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I Couldn’t Afford a $3,000 MCAT Course So I Found a Better Way
By Dr. Sarah
Last Updated Apr 2, 2025
Summary: This blog follows a student determined to pursue medicine — but stuck when they realized just how expensive MCAT prep really is. It dives into the pressure of trying to compete with others who can afford $2K+ programs, and shares the mindset shifts and resource choices that helped them prep smarter without going broke.
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I knew I wanted to be a doctor.
What I didn’t know was how much it would cost just to study for the MCAT.When I started researching prep options, I was shocked.
Kaplan? $2,000+
Princeton Review? Nearly $3,000
Tutoring? Don’t even ask.I was working part-time and helping my family with bills. That kind of money wasn’t just “tight.”
It was impossible.And for a while, that made me feel like I was already behind — like everyone else had a head start just because they could afford one.
Lesson 1: A big price tag doesn’t mean better prep
I spent so much time comparing course features, watching YouTube reviews, reading Reddit threads…And honestly? The more expensive the program, the more bloated it seemed.Some had 400+ hours of content.
Dozens of books.
Lecture after lecture.But I realized: More isn’t always better — especially when you’re short on time, money, or both.I didn’t need everything. I needed what worked.
Lesson 2: Free resources help — but only to a point
I tried piecing things together:• Reddit study schedules• Anki decks• YouTube lectures• PDFs passed around in DiscordsIt was helpful at first… until it wasn’t.The lack of structure made it easy to fall behind.
I didn’t know what to prioritize. I kept second-guessing if I was focusing on the right stuff.
And worst of all — it felt like I was always playing catch-up.
Lesson 3: You can prep on a budget — you just need the right system
I stopped trying to “DIY” everything and started looking for a resource that was:• Affordable• Focused• Actually made by people who had aced the MCATThat’s when I found the 30 Day MCAT Study Bundle.And for the first time, I felt like someone understood what I needed:✅ A clear, 30-day schedule
✅ High-yield-only content (no fluff)
✅ Practice questions and strategy tips built around what the AAMC actually testsIt was like getting a full system — but without the full price tag.
Lesson 4: It’s not about having all the tools — it’s about knowing how to use them
There were students in my study group who had access to everything — Qbanks, tutors, you name it.But some of them were still overwhelmed because they didn’t have a strategy.Meanwhile, I stuck to the plan, followed the structure, and made steady progress.
Not because I had the most — but because I had enough.
Lesson 5: You don’t need to go broke chasing your med school dream
If you’re feeling like MCAT prep is out of your league because of the cost — please hear this:It’s not about how much you spend.
It’s about how effectively you study.And there are resources out there (like the 30 Day MCAT Study Bundle) that respect your time, your brain, and your budget.
Follow These 5 Lessons — and You’ll See Results
By following these five proven lessons — focusing on quality over quantity, using free resources wisely, finding a budget-friendly system, sticking to strategy, and letting go of pressure to “have it all” — you can prep confidently for the MCAT without draining your bank account.But here’s the challenge:
Most budget-conscious students try to piece everything together alone — and end up more stressed, less focused, and stuck.That’s why having a complete system that’s affordable and effective made all the difference for me.
That’s why we created The 30-Day MCAT Study Bundle—to provide students with a step-by-step roadmap that ensures they follow these exact six steps effortlessly.For a limited time, the 30-Day MCAT Study Bundle is available with exclusive bonuses:🔹 A Complete 30-Day Study Plan – Know exactly what to study every day.
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