Blueprint MCAT Prep Review

After four years of intensive pre-med, you’re about to tackle one of the biggest measurements of med-school success: The Medical College Admission Test or MCAT.

The pressure is on. When prepping your med school applications, you probably know that your MCAT score carries the most weight. With 4 sections taken over 6 hours and 15 minutes, this exam is no joke. Curated and proctored by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the MCAT sets out to assess a student’s problem-solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of the sciences prerequisite to the study of medicine. 

You’ve already invested thousands of dollars and hours into your future in medicine. When selecting an MCAT prep course, it’s reasonable that you want one with authentic materials, 24/7 support, and a proven success rate. That’s why I want to introduce you to Blueprint.

After 17 years, Blueprint has become one of the leading providers of test prep and professional training. Their mission is “to provide the most personalized and innovative experiences to help learners achieve their goals,” and to make sure they have fun while doing it. That’s a pretty big promise, but their claims are backed up by thousands of positive reviews and a consistent success rate. 

If you’re a college student who’s ready for med school and refuses to let a standardized test get in your way, then guarantee your success with Blueprint. This online MCAT prep course features high-quality, engaging materials, comprehensive, personalized preparation, and a 15-point improvement guarantee.

Need a bit more convincing? Read on.

Here’s what I’ll cover in the Blueprint MCAT prep course review:

• About Blueprint MCAT prep
• How does Blueprint MCAT prep coursework
• How I reviewed Blueprint MCAT prep
• Pros, cons, and who it’s for
• Cost and refund policy
• Key features
• Other MCAT prep course options
• Conclusion
• FAQs

Ready to beat the MCAT? Let’s do it!

About Blueprint MCAT prep

Blueprint was founded over 17 years ago on a simple premise any educator, including myself, can get behind: Students learn more when they’re having fun.

It seems impossible to make studying for the MCAT enjoyable. But I believe Blueprint has found a formula that combines a customizable learning platform with industry-leading content and engaging live instruction from teachers who “get” students. Their instructors know how to translate dense content into engaging lessons. And Blueprint has produced some of the strongest video lessons out there thanks to their animation and production.

The numbers don’t lie. Since their start, Blueprint has served over one million students via 500,000+ instructional hours, the completion of 20 million+ practice questions, and 500+ hours of video content. On average, 83% of their students improve their scores by at least 10 points. Those 10 points could be the difference between your fallback and dream med school.

To meet the needs of as many learners as possible, Blueprint offers the following courses:

• 515+ Course (examined in this review)
• Live Online
• Self-Paced
• 1:1 Tutoring

All of their course options feature their highly customizable study planner tool, office hours 6 days per week, practice exams, practice questions, and their library of “Hollywood-level” instructional videos. Choosing the course that works for you depends on your availability and desire for live instruction.

How does Blueprint MCAT prep work?

After enrollment, Blueprint starts by curating your personalized study schedule. They ask you for your exam date, hours/week you can study (10-20 is the minimum), and the best day to take full-length practice exams. Next, they provide you with a calendar to select any days you may not be able to study due to prior commitments. Then, almost immediately, you are provided with a detailed study schedule that lays out your lessons, quizzes, and practice exams.

Each task is color-coded and easy to move around based on schedule changes or personal preferences. You can even sync your study calendar with your personal calendar for easy access. Honestly, it’s one of the coolest schedule platforms I’ve seen.

In addition to your personalized calendar in which every scheduled lesson takes you directly to the assignment page, you are also given a list of tasks to check off. First, of course, is your diagnostic. This exam will see where you stand so that Blueprint can generate the perfect study plan. You’ll be able to review your detailed, visual analytics and customize your schedule even further. 

Even after a short exploration of Blueprint’s platform and organization, I can easily say it’s one of the best out there–and I’ve seen a lot. It’s so clean, easy to use, and makes sure students have awareness and access to all of the unique, helpful features. Top marks, Blueprint! Good work.

Key Features:

• 80 hours of live sessions co-taught by 2 top-scoring instructors
• Customized, always-flexible study plan
• 549 engaging video lessons
• AI-supported tutoring and question generation
• 15 full-length practice exams and 4,000+ practice questions with answer explanations
• Expert support via live learning, unlimited office hours, and 24/7 AI chat
• Lessons Learned Journal which fully integrates your written notes and insights into your prep for guided review

How I reviewed Blueprint MCAT Prep

First, I spent a lot of time researching the MCAT’s content and structure. I learned how massive it truly is, requiring 7 hours of undivided attention and high-quality execution.

The AAMC is asking a lot of busy college students, so I wanted to make sure the materials offered by Blueprint were engaging and efficient. After all, college students are still in college, and if Blueprint is expecting a minimum of 10 hours of studying per week, they better make that time worthwhile. 

Next, I spent a few hours onboarding, watching instructional videos, exploring practice exams, and analyzing their resources and student support.

I soon discovered that Blueprint’s strong reviews are well-deserved. They have designed a platform full of high-quality, engaging materials that I am confident will deliver the results you need to get into your dream school.

