Blueprint MCAT is very proud of all our MCAT Success Stories! Check out some of our students who achieved life-changing MCAT score increases from the best MCAT prep course!

MCAT Prep Course Reviews – MCAT Self-Paced Course

Name: Minji K.
MCAT Prep Course: MCAT Self-Paced Course
Score Increase: +18

1. Why did you choose Blueprint MCAT? How much research did you do before you decided to buy and what finally convinced you to sign up?

I chose Blueprint because it looked the cleanest out of all the other options that were offered to me. All other popular testing organizations and their styles had already been familiar to me because they also offer study tools for AP exams, the SAT, etc. and I knew that they weren’t as nice. I also loved that there were little videos for each topic so that I could study in little chunks. The study plan was really nice because I need a schedule to keep me on track. I only did a little bit of research on what program to buy and decided in one day, but I really don’t think I could have made a choice that fits me better. I keep saying this, but the more modern interface convinced me because yes, of course substance is most important, but I’m materialistic and somewhat superficial and I love when things look nice. It encourages me to open up the program and study and makes me happy when I see the effort has been put in to make things look good.

2. How do you feel Blueprint helped you prepare for the MCAT and get a score you were happy with?

I got a 517, improved 18 points from my diagnostic, not much to complain about. If I wanted higher, I should’ve studied more, but I basically only studied like 2-3 hours a day for around 2 months, so that’s certainly not the program’s fault. I’m happy with my score. I feel like Blueprint helped me by really letting me choose how I want to study and basically just giving me suggestions and structure…Sometimes I didn’t want to look at my computer screen for that long and other times the books made me tired, so the flexibility really helped. It also encouraged me to take a lot of practice tests which was really helpful. I think by like the 4th practice test I how to handle everything and strategize how much effort to put into each section, so I’m glad I took so many. The little animations behind every video were nice because they helped me pay attention.

3. What aspects of the Blueprint MCAT course did you enjoy the most?

I loved the calendar, the videos, and the clean interface/books.

4. Had you taken the MCAT before and/or studied any other way? (e.g., attempted to self-study or took another company’s course?). If so, why do you feel Blueprint worked where the others had failed?

No I have not taken the MCAT before or studied in any other way.

5. Would you recommend Blueprint MCAT to friends, classmates or co-workers?

Yes

6. What would you say to them?

Out of all the other MCAT, SAT, AP prep books I’ve seen, this is the one that makes you want to study the most and makes you feel like you’re studying on your own terms with just the right amount of guidance.

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Name: Cooper H.
MCAT Prep Course: MCAT Self-Paced Course
Score Increase: +11

1. Why did you choose Blueprint MCAT? How much research did you do before you decided to buy and what finally convinced you to sign up?

I chose the Blueprint MCAT course for a variety of reasons. First and foremost was the clean presentation of the material in the videos and how it combined both the lecture-style learning with the visual-based representations. It also provided a sound structure and template from which to study. I looked through basically all the brand name prep courses but decided to go with Blueprint due to both its presentation of material and cost.

2. How do you feel Blueprint helped you prepare for the MCAT and get a score you were happy with?

The course helped provide me with a thorough and structured content review along with bountiful tips that went beyond the content and learn the ins and outs of the MCAT. Through these strategies, I was able to increase from my first full-length blueprint exam of 503 to 514 on the actual exam.

3. What aspects of the Blueprint MCAT course did you enjoy the most?

While I enjoyed the structure and the presentation of the course the aspect I found most valuable was the advice going beyond the content of how to approach the MCAT and the questions within.

4. Had you taken the MCAT before and/or studied any other way? (e.g., attempted to self-study or took another company’s course?). If so, why do you feel Blueprint worked where the others had failed?

I attempted to self-study along with books, this went all right but was not nearly as efficient as I hoped. Therefore I ventured into the realm of the prep courses and decided to take a chance on the blueprint course.

5. Would you recommend Blueprint MCAT to friends, classmates, or co-workers?

Yes, I would recommend the Blueprint course with my friends and classmates.

6. What would you say to them?

I would tell them all the benefits of the course ad the burden it lifts while trying to study for the MCAT. Along with the immense amount of content provided.

