Award-Winning MCAT Tutors serving Columbia, SC

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Award-Winning MCAT Tutors serving Columbia, SC

Tony

Certified Tutor

Tony

Bachelor of Science in Biology
Tony's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Biology
High School Biology

I am a recent graduate of Yale University and incoming first year medical student at Columbia University. Originally from the DC area, I have always had a passion for science and medicine and pursued a degree in Biology while at Yale. During the 2008-2009 academic year, I tutored science, math, Engl...

Education

Yale University

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Test Scores
SAT
1540
Zachary

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Zachary

Bachelors, Biochemistry and Biophysics
Zachary's other Tutor Subjects
Trigonometry
Statistics
Calculus
Algebra

I am passionate about teaching and tutoring and I thoroughly enjoy helping students gain an understanding and a drive for their studies. I have a long history of working with students of all grade levels and abilities (elementary school through college), and I have a good understanding of strategies...

Education

Yale University

Bachelors, Biochemistry and Biophysics

Test Scores
SAT
1530
ACT
33
Annie

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Annie

Current Grad Student, MD
Annie's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra

I am currently a second year medical student. I was a Physiological Sciences major at UCLA (class of 2015), and pursued research during my gap year between undergrad and medical school.

Education

University of California Los Angeles

Bachelors, Physiological Sciences

Drexel University College of Medicine

Current Grad Student, MD

Test Scores
SAT
1540
David

Certified Tutor

6+ years

David

Current Grad Student, Bioethics and Medical Ethics
David's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
AP Chemistry
Biochemistry

I am a graduate of Yale University, where I received my Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. While I tutor a broad range of STEM subjects, I am most passionate about helping students achieve their best possible score on tests like the ACT and MCAT.

Education

Yale University

Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience

Harvard University

Current Grad Student, Bioethics and Medical Ethics

Test Scores
ACT
33
Timothy

Certified Tutor

Timothy

Current Grad Student, M.D.
Timothy's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra
Geometry
Calculus

I am one of many Varsity Tutors. I attended Jesuit High School in Carmichael, CA where I graduated with a 4.3 GPA taking multiple AP and honors courses (AP Bio, Chem, Physics B, Gov, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, English Lit, and English Lang). I also participated in several tutoring organizations...

Education

Drexel University College of Medicine

Current Grad Student, M.D.

University of California Los Angeles

Bachelors, Political Science and Government

CHRISTOPHER

Certified Tutor

5+ years

CHRISTOPHER

Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and Cell Biology (minor in Neuroscience)
CHRISTOPHER's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
Geometry
Calculus
Algebra

I am a graduate of Rice University in Houston, Texas where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and Cell Biology with a minor in Neuroscience. I then earned my MD from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. I am now in residency and training to become a dermatologist . My tutoring e...

Education

Rice University

Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and Cell Biology (minor in Neuroscience)

Baylor College of Medicine

Doctor of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences

Yasheen

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Yasheen

Bachelor of Science in Biology
Yasheen's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Pre-Calculus
Middle School Math
Geometry

I am a graduate of Yale University with a degree in biology and am currently working as a research associate at a cancer biology lab. I am an experienced STEM tutor for college and high school students and also tutor for standardized tests such as the MCAT and the SAT.

Education

Yale University

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Mosab

Certified Tutor

Mosab

Current Grad Student, Health Sciences
Mosab's other Tutor Subjects
College Algebra
Algebra 3/4
Trigonometry
Calculus

I am currently applying to medical school and enjoy powerlifting, grand strategy games, historical fiction, and chocolate.

Education

Tufts University

Bachelors, International Relations and Arabic

Harvard University

Current Grad Student, Health Sciences

Test Scores
SAT
1540
Samantha

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Samantha

Bachelor in Arts, Neuroscience
Samantha's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Neuroscience
Biology

I am a senior neuroscience major at the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League institution. I have over three years of experience as a researcher in diverse fields, including breast cancer, pediatrics, and autism genetics. I have three years of experience tutoring undergraduate students at Penn a...

Education

University of Pennsylvania

Bachelor in Arts, Neuroscience

Rebecca

Certified Tutor

Rebecca

Bachelor in Arts, Biology, General
Rebecca's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
AP Biology
AP Chemistry

I am experienced in a broad range of subjects. I am enthusiastic about helping students to learn course material ranging from Biology and Chemistry to English and Writing.

Education

University of Pennsylvania

Bachelor in Arts, Biology, General

Test Scores
SAT
1540

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Frequently Asked Questions

Score improvement depends on your starting point and study commitment, but most students see meaningful gains with personalized instruction focused on their weak areas. Many students improve by 5-10 points or more when they work with a tutor to identify gaps in content knowledge, refine test-taking strategies, and practice under timed conditions. The key is targeting your specific challenges—whether that's passage comprehension, physics concepts, or pacing—rather than generic test prep.

The Chemical and Physical Foundations section and the Biological and Biochemical Foundations section challenge many students due to the breadth of content and application-heavy questions. However, the most difficult section varies by student—some struggle with the MCAT Reading Comprehension and Psychological Concepts section's dense passages, while others find the timing demands of the Physical Sciences sections overwhelming. A tutor can diagnose which sections need the most attention and create a targeted study plan to build both content mastery and test-taking confidence in those areas.

Most students benefit from 3-4 months of consistent preparation, though this varies based on your science background and target score. A typical study schedule includes 8-12 weeks of content review combined with practice tests and strategy refinement. Working with a tutor helps you use this time efficiently by focusing on high-impact topics and avoiding common pitfalls, rather than spending weeks on concepts you've already mastered.

Practice tests are essential—they're the best way to identify weak areas, get comfortable with the exam format, and build stamina for the full 7.5-hour test day. Most experts recommend taking 8-10 full-length practice tests throughout your preparation. A tutor can help you interpret your practice test results to pinpoint specific question types or content areas where you're losing points, then develop strategies to address those gaps before test day.

Timing is one of the biggest challenges students face—you have roughly 1.5-2 minutes per question depending on the section. Many students either rush through passages and make careless errors or spend too long on difficult questions and run out of time. A tutor can teach you strategic approaches like identifying which questions to tackle first, when to skip and return to a question, and how to practice pacing during timed drills so it becomes automatic on test day.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about your approach to questions. Tutoring builds confidence by ensuring you have solid content knowledge, understand the question formats, and have practiced extensively under realistic timed conditions. Many students also benefit from learning stress-management techniques and developing a pre-test routine with their tutor, so they feel ready and in control when they sit for the actual exam.

Look for tutors with strong science backgrounds, proven MCAT success (ideally a high score themselves), and experience teaching the specific sections where you need help. Ideally, your tutor should be familiar with the current MCAT format, understand common student misconceptions, and be able to explain complex concepts clearly. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who have demonstrated mastery of MCAT content and proven track records helping students improve their scores.

Your first session is typically a diagnostic and planning meeting. Your tutor will review your background, discuss your target score and timeline, assess your current strengths and weaknesses (often through a practice test or diagnostic questions), and create a personalized study plan. This foundation helps ensure that every future session is focused on your specific needs rather than generic test prep, making your preparation more efficient and effective.

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