Pros of Blueprint MCAT prep courses

24/7 access to expert-level support

If you’re a pre-med student, you’re used to employing high levels of self-discipline and tenacity when learning and studying. But just because you have those skills doesn’t mean you have to solely rely on them. Every student deserves consistent, expert support–especially when the stakes are this high. Blueprint offers 24/7 support through real experts you can speak 1:1 with and their new AI tutor, Blue.

If you opt for the 515+ Course, you’ll enjoy 80 hours of live instruction 2X per week. And you’ll receive expert, engaging instruction from not one, but two tutors. Outside of class, your personal coach will check in with you weekly to keep you on track and provide data-informed advice to optimize your studying. Unlimited office hours are offered 6 days per week to fit your schedule, and Blue, their AI tutor, is available 24/7 to walk you through a challenging problem or concept. Plus, you’ll have access to the Discord Community where you can communicate and collaborate with other dedicated students. Blueprint makes sure you’re never alone as you tackle the MCAT.

Highly engaging study materials that make the process as fun as possible

Again, Blueprint’s mission is to help as many students as possible while also keeping the process fun. While that may seem impossible when studying for the MCAT, I think they’ve done a pretty great job building a team of engaging instructors and well-produced videos. 

First, their instructors have been in your shoes–they know how grueling this process can be. That’s why they’re focused on combining their expertise with fun-loving teaching and the occasional dumb joke to keep their students engaged and learning. You can trust that Blueprint’s instructors care–the reviews prove it.

In addition, Blueprint has labeled their instructional videos as “Hollywood-level cinema.” While this may be a stretch, I’ve seen plenty of slide presentations with monotone voiceover teaching to know the difference between low and high-quality video lessons. Blueprint’s videos feature live instruction, colorful animations, and more to provide the most engaging content possible.

Combine these features with their personalized flashcards, full-length exams, review books, and more for an intensive and effective library of study materials.

Full of personalization for the most effective study plan

I can’t emphasize how awesome their personalized study platform is. Between the calendar that’s curated to your study schedule and time-off requests, to the drag-and-drop feature that makes it adaptable to your busy life, it’s one of the best I’ve seen. Studying for the MCAT is a huge commitment–some experts recommend over 250 hours of prep to see improvement. But Blueprints makes it a bit less daunting with their highly customized study plan and library of resources.

In addition to your calendar, you’ll have access to the most detailed, visual analytics out there so you can quickly identify patterns and make efficient changes. These analytics will also be used by your personal coach to offer data-backed feedback and study recommendations. With Blueprint, you can trust that your valuable time isn’t being wasted and your individual needs are being met.

AI provides thousands of practice questions and an effective tutor named Blue

Artificial Intelligence is infiltrating online test prep everywhere I look, and Blueprint has taken advantage of this innovative technology. First, enjoy personalized, data-informed recommendations when you tackle their 4,000+ practice questions in the AI Question Bank. Their proprietary algorithm will study your strengths and shortcomings to create customized practice sets that focus on your highest-yield areas.

Even cooler: Blue. This AI tutor is new and ready to make an impact as you study for CARS. Designed by CARS experts and completely personalized to you, Blue is available 24/7 to walk you through a practice question or concept. They’ll help you develop your own approach to CARS and further personalize your studying experience. Plus, they’re pretty cute.

Cons of Blueprint MCAT prep courses

More expensive, but so many resources included

Blueprint offers a variety of course options based on time commitment and access to live instruction, but even their self-paced course starts at $1,999 for 6 months of access (that’s $333/month). Add on longer access, live instruction, or 1:1 tutoring and you’re looking at prices over $4,000 and up to $11,199. Those numbers are high, there’s no sugarcoating it. But when you look at test prep as an investment, they’re easier to accept. A well-designed, comprehensive course such as Blueprint could be the difference between your dream school and a fallback. The med school you attend determines your residency and future employment. A small investment now could mean a huge payoff later.

No quick-study option, but that’s not recommended for the MCAT anyway

Some online study platforms offer “1-week” or “6-week” intensive courses for a quick cram before the exam. While this may work for college entrance exams like the ACT, it’s not the right option for something as huge as the MCAT. Like I said earlier, this exam requires over 250 hours of studying according to some experts, and that’s just not doable in such a short amount of time. So while Blueprint asks for a time commitment, it’s necessary and customized to you.

Who Blueprint MCAT prep is for

My review of Blueprint’s comprehensive materials has determined that Blueprint is for a student who:

• Has big med-school dreams and needs a strong MCAT score to achieve them
• Needs a curated study plan with personalization so their time is valued
• Is looking for engaging videos and customized materials so they remain engaged and dedicated
• Enjoys plenty of expert-level support as they navigate the challenging material
• Wants to improve their overall score by 15 points or more

If you’re aiming to work towards your MCAT goals with high-quality, engaging materials, then I suggest Blueprint. Their mission is to get you the score you deserve and make the process fun along the way.

How much does Blueprint MCAT prep cost?