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Name: Melanie F.
MCAT Prep Course: MCAT Self-Paced Course
Score Increase: +8

1. Why did you choose Blueprint MCAT? How much research did you do before you decided to buy and what finally convinced you to sign up?

I chose Blueprint after I had taken the diagnostic exam through Next Step. I found the diagnostic exam to be very representative of how the actual l MCAT is supposed to look and function. I finally decided to purchase the Blueprint course due to the Early Adopter price promotion they were running at the time. I also really liked the study plan function and wanted to add some additional structure to my studying, particularly during the pandemic.

2. How do you feel Blueprint helped you prepare for the MCAT and get a score you were happy with?

I scored in the 98th percentile on CARS. I feel that the study planner and practice exams were very useful in helping me keep myself on track for my test date.

3. What aspects of the Blueprint MCAT course did you enjoy the most?

I enjoyed the variety of instructors on the Blueprint videos a lot. I also liked being able to switch from the videos to the books if I wanted to while knowing that I was getting consistency of content.

4. Had you taken the MCAT before and/or studied any other way? (e.g., attempted to self-study or took another company’s course?). If so, why do you feel Blueprint worked where the others had failed?

Before using Blueprint I reviewed content independently from a set of Kaplan review books. Blueprint worked better for me because it provided more structure to my study plan.

5. Would you recommend Blueprint MCAT to friends, classmates or co-workers?

Yes

6. What would you say to them?

I would say that Blueprint provides great value and flexibility! It allowed me to both stick to a schedule and work at my own pace.

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Name: Judy W.
MCAT Prep Course: MCAT Self-Paced Course
Score Increase: +9

1. Why did you choose Blueprint MCAT? How much research did you do before you decided to buy and what finally convinced you to sign up?

I chose Blueprint because I knew that Next Step had reputable FLs, but primarily because the videos/post-video quizzes were unique. I wanted the flexibility of self-pacing, but also liked having the structure of discrete, bite-sized videos to tackle at a time, as opposed to hours-long lectures. I also remembered that the first time I took the MCAT in 2017, I spent wayyyy too much time figuring out a study plan and neurotically tracking my progress in an excel sheet. I figured that Blueprint’s study plan would free up time and effort for me to focus on studying or properly recharging.

2. How do you feel Blueprint helped you prepare for the MCAT and get a score you were happy with?

Blueprint is the only reason I still have my sanity and managed to score 9 points higher.

3. What aspects of the Blueprint MCAT course did you enjoy the most?

The post-video quizzes! The question phrasing was tricky and always required me to read carefully. Although this format was different from MCAT, it primed my ability to be a detail-oriented test taker. I also loved how the videos included a combination of graphics, instructors, animations, words/bullet points.

4. Had you taken the MCAT before and/or studied any other way? (e.g., attempted to self-study or took another company’s course?). If so, why do you feel Blueprint worked where the others had failed?

When I took the MCAT in 2017, I had studied 9 months by reading Kaplan books…and some Examkracker ones. Incredibly passive and ineffective learning. Of course, I also took FLs by Kaplan and some by Next Step. But I was reading so many detailed notes that I didn’t know what the big picture or main principles were, so I was trying to rote memorize details to apply on FLs. I’ve realized with Blueprint’s help that the MCAT really tests main principles. These were stressed in a circular way in Blueprint’s videos, so that they were really drilled into my understanding.

5. Would you recommend Blueprint MCAT to friends, classmates or co-workers?

Yes, absolutely!

6. What would you say to them?

Everyone I encountered was super helpful and the course/resources are incredible. I don’t think there’s anything like it.

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Note: Next Step Test Prep is now Blueprint MCAT. The course testimonials below reference the Next Step Online MCAT Course. Score increases are from their first diagnostic test.

Name: James B.
MCAT Prep Course: Online MCAT Course
Score Increase: +20

1. Why did you choose Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT)? How much research did you do before you decided to buy and what finally convinced you to sign up?

