/communication background and absolutely love tutoring/mentoring, so I am extremely excited to help you raise your score! Working together, I will meet you where you are, and if something doesn’t make sense via one method of explanation, I will strive to find another one that works better with your brain. My MCAT journey was not a walk in the park. I hit a major score plateau at 505- I am talking months of 505s- up to three weeks before my exam. Not only was it frustrating to feel the lack of progress, but it sent my mental health down the toilet. I was depressed, devastated, and truly had NO faith in myself or my intelligence. Even when I started seeing scores increase, my self-esteem was still so low that I couldn’t believe it. I want to help you avoid falling for the imposter syndrome, like I did, and reach your score goal without programmed self-doubt keeping you down! Looking forward to working together!”
MCAT Score: 521
Courtney Ketchum
From the start, Courtney knew that preparing for the MCAT was going to be challenging. Aside from learning new content, she had to also juggle a full time job, leaving her with little time to study. Despite constant frustration, she figured out the right strategies that helped her improve from scoring in the low 500s to getting a 514 on her first attempt a few months later. Only a month after then Courtney was able to skyrocket her score to a 521 (98th percentile)!
“Hello! My name is Courtney and I am very excited to use my MCAT experience to help you succeed. I recently graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in bioengineering and a minor in chemistry. I am currently doing a gap year as a postbac at the National Institutes of Health, where I am conducting research at the Clinical Center and applying to medical school. In my free time, I love to work out, hang out with friends, and work on projects. My MCAT journey was a long one, but so rewarding in the end. I took the test twice. The first time, I had a 6 month study plan, but did not receive the score I knew I was capable of. I decided to take a few months off and retake it again. The second time I prepped for 5 weeks and achieved a 7 point score increase (including a 5 point increase on CARS). After my first exam, I diagnosed what strategies worked and what did not for me, as well as what specific areas I needed to focus on. I believe anyone is capable of achieving the score they set their mind to, with the right strategies and preparation. I cannot wait to help you get there!”
MCAT Score: 518
Akash Maney
Disappointed with his performance and facing personal hurdles, Akash ended up taking a year break from MCAT prep. When he got back to the prep, he knew he needed to shake things up by finding strategies that works. Two months before his test date, he scored a 507 on his practice test, before making an 11 point increase to a 518 on test day.
“As someone that has struggled with the MCAT for a long time before I figured out what worked. I took the MCAT for the first time in August of 2020. With the early stages of COVID keeping everyone indoors, I was able to focus on studying all day for nearly 4 months. Ironically, the large amount of time, in spite of having no commitments, didn't mean that my score increase drastically.
The only thing I could think of was how this exam had beat me. It took nearly a year and a half before I was convinced I needed to retake the exam. I knew I would have more challenges as I worked full time and had other premed obligations, but knowing I could improve I came up with a plan.
I like to think that my story is made for people who convinced themselves after several attempts that the MCAT is impossible or even that a career in medicine is not for them. As someone that has literally never breezed through any standardized test, I promise you that anything is possible if you just do as I do in a disciplined, work-smart over work-hard, fashion.”
Get matched with your perfect MCAT Mastery Mentor!
MCAT Score: 520
Peyton Groves
Soon after Peyton first started studying for the MCAT, she saw her scores drop and was immediately discouraged, feeling like studying had been for nothing. Juggling her studying with college course made it hard to stay positive as she was stagnating in improvements. But she revamped her studying approach and strategy, and in a matter of three months she increased her score from the low 500s to a 520 (98th percentile) on the MCAT!
“Hi I’m Peyton! My approach to studying has always been super personalized, so I would love to help support you to figure out ways that work best for you! I started out my MCAT journey doing content review, and after a month of studying, my score went down. That was really discouraging, and I relate to the feeling like you're not making any progress. I want to help you figure out the ways you can be maximally efficient and effective to achieve the score you want. We can brainstorm new study strategies, going over changes I made that drastically improved my performance, and helping you understand concepts. I was involved in many things outside of studying, so learning how to manage stress and time were huge lessons for me. I prioritize helping students create a study and testing plan that suits their schedule and goals. I will be your tutor, friend, and support system throughout your journey, and hope to add some fun and excitement into a process that can be really stressful!”
MCAT Score: 520
Melanie Barbini
She started practicing more efficient studying methods and utilizing more resources, along with finding methods to manage her test anxiety. On her retake, she would end up with a 10 points increase - scoring an awesome 516! She’s now a MD/PhD candidate at UMass Chan Medical School!
"Hi! My name is Melanie, and I am a current MD/PhD candidate. I graduated with a major in behavioral neuroscience and took the MCAT in June 2020. Having taken the MCAT twice, I know how stressful and tedious studying for the MCAT can be especially as you juggle other outside commitments like work and school. Having been able to improve my MCAT score and been admitted into my dream program, I want to help you find a flexible study schedule that helps you maximize your scoring potential on the MCAT. Whether this includes working on problem areas, talking through passages, or optimizing on test taking strategies, I look forward to adapting to your learning needs and helping you achieve your dream score. I am excited to work with you!"