Blueprint offers a variety of courses that vary from self-paced to live instruction. Within those course options you can choose the length of access or instruction that works best for your schedule. Blueprint runs promotions to help you save on their courses, but here’s an overview of pricing without those in mind:

Course	Unique Features	Pricing
515+ Course	Everything discussed in this review.	9-Month Access: $3,499
Live Online	40 hours of live instruction Includes most but not all of the features in 515+	6-Month Access: $2,599 9-Month Access: $3,049 12-Month Access: $3,499
Self-Paced	No live instruction, but you have access to office hours	6-Month Access: $1,699 9-Month Access: $2,449 12-Month Access: $2,699
Tutoring	1:1 Tutoring with an MCAT expert  All the features, but customized to you 12 hours of live instruction included	Choose from the Core Plan, Premium, or 515+ Tutoring study material packages. Then choose 16, 24, or 40 hours of 1:1 tutoring. Packages range from $3,599 – 11,199.

Blueprint Refund

Blueprint guarantees a 15-point increase or your money back for their 515+ Course. To qualify, you must attend a minimum of 30 live class sessions (2 make-up classes allowed), complete all 195 learning modules, complete the diagnostic and 9 other practice exams, answer 1,000 additional questions, and submit an official MCAT score within 90 days of course completion.

Features of Blueprint MCAT Prep

Blueprint MCAT Prep offers some pretty incredible features, including:

• Access to MCAT experts 24/7
• Customizable, personalized easy-to-use study planner
• 549 high-quality video lessons organized into 195 learning modules
• Loads of authentic practice via tests and questions
• Extra study tools to top it all off

Access to MCAT experts 24/7

In a variety of different ways, Blueprint makes sure their students are supported 24/7 as they prepare for the MCAT. During live instruction, you and your peers will be able to receive personalized curriculum and ask as many questions as needed to master the content. Each week, your coach will check in with you to keep you on track and motivated. Plus, they’re constantly reviewing your progress to provide you with the most up-to-date and personalized feedback and study tips. Throughout the week, stop into office hours as many times as you want to check in with tutors and peers as you work through your self-study. Finally, their AI tutor, Blue, is available 24/7 to walk you through practice problems. With Blueprint, you’re never alone.

Customizable, personalized easy-to-use study planner

I can’t say enough about their study platform! After providing your availability and ideal study schedule, Blueprint curates a personalized MCAT calendar with every lesson and activity scheduled and color-coded. But you are welcome to move tasks around based on your always-changing availability. From the calendar, you can quickly access every video lesson or quiz scheduled, in addition to the other resources that are easy to find. This calendar will continually update as you progress through the coursework. Blueprint wants to make sure your valuable time is used wisely.

549 high-quality video lessons organized into 195 learning modules

While “Hollywood-level” may be a bit of an exaggeration, I am very impressed with the video lessons that Blueprint has produced. Studying online can be a very dry experience, particularly when the content is so dense and complex. But their videos feature experts walking you through the concepts using engaging visuals and animations. In total, you’ll have access to 549 expert-created video lessons that have been carefully organized into 195 learning modules. In addition, they’ve curated a new series featuring 33 videos that will have you “nerding out” over the most challenging content of the MCAT. 

Loads of authentic practice via tests and questions

When analyzing online test prep courses, I always make sure they offer plenty of practice with full-length exams, quizzes, and a question bank. The more students have exposure to the type of questions they’ll be asked on the big day, the more comfortable they’ll feel when it’s the real deal. With Blueprint, you’ll have the opportunity to take up to 15 full-length practice exams, including 5 AAMC exams that are as close to the real thing as it gets. Their AI Question Bank offers 4,000+ additional questions for shorter practice. This is the extra work that will get you the points you deserve and the acceptance letter you’ve been waiting for.

Extra study tools to top it all off

Even with the resources I’ve already discussed, I believe Blueprint can support you as you work towards your goal score. However, there are even more tech tools to take advantage of. For example, don’t skip over their flashcards! They offer 1600 high-yield flashcards you can study on the go. They’ll also provide you with 6 review books if you want to study and annotate the tried and true way. For extra collaboration and help, check out the Discord Community where you can connect with your classmates and instructors, ask questions, form live study groups, and collaborate with other dedicated pre-med students. Finally, the Lessons Learned Journal will fully integrate your personal notes and insights into your continued prep and compile them into a comprehensive study guide as you near the exam.

Blueprint Alternatives

While I can’t say enough about Blueprint’s MCAT prep materials, it’s important to explore your options before committing to a course. Here are a few alternatives:

• AAMC
• Magoosh
• Princeton Review
• Kaplan
• Varsity Tutors
• Pocket Prep review
• Khan Academy

Conclusion: Is Blueprint MCAT prep worth it?

Considering the MCAT is the most important score between you and medical school, I know you want to choose a prep course that will deliver. I can confidently say that Blueprint is one of the strongest MCAT courses I’ve seen out there. While prices are high, you are getting hundreds of hours of high-quality practice that will earn you the score you need to get into that dream school. And, with their 15-point guarantee, what’s stopping you?

Blueprint MCAT FAQs