I chose Next Step because I liked the idea that I could go at my own pace. I knew from the start that some weeks I could really focus on MCAT prep and get a lot done, while other weeks I would be busier with work, other commitments, and would have to squeeze in MCAT prep around that. I also liked that the course was not in a physical classroom 1) because of my schedule and 2) because I didn’t want to drive to and from a class and sit in traffic. Working full-time as an active-duty servicemember, my schedule is not always 9 to 5, and it is not set in stone. I chose Next Step because the Study Planner tool let me build and tweak my study schedule to fit my needs each week. I liked that I could lay out my entire notional schedule starting with Day 1, and I could plan free-time, practice tests, office hours, content review, Lessons, everything, and then I could adjust it as often as I needed to. I think I ended up completely resetting my schedule twice, and I was constantly moving chapters and practice sets around.

I did a fair amount of research before deciding to go with Next Step. I knew I did not want a classroom MCAT prep course that was several thousand dollars. I listened to the MCAT podcast with Dr. Gray on my way to work almost every morning, so I felt like I already knew the folks at Next Step and what they were all about before committing to the Next Step course. When I heard Brian and Clara talk about the Lessons Learned Journal on the podcast, that’s when I knew Next Step would be a good fit for me. We use the term “lessons learned” all the time in the military when working to extract meaningful information from situations/events in order to improve how we approach those tasks in the future. While listening to the MCAT podcast, I felt that Next Step created an environment where mistakes are okay, but when we make them let’s go back and squeeze them for every ounce of usable information – record, reflect, and move on. That “lessons learned” terminology which represents a mindset geared towards growth and improvement by learning from mistakes really clicked with me. I was convinced Next Step was right for me.

2. How do you feel Next Step helped you prepare for the MCAT and get a score you were happy with? 

The Next Step course provided me with everything I needed for my MCAT prep in one bundled package. The Next Step course came with the books and resources I needed to build up my foundational knowledge, refine my test strategies, get plenty of reps and sets with passages and questions, and use practice tests to prepare for the real thing. I liked that the Next Step course came with all the AAMC material included. Having earned my Bachelors in 2010, I knew I was going to have to dust off the cobwebs, and Next Step allowed me to do that at my own pace. I liked that the Next Step Study Planner let me customize my studying and design a plan that worked around my work and family life. The Next Step books were helpful in connecting concepts between different chapters and subjects, and the Next Step online lessons really helped me bring together ideas from the various subjects I had been studying. From the very beginning of the course, Next Step really drove home that a carefully kept lessons learned journal and a thorough review of all practice material, especially full-length practice tests, was crucial for success. I completely agree. Once I had my lessons learned journal “fully operational”, organized and formatted the way I wanted, it absolutely helped me see where I needed to focus on weak content areas and spot patterns in my mistakes. I believe it was a major contributing factor in going from a 501 on the Next Step Diagnostic to a 521 on the real MCAT.

3. What aspects of the Next Step course did you enjoy the most?
– I definitely benefited from the recorded videos that reviewed the AAMC full-length practice tests. While the AAMC practice tests are the gold standard, the AAMC explanations sometimes leave much to be desired. The Next Step review videos that went passage-by-passage, question-by-question, really helped me examine each question thoroughly and guided me through why the right answer choice was right and even why the wrong answers were wrong.
– I enjoyed how the online lessons brought together multiple important topics from various subjects and presented them in one easily manageable chunk that I could do in one sitting or a couple. I liked how there were study sheets and CARS sprinkled throughout the lessons.
– I really liked the Next Step study sheets that went along with the lessons. I liked the idea of different “levels” for the same study sheet – one sheet with only a few blanks, one with more blanks, and one sheet that was practically all blanks. It gave me ideas for other study sheets that I made on my own. For me, study sheets helped a lot more than flashcards because study sheets let me make connections and see the material as more of a whole, rather than discrete factoids on a card.
– I really liked the lessons learned journal that I designed with a lot of help and ideas from Next Step. My lessons learned journal was the key to my success, and I have to thank Next Step for really emphasizing the importance of a well-kept lessons learned journal

4. Had you taken the MCAT before and/or studied any other way? (e.g., attempted to self-study or took another company’s course?). If so, why do you feel Next Step worked where the others had failed?

