MCAT Reddit: Proceed With Caution

Why You Should Avoid MCAT Reddit

There are several reasons to avoid Reddit—or tread lightly—when seeking MCAT advice. Most notably, the information overload, the unverified sources and the biased information.

The MCAT is stressful. It’s no secret that the ability to find answers and insight instantly is what draws many people to the internet (and, to Reddit). Who doesn’t want a plethora of free, seemingly accurate, advice?

At a glance, it may feel validating and comforting to read first-hand anecdotes from others who have been in your shoes. However, I advise you to take these anecdotes with a grain of salt, since taking anonymous, unvetted advice from strangers on the internet can be risky.

You have probably heard many unsettling stories about how hard the MCAT is and how long the MCAT is, and these stories may be exaggerated (or lacking context) on Reddit.

While there is certainly some good advice and some really helpful people on the MCAT Reddit forums, you have to be careful, and should probably avoid it and seek out more reliable advice. Here are 5 reasons why I feel this way:

Reason to Avoid MCAT Reddit #1: Risk of Trusting Your MCAT Strategy to Users You Do Not Know

This is probably the most obvious reason for avoiding MCAT Reddit as a serious source of information. By entrusting your MCAT test prep strategies to Reddit users, you are taking a huge risk. Not only do you not know the validity of the statements other Reddit users make, you also do not know whether they have actually taken the MCAT or whether they have really done as well as they say they did; you’ve never met them. 

You and other premeds may feel that turning to Reddit will offer valuable insight – but just as everybody has a unique learning style, everybody has different strengths and preferences when it comes to studying, too! MCAT scores greatly affect medical school acceptance rates, so you do not want to take preparations for this test lightly, nor do you want to trust somebody else’s personal approach to studying, since it may not work as well for you. The best way to prepare for any test is based on YOUR study habits and learning style; rather than trusting in what worked for a fellow Reddit user.

We've found that a personalized approach to MCAT prep works the best, and our students agree:

"Kethlyn was very detailed in her explanations for the reasoning behind the answers for every question of the passage. She emphasized the importance of identifying the question type prior to trying to answer the question. The session was very helpful!" - Wes, BeMo student.

"I had an excellent experience working with Dr. Ferrag. She was incredibly helpful and polite throughout our interactions, always taking the time to ensure I understood the material. Dr. Ferrag provided me with constructive feedback and challenged me to think more deeply, which pushed me to improve my knowledge and skills. I truly appreciate her dedication and support in helping me learn and grow." - BeMo student.

Reason to Avoid MCAT Reddit #2: Questionable Information About the MCAT and MCAT Prep

There are genuine threads on MCAT Reddit that offer tips for MCAT prep, but you should also know that these can be biased and inaccurate. Reddit is an open forum, and although some boards are moderated, they all have the potential to be filled with unfiltered, blunt and misleading opinions or information.

This phenomenon is present on a variety of Premed forums and even Residency Reddit. Some posts boast about acing the MCAT without any preparation (which is never recommended and clearly exaggerated), while others state the test is unfair, which can worsen your anxiety about taking the test. Reading these types of MCAT reviews on Reddit can mess with your mental preparation for the test, or lead to inevitable disappointment when you don't score as well as someone else claimed they did.

You should also keep in mind that Reddit is often used by businesses to promote their own hidden agendas. Be vigilant of anyone who vehemently dismisses alternative study strategies or MCAT self-prep, MCAT study schedules, or uses rude and contemptuous language towards other Reddit users or prep companies. These tend to be written by prep agencies who are after your attention and money. 

Learn what makes the MCAT challenging in our infographic:

Reason to Avoid MCAT Reddit #3: Unsuitable Advice

Your success on the MCAT depends on your personal preparations. No amount of advice from your family, friends, classmates, or Reddit users, can instill in you an intrinsic motivation to succeed.

The study strategies you read about on Reddit are not designed by professional MCAT prep experts, or medical school advisors. When it comes to MCAT prep, a one-size-fits-all approach should be avoided at all costs. The Reddit user who shared their learning strategies may have succeeded, but:

1. We do not know if this person is being earnest. Maybe they are not disclosing some other tactics they used to ace their test or the fact that they used a prep company.
2. Their success does not guarantee that their methods will be effective for your MCAT prep.

Does this mean you cannot get external help? Absolutely not! You are encouraged to use legitimate resources that can help you prepare. There are MCAT prep professionals who can work with your schedule, concentrate on your needs, and customize prep plans for your learning style. Prefer to self-study? There are dozens of free MCAT prep resources you can use to organize your own study schedule and increase your chances for success!

Reason to Avoid MCAT Reddit #4: Reddit Cannot Help You Develop Lifelong Skills

Reddit users are not investing their time, effort and knowledge into preparing you—a total stranger—for the MCAT. They might not understand the content, how to use test-taking strategies, or even what version of the test you’ll write (compared to theirs). Additionally, MCAT prep should include more than content revision: it should be about reading comprehension, analysis, attention to detail, stress management, and so on. All of these skills cannot be developed by reading Reddit posts. They are honed using diligent MCAT prep strategies.

These skills take time to cultivate but they are essential for becoming a successful professional. In some ways, building lifelong skills and knowledge should be the focus of your MCAT prep, not finding quick tricks on Reddit that might help you ace the test.

Here's an example:

As you know, your MCAT preparation tactics should always include MCAT CARS strategy and prep. This MCAT section is very difficult to prepare for because you cannot simply memorize formulas or terminology to ace it. Alternatively, students often hear that they must cover as many MCAT CARS practice passages and questions as possible to do well in this section. In truth, this is not enough and it’s not uncommon to hear of students having to have to retake the MCAT because of a low CARS score.

Not wanting others to have to take the MCAT twice is a common reason for Reddit users to share their CARS prep tactics. There is a sort of camaraderie between MCAT test-takers regarding the difficulty of this MCAT section. But working 1:1 with a tutor or prep agency is more likely to allow you the opportunity to develop the CARS strategies you need to succeed on this section. Reading about a strategy on Reddit and putting it into practice are two very different things, and an MCAT tutor is better equipped to help you improve any strategy with consistent practice.

"Paisley was really patient and worked through visual and logical explanations in deciphering and working with the answer choices on the quiz questions on BB9 as well as passage based techniques in analyzing word choice and diction using logic and process of elimination. This session was great!" - Sid, BeMo student.

What Free Resources Are Available to You?

Discussion boards and online forums are often a source of commiseration for premed students. Feeling a sense of belonging during MCAT prep and medical school applications is great – But remember that MCAT Reddit cannot be a serious source of information. Take it with a grain of salt!

Here are some examples of free, reliable MCAT prep resources you can check out:

Many of these resources are available to you for free on our website and social media. We have compiled a series of detailed, informative blogs and videos that can help you make sound decisions regarding your MCAT prep methods and schedule the optimal MCAT test date for you.

Remember, BeMo is not your only option, but if you are looking to work with an expert on your MCAT journey, reach out for a free initial consultation!

Want our MCAT prep help? Here's one of our student success stories:

Here's another review from one of our students!

"I had an amazing experience with my MCAT sessions in CARS, thanks to Hanlin Liu. The session was detailed and thorough. Dr. Hanlin's guidance was invaluable; he provided clear instructions and tips to succed in CARS. Additionally, he helped me go through the CARS passages at my pace and teached me how to analyze them. I hope to continue learning from Dr. Hanlin." - Taha, BeMo student.

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To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

Disclaimer: MCAT is a registered trademark of AAMC. BeMo and AAMC do not endorse or affiliate with one another.

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