You’ll want to take a hard look at this Blueprint vs Princeton review MCAT if you are one of the roughly 85,000 people a year taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Let’s dive into the review without further ado.
TrustPilot Reviews
Practice Tests
16
15
Practice Questions
2,500+
4,000+
Packages
$1,700-$3,400
$2,000-$6,500
Books Provided
Hardcopy
Hardcopy
Content Access Period
270 Days + Early Enrollment
6 Months
Live Class Hours
123
40+
Video Instruction
500+ Lessons
150+ Hours
Money-back Guarantees
Yes
Yes
Blueprint MCAT
A couple of years ago, Blueprint and Next Step Test Preparation merged into a new MCAT prep course, now referred to as Blueprint MCAT. Accordingly, students can now enjoy the benefits of two high-powered prep course providers:
- Detailed curriculum
- Test-taking strategies
- Detail-oriented video lessons
- Appealing graphics
- Scoring analytics (advanced)
- Simple user interface
Let’s review some pros and cons of Blueprint as an MCAT study course:
Pros
- Video lessons are pretty good, packed with visual animations and entertaining language
- The course structure integrates learning modules in an impressively effective manner
- There are over 4,000 first-rate practice problems that come with intuitive examples
- Live online courses are offered (for students who need a little nudge in the way of accountability and motivation)
Cons
- No minimum score is guaranteed
- The content access period is only 6 months, as opposed to the 9+ months other companies offer
Of the 346 reviews on Trustpilot, Blueprint has amassed a nearly unheard-of score of 4.7/5, which is considered “Excellent.”
A top-tier MCAT prep program that allows for custom study plans and analytics for targeting weaknesses.
- Generous unlimited 2-hour Live-Online Office Hours outside of class
- New mobile-friendly format
- Can test out of content you already know
- Day-by-day study plan tool with simple drag-and-drop feature
- Superb 6-book series called MCAT Review Book
- Lack of student reviews who have taken this course
- It’s expensive for an on demand course
The Princeton Review MCAT
The Princeton Review has been considered an MCAT prep course industry star for many years; it has helped thousands of future medical professionals aspire to and achieve admission to the medical school of their dreams for decades.
Let’s survey the pros and cons of The Princeton Review’s MCAT offerings:
Pros
- The online classes are well-reviewed and are led by a team of between four and six MCAT experts
- For students in need of detail-oriented content review, the curriculum is expansive and deep
- For people who learn more efficiently with text-based materials, it comes with 11 immersive MCAT prep books
Cons
- The on-demand video lessons are largely considered to be inferior to what Blueprint has to offer
- The mobile app only contains flashcards and is relatively unhelpful compared to other mobile apps, including Blueprint’s app
Of the 1,445 reviews on Trustpilot, The Princeton Review has amassed a score of 4.5, which is also considered “Excellent.”
One of the highest-rated MCAT prep courses that offers on-demand and live-online MCAT prep as well as high score guarantees. Get 15% off with code: TPN15
- Subject-specific diagnostic exams pinpoint strengths & weaknesses
- Personalized homework is assigned after every lecture
- Up-to-date MCAT Complete 9-book set is included
- 16 full-length practice tests simulate the format and time restraints of real MCAT
- Access to all AAMC material
- No more in-person class options
- 515+ score guarantee is extra
Blueprint Vs Princeton Review MCAT Prep Features
Both Blueprint and The Princeton Review offer video instruction, live class hours, practice questions, and practice tests. However, there are important differences.
Blueprint is a bit more affordable, but you get more bang for your buck with The Princeton Review due to additional lessons and live class hours. Fortunately, both companies come with a hardcopy book and a money-back guarantee. Today, we will weigh all the options to help you make the best decision.
Ultimately, I feel that both The Princeton Review and Blueprint offer MCAT prep courses that will sufficiently prepare you for the MCAT. Understandably, deciding which course works best for you is a difficult process. It really boils down to what type of learner you are, what your learning preference is, and what type of learning environment you excel in the most.
To help flesh out the differences between the two and determine which one will best meet your needs, let’s compare the features of both Blueprint and The Princeton Review.
Price
We know that, for students especially, the price tag can be one of the biggest considerations when it comes to choosing what prep course to use. Both The Princeton Review and Blueprint are competitive when it comes to their respective online self-paced and live classroom structures – although there are notably more affordable options out there.
Most Affordable GRE Course
$1,700
$2,000
Most Expensive GRE Course
$3,400
$5,600
If you need a little more in-depth program, Blueprint offers a one-on-one learning environment through their essential ($3,600), comprehensive ($3,850), or intensive tutoring packages ($5,600). Though these options cost a bit more, you receive a personalized and detailed study plan that has been designed by your tutor specifically for you.
Pricing for every other option in Blueprint’s offerings generally starts at around $2,000, but that depends on your choice of content access periods. Though this price might seem high (especially for cash-strapped students), it does include 15 full-length MCAT exams and Blueprint’s “Qbank” – which gives you over 4,000 individual passages, problems, and questions.