No, I had not taken the MCAT before. I only took the MCAT once, and I am so thankful to Next Step for helping me design and execute a study plan that led to success on the first time around. I did self-study for about four months prior to enrolling in the Next Step course. I self-studied at a slow pace while working full-time and taking second semester organic chemistry at night, so I did not have much time left for MCAT prep. But, I did chip away at content review for a few months prior to enrolling in Next Step. Once my organic chemistry was complete and I had more free time, I decided to enroll in the Next Step course to help kick my studying into high gear. I don’t think I failed at other attempts to study or exhausted other options; I think I just knew after listening to the Dr. Gray podcast and doing some research on the internet that the Next Step course was a good option for me to achieve MCAT success.

5. Would you recommend Next Step to friends, classmates or co-workers?

Yes.

6. What would you say to them?

The Next Step MCAT course is a great, affordable option for folks that need flexibility in their MCAT prep schedule. It will help you establish a study plan and let you customize it to meet your needs. It will provide you with everything you need for MCAT success in one bundle. However, I would only recommend the Next Step course if you are self-motivated; Next Step gives you all the tools and resources to be successful, but it is up to you to use them. There is no fixed classroom schedule, no one checking in on your progress, and no timelines you have to meet. It is up to you to utilize office hours if you need them and to stick to a plan that will have you prepared in time for Test Day.

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Name: Channing H.
MCAT Prep Course: Online MCAT Course
Score Increase: +17

1. Why did you choose Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT)? How much research did you do before you decided to buy and what finally convinced you to sign up?

Next Step was highly touted amongst online forums for resources studying for the MCAT, due to people’s testament that Next Step had the most accurate practice full-length tests next to the official ones released by AAMC. When I saw that Next Step’s online course included 10 full tests and also AAMC’s resources in the price, I knew Next Step was the test prep course I needed.

2. How do you feel Next Step helped you prepare for the MCAT and get a score you were happy with? 

Next Step taught me how to utilize my time, especially when reviewing incorrect questions after practice tests. Through the use of Lessons Learned Journals, I was able to outline clearly topics that I needed reviewing and gain confidence in the early stages when my scores didn’t seem great. By focusing only on topics that I was having issues with during practice tests, I was able to save a lot of time during review. When I wasn’t satisfied with my first MCAT score (513), a simple request to extend my online course allowed me another 6 months for free. I simply hadn’t done enough of the practice exams the first time around (I had 6 remaining of the 10 tests), and by having the extra time to complete the practice full-length tests, I was able to improve my score to 522 the second time around.

3. What aspects of the Next Step course did you enjoy the most?

I enjoyed the test answer explanations, as they included a direct excerpt to the study material that explained the specific concept that the question was testing. This made for easy reinforcement of information when reviewing test results, and saved valuable time often wasted of searching through books and online material. I also really enjoyed their brief and well-designed topic videos, which served as quick crash courses for any topic that I hadn’t reviewed in a while.

4. Had you taken the MCAT before and/or studied any other way? (e.g., attempted to self-study or took another company’s course?). If so, why do you feel Next Step worked where the others had failed?

No, both times that I took the MCAT was studying with Next Step’s online course; however, I hadn’t been rigorous with the study schedule the first time I took the test, and it showed in my score. Having a free 6-month extension really allowed me to complete the rest of the course resources and provide me with the confidence to improve my score.

5. Would you recommend Next Step to friends, classmates or co-workers?

Yes, absolutely!

6. What would you say to them?

Next Step was worth every penny, especially considering the vast amount of resources that are provided with the online course. Since every person studies a little differently, there is something in Next Step’s course that is valuable to everyone. Mine was repetition through both Next Step’s and AAMC’s practice tests and having quick topic-summarizing videos to jog my memory, but there are course books, question banks, workbooks, course videos all included in the course that can be very helpful to any person studying for the MCAT.

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Name: Pablo C.
MCAT Prep Course: Online MCAT Course
Score Increase: +16

1. Why did you choose Next Step (Blueprint MCAT)? How much research did you do before you decided to buy and what finally convinced you to sign up?

I chose Next Step primarily because of the convenience factor. As a busy college student with even busier summers, I had to study for the MCAT during the fall semester of my Junior year. The incredible flexibility of the Next Step course was my primary draw, as I figured my schedule during the semester would vary widely and I would need to adapt my MCAT study schedule on the fly.