MCAT Score: 523
When Rishi started his MCAT prep, he struggled a lot with absorbing the content . He started to build a strong conceptual foundation and maximized his strategy. However, he was still only scoring at 510 just over a month before his test date. Wanting to improve by 10+ points, Rishi further refined his strategies and mindset, and was able to increase his score to a 518 in just 4 weeks following that, before achieving a 523 (13 point score increase) on his actual exam!
"Hello my name is Rishi! I graduated from UC Berkeley in December 2019 and started medical school in Fall 2021. I scored in the top one percent of MCAT students when I took the exam. I have several hundreds of hours of experience that I can leverage to help you improve upon your weak sections and achieve your score goals. As an MCAT tutor, I can help you with content mastery, test-taking strategies, and motivating yourself to study. Beyond helping you get a great MCAT score that can get you into the medical school of your dreams, I hope to help you learn concepts and test-taking strategies that will help you throughout the rest of your life. I cannot wait to start working with you to help you get the best score possible on this exam!”
MCAT Score: 520
Zach scored a 520 on the MCAT and just two months before that he was scoring a 506! He found MCAT prep to be extremely frustrating and taxing, but he still didn’t give up. By focusing on strategies and learning to trust himself, he was able to increase his score by 14 points in just 8 weeks! (The last 11 points he increased in 3 weeks!).
"Hello I’m Zach! I took my MCAT the summer after my sophomore year in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. It was very difficult for me to focus on my studies during quarantine, but I was able to come up with a study plan that helped me to mitigate this by improving my test-taking strategies! While knowledge of content is crucial for the MCAT, I felt like strategy is extremely important as well. Studying for the MCAT was very frustrating but by sticking to my strategy I was able to drastically increase my test score in a very short period of time. I believe my strategy can be adapted to any student's study habits to help them maximize their score on the MCAT.
While I have always been a well prepared student and excellent studier I had very little guidance when I began studying for the MCAT. I did extensive research to create a study plan that would prepare me for exam day and then some. My study plan consisted of a strategic mixture of content review and practice questions. As little as a month before my exam I was still struggling to score competitively, but I stuck to my study strategy and saw it pay off on test day. By test day I was comfortable with the content, structure and timing of the test, and actually enjoyed taking the real exam, and this is my ultimate goal for you! I look forward to helping you solidify your knowledge of the necessary content while also devising a personal strategy that will help you to ace the MCAT!”
MCAT Score: 518
Merrina Lan
Starting her prep, Merrina realized immediately that she would have some work ahead of her. Under pressure from the avalanche of content and struggling to process all the information in a timed environment, Merrina worked hard to overcome her fear and push past the limits she set for herself. She started working on strategies and she saw improvements once she started applying them. She eventually scored an amazing 518 (95th percentile) on her test day!
“As a first-generation American, English is my second language and I struggle with reading complex tests in short amounts of time. CARS felt like an insurmountable challenge as I always ran out of time. I was preoccupied with classes, extracurricular activities, and health problems before my test date. At times, I was so overwhelmed and I just didn't have any hope that my score would increase. I wanted to give up. Then I figured out ways to read more efficiently and maximize improvements in science sections, which got me to 518, a higher score than all of my practice exams! I want you to know that you don't have to pour in 8 hours everyday or stick to a rigorous schedule to do well. Having a growth mindset and confidence in yourself are more crucial than you think! I look forward to working with you to realize your potential!”
MCAT Score: 519
Jack Tracy
A month before his test date, Jack was scoring a 497. He knew that he needed a higher score to be more competitive. Anxious about his score, he reworked his strategies and practiced more effective studying methods. Putting in long hours, he implemented these new techniques and in those 30 days, his score shot up by 22 points to a 519 by test day!
"Hi! I am originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, but I moved to Tennessee to attend Vanderbilt University for my undergraduate degree. I graduated a semester early from Vanderbilt in December, 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Medicine, Health & Society and a minor in Business.
I scored a 519 on the MCAT and my splits for the four sections of Chem/Phys, CARS, Bio/Biochem, Psych/Soc were 130, 128, 130, 131 respectively. I followed a self-guided method of studying without taking any courses to ensure that I really learned the content and strategy behind answering all types of questions across the different sections of the MCAT. My content review went from January to April. I then took some time off for finals and to watch some of my good friends graduate. I returned home and on the 17th of May scored a 497 (42nd percentile). Needless to say, I was extremely worried about my score. Three weeks later, I began a full time internship in a hospital for the summer and adapted my MCAT studying to the evenings after work. I had saved the AAMC tests to be done last and scored 518, 523, and 520 on the three that I completed. Test day (June 19th) came more quickly than I had expected and I was able to score a 519! An improvement of 22 points in approximately a month, which hopefully shows you my understanding of the focus and dedication necessary for success on the MCAT. I’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way in increasing my MCAT score, which I’m really looking forward to sharing with you! Let’s get you to your MCAT score goal :)"
MCAT Score: 517
Natasha Gengler
When Natasha started studying for the MCAT she was working 40 hrs/week. With only 8 weeks left before the MCAT and not having scored above a 503, she knew had an incredible challenge ahead of her. However, in just under two months, she developed the right strategies to take her score from a 503 to a 517 (97th percentile) on the MCAT!
