Altius MCAT Review (2025): The Mentoring Specialists

Most MCAT courses are built on the “Lecture Hall” model: One teacher talks, and 200 students listen.

Altius is built on the “Medical School” model.

They believe that passive listening doesn’t work. Instead, they focus on active learning through small group sessions and intensive 1-on-1 mentoring. It is a fundamentally different approach to test prep, and for many students, it is the missing link to a 515+ score.

The Core Philosophy: Mentoring Over Lecturing

When you sign up for an Altius Gold or Platinum course, you aren’t just buying access to videos. You are being assigned a Mentor.

• Who are they? Every mentor has scored in the 95th percentile or higher on the MCAT.
• What do they do? They don’t just explain physics problems. They look at your practice test data, identify your psychological weaknesses (e.g., “You panic on CARS passages about philosophy”), and build a custom plan to fix them.
• Accountability: You meet with them regularly. You cannot hide. If you didn’t do your homework, your mentor will know. This external pressure is incredibly effective.

Small Group Sessions

Forget webinars where you can turn off your camera and fall asleep.

Altius classes are small groups (usually 6-10 students).

• Socratic Method: The instructor will call on you. “Sarah, explain why answer choice B is wrong.”
• Active Engagement: You are forced to articulate your reasoning out loud. This mimics the pressure of the real exam and ensures you actually understand the material, rather than just recognizing it.

The Guarantee: 90th Percentile

Most companies offer a “Score Increase Guarantee” (e.g., +10 points).

Altius offers a 90th Percentile Guarantee on their top-tier packages.

• The Promise: If you complete the course and don’t score in the 90th percentile (approx. 515), they will continue working with you for free.
• The Fine Print: Like all guarantees, it requires you to do the work. You must attend sessions, complete assignments, and take the practice tests. But the fact that they are willing to promise a percentile rather than just an increase shows their confidence.

The Weakness: The Tech

If Altius has an Achilles’ heel, it is their technology.

• The Dashboard: It looks like a website from 2010. It is functional, but it lacks the sleek, intuitive design of Blueprint or UWorld.
• The User Experience: You are paying for the humans, not the software. If you need a beautiful, gamified app to stay motivated, Altius might frustrate you.

Pricing & Value

Altius is expensive, but you have to compare it to private tutoring, not just other courses.

• Silver Package: ~$2,499 (Includes some mentoring)
• Gold Package: ~$3,499 (More mentoring, 90th % guarantee)
• Platinum Package: ~$4,999 (Maximum mentoring)

Is it worth it? Private MCAT tutors often charge $150-$300 per hour. With Altius, you are getting dozens of hours of 1-on-1 time plus a full course for a bundled price. If you were planning to hire a tutor anyway, Altius is actually a bargain.

Pros and Cons

Final Verdict: For the Student Who Needs a Coach

Altius is the best choice for students who need accountability.

If you are the type of student who buys a self-paced course and then never logs in, do not buy Blueprint or Kaplan. You will fail.

Buy Altius. Your mentor will text you. Your small group instructor will call on you. You will be forced to do the work, and because of that, you will likely get the score you need. It is the closest thing to a “personal trainer” for the MCAT.

• Overall
  4.7
• Ease of Use
  4.0
• Features
  4.5
• Support
  5.0
• Value
  4.3

Scale 0-5. Ratings are our own weighted assessments.