2. How do you feel Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) helped you prepare for the MCAT and get a score you were happy with?

Well Next Step does a fantastic job in familiarizing you with the exact format of the test. That reduces test anxiety by a large factor and, when dealing with a test like the MCAT, peace of mind certainly has a large effect on your score. Nothing like being relaxed! On top of that, the content books were very detailed and condensed, but were written in a very inviting way in my opinion. I found myself pretty interested in topics I normally would find pretty boring, which I’m sure helped my knowledge recall quite a bit. As far as the scores go, I got a 500 or 501 on my diagnostic MCAT at the beginning of the program. I complimented my NextStep prep with the AAMC materials about two weeks out from the actual exam, and was scoring in the high 5-teens (517-519) and got a 517 on the real thing.

3. What aspects of the Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) course did you enjoy the most?

The lessons; the instructors always put on a friendly face and made learning a relatively enjoyable experience. At times it didn’t really feel like I was studying but rather going over a couple things with a tutor or just a regular college class.

4. Had you taken the MCAT before and/or studied any other way? (e.g., attempted to self-study or took another company’s course?). If so, why do you feel Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) worked where the others had failed?

I did not, though I did use the AAMC materials toward the end of my prep.

5. Would you recommend Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) to friends, classmates or co-workers?

Absolutely, I already have!

6. What would you say to them?

Well, I harped on the adaptability of the program. Most of the pre-meds I know have very similar school schedules and social lives as me, so I figured the ability to schedule MCAT prep to however it best fit their needs would be important. I also mentioned the dozens of resources readily available to them on the website, such as office hours, added practice questions, more specific, topic-focused videos (I forgot what they’re called) to hit your weak spots, etc.

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Name: Katy C.
MCAT Prep Course: Online MCAT Course
Score Increase: +14

1. Why did you choose Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT)? How much research did you do before you decided to buy and what finally convinced you to sign up?

Before choosing Next Step, I researched various other courses, such as Examkrackers, Kaplan and Princeton Review. I decided on Next Step because of the positive testimonials from fellow premedical students and because of the flexible study schedule.

2. How do you feel Next Step helped you prepare for the MCAT and get a score you were happy with? 

The first time I took the MCAT, I self-studied and received a 505. But with the Next Step course, I was able to increase my score by 10 points to 515 within a few months.

3. What aspects of the Next Step course did you enjoy the most?

The aspects I enjoyed most of the Next Step course was the flexible schedule, personalized calendar, the ample amount of resources, and the accuracy of the practice exams.

4. Had you taken the MCAT before and/or studied any other way? (e.g., attempted to self-study or took another company’s course?). If so, why do you feel Next Step worked where the others had failed?

The first time I took the test, I self-studied. I found that I focused too much on reviewing the material and did not spend enough time practicing “how” to take the MCAT. Much of standardized testing is being familiar with the testing style and Next Step gives you plenty of opportunities to practice with multiple mock exams. Compared to other companies, the Next Step practice tests are the most similar to the actual MCAT and typically give a very accurate indicator of readiness.

5. Would you recommend Next Step to friends, classmates or co-workers?

Yes, I would recommend the Next Step MCAT prep course to other premedical students.

6. What would you say to them?

I would advise them to know their studying style and pick a course that fits your needs. If you prefer in-classroom hours and a strict schedule with a professor keeping you accountable, maybe this isn’t the course for you. For me, the course perfectly accommodated my busy lab schedule, extracurriculars, and my move to another city. Instead of being restricted to live classes (in-person or online), the pre-recorded lectures and personalized calendar allowed me to spend more time on the topics in which I needed extra review and skim over my stronger subjects. For quick refreshers, I could watch videos on 2x speed. If it had been a while since I learned the material, I could pause the video to take notes or even rewatch it another day with a fresh set of eyes.

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Name: Alison T.
MCAT Prep Course: Online MCAT Course
Score Increase: +13

1. Why did you choose Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT)? How much research did you do before you decided to buy and what finally convinced you to sign up?

