MCAT 2015 Recommended Prep Classes

[bakr89]

Hello all,

I'm trying to prepare myself for the 2015 MCAT and I couldn't find any reviews on the MCAT 2015 courses that are currently available. I was wondering if anyone who is currently in the process of taking any of these courses can recommend or discourage these programs: Kaplan's AdvantagePlus - Onsite, Berkley Review's MCAT 2015 course, or the ExamKracker's MCAT 2015 course. I already heard bad things about the Princeton Review course, so I am ruling that out. I would appreciate it! Thanks!

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[skinofteeth]

I'm currently taking the Exam Krackers live course. It's 2 days a week, 4 hours a day with built-in time for in-class 30 min exam and review of exam questions. But sometimes we don't have time for the review, or the exam. Or people are so burnt out at the end (or have to study for a class) that they leave early.

They just added this webinar series on saturdays. Two of the best instructors in the company go over every in-class exam question, in an interactive way. You can stop them and ask questions, etc.

My pre-med advisor told me that prep classes are a waste of time and money. It's true. You're basically paying $2300 for someone to read the book to you in a very rushed way. Like 1 hour to cover what you cover in 1 semester of Orgo. BUT, it is nice to have the accountability, and I don't mind hearing the material again from someone else's perspective. I really needed content review.

Also, you have a small support group to study with and ask questions (your classmates). I have 2 instructors, both are 1st year medical students. They are always available for questions, which is nice. In class, they do a good job of pointing out what's high yield on the exam. But then again, how would they know since they took the old exam!

I think some people in the class didn't realize what they were signing up for. They are just reviewing the material in an intensive way in a short time frame (9 wks i think?). The real studying is done on your own time - reviewing content before class AND doing loads of practice problems.

 

[bakr89]

Thanks for your reply! This makes alot of sense....I might as well just buy the books and go over the material by myself. I was also reading reviews on Amazon that were stating that the BS and PS books were just repackaged and sold as MCAT 2015 resources when in reality they were just the same as the previous MCAT books. I took the original MCAT recently and unfortunately, I wasn't too happy with my grade, so I am going to have to take this exam...hopefully the material isn't crazy different.

I'm currently taking the Exam Krackers live course. It's 2 days a week, 4 hours a day with built-in time for in-class 30 min exam and review of exam questions. But sometimes we don't have time for the review, or the exam. Or people are so burnt out at the end (or have to study for a class) that they leave early.

They just added this webinar series on saturdays. Two of the best instructors in the company go over every in-class exam question, in an interactive way. You can stop them and ask questions, etc.

My pre-med advisor told me that prep classes are a waste of time and money. It's true. You're basically paying $2300 for someone to read the book to you in a very rushed way. Like 1 hour to cover what you cover in 1 semester of Orgo. BUT, it is nice to have the accountability, and I don't mind hearing the material again from someone else's perspective. I really needed content review.

Also, you have a small support group to study with and ask questions (your classmates). I have 2 instructors, both are 1st year medical students. They are always available for questions, which is nice. In class, they do a good job of pointing out what's high yield on the exam. But then again, how would they know since they took the old exam!

I think some people in the class didn't realize what they were signing up for. They are just reviewing the material in an intensive way in a short time frame (9 wks i think?). The real studying is done on your own time - reviewing content before class AND doing loads of practice problems.

 

[bigreiski]

Taking the Berkeley course over the summer in Berkeley, CA

 

[skinofteeth]

Thanks for your reply! This makes alot of sense....I might as well just buy the books and go over the material by myself. I was also reading reviews on Amazon that were stating that the BS and PS books were just repackaged and sold as MCAT 2015 resources when in reality they were just the same as the previous MCAT books. I took the original MCAT recently and unfortunately, I wasn't too happy with my grade, so I am going to have to take this exam...hopefully the material isn't crazy different.

The EK Verbal books looks the same as well, like same examples in the chapters. I'm also a retaker and used the old exam krackers. Like for PS they still use the box sliding down the ramp material. But the new PS is supposed to be in the context of biological systems. Maybe it relates in the end... 😕

I would've taken the Berkeley Review if it were available in my state.

If you studied by yourself for your first exam I would definitely change things up. Perhaps, do more practice in your weak areas.

 

[bakr89]

I think I'll end up using these books and just buy the social science and reasoning books in addition...I want to see if I could actually go to a bookstore and actually look at the material inside the PS and BS sections...Ahhh this test is going to be a pain! Best luck to both of us 🙂

The EK Verbal books looks the same as well, like same examples in the chapters. I'm also a retaker and used the old exam krackers. Like for PS they still use the box sliding down the ramp material. But the new PS is supposed to be in the context of biological systems. Maybe it relates in the end... 😕

I would've taken the Berkeley Review if it were available in my state.

If you studied by yourself for your first exam I would definitely change things up. Perhaps, do more practice in your weak areas.

 

[FOUR2004]

I am currently registered for a Kaplan Mcat on site prep course that starts in May; however, I am hesitant about proceeding with this plan because I fear that this course would expose me mostly to kaplan practice exams granted that there is only one AAMC full length exam available in turn limit my practice. Thus, I am thinking about canceling my registration and using the refund to buy a variety of prep material and practice in an effort to broaden my exposure.
I would really appreciate it an advice.

 

[allantois]

I am currently registered for a Kaplan Mcat on site prep course that starts in May; however, I am hesitant about proceeding with this plan because I fear that this course would expose me mostly to kaplan practice exams granted that there is only one AAMC full length exam available in turn limit my practice. Thus, I am thinking about canceling my registration and using the refund to buy a variety of prep material and practice in an effort to broaden my exposure.
I would really appreciate it an advice.

Most people on SDN would recommend self-prep over a prep course.