"Hi! My name is Natasha, and I'm a senior math major and creative writing minor! Between working a full time job and being a non-science major, I struggled a lot with mastering all of the content on the MCAT science sections in time for my exam, but I was able to find strategies to help me maximize my study prep to score an even distribution across the exam. Through this strategic organization, I was able to increase my score from a 509 to a 517 in just 2 weeks! I also specialize in helping students with CARS passage analysis, since I find most people have the skills to do really well on CARS-- they just need a little extra test-taking strategy! I’m looking forward to helping you increase your MCAT score :)"
MCAT Score: 520
Jack Donahue
When starting his MCAT prep, Jack knew that it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. As an experienced tutor, he knew a lot of the content for the science sections but he had underestimated how rigorous the exam would be. With having to juggle undergraduate courses, he struggled with keeping a strict schedule and had to work around unforeseeable scheduling conflicts. On his first practice exam, he would score a 503. In rethinking his approach and trying more efficient strategies, he would jump 17 points in 3 months and score an awesome 520 on test day!
"Hi! I’m Jack and I would love to help you refine your question-answering process, how you approach each section, and how you plan to prepare for each section. My study schedule and methods are very reproducible and can be extremely helpful for you given the right modifications. I feel strongly that a tailored approach to strengthening your weakest sections can help you achieve your MCAT goals. I look forward to helping you reach your goal score!"
MCAT Score: 518
JD Carter
JD started his prep while juggling a full course load and trying to balance his academic life with studying for the MCAT was not working for him. He ended up with a 495 on his first practice exam. With winter break on the horizon, he buckled down and reworked his studying habits. Changing his mindset and strategies, he ended up making leaps in progress. He finally broke through to the 500s, one month before his test date he scored a 502 on a practice exam. Eventually, he made a 16 points increase to score an awesome 518 on his actual exam day!
"Hey! I’m JD and I have had a diverse range of tutoring experiences: from high school geometry to teaching English in Guatemala and the Dominican Republic. I know how daunting this test can be, especially since it stands between us and our dream of becoming a doctor. As your tutor, not only do I hope to help you reach your dream score, but also to guide you through these stressful times. I hope that I can be a source of support, encouragement, and a listening ear when you need it. When preparing for the MCAT, it is vital to take care of yourself in aspects of life outside of studying, and I would hope to provide guidance on how to balance these things as well! I look forward to helping you on this journey!"
MCAT Score: 520
Amna Saigal
Amna is an MCAT re-taker who was constantly scoring in the 490s for her first MCAT because she was focused on content rather than strategy. After changing her focus to strategy and studying for 6 weeks on her second attempt, Amna was able to raise her score to a 520 on the MCAT!
"Hi, I’m Amna! The first time I took the MCAT, I tried to learn everything (even the things I knew were unlikely to actually be on the exam). I went on to spend 3.5 months studying part-time trying to learn all of that content- but I still didn’t get the score I wanted. The second time, I decided to study smarter, rather than study MORE. The makers of the MCAT are primarily testing your ability to analyze information and make conclusions- which you only need “high-yield” content for. This time, I spent more time practicing passages, and developing a calm and logical approach to answering questions. Working on perfecting these strategies was the key to getting my 520, and I want to help you learn the “hacks” and strategies that can help you do the same. The MCAT is testing intelligence, not your ability to regurgitate information- and that’s why anyone can succeed on it with the right strategy and mindset! That’s what got me to my dream score, and I’m looking forward to helping you with these tactics so that you can reach your score goal too!”
MCAT Score: 517
Giselle De La Rua
After a month of content review, Giselle found herself extremely overwhelmed and decided to she pushed her test date back. From month two onward, she took a heavier focus on practice and strategy and pushed past her plateauing scores. It took her just over a month to go from a 506 to her highest practice test score: a 521. Then on exam day, she ended up with a 517!
"Hi! My name is Giselle, and I just recently took my MCAT so I know what it’s like to be in the process of studying for this exam because I was there not too long ago. My MCAT journey had its ups and downs just like any other but at the end of the day, I got the score I wanted and I can help you do the same. There’s a lot of varied advice about how to study for the MCAT so I’m here to help you navigate that and aid you in improving your section scores!
MCAT Score: 522
Diana Hla
Diana started her MCAT prep only engaging in content review, which led to her score a 502 on an early practice exam. With only 1 month left before her exam, Diana really shifted gears to maximum improvement. In that final month, Diana did in-depth content review and dedicated herself to working on test-taking strategies. Fortunately, her hard work really payed off when her score skyrocketed by 20 full points to an incredible 522 on test day!