I did quite a bit of research before purchasing an MCAT prep course. I read reviews, statistics, compared features, and spoke with mentors and peers. Ultimately, I decided that a self-paced course with hard copy textbooks as well as online resources would be best for me. I really liked that Next Step includes textbooks with study content as well as practice material. Next Step also had a lot of great online resources like video content, practice questions, webchats, etc. What really stood out to me was the scheduling tool, no other company offered it and I knew it would be very helpful. I found Next Steps price to be very competitive considering the resources included. I also happened to purchase the course on Cyber Monday so I got an extra discount!

2. How do you feel Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) helped you prepare for the MCAT and get a score you were happy with? 

Next Step helped me prepare for the MCAT in many different ways. I took a practice exam before starting the course and scored around a 503. I first used the textbooks to study the materials and did some practice questions. The textbooks helped remind me of what I learned in my premed classes and some that I had not learned. It also helped me to narrow down what was important to know. I took another practice test after finishing the textbooks and saw my score go up a few points. What changed my score the most was practice. I did practice questions, practice sections, and practice exams. A week before taking the exam my practice score was 508. I was not comfortable with this score so I postponed my exam another few weeks. I kept practicing and worked up to a 512 during practice. On my actual exam I felt very prepared and ended up scoring a 514. I was comfortable with the format, knew many of the tricks, and knew the pace I needed to work at.

3. What aspects of the Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) course did you enjoy the most?

Next Step included many crucial tools that helped me achieve my score. The textbooks laid a knowledge base and helped me to develop a useful study guide. The practice questions, sections, and exams really helped to improve my score and get me used to the format of the exam. I also found the video lessons to be very helpful and included many tips that definitely helped me get more than a few extra questions right on the exam. One of my favorite tools was the virtual planner. I loved being able to get a suggested study schedule and then to be able to see how much I had done and how much more I needed to do. It was also great that I was able to adjust it to my schedule and study preferences. The planner definitely helped keep me on track.

4. Had you taken the MCAT before and/or studied any other way? (e.g., attempted to self-study or took another company’s course?). If so, why do you feel Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) worked where the others had failed?

I have only prepared for and taken the exam once.

5. Would you recommend Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) to friends, classmates or co-workers?

I would definitely recommend Next Step to anyone. There are endless resources to use and I wouldn’t change anything about it. I think it could cater to a lot of different learning styles and preferences.

6. What would you say to them?

I would recommend this course to other students because it has such varied resources that students with many different learning styles and preferences will be able to tailor the course to their needs. I enjoy self-studying by reading, making outlines, and practicing questions. Next Step provided textbooks, lesson outlines, and practice questions, sections, and exams. I also enjoy making my own schedule so I loved the virtual planner tool that allowed me to add or subtract activities. They also have web conferences, tutoring opportunities, video lessons, even more.

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Name: Jordan O.
MCAT Prep Course: Online MCAT Course
Score Increase: +12

1. Why did you choose Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT)? How much research did you do before you decided to buy and what finally convinced you to sign up?

After a discussion with my advisor, she mentioned that some of her students have used Next Step and had good results. I looked into other preparation companies, but Next Step seemed to offer more. I talked a lot about signing up for Next Step with my parents because I was nervous about spending that much money. Next Step really does offer you so much more than other companies at a lower cost.

2. How do you feel Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) helped you prepare for the MCAT and get a score you were happy with?

Next Step provided different ways of presenting material which made it easier to fully understand concepts. I felt that the numerous opportunities apply my knowledge through question banks, practice sections, and practice tests made a major difference for me. I went from a 497 on my first test to a 508 on my second test. I firmly believe that the numerous practice questions had the greatest impact on my score increase. I learned what to look for when reading through the passage and HOW to read passages in the most effective way for myself. Next Step also taught me to recognize different types of questions and HOW to answer them. Essentially, Next Step covered content and showed me HOW to use that knowledge.

3. What aspects of the Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) course did you enjoy the most?

I really enjoyed how Next Step is flexible with scheduling. While I was studying for the MCAT with Next Step I was working part-time at the hospital, taking a full class load, running cross country, and participating in Habitat for Humanity. In other words, I was really busy. Having the ability to rearrange the study plan to fit my busy life was super helpful. It was incredibly satisfying to mark things as done on the study schedule as well, plus it was a good visual representation for what I had left to do.

