Deciding on the right MCAT class can be a very challenging process. But, I can assure you that Swartwood Prep is the right choice. What sets John's class apart from the others is the small class size and individualized attention he offers his students. Verbal was always keeping me from reaching my desired score. I started out with a 7 in verbal, but after practicing with John I improved my score to a 10. John doesn't waste your time with material, which you can study on your own. Rather, every class is geared toward analyzing passages and learning the techniques that will help you succeed on the test. He also tailors the class to your needs: if you want more practice with kinetics or kidney function, then thats what you will get. Thus, it is with confidence and sincerity that I recommend Swartwood Prep.

Tasha Fernando- SWARTWOOD MCAT Student 

UCLA Medical School Student

" Hey John,

I hope that all is going well. It seems like it was only yesterday that I met you as my TA for Math 3C. Either way, application season is finally over and I wanted to thank you for all your help over these past years. Both as a mentor and as a friend. I thought that you would be interested to know what I have decided to go to Johns Hopkins for my MD PhD training. [James later decided to go to Stanford Med instead.] I know I'm going to miss California but I'm pretty sure I'll be back.

Anyways, take care and let me know if there is anything I can help with.



Best Wishes,

James

James Chen- MCAT Master Course (39)

Stanford Medical School MD PhD Student

"Without a doubt, Swartwood Testing, Admissions, & Review is one of the most helpful resources I've encountered in my preparation for the MCAT. ((In my first attempt at the MCAT, I enrolled with the Princeton Review Prep Course and received an 8 on the verbal section.)) Swartwood Testing, Admissions, & Review was a crucial part in my improvement because they showed me how to approach Verbal Reasoning as a learned skill and help identify my problem question types. Having focused class lectures and specific homework problems, Swartwood Testing, Admissions, & Review showed me how to improve my score. I received a 12 on VR! If you are looking for a course offering personalized attention, small class size, and a unique approach to VR, I recommend Swartwood Testing, Admissions, & Review without reservation."

 Best of Luck with Your Studies,

Justin Miamoto (Bruin of the Year 2006 - 2007) - MCAT Verbal Intensive

Preparing for the MCAT can be a daunting task. Studying on my own, I realized that memorizing pages of information was not an effective method for succeeding on the exam. As with other standardized tests, the MCAT does not measure your intelligence or your understanding of science. Rather, it is a test to see how well you can take the test. The MCAT challenges your ability to apply basic science knowledge and your critical thinking skills. While I was comfortable with the material behind the MCAT, Swartwood Prep stepped in to help me learn how to take the test itself and how to apply background information to the passage-based question format of the exam. Hours of practicing honed my test-taking skills and put me in the proper mindset to take the MCAT. Thank you, Swartwood Prep, for playing an instrumental role in my MCAT success!

Samia Malik- SWARTWOOD MCAT Student

University of California Medical School Student

So I already feel like the MCAT was a year ago but I still think that it went well and that I was considerably more prepared with John than I would have been without his help or with another program. Given the relatively short period of time that I dedicated to the test I am very satisfied with the results. While I know that I could have done better had I spent more than roughly 3 1/2 solid weeks preparing for the test, the end result was still better than I hoped. John's verbal intensive class presents the framework and content of the verbal section in a much more comprehensible manner than other systems or prep classes. Given the passage dense nature of the MCAT, it follows that your scores in the other sections will benefit from his methods as well. Everyone has different methods of studying and John's style caters to everyone. People see this test in different ways, and in my opinion this is not a knowledge based exam. While a strong foundation is really helpful, I found that studying details was a waste of time. Maybe this was more so because of the restricted time line in which I studied. I had my masters program to start, and there is no way i could do both the test and the program at the same time. John was right to teach that the 'difficult' passages can all be broken down and all the answers can be extracted from the information provided. In very few instances if at all was elaborate detail required to answer any questions.

Know the trends and the basics, everything else will follow. I don't think the MCAT is going to test the exceptions to the rules. It's too tedious. Focus on what John says is important and you'll be fine. John's lectures include everything you need to score well. 

Robbie Harvard- SWARTWOOD MCAT Student

"I chose Swartwood over the other people that teach it for several reasons. One, he really cares about us.  John cares that we will do well.  He just wants us to get most out of his teaching, the most out of the experience...It’s always really high energy in here, fun. Studying isn’t always fun but John somehow makes it fun…I think John is just different.  That’s just a good word for him…he’s the smartest person, smartest human being, I think I’ve ever met in my life, and he knows how to teach.  That’s important.  He’s not just a textbook.  He really teaches the material. So, I always walk away learning something new." 

Lauren Appell- SWARTWOOD MCAT Student

University of Alabama Medical School Student

It was great studying with John. I studied mainly on my own except for the verbal which consisted of attending John's class and practicing at home. His method of focusing on content and looking at each question having the "point" of it in mind, really narrowed down many of the ambiguities I faced while practicing the verbal section. John is a great teacher and just being in the environment of his class was like a support group during studying for the MCAT with enthusiastic pre-meds. I believe he's a genuine teacher who could very effectively find students short-coming in understanding the issues and directly address their problem. I highly recommend his class for those who think verbal section on the MCAT takes a talent you are either born with, or you are doomed to suffer a low score from.

Siavash Khadem- MCAT Student

"Well, I thought MCAT was horrible before I took the class.  So, ...one day I found out about John and I decided to take his class and try it out...a verbal intensive class that he was offering... And, John is amazing. He's the best teacher I've ever met.  Basically, unlike other tutors ... he really teaches you... He explains everything very well.  If you have any questions at all, he'll answer... He's so smart.  Yeah, there's nothing else to say."

Tony Hung

SWARTWOOD Student

David Geffen School of Medicine (UCLA) Medical Student