"Hi! My name is Diana, and I’m looking forward to working with you! As a first year medical student at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (after graduating from Johns Hopkins with a BA in Biophysics and Molecular and Cellular Biology with a minor in Entrepreneurship & Management), I have gained an in-depth understanding of physics, biology, and chemistry. I also have seven years of tutoring experience, three years of teaching experience in college physics, and a year of tutoring for the MCAT's CARS section. This experience has honed my ability to help students on the MCAT, as I have seen a wide variety of questions, passages, common errors, and the strategies that have led to the most improvement even after long plateaus. After performing well on the MCAT as well as during the medical admissions process, I decided I wanted to help others be successful in academically achieving well so they can also pursue their dreams! I can’t wait to help you on your journey!”
MCAT Score: 519
Krishi Dudhia
Determined to improve, she started from scratch reviewing and working on her stamina. Once she worked out a better approach and started implementing new strategies, she began to understand the exam better. Using these new techniques, she saw an increase to 517 in just a month. On her actual test day, she ended up achieving an amazing 519 (20-point increase in 3 months!)
“Hi! My name is Krishi, and I am currently a junior at Drexel's combined BS/MD program. I will be starting medical school in August 2024. I am super excited to be a part of MCAT Mastery, and my goal is to pass on the key tips and crucial techniques that I learned during my studying journey to students who are aspiring to take the MCAT. What helped me the most during my journey was to focus on practice questions and dissect each question that I get wrong, along with understanding why I got the questions that I got right right.”
MCAT Score: 522
Andrea Sandoval
Andrea’s biggest struggle when approaching the MCAT was time management. She struggled to balance her full-time research position and all the necessary studying required for the MCAT. Andrea began her journey scoring a 500. After three months of hard work and amazing support from her family and friends, she was able to score an impressive 522 on exam day! Her specialties are in Psych/Soc and CARS - so she’ll definitely be able to help you increase your score in those areas!
"Hi there! I'm a 4th year undergraduate at UC Berkeley who is about to graduate and apply to medical school. When I first started studying for the MCAT I was having a really difficult time, but after lots of practice and hard work I was able to achieve a score of 522! I tended to be a slow thinker and slow reader, so adapting to the timing of the test was a challenge for me, but I was able to develop strategies for overcoming this. I struggled on this long MCAT journey, but I was able to find the test methods and strategies that work best for me and I'd love students to do the same and achieve their goal score!"
Why Choose To Work With Us If You Need MCAT Help: Reason 2
We are determined and specialize in getting you to your score goal FAST
We don't want to work with you any more than you need us. We want to help as many students as possible, not the same students as much as possible. Which means the faster we can get you to your score goal, the faster we can help someone else. We don't try to get you to keep paying us. Which is also why we like to get straight to STRATEGY (and only focus on content if you really need it). You can learn content on your own through many free videos available. Your time spent with us will be most valuable when we 1) diagnose your current MCAT prep habits, your mindset, how you reason through passages, find your highest leverage areas for improvement that will give you the biggest score jumps and 2) SHOW you exactly how to improve, even if that means giving you an inside-look into our thought process for how we approach specific sections, so you can literally just copy that and absorb the correct way of thinking.
MCAT Score: 523
Michelle Adler
After two full months of studying, Michelle found herself scoring in the low 500s, and was particularly struggling on the CARS section (as many students do). Eventually, after prioritizing focused strategy, working her way through as many resources as she could (particularly for CARS), and strengthening her mindset, she was able to increase her score to a 523 on her test date!! (1 point higher than her ambitious score goal)!!
"Hi, my name is Michelle, and I’m so excited to work with you! As an MD/PhD applicant, I knew that I needed a high score on the MCAT, so I set my sights high. My MCAT prep did not go as smoothly as I hoped and I really struggled to hit my target score in practice. I stayed in the mindset that I would only be taking this exam once - forcing myself to study hard, every day, and practice, practice, practice - inching my way towards my target. In the end, I hit my target score! The MCAT did not come naturally to me and I doubt it comes naturally to anyone, but having struggled my own way through this exam, I have developed many study skills and strategies for addressing this beast; strategies I am happy to share! Although I have a most rigorous background in biology and physics, I have grown quite interested in many of the other topics of the MCAT and believe that there are ways to enjoy learning this content! Overall, I’m really looking forward to helping you raise your score!”
MCAT Score: 523
Joe McGrath
When Joe started his prep for the MCAT, he had no idea where to start. Initially, he put a lot of work into content without doing any practice. He didn’t take his first practice exam until 2 weeks before his test date. With the review he’d done beforehand, he ended up scoring a 514, but he knew he could do even better by focusing on his approach (rather than content). Moving forward in those final 2 weeks, by optimizing his test-taking strategies, he was able to increase his score by 9 points to a 523 on his actual exam!