4. Had you taken the MCAT before and/or studied any other way? (e.g., attempted to self-study or took another company’s course?). If so, why do you feel Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) worked where the others had failed?

Previously, I had studied on my own using hand-me-down prep books and free resources online. It was challenging to hold myself accountable to actually sit down and study when doing it on my own. Looking back, when I was studying on my own, I was not doing it the right or in an effective manner. Often, I would be laying on my bed passively reading and would fall asleep. NextStep taught me how to study and held me accountable. When I studied on my own, I didn’t do many practice problems or tests. NextStep gives so many opportunities practice taking the test and answering questions.

5. Would you recommend Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) to friends, classmates or co-workers?

YES!!!

6. If so, what would you say to them?

We are really busy people and Next Step lays out a study plan for you can change to fit your schedule. Next Step has so many different tools to help you earn a successful MCAT score. Plus, Next Step gives you more for your money compared to other preparation. Next Step doesn’t want just your money, they want you to succeed.

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Name: Kevin G.
MCAT Prep Course: Online MCAT Course
Score Increase: +11

1. Why did you choose Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT)? How much research did you do before you decided to buy and what finally convinced you to sign up?

I was looking for a program that offered in-depth content review, an extensive bank of practice questions, passages, and tests, and the opportunity for tutoring sessions with content experts. I spent roughly one month comparing the different MCAT prep courses and had narrowed my decision down between two companies. A physician I was working for recommended I use Next Step, as it was the program his son had used to increase his score by 14 points. Ultimately, it was a combination of his recommendation, as well as the fact that Next Step offered everything I wanted in a prep program that led me to choose Next Step.

2. How do you feel Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) helped you prepare for the MCAT and get a score you were happy with?

Next Step prepared me phenomenally…My final score increase was 11 points over my original (Note: 15 points over diagnostic), to a 510, and could not be happier with the results.

3. What aspects of the Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) course did you enjoy the most?

Overall the entire course was wonderful and really set me up for success. From the start, I was incredibly happy with the customized study plan calendar that the Next Step program helps you create from the get-go so you stay on track with studying. The calendar really helped me balance content review with practice questions and passages, and kept me up to date with when officer hours were taking place and what subject they were covering. I also really enjoyed having access to online officer hours with content review experts that really took their time explaining the concepts I was struggling with. The instructors would spend as much time as I needed on the concepts I was struggling with, and often had different ways of teaching the same concept until it clicked, this was invaluable for optics and electrostatics. Personally, the most enjoyable aspect of the course was the amount of practice questions, passages, and tests Next Step offered. These helped to really solidify the information learned in the content review classes and tutoring sessions.

4. Had you taken the MCAT before and/or studied any other way? (e.g., attempted to self-study or took another company’s course?). If so, why do you feel Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) worked where the others had failed?

I used Kaplan’s self-paced study program to prep for my first MCAT attempt and scored a 499. Next Step was a more well-rounded course. Where Kaplan focused heavily on content review, Next Step had a great balance between content review and dedicated MCAT specific practice.

5. Would you recommend Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) to friends, classmates or co-workers?

I would, and I have recommended to both my friends and former co-workers.

6. What do you say to them?

I typically start off by telling them that after using the Next Step course I had an 11-point increase in my MCAT score. I then tell them my favorite aspects of the course including the tutoring sessions, the vast amounts of practice material, and the well-written content review books.

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Name: Morgan K.
MCAT Prep Course: Online MCAT Course
Score Increase: +11

1. Why did you choose Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT)? How much research did you do before you decided to buy and what finally convinced you to sign up?

I chose Next Step because of the flexible scheduling. I have a full-time job and a host of extra-curricular activities, so I really needed a system that was going to prepare me well and still work with my already packed schedule. I did a significant amount of research before selecting Next Step and ultimately decided on it after reading the many positive reviews. I knew I had the talent to do well on the exam, and I really just needed some guidance. Knowing other pre-meds had succeeded using Next Step gave me confidence in the program as well.

2. How do you feel Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) helped you prepare for the MCAT and get a score you were happy with?

