Best MCAT Study Plan Builders: Course Tools, Free Options, and MCAT.tools

Planning for the MCAT is already hard enough—figuring out how to plan shouldn’t be its own test. Over the years, tons of companies have released their own study plan builders, but not all of them are created equal. Let’s break down the main options out there, and how MCAT.Tools fits in.

1. Study Plans from Big Course Providers

Blueprint, Kaplan, Princeton Review—if you’re taking one of their courses, they’ll usually give you a built-in study planner. You punch in your test date, and they assign you tasks based on their curriculum. It’s convenient if you’re already in their system.

But let’s be real—those courses are pricey. And these plans don’t really work unless you’re using all their materials. If you’re self-studying, or just want to use your favorite resources, these probably won’t cut it.

2. Third-Party Study Plan Builders

If you’re going the self-study route, third-party tools are the way to go. Some popular ones include:

Studyschedule.org
A solid free option that’s been around for a while.

• Choose your resources from a list
• Generates a study calendar for you
• Free, but ad-supported

Simple and helpful, though not super customizable.

MCAT.Tools (hey, that’s us)
We built MCAT.Tools because we wanted something smarter and more flexible than what was out there.

• Choose and customize your resources
• Recommends a plan based on what actually works
• Syncs to your calendar; daily tasks, email reminders, and more
• Includes bonus tools like Anki help and a rapid quiz system
• Starts with a free trial, then VERY affordable pricing (less than a coffee per month)
• No ads, ever

Basically, it’s designed for real students using real resources—not just one company’s stuff.

3. Spreadsheets, PDFs, and Social Media Plans

Let’s not forget the good old-fashioned methods. Tons of students still use downloadable guides, Reddit threads, or the AAMC’s own PDF planner. These work—and they offer a lot of freedom—but managing everything manually can get messy. You’re on your own for tracking, adjusting, and keeping yourself on pace.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, the best plan is the one you’ll actually stick to. If you want a simple, flexible system that grows with your prep and doesn’t box you into one company’s content, give MCAT.Tools a try. We built it for students like you—because we’ve been there too.