“Hi, I'm Joe and I’m looking forward to tutoring you! I began studying for the MCAT about three months before my exam, and it's safe to say, I barely knew where to start. Having never received any pre-med counseling, the sheer scope and importance of the MCAT were incredibly daunting. During the first couple months of my studying, I was not performing well on the MCAT practice passages. As a result, I was extremely concerned about how I was going to perform on the actual MCAT. However, after taking four AAMC practice tests (and improving my score by over 9 points in two weeks while taking these practice tests), I found the perfect MCAT strategy to maximize my success. When I finally went to take the real MCAT exam, I was even more nervous than I thought I'd be, despite the fact that I felt very prepared. Somehow, I was able to calm my nerves and put forth my best effort on the exam. I ended up getting a 523 while scoring 130 or above on every section. Even though I ended up scoring in the 99th percentile, I know what it's like to feel overwhelmed by MCAT studying and think that there's no possible way to score highly on the exam. By working with me, students will learn to overcome this self-doubt. My main focus in MCAT tutoring is helping students find the strategy that works best for them, as I don't think there is such a thing as a "one-size-fits-all strategy." By developing a personalized strategy, students can see large score increases in small amounts of time. I can’t wait to help you reach your score goal!”
MCAT Score: 516
Abbi Shrontz
Throughout her MCAT journey, Abbi faced a lot of anxiety and burnout in prepping for the exam. With just a month left before test day, her scores plateaued in the low 500s. Despite her struggles, she persevered and focused on her strategy, in those last 30 days she increased her score to a 516! Abbi is particularly strong in C/P (97%), so she’ll definitely be able to help you increase your score in this area!
"Hi, I’m Abbi and I look forward to working with you! One of the biggest things I learned in studying for the MCAT was how important my mindset was. When I was studying, I didn't take the time to take care of my mind and body, and as a result got burnt out. I wasn't studying efficiently and due to this, I was getting tired much more quickly. I want to help you prioritize your time studying in order to maximize your score so that you’re able to work on your mindset. My goal is for you to feel extremely confident walking into the testing center!"
MCAT Score: 520
Nana Adenu-Mensah
As a nontraditional student, who had already been out of school for three years, Nana's initial scores on MCAT practice exams were stuck in the low 500s. In fact, just a month before test day, her score was near 506. In those final 30 days, by changing her approach and her mindset, Nana finally saw increases in her practice scores, and ended up skyrocketing her score by 14 points to a 520 by test day! Since then, Nana has been studying at Yale Medical School and we’re so proud of her!
"Becoming a doctor had always been my dream but I put it off for a few years because I wasn't confident that I'd score well on the MCAT, which I knew was the biggest hurdle for me to climb. I braced my fears and took the plunge to start my prep about 5 months to my test date, three years out of undergrad and working a full-time job. While my scores were nowhere near great in the beginning, I persevered, cried a bit, worked hard, used all the resources I could afford like MCAT Mastery, and started to see a gradual increase in my scores, culminating in exceeding my target score and getting into medical school! If I could do it, then so can you- you're not alone! I have lots of experience teaching and tutoring undergraduate and graduate students, so I can meet you where you are in your MCAT prep. As we work together, I will share the strategies and resources that I found effective with you, and help you build confidence and skills to hit your target score as quickly as possible."
MCAT Score: 522
Ashley Battenberg
Rethinking her strategy for the test and practicing new studying techniques led her to improve her score quickly; it would take less than 30 days to jump from a 508 to her best, a 523. On exam day, she ended up with an incredible 522!! She’s now a student at the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine!
"Hey, I’m Ashley! While studying for the MCAT, I had quite a few other responsibilities and activities I was engaged in. I didn't have time or the desire to study 8 hours a day, so my greatest struggle was learning to study efficiently. I found ways to ensure that the time I spent studying was efficient and focused. After spending a lot of time inefficiently studying, I developed and found the tools that worked best for me. I want to help you find and create tools that work for you!"
MCAT Score: 521
Kamal Randhawa
Kamal had a challenging MCAT journey. He had to take the exam twice to achieve his desired score. He did well on his first try, scoring a 515, but he knew he was capable of a better score. He gave himself some well-needed time off to maintain a good headspace and improved his study schedule. All his hard work paid off, as he scored an awesome 521 on his MCAT (ranking about the 90th percentile in all 4 sections)!
"My name is Kamal Randhawa and I am a first-year MSc. Candidate in Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa. I am passionate about my studies and love to help those around me. I wrote the MCAT two times and learned a lot each time. What drove me towards retaking the exam was that I was 1) confident in my abilities to learn challenging concepts 2) synthesize relevant information in a clear and concise way for my brain to develop strong semantic networks and 3) score better than my first attempt! Now as a tutor, I hope to impart all my skills, knowledge, and notes to anyone who might need a little help!"
MCAT Score: 518
Austin Lent
Starting his prep, Austin was overwhelmed when faced with juggling online classes and MCAT studying during the pandemic. As he continued his prep, he quickly realized that time management and maintaining motivation for studying were his main obstacles. Once he highlighted these weaknesses and reworked his approach, he was able to improve them. He ended up raising his score from a 504 to a fantastic 518 ( a 14 points jump!) on exam day!