I’ve taken the official MCAT 3 times, and I felt the first two scores (a 504 in 2015 and a 505 in 2016) were not the best reflection of my abilities. I’ll be honest and I say that I spent both of those prep cycles studying very passively. I basically just bought different prep books and worked my way through them. At the time, I thought I was doing all that I needed to, but now looking back it definitely was not enough. I used Next Step during my third study cycle and I could not have achieved my 512 without it. Next Step kept me on track when I didn’t know what I should be focusing on, gave me more resources that I even had time to go through, and helped me identify where I was making mistakes and how to improve.

3. What aspects of the Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) course did you enjoy the most?

The flexible scheduling was a huge plus for me. I could easily block certain days that I would be travelling for work or on vacation so Next Step knew not to assign me any work that day. Knowing there were specific days that I had “off” meant I didn’t burn out and I was able to keep the exam anxiety to a minimum. In terms of the course content itself, I really liked that Next Step explained where exam takers frequently went wrong because it helped me identify errors in my own thought processes. By setting aside plenty of time for passages and discrete questions, I was able to recognize why I was getting questions wrong.

4. Had you taken the MCAT before and/or studied any other way? (e.g. attempted to self-study or took another company’s course?). If so, why do you feel Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) worked where the others had failed?

I took the MCAT in 2015 and 2016—scoring a 504 and 505 respectively. I self-studied with well-known prep book courses both times and looking back I realize that I was studying much too passively. I would simply read the chapter and then do the practice passage at the end. While that might have worked for some, it clearly was not sufficient for me. Next Step kept me on track and accountable by specifying exactly what I should be studying every day. There were days to review the chapters, days for passages, days for discrete questions, days for full-length exams, and days to review the full-length exams. I especially credit the time to review the exams as one of the keys to my success. By allocating time to review where I went wrong, I was able to learn from my mistakes and make corrections.

5. Would you recommend Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) to friends, classmates, or co-workers?

Definitely!

6. What would you say to them?

You won’t regret signing up for Next Step! If you commit to following the program, then you absolutely will see results. I never thought I would score a 512 (2 points higher than my target score!) and I 100% attribute that score to Next Step.

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Name: Amanda B.
MCAT Prep Course: Online MCAT Course
Score Increase: +13

1. Why did you choose Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT)? How much research did you do before you decided to buy and what finally convinced you to sign up?

I chose Next Step because I received excellent recommendations from other students and from medical school advisors. They emphasized the thoroughness of the program, the ease of use, and the thousands of test prep questions and numerous full-length practice exams.

2. How do you feel Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) helped you prepare for the MCAT and get a score you were happy with? 

On my diagnostic exam, I received a score of a 498. My MCAT score ended up being a 512. Next Step gave me the tools I needed to review and practice for the MCAT. Sometimes, I felt like the content review books were more effective than some of my college courses. In addition, having access to so many practice questions, practice passages, and full length practice tests really helped prepare me for the test day environment.

3. What aspects of the Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) course did you enjoy the most?

I enjoyed creating my own schedule, having review sessions that covered content and how to tackle particular test passages, the emphasis on preparing yourself for the timing of questions on the MCAT, and the full-length practice tests. Obviously, it is difficult to sit down and take a full-length practice test on a Saturday morning, but knowing I was getting the best possible practice and having the ability to read thorough reviews of questions provided me with the best possible prep I could have ever asked for.

4. Had you taken the MCAT before and/or studied any other way? (e.g., attempted to self-study or took another company’s course?). If so, why do you feel Next Step worked where the others had failed?

Next Step was the only prep program I used for the MCAT, so I have no other program to compare it to.

5. Would you recommend Next Step (now Blueprint MCAT) to friends, classmates or co-workers?

Absolutely, and I already have.

6. What would you say to them?

I would tell them that Next Step provides the best preparation with the highest quality content review, countless review questions, and the option to add extra support. The secret to the MCAT is practice, practice, practice. You know the material, but you need help preparing for the actual test and testing environment, and Next Step provides the best preparation for MCAT test day.

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Name: Katherina T.
MCAT Prep Course: Online MCAT Course
Score Increase: +9