5 Questions to Ask Your MCAT Tutor

With the level of challenging course work covered, it is no surprise that many people feel the urgent need for extra help when studying for the MCAT. But before working with a tutor, there are several questions you should ask.

There comes a time in everyone’s education when they need some extra help. I vividly remember the many times I had to attend my calculus professor’s office hours for help with problems I was struggling to work through on my own. Sometimes, one detail can be particularly difficult to understand and further explanation is necessary; other times, the concepts may all make sense individually but tying them together seems impossible.

With the level of challenging course work covered, it is no surprise that many people feel the urgent need for extra help when studying for the MCAT. When the high volume of material and nerve-wracking stakes of the test are taken into consideration, it’s easy to see why searching for a tutor could be a smart idea. Before working with a tutor, there are several critical questions you should ask to determine whether he or she would be a true asset to your studies. You’ll notice that they all require a fair amount of self-awareness, however, so make sure you have a good grasp on where you’re at in your MCAT prep process and what type of assistance will help you most.

1. What is your background with this material?

If you’re getting ready to take the MCAT, you’ve most likely gotten through all of the classes that cover the exam’s material—but how long has it been? A tutor with a degree in chemistry or physics should have a tremendous understanding of the concepts you might need to relearn from the basics. If you’re just looking to focus on verbal reasoning, though, a tutor with a degree relevant to that material would be a better fit. Find the person who has proven they have a mastery of the subject in question.

2. How much experience do you have with the MCAT?

If you’re feeling pretty confident about your grasp of the subject matter and are primarily searching for someone who can help you identify good test-taking strategies, experience with the test itself will be much more crucial. Having direct experience with the MCAT’s structure, form, and question types is very important as you zero in on your test day, because it’s extremely different from any other standardized assessment you have taken.

3. Do you assign readings and practice problems?

Some students take great comfort in the security of knowing that there’s a specific plan in place to accomplish all of the work necessary for their MCAT prep, while others feel like a study plan is a giant weight on their backs that will just make them feel guilty when they fall behind. Do you want someone who will give you a plan that you can follow, or would you prefer something a little more free form?

4. Do you set a plan for tutoring sessions or maintain some flexibility?

This is all about personal style. Do you want to take an active role in the content of your tutoring sessions or not? Most tutors will be amenable to either of these approaches, so make sure the two of you agree on a system that accommodates you best. If they run a rigid program that moves ahead quickly and you still need to talk about the lessons that have been challenging you for the past few weeks, then this may not be a good fit. On the other hand, if you are feeling overwhelmed by everything and the tutor leaves it all to you to select what you’d like to work on, that may just make you feel like you’re drowning in material and can’t pick out what’s most pressing.

5. How do you think I should balance my MCAT studies with the rest of my life while I’m working on this?

This may seem like an odd question, but it’s very important. No one really enjoys doing all this work, and some people choose to stretch it out over a longer period of time so they can continue being involved in other things. Others, however, prefer to just zero in and try to get it over with as quickly as possible. If you and your tutor feel differently about this, they may be pushing you to work harder than you’re comfortable with or might be unprepared to keep up with your high-paced schedule.

It should be noted that none of these are rigidly binary categories. Experience with the MCAT and expertise in the sciences are certainly not mutually exclusive; many tutors are fine with either a structured or a free-form schedule, and many tutors can also adapt their plans to the way that you want to approach the test. Remember—you must know exactly what you are looking for so you can ensure the tutor you choose to work with will be a good match.

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

Tags:
doctoral doctorate grad school graduate programs graduate school health health and medicine MCAT MCATs med school medical school medicine standardized tests studying test prep tutoring tutors

About Eric Secrist

Eric Secrist

Eric Secrist is a professional MCAT tutor and contributing writer for Varsity Tutors. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Washington and is a current medical student at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.

Varsity Tutors delivers in-home, personalized, one-on-one instruction in any subject, from STEM to the humanities, and customized preparation for all standardized exams, including ISEE, SSAT, SAT, and ACT and graduate exams such as the GRE, LSAT, MCAT, and GMAT.  Students from elementary to graduate school are expertly matched with an exceptional tutor who is best able to address their unique needs and goals. To ensure satisfaction and safety, only the highest caliber tutors are selected to join Varsity Tutors following a rigorous screening process. Varsity Tutors currently serves 25 cities nationwide and offers a variety of tutoring packages. Students and their families interested in learning more about Varsity Tutors should visit www.varsitytutors.com.

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress
Samantha Fils-Aime

Samantha Fils-Aime

High School Class of 2019

I love that CollegeXpress has helped me find some scholarships to apply for but also helped me succeed in school with lots of tips. I also really like how they consistently email me about webinars that teach me a lot of things from the comfort of my home!

Abhishek Kumar

Abhishek Kumar

High School Class of 2022

As a high schooler, I know how hard it is to plan for college. You have to consider a lot of factors: SAT/ACT scores, college searches, scholarships, and more. CollegeXpress has been a helpful resource that solves all these problems. One can easily create a free account and search away. They help you search for scholarships and colleges, they have graduate program search, they have lists and rankings, and so much more. CX also has a lot of articles and advice to read—whether it’s financial aid, test prep, campus visits, internships/careers, or anything. Not only that, CX gives out free scholarship money to students who sign up and create a free CX account. I love CX and will continue to use it! Thank you CollegeXpress for making my college journey easier!

Maurice Whan

Maurice Whan

$2,000 Spring Scholarship Contest Winner, 2021

This year has been tough for my family and myself, so receiving this scholarship has been a blessing in disguise! CollegeXpress has been an excellent resource in helping me prepare financially for college. Thank you again for this amazing opportunity!

Priscilla Yeboah

Priscilla Yeboah

High School Student

I was afraid and timid throughout my search for colleges, but I finally found the college that was fit for me and luckily I got accepted. One of the most influential things that helped me was the articles and advice on CollegeXpress. They've helped me a lot and benefited me as a senior to make the right choices in life. Thank you!

Caitlin Eaton

Caitlin Eaton

$10,000 Scholarship Winner, 2021

I first discovered CollegeXpress during my sophomore year of high school while researching colleges that interested me. My SAT prep class the following year further familiarized me with the opportunities available through the organization. CX has personally helped me by exposing me to a diverse selection of schools as well as scholarships and life tips that have provided valuable guidance in my college search.

This scholarship will help me adjust to college life without worrying as much about tuition. This gives me more room to truly explore and benefit from all aspects of higher education. I plan to study Conservation Biology and work protecting species/ecosystems. I’m looking forward to getting field experience and seeing firsthand the problems research is solving.

College Matches
X

Colleges You May Be Interested In

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

Castleton University

Castleton, VT

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica and Albany, NY