I used to teach MCAT verbal classes for The Princeton Review. Their Hyperlearning course was the best one out there at the time - they actually bought the Hyperlearning company, which had started out in SoCal, and incorporated their programs. They were still rolling them out nationwide when I last taught, but that was years ago.
One thing I will tell you is this: start reading now.
The MCAT is a reading comprehension test - even the science sections are largely reading comprehension, to which you must add your science knowledge. The verbal is hard reading comp.
Think of it this way: There are approximately 3 applicants for each available spot in an AMA accredited medical school in the U.S. The MCAT is one weed-out factor they use to determine whom to cut from consideration.
Of the people applying to medical school, you have many more science majors than liberal arts majors. Thus the average V scores are lower - and getting a higher V score will make you stand out more (and maybe, just maybe, give you an edge).
Generally, liberal arts majors do better than science majors on the MCAT - even on the science sections. This is because, as I stated above, the MCAT is a reading comprehension test. Too many science majors forget how to read, other than “scan, memorize and regurgitate” - that method serves you well when you’re memorizing stuff for a biology test, but it will fail you miserably on the MCAT.
So, to prepare: read lots of hard stuff, like academic articles, pieces from Foreign Policy magazine, the New Yorker, the Atlantic, political pieces from from magazines such as The Economist, The New Republic, The National Review and Mother Jones. They used to really enjoy pulling passages of Stephen Jay Gould’s books and putting them on the test, so read him. Read the The Financial Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times - the news and opinion sections, not sports and lifestyle… and make sure you understand them. The best way to do this is to read the same thing as some other smart person and then have a conversation critiquing the author’s argument.
And of course, brush up on your science - that’s necessary but not sufficient.
As for test-taking stamina: take full-length practice tests. Get into a routine in which you’re getting a good night’s sleep, exercise and good nutrition for at least the week ahead of time (as you’re a reader of this site one hopes that won’t require any adjustments).
Little things that should go without saying but don’t: Know your way around the place where you’re scheduled to take your test, including availability of weekend parking and where your particular building is located (you don’t need that kind of stress); get a good breakfast and bring a good lunch.
