Award-Winning MCAT Tutors in Boston, MA

If you're a prospective medical student hoping to study at Harvard Medical School, Boston University School of Medicine, or any other US medical school, you'll almost certainly be required to take the MCAT, and Varsity Tutors can connect you with the best Boston MCAT tutors.

The MCAT, or Medical College Admission Test, is a long, exhaustive exam that will test you on a wide range of medical skills and applied scientific knowledge. The test covers everything from the principles of physical science to the specifics of bodily systems and the sociological background that you'll have to have to work effectively in a clinical or research environment. With so much material on the table, it can be difficult to know how to begin preparing, but Boston MCAT tutoring can put a highly-qualified professional who knows the MCAT inside and out at your disposal.

What kinds of skills can Boston MCAT tutors near me help me to develop?

The MCAT is divided into four sections: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills. You'll have a total of 6 hours and 15 minutes to complete the entire exam. These sections can include a mix of multiple-choice questions, passage-based questions, and independent questions, and Boston MCAT tutors can help you become familiar with the format of the exam. Test-taking abilities can be particularly important when you're facing a test as long and complex as the MCAT, as it can be easy to fall off pace. You don't want to end up scrambling to make up for lost time, so the time-management skills that Boston MCAT tutoring can introduce you to can be invaluable.

The Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems section is focused on the physical sciences that underpin medical practice: biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and physics. In addition to understanding the foundations of each of these disciplines, you'll also have to be able to apply this knowledge to bodily organs and tissues. This part of the exam is rather broad, and it can be tough to feel like you've adequately studied all the material that you might need to use on the test, but Boston MCAT tutors can lead you through a directed study of these subjects. They can use your valuable study time effectively by focusing on the topics that you have a less complete grasp of and moving quickly through areas that you already understand.

The Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems section emphasizes chemical processes that are unique to living organisms, like homeostasis, growth and reproduction, adaptation, the search for acquisition of energy and materials, and so on. You'll also have to demonstrate your ability to employ research skills and the basics of scientific inquiry. Organic chemistry is a complex topic, but Boston MCAT tutors can work at your pace, going over the topic comprehensively and giving you as much time as you need to focus on each concept in turn.

Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills focuses on reading comprehension, verbal reasoning, and critical thinking. In addition to a set of multiple-choice questions, you'll also be provided with passage-based questions. You'll have to read English texts drawing primarily from the humanities and social sciences, and while you won't need to have specific knowledge of the subjects that these texts cover, you will have to be able to analyze these passages to infer meaning, extrapolate elements of the passages to new context, evaluate how new information could impact these passages, and more. In addition to helping you brush up on your English analysis skills, Boston MCAT tutors can give you reading strategies that you can use part of the exam, such as skimming passages, taking a look at the questions, and then returning to the provided text for a closer reading.

Last is the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section. Here you'll have to show that you have the ability to medically serve a diverse population of patients. You'll have to demonstrate an understanding of how behavior intertwines with physical and mental health, how social stratification impacts access to resources and, in turn, well-being; and more. The questions you'll face here are complex and nuanced, and you'll want to be able to consider them from all angles before filling in your answers. Discussion with expert Boston MCAT tutors can help you see sociological problems in a new light and expose you to new perspectives.

What are the advantages of Boston MCAT tutoring?

Boston MCAT tutoring will place you into a one-on-one pedagogical relationship with your instructor. This has some distinct benefits - you'll receive your mentor's undivided attention, and they can craft a syllabus that specifically targets the subjects that you need to work on with the most urgency. If you were to enroll in a classroom-based prep course, you'd have to follow along with a prescribed curriculum dictated by your teacher, and wouldn't necessarily have the freedom to use your study time in the ways that can be most effective for you as an individual.

The MCAT covers a vast array of information, and it's likely that there are elements of the test that you feel well-prepared for and others that are sources of anxiety for you. Classroom instruction can result in time wasted rehashing subjects that you already understand, which could be better spent digging into topics that you're struggling with.

Boston MCAT tutors can accommodate your unique learning style, as well. There are many ways to learn - aural, visual, and kinesthetic instruction, to name a few - and most people find some of these methods to be more effective than others. If you're a visual learner, your mentor could create decks of flashcards for you to use while memorizing medical terminology and employ diagrams when studying cell behavior and sociological phenomena. If you learn best through auditory means, your instructor could engage you with discussion-based lessons. Whatever your preferences are, Boston MCAT tutors can adjust their approach to ensure that you're receiving instruction in a format that makes sense to you.

How can I meet with Boston MCAT tutors near me?

Boston MCAT tutoring is available both online and in person. We're aware that many prospective medical students lead busy lives, and adding tutoring to your schedule can be a challenge, but online instruction can make it easier to attend tutoring sessions. Remote study is provided through our Live Learning Platform, a set of online tools that includes built-in video chat. This means you'll be able to work with your mentor face-to-face from a location that's convenient for you. All you'll need is access to a stable internet connection and a compatible computer or mobile device.

The Live Learning Platform also includes a range of teaching tools that can make online study feel like sitting down to work your mentor in person. There's a virtual whiteboard that your instructor can use to sketch diagrams and pictorial aids, a shared document editor for practicing reading comprehension and analysis of written passages, integrated practice problems, and more. Additionally, the platform automatically records all study sessions, so if you'd like to revisit a subject that you've already studied to refresh your memory you'll be able to do so easily.

Give Varsity Tutors a call today and our educational consultants can sign you up for Boston MCAT tutoring. We'll be happy to talk to you about your scheduling requirements so we can get right to work locating a private mentor who can meet you at a time that's suitable for you. The MCAT can have a serious impact on your future in the medical industry, but you don't have to face the test unassisted. Reach out now and we can find you a qualified instructor in as little as 24 hours.