"Once I knew I would be home for a long time at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided it would be a good time to prepare for and take the MCAT. While transitioning to online summer classes and quarantining at home were challenging, making a schedule and sticking to it allowed me to remain focused and dedicated. I believe building perseverance and confidence are huge parts of tackling the MCAT, along with content knowledge and test-taking strategies. I look forward to helping you find strategies that work!"
MCAT Score: 527
Adam Novak
Going into the MCAT, Adam had a strong foundation in content but he didn’t anticipate how much he would struggle to actually interpret the questions on the exam. While he had to juggle university and other responsibilities, he quickly realized that he had to tackle the MCAT using a different strategy. He rethought his approach to the exam, and ended up with a 509 on a practice exam. He would go on to make an 18 points increase in 2 months, to score an amazing 527 on his actual exam!
"Combining my biochemistry degree with 2 co-ops (one in surgery and one in pharmaceutical research), I felt I had a strong foundation coming into the MCAT. I was accepted through an early assurance program, so I knew the mark I had to hit on the exam. I gave myself approximately 4 months for studying, and definitely was not where I thought I would be. I had a fair amount of the content down, but the exam style was so different I was really struggling with the question style. I started using a variety of qbanks to learn how to interpret the questions, as well as identify content gaps. I ultimately achieved a score better than I could've ever imagined. I look forward to helping you!"
MCAT Score: 525
Bill Young
Bill started his prep in January 2022 and quickly found himself struggling with understanding the exam. He took a diagnostic and got a 504. However, he knew that he was capable of more and immediately began figuring out how to improve. Once he worked out a better approach and started implementing new strategies, he began to understand the exam better and better. Using new techniques to help him prep, he took another diagnostic and saw an increase to a 512. And on his actual test day, he achieved an amazing 525 (a 10 points increase in 2 months)!
"Hi, I’m Bill! Unsure of what resources to use, I found helpful guides online through Khan Academy and Jack Westin. Following two months of review, I worked through practice problems and full-lengths and was able to receive a 525. During this studying process, I balanced 2 part-times jobs with a full-time course load. Learning how to concisely study and ensure that I was spending my time effectively was super helpful to me. I look forward to helping you reach your goal score!"
MCAT Score: 520
Varun Saxena
On his very first diagnostic, Varun scored a 498. Realizing he was struggling with understanding and applying all the complex MCAT concepts, he started on a comprehensive review. After two and a half months, Varun increased to a 513. However, he knew there was room for improvement. He focused on strategies and techniques that worked for him for the next 4 weeks, and went onto score his all-time highest score of 520 on exam day!
“My name is Varun Saxena, and I love helping people improve and grow as learners. I've never considered myself the smartest person in the room, but I believe that I am very good at finding unique strategies to help me succeed both academically and outside of the classroom. As someone who is very passionate about teaching and has held numerous tutoring and teaching assistant positions, I can work with learners to find strategies and techniques that will work for them and help them hit their target scores. Moreover, I believe that I have developed a strong knowledge foundation and can help learners fill any content gaps that they may have.”
MCAT Score: 519
Justin Roskam
In May 2022, Justin started his MCAT journey and scored a 504 on his first diagnostic exam. He originally had a test date in July 2022, but Justin ended up pushing it back to September since he was so overwhelmed by the prep and his personal obligations. Leading up to his new test date, Justin focused on tackling his biggest struggles. Implementing some new strategies and with plenty of practice, Justin was able to improve his score from a 504 to 519, his test day score, in two months with C/P (131) and B/B (131) being his strongest sections!
“Hey, I’m Justin! I am a non-traditional student, who dropped out of high school my junior year due to an illness, then started out at community college and am now taking a gap year to do clinical research as I apply to medical school. No one in my immediate or even extended family is a physician, and this journey has definitely been a tough one in that I have had to figure out so much on my own. My experience has shown me that almost anything is possible through dedication and the right approach, both of which I hope to help students cultivate for the MCAT and their educational/career goals beyond.”
Ready to meet your MCAT Mastery Mentor? We're excited to start helping you increase your MCAT score!
MCAT Score: 521
Bilal Nadeem
Bilal started his prep with a bang. He was a STEM major at Harvard University and had a great grip on content; his first diagnostic was a 515. However, he had his mind set on specific programs and knew he needed to achieve a higher score to get an acceptance. Overwhelmed by the exam, Bilal really struggled with feeling confident in his preparation, especially since his practice exams scores kept fluctuating up and down. He eventually found methods that worked, and propelled him to an awesome 521 on his actual test day!
"Hi! My name is Bilal and I'm currently an MD-PhD student. When I was first studying for the MCAT, the enormity of the content I had to review, re-learn, or learn for the first time overwhelmed me, and I struggled to visualize an endpoint. I'm eager to share some methods that can help you get in control of your preparation and that can help cultivate a level of self-assurance that will get you to and through test day. I look forward to working with you!"
