Have you ever wanted to switch things up for your MCAT preparation and include an MCAT podcast? But there are so many podcasts out there for med and pre-med students that it can be hard to narrow it down to the best ones without feeling like you’re wasting time.
Luckily, I’ve listened to more than my fair share of medical podcasts, so I can do the curating for you! In this post, I’ll tell you all about some of my favorite MCAT podcasts and how they can help you prepare to absolutely ace your exam. Let’s get started!
This post is all about MCAT podcast.
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Recommended MCAT Podcast
How Can an MCAT Podcast Help You Prepare?
Before we dive into individual podcasts, let’s talk about how they can help you prepare for the MCAT. You might be tempted to think that listening to a podcast would be a waste of your time that could be spent studying, but informative podcasts have so many benefits, especially if you’re feeling nervous about taking the MCAT.
Here are some benefits of incorporating an MCAT podcast into your study routine.
Flexible Learning
Listening to MCAT podcasts helps you expand your studying capabilities outside of the usual routines like reading and flashcards. You can take a podcast with you anywhere you go, which means you can also study anywhere you go. Listen to a podcast at the gym, during your commute, on a walk with your dog, or while you do chores. Any moment can become an opportunity to further your learning or brush up on a concept you’re struggling to nail down.
Content Review
One of the ways I used podcasts while studying for the MCAT was by turning one on the night before I would be starting a new topic. This would help me ease into the topic and get the gears in my brain turning so I could hit the ground running with my studying the next day.
You can also use podcasts to quickly refresh your memory on topics you’ve already covered. There’s so much to study when it comes to the MCAT, and many of the topics interweave with each other. Rather than spending time rereading a whole chapter, going over your notes, or watching a bunch of videos, try turning on a podcast to review a topic that will be relevant to your next round of studying while doing other things.
Tips from Experts
Lots of MCAT podcasts incorporate tips and tricks from doctors who have already taken the MCAT themselves. And who would know better how to help you study than someone who’s been right where you are?
Not every MCAT podcast focuses entirely on content review. Many of them also talk about things like overcoming test anxiety, general studying tips, and how to use your time wisely. So, you’re not just getting tips for the MCAT, you’re getting a little bit of life advice from fellow medical professionals sprinkled in too. It’s a win-win!
Easily Accessible
You can listen to most MCAT podcasts completely free of charge, making them an amazing supplemental material for studying. From books to study courses, so many MCAT resources are locked behind a pay-wall. But, even if you’re on a budget, it doesn’t cost anything except your time to tune into an MCAT podcast!
Memory Tools
A big part of studying is repetition. You have to go over and over different topics before your brain fully takes them in. Listening to an MCAT podcast can be a great low-stress way to review topics multiple times and help your brain remember more. This can be especially true for auditory learners who might be able to recall information better and easier after hearing it rather than just reading it.
Some MCAT podcasts also interweave stories from the hosts’ personal experiences that can help make content more memorable. You might think about a topic and remember it was part of an episode where the hosts told an interesting story that resonated with you. That association or the story itself may also be able to help you recall information.
For 13 other podcast suggestions to make your premed journey that much more easy and enjoyable, go to my Best Premed Podcasts – For Hands-on Strategies and Real-Life Inspiration.
5 MCAT Podcasts to Try
Now that you know how popping on an MCAT podcast here and there could help you study, let’s go over some of my recommendations to help you find a place to start!
1. The MCAT Podcast
Where to Listen: Apple Podcasts or Medical School HQ website
Total Episodes: 344
“The MCAT Podcast” is basically the go-to podcast for all things related to the MCAT. It’s hosted by Ryan Gray, a well-known MD and the author of the book series, The Pre-Med Playbook.
He’s an expert on helping pre-med students get ready for med school, and that includes preparing for the MCAT. He frequently goes over tricks for scoring high on the exam as well as tips to handle all your MCAT-related stress in healthy ways.
Recommended episodes:
- The Secrets of MCAT Stress
- Practice Smarter, Not Harder
- Overcoming Doomscroll Culture
2. MCAT Mastery
Where to Listen: Apple Podcasts
Total Episodes: 26
“MCAT Mastery” is perfect for pre-med students who haven’t quite hit the studying phase and are still focusing on research and planning. This podcast goes over tips and tricks from lots of different people who have scored well so you can learn the methods they used to become successful.
Since they touch on stories from a variety of people, you should be able to compile a list of ideas that you can then test out as you begin studying yourself. Use it as a resource to create the best possible study strategy for yourself and knock your exam out of the park!
To learn the strategies that helped me score a 516 on the MCAT (my personal goal score!) go to my blog post How to Start Studying for the MCAT – Ditch the Overwhelm and Fear.
Recommended episodes:
- How to Study for the MCAT with a Learning Disability
- How to Ease MCAT Anxiety in Minutes
- Can You Have a Social Life During MCAT Prep?!
3. GroSeries: An MCAT Review Podcast
Where to Listen: Apple Podcasts
Total Episodes: 15
Each episode of “GroSeries” is packed full of information to help you review and understand specific topics for the MCAT. The podcast begins with psychology and sociology, then continues with a full review of biology and biochemistry.
You might hear a few study tips thrown in here and there, but this is mostly a content review podcast that you can throw on when you’re preparing for a new section, or you just need a little refresher.
Recommended episodes:
- Reproduction, Embryogenesis, and Development MCAT Review
- The Cardiovascular System MCAT Review
- The Cell MCAT Review
4. The MCAT CARS Podcast
Where to Listen: Medical School HQ Website
Total episodes: 121
As you might have guessed, the “MCAT CARS Podcast” is made specifically to help you learn how to work through CARS passages on the MCAT. CARS, or the Critical Analysis and Reasoning section, tests your ability to understand a passage and correctly answer questions about it.
This section can be a score-killer if you don’t prepare for it, so this podcast is an excellent resource to gather tips and strategies for tackling the most difficult passages.
Recommended episodes:
- Understanding Passage Structures and Interpreting Tone
- Where to Find the Main Idea in an MCAT CARS Passage
- How to Handle Words You Don’t Know in a CARS Passage
5. MCAT Basics
Where to Listen: Spotify or Apple Podcasts
Total Episodes: 76
“MCAT Basics” is another useful resource for content review. Each episode goes over a few different sections of MCAT material based on AAMC content, including practice tests and question banks.
If you haven’t been exposed to AAMC resources yet, this could be a good way to start easing into them and seeing how others use them.
The hosts occasionally interview MCAT tutors and other experts as well for insights about raising your MCAT scores.
Recommended episodes:
- Organic Chemistry Mechanisms to Know
- Biomolecule Structure, Naming, and Function
- Gluconeogenesis
If you are just getting started for the MCAT or need to re-evaluate your study plan, my course MCAT Roadmap is the #1 affordable resource for creating the perfect study schedule that fits YOU. With my epic Study Schedule Tool, step-by-step instructions and lots of tips so that you can score to your full potential!
Final Thoughts on MCAT Podcasts
When you find the right ones, an MCAT podcast can be an amazing supplemental source while you study for the exam. I hope this list gives you a strong entry point so you can dive into the world of MCAT podcasts and start using them to study smarter, not harder. Good luck!
Related Posts
11 Best Free MCAT Resources & How to Use Them Effectively
How to Start Studying for the MCAT – Ditch the Overwhelm and Fear!
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