Built by Retakers
for Retakers.
We are a collective of lifelong learners who believe there is a better way to serve and support our peers.
Retakers deserve better.
At Pillar Prep, we strive to build you up. In a world where MCAT culture so often makes students feel inadequate and alone, we choose to believe in the power of collaboration. The Pillar Prep team and the premed community share a collective goal: to help people. We want to empower premeds to realize their dreams of serving people in medicine. When we come together as peers, there is no challenge we cannot rise above. Our mission is to elevate, educate, and provide a strong foundation for future physicians through our services, products, and community.
Our mission is to be the first program that treats a retaker like the more-informed test takers they actually are. Personalized work, no filler content, an honest guarantee. No hype.
We are not the biggest company in MCAT prep, and we are not the loudest. We are not trying to be. We are trying to be the one that retakers wish had existed for them.
“Retakers don't need more effort. They need a different approach.”
Here to build you up.
Doctors, medical students, and premeds all at your service to help you succeed.
Cali
After achieving the top GPA in Biochemistry at Villanova, Cali continued on to Jefferson Medical School where she is currently an MS3 pursuing Plastic Surgery residency.
Haylie
Haylie is a Harvard Medical School graduate and a current OBGYN resident in New York City. She plans on pursuing a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine. Haylie has been working with Pillar Prep since its inception and continues to provide advice and guidance to help MCAT students reach their goals.
Brandon
Brandon is a MS4 at Stanford Medical School. He was previously a student of Pillar Prep. His extraordinary violin talents have taken him all over the United States to perform.
Tommy
Tommy is currently an MS4 at the University of Alberta with interest in Orthopedic surgery. When not tutoring, Tommy spends time playing hockey and taking care of his (future) baby!
Webb
Webb is an MD/PhD candidate at UMass Chan Medical School where he researches neurosurgical interventions. Outside his studies, he works in neurology research in hopes of soon becoming a neurosurgeon.
Greg
Greg rescinded his acceptance to Veterinary School to pursue medical school. He is now a MS4 applying to internal medicine residency.
Connor
Connor is an experienced science teacher who completed both an undergraduate and graduate degree in education. His expertise is an invaluable resource for our instructors as it ensures that each member of our team is prepared to teach students with the best practices.
Kaushik
Kaushik dedicates his time to better understanding the mental and emotional strains that come with MCAT studying. As Enrollment Manager, Kaushik helps ensure that all students can benefit from our community.
Michael
Michael helps clients navigate important financial decisions at Goldman Sachs in NYC. At Pillar Prep, Michael uses his work experience to help students find their way in the tutoring and application process.
Rithvik
Rithvik scored a 521 on the MCAT and is currently in medical school aspiring to be a surgeon.
Hannah
Hannah currently works at Boston Children's Hospital and will be starting medical school soon.
Shurobhi
Shurobhi is an internal medicine resident and scored a 525 on her MCAT.
Shree
Shree is an incoming medical student interested in exploring oncology and emergency medicine. She served as a teaching assistant throughout undergraduate.
Sean
In addition to dedicating his time to Pillar Prep, Sean is currently an Ophthalmology resident in Massachusetts. Having helped over 800 students in their medical school journeys, Sean is dedicated to working with anyone who joins the Pillar Prep community.
The reason we exist.
“I built the first version of Pillar Prep because I struggled to find resources designed for me when I was retaking the MCAT. Retakers deserve better than recycled first-attempt material. Since 2017, this has been a slow and methodical effort to make that real.”
Nine years, slow and on purpose.
Sean and friends retake the MCAT
Sean and a group of friends have to retake their MCAT. They struggle to find resources and a system built for them. They design their own study process and take the exam on the same day. All of them reach or surpass their goal score.
Teaching the system that worked
Later in 2017, Sean decides to teach others the strategy and system that worked for him and his friends. He spends 3 months teaching 10 students. All of them score within striking distance of their goal and eventually matriculate to medical school.
The MCAT Retaker Course launches
The MCAT Retaker Course is launched with a group of 12 students from a Florida university and surrounding schools.
Bite-Size predicted scores
We grow to 4 tutors. Bite-Size mini-tests launch. For the first time, students get a weekly predicted MCAT score calibrated against past Retakers.
10 instructors on the team
The team grows to 10 instructors. Our presence continues to slowly grow.
Trap Training, course revamp
12 instructors. Trap Training develops. A complete revamp of the MCAT Retaker Course content and strategy lessons.
The Retaker Flywheel
First version of the personalization engine ships. Every wrong answer starts feeding the Retaker Activities queue. Concept Training enters beta.
17 instructors, 800+ Retakers, 150 resident physicians
17 instructors, over 800 lifetime students, and 150 resident physicians. The Pillar Planner gets a major release: Concept Training, Trap Training, and the Retaker Flywheel ship together.
The Retaker Course is open.
Or just send us a note. We read every email.