MCAT Score: 519
George Nageeb
George started studying 6 weeks before his test day and got a 505 on his practice exam. He knew that he wanted to aim for much higher and didn’t have a ton of time, since he was also juggling a full course load at Harvard. He started up doing content review and practice problems intermixed but his scores didn’t increase with every test. Instead, they would fluctuate up and down between the different practice exams. He kept working on his approach to the exam, and once he found strategies that worked for him, finally saw an upward trend in his score. He eventually ended up scoring an awesome 519 on his exam day (a 14 points increase within 6 weeks)!
"Hi, I’m George! I graduated from Harvard with a degree in Biomedical Engineering and Comparative Studies of Religion. I studied for the MCAT for 6 weeks! My academic and practical experience has made me comfortable with MCAT material and I’ll be happy to help you with it. Staying with my study schedule ensured that I reached my goal score come test day, I look forward to helping you reach yours!"
MCAT Score: 516
Shahar Hartman
Shahar began studying with less than a month until his test date. Time was of the essence. Aside from preparing for this life changing exam, he also had to juggle his return from months abroad and figure out what to do with his life. He bet on himself and created a rigorous study schedule with specific score goals. His methods worked and he would see a steady increase from 504, 510, 514 to 520 on four of his practice tests. With the help of his consistent practice testing and self-confidence, Shahar was able to score a fantastic 516 on test day (a 12 point increase in less than a month!)
"Hi, I’m Shahar! I had the choice of either going abroad or applying to medical school in the upcoming cycle. My university said that it would be very difficult to do both, as it would not only leave me with under a month to study, but that I would be removed while abroad from the academics that the test requires of me. This sounded like a challenge, and I told myself that I would be okay with not succeeding, but I wanted to bet on myself that I could persevere. Five months later, I was on my flight home from Switzerland, and I had opened up an MCAT general guide I had downloaded for the flight. This was the beginning of my study journey. I found that the biggest advantage I could give myself was building confidence which in-turn would allow me to be more comfortable with the test itself. Content aside, the MCAT tests you on how you pick yourself up when you're down and I’m here to help you figure that out!"
MCAT Score: 522
Renee Gao
With stress and last minute changes with her work and her personal life, she ended up scoring a 506. However, she knew that she could do better and kept prepping. She wrote the MCAT again 2 months later, and scored a 514. While she was fairly satisfied with her score, she knew she could improve even more and decide to retake the MCAT again. She prepped for her 3rd and final exam, where she made an 8 point jump in 3 weeks to achieve an amazing 522.
"Hi, I’m Renee! I graduated from Georgetown University with honors in Biochemistry and a minor in Japanese. As someone who had to balance a busy social and work life along with studying, I am a strong believer in studying smarter not harder. I hope to not only provide knowledge but also guidance, encouragement, mindset change, and most importantly a positive attitude for my students going through this tough time in their lives.
As someone whose first language isn't English, started at 493 (diagnostic), and was working full time while studying to gain clinical experience, I have come a long way in all 4 subjects. I hope to focus not only on content review but also on test-taking strategy and mindset to help students achieve their dream scores with the highest efficiency, and give back as much as possible within each tutoring session.I studied for my MCAT with a broken computer, pen and paper, and mostly the resources I found online. I truly believe that if I can do it, so can you as well. I look forward to helping you achieve your goal score!"
MCAT Score: 522
Veronica Bochenek
Veronica’s MCAT journey was not a walk in the park. She struggled with major test anxiety along with feeling overwhelmed with the amount of content to memorize. She took her first practice exam and got a 508. As she was aiming for a score much higher, this only scared her enough to hold off her exam for an entire year. However, she knew she couldn’t put off the MCAT (and her dream) forever and mustered up the courage to try again. With only one month left before her exam, Veronica powered through and focused her studying on what really matters. She increased her score to a 510 and kept up the momentum through to her test day, where she achieved an outstanding 522 (a 12 points increase in a month)!
"Hi, I’m Veronica! I’m a recent college graduate with years of experience tutoring and mentoring students. My 522 was the result of consistent efforts to familiarize myself with the exam's design and content. This means that I know the ins and outs of the test, and I'm very excited to help you learn them too!"
MCAT Score: 523
Olivia Paraschos
On her very first practice exam, Olivia scored a 507 and she struggled to translate the content she had learned into applied situations. In her last couple months of studying, she worked on time management and adjusted her studying methods. It would propel her to an amazing 523 on exam day! A whole 16-point increase in 2 months, with all four sections ranking above the 90th percentile.
"Hi, my name is Olivia and I'm excited to work together to improve your MCAT score! I know first-hand how stressful studying can be while balancing other responsibilities, and how frustrating it can be to feel like you're stuck at the same score for weeks or even months. I think one of the most important tips to doing well on the MCAT is practice, and we can collaborate to come up with a study plan that works with your schedule to help you get the most out of your time spent studying. I’m looking forward to helping you on your journey!"
