Why MCATbyJAMES?
Why choose MCATbyJAMES over other reputable big-name prep companies?
The difference is results.
I have personally taught more than 300 students one-on-one, with the majority matriculating into medical school the following year. On average, my students score between 520–525 on AAMC diagnostic exams, and most complete 20+ full-length practice exams before test day.
As a former medical student and MCAT test-taker, I scored a 41 on the old exam and a perfect 528 on the new one. I was recruited by major prep companies as a lead tutor, but I chose to create my own program built on what actually works, informed by years of research, practice, and direct student success.
Big-name prep companies often advertise “complete” MCAT programs. These are highly structured and organized, but they demand memorization of every fact, formula, and figure across hundreds of pages. This creates the illusion of progress. Students walk away confident in theory but unprepared for the real exam. The MCAT does not reward memorization. It is not a retrieval-based exam. It is experimental, not semantic. It tests reasoning, not rote recall. In other words, the MCAT is a test of how you think.
This is why my approach is different. I do not give lectures, and I do not believe in superficial tips or tricks. My course is intense, structured, and built around hard work. Students are expected to complete pre-readings, practice, and review assignments before and after each class. Goals are set weekly, progress is tracked monthly, and every student receives a personalized file with daily updates and tailored practice.
The foundation of my curriculum is a 70/30 model: 70% application, 30% theory. Instead of sitting through lectures, you will actively break down passages step-by-step, applying the assigned readings to real AAMC-style material. This promotes deep understanding, so theories and mechanisms make intuitive sense and can be applied flexibly in any context.
Even if your baseline in science or CARS is low, as long as you come prepared to think actively, work hard, and learn from mistakes, I will guide you to see the exam exactly as the AAMC writers designed it. You will finish with the ability to approach each passage with confidence and break down even the most difficult “killer” passages. That is my guarantee.
WHAT & WHY?
Why
James?
Why not Khan Academy? Princeton Review? Kaplan? Jack Westin?
The fundamental difference in how James teaches the MCAT compared to other traditional resources and prep companies is that of an active vs. passive learning style. This will NOT be a traditional lecture, nor will it be James explaining concepts that have been already thoroughly covered in numerous prep books. The major difference is that it will be an investigation in the "what" and the "why" of a theory and/or a passage.
I care less about answers, and more of how you got to the answer. I care less about the exact definition of a theory, but more of how it applies to real life and how you interpret it in a different situation. Memorization here won’t help you, but how you have understood and internalized it.
The "what" - What is the theory/message/tone/structure? What is the message?
The "why" - Why is it important?
With the focus on these two elements, the learning process will be significantly different in focus and pace. Theories will make intuitive sense and you will be able to explain the theories not only in your own words but be able to apply it in a variety of novel contexts and situations.
As the MCAT is a passage-based exam, this active approach is vastly superior compared to other traditional methods of rote passive memorization. Information will be relevant, explanations will be intuitive and the approach will be structured so that you will never feel lost in an exam/passage.
70/30 Method
The content is not even half the battle.
- 30% is based on mastering the theory.
- 70% is based on practicing what you know in
realistic, timed MCAT passages.
Understand that this exam is less about the “content” and more about the “approach”. Content does not change. The formulas in physics and the introductory theories in biology and biochemistry have not changed for the past 100 years. What makes the MCAT “difficult” is that this test is designed to make you doubt yourself as it is passage based with old theories disguised in new application-based passages. My course is designed to help you understand HOW the MCAT asks its questions and the patterns behind it.
Do I need to have PRIOR experience before taking your course?
I have quite a busy schedule. How many times a week do I need? How many hours?
No Prior Experience Necessary
This course is designed and tailored to your specific needs and weaknesses. The pace will be uniquely set according to your learning style and previous experience with the subjects in the four sections.
Students that I have taught come from a variety of backgrounds: non-traditional students, nurses, pharmacists, arts majors, pre-meds, first time writers, 2nd/3rd time retakers, ESL, learning disabilities. The highest scoring student that I have ever taught (524 on the official MCAT) was a Finance & Accounting student with no pre-med science background. As long as you are willing to work hard, it is not a question of "if" you will conquer the MCAT, but a question of "when".
Even though no experience is necessary, you must be willing to accept new change in your learning and approach this exam in a critical, active manner. Every section has its own strategy, and every passage its own blueprint.
You do not have to be a US/Canadian citizen to enroll.
Compared to other prep companies who have no guideline as to what you do or how many times you do it, I keep my students accountable with a minimum of two sessions a week at 2-3 hours each. My goal is to help you finish this course in 3 to 6 months, and help you truly understand the material and master the application as soon as possible. Students are required to do the pre-readings and the questions I assign them before and after a session in order to finish the course properly, but with students that have an extremely tight schedule, I allow for flexibility in scheduling for sessions as long as the minimum number of sessions and hours are met.
If you have scheduling issues, I will help you and try to prioritize your needs. Even if you have to change your schedule on a week-by-week basis, I am available 24/7 through email check-ins, and Skype one-on-one calls to help you get through this course.