MCAT Score: 523
Nate Trumble
When Nate embarked on his MCAT journey, like many, he didn’t anticipate how much of a psychological battle it would be. The MCAT became a major source of stress, becoming a barrier to his future goal of becoming a physician. When Nate began studying, he was overwhelmed and this was reflected in his first diagnostic score - a 496. After figuring out how to put his mental health first and learning how to break the MCAT down to be more manageable, his score slowly increased. After 5 months of studying, he made his way to a 510. On test day, Nate scored an impressive 523! Nate is now living out his dream of becoming a doctor studying at the Indiana University School of Medicine.
"My journey to success with the MCAT required a transformation that involved more than merely learning the content on the test. I had to build my confidence by celebrating my wins when I came across them, and also by being gentle with myself when I failed. I had to train myself how to sit still for 7-8 hours, and have the discipline to do that several times a week over 4 months. Because I have realized these psychological components of my own MCAT journey, I want to pass these along by being a tutor who emphasizes a holistic approach to studying. It is easy to focus simply on understanding passages and questions, which is obviously important. However, just as important are factors like sleep, exercise, and sense of well-being. I also want to focus on integrating studying for the MCAT into the student's entire application process, so that we can keep in mind the ultimate goal for why we are doing this."
MCAT Score: 521
Hannah Kareff
Like many, Hannah decided to start her MCAT prep while finishing up her undergraduate degree. For her, juggling classes at Cornell and prep was tricky and frustrating, as she struggled with identifying her weaknesses. Instead of seeing clear improvements, she ended up wasting time on “low yield” areas, resulting in a low diagnostic score of 511. After tailoring her studying better to her needs, Hannah studied hard for 3 months. She saw steady increases with practice scores of 511 to 514 to 519. Her hard work would pay off when she scored a fantastic 521 on test day. Hannah has been accepted into multiple medical programs and is still trying to decide on the best one for her.
"I took the MCAT in April of 2022 after four months of studying. I was able to increase by 10 points from my first diagnostic test to my final test day, but not without a lot of hard work and anxiety. One of the most helpful things for me was having a friend taking it the same day, so that we could check in with each other and feel less alone. I want to be that person for other students, with the added bonus of having taken the exam before and being prepared with strategies/tools to help students improve. I have several years of tutoring and TA experience, and want to help you do and feel your best on your MCAT testing day. I look forward to getting you to your goal score!"
MCAT Score: 518
Soumya Gupta
Soumya had a very structured approach when it came to her MCAT prep. She strategically divided up her studying into three 7-week chunks. She began scoring a 504, and with 3 months of review, Soumya was starting to improve to a 510 and then to a 515. On exam day she was able to score an awesome 518! In fall 2023, she’ll starting her first year of medical school at Indiana University School of Medicine.
"Hey, I’m Soumya! I started out with a pretty low diagnostic exam score and was able to increase my score by 15 points by the time I took my actual MCAT. I have experience as a TA or tutor for various chemistry and biology classes and I am good at explaining concepts in many different ways. While studying, I tried out many different MCAT strategies and I was able to determine which worked the best for me. I’m looking forward to help you find yours!"
MCAT Score: 524
Srikar Dudipala
When Srikar first started his MCAT prep, like many, he struggled quite a bit with passage dissections and CARS. He knew the MCAT was an uphill battle and thus spent a lot of time creating a study schedule to maximize his time. Srikar ended up scoring an impressive 510 on his first diagnostic exam. This was a great score, but he knew he could do even better. He reworked his strategies and eventually scored an amazing 524 on exam day!
"Hi, my name is Srikar Dudipala and I am an incoming medical student currently living in New York City. I graduated from Brown University, earning an honors degree in Neuroscience. I truly am passionate about tutoring and really try to emphasize adapting to individual learning styles in order to connect with each student and help them succeed. I also love to use humor and creativity to keep my students engaged and motivated! In my free time, I enjoy playing Spikeball and basketball and visiting every museum that New York City has to offer!
While I was really happy about my final score of 524, I definitely went through my own struggles while taking the test - including always getting stuck between 2 answer options and navigating tricky CARS passages. In addition to serving as an MCAT tutor, I also TA'd Biochemistry and General Chemistry, and worked with underserved children at Providence while at Brown. I hope to be able to work with you with both content and test-taking strategies to help you succeed as well!"
Why Choose To Work With Us: Reason 3
We pride ourselves on truly affordable MCAT prep in a space that takes advantage of premeds
We're students too. We have debt too. We had to pay ridiculous amounts for prep material for an exam we were forced to take too. Bluntly put, it's not right that we feel like we have NO choice but to pay extreme amounts just to get help for an exam that literally determines our future. We've done our absolute best to keep our services and products as affordable as possible, while maintaining quality of help. This is a result of future doctors helping future doctors, not self-proclaimed "experts" and established doctors "helping" premeds. Clearly we're passionate about this and if you are too, we're a great fit for each other.