Anyone do well on the MCAT WITHOUT a prep course?

[SanDiegoSOD]

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I was curious if any of you studied solely on your own and earned a high score on the MCAT. I am considering doing just that, and am wondering how it fared for those of you who did it, or if anyone has strong advice against not taking a prep course. I have taken AAMC 3r, and scored a 30 (11V, 9P, 10B). I am planning on taking the April test. Thanks!

 

[VPDcurt]

I took a course but I know a couple of people that didn't and still did very well. Just depends on what kind of a person you are. If you can get yourself motivated to grind through the material then you will be fine.


PS - Nice 30 on AAMC 3R but that test was easy. You will be fine though since you have until April.

 

[Medikit]

I didn't take a prep course, got a 14P, 12B, 10V.

Why I would have wanted a prep course: It was often difficult to motivate myself to study like i needed to.

Why I had a hard time justifying a prep course: The closest courses were 2 hours away. I would essentially be paying for an anti-procrastination service, something I would feel kind of bad about.

 

[willthatsall]

I took one (Kaplan) for this MCAT coming up. If you have the money it could be worth it, but I definitely don't think it is necessary. If I had the books and the AAMC practice tests I think that would be plenty. The teaching is pretty ridiculous overall. If you do sign up for the class, I would take it online and save some money.

Edited: But they do have a ton of material that you can't get on your own.

 

[ethanolabsolute]

I took one (Kaplan) for this MCAT coming up. If you have the money it could be worth it, but I definitely don't think it is necessary. If I had the books and the AAMC practice tests I think that would be plenty. The teaching is pretty ridiculous overall. If you do sign up for the class, I would take it online and save some money.

I agree with this completely. I have taken the Kaplan class this summer, and the teaching is definitely worthless. Just buy MCAT review books and buy aamc's practice tests and work on those.

 

[amy73]

Hi,
Consider the EK study materials. They are well designed. You can also supplement studying with the Audio osmosis.
Bye
Amy

 

[liverotcod]

It's just a hunch, but I would bet that the majority of people who score over, say, 36-37 probably didn't take a prep class. I think they're best suited to move you from 26 to 30, or 30 to 33.

 

[Medikit]

It's just a hunch, but I would bet that the majority of people who score over, say, 36-37 probably didn't take a prep class. I think they're best suited to move you from 26 to 30, or 30 to 33.

Did you take a prep class? A lot of the people I've seen who have shared their over 36+ scores also took Princeton prep.

 

[terzian]

I didn't take a course. I scored a 33R (13V, 10P, 10B). I pretended to study while actually procrastinating until St. Patrick's Day, then studied EK and Kaplan until the April MCAT and was pleased with my score. I used the money I would have spent on Kaplan and went on a fabulous weeklong cruise to Mexico, so in my opinion, it's worth it to give it your best solo shot.

 

[liverotcod]

Did you take a prep class? A lot of the people I've seen who have shared their over 36+ scores also took Princeton prep.

No. And back when I took it, they didn't even have prep classes for the SAT (at least I don't remember anyone taking them). I'm not saying that *nobody* who scores above 97th percentile takes a prep course, just that I think the skills necessary to consistently score that high aren't easily taught in a few months, if at all.

<runs and hides>

 

[Stupendous]

I'll let you know. Less than a week to go.

And does anyone else have a problem in general with the prep courses? All the materials are readily available to study and practice for the MCAT. And you are people who want to be doctors and you should be motivated to study on your own - not have to pay someone to make you review the material. Just my $0.02.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

I know a 39 without a prep course. If you have the motivation to study, you don't need the thousand dollar course.

 

[Dr.LeoSpaceman]

It's just a hunch, but I would bet that the majority of people who score over, say, 36-37 probably didn't take a prep class. I think they're best suited to move you from 26 to 30, or 30 to 33.

I took Kaplan. I can definitely say that the actual teaching was not worth it. The materials, however are definitely worth getting. The access to that stuff I found pretty invaluable. Like other people mentioned, the only thing classes did for me is make sure I had to listen to the material for 6 hours a week. If you can motivate yourself to study on a regular basis, I would suggest simply buying access to the Kaplan materials (online, etc) and save yourself some cash...this helps because if there is a center near you, they have copies of all the AAMC tests and you won't have to pay AAMC for them.

So I guess what I am saying is that if I would have motivated myself to study, and had access to the material, I could have done just as well without the actual classroom teaching.

 

[Swack]

The way I see it, you really have nothing to lose, except $1000 I guess, but considering this is going to get you where you want in life, it shouldn't be too much to ask.

1) A prep course organizes and schedules the material for you to study.
2) Provides your books at one time, so you don't have to drive around and find them.
3) Should have qualified instructors for all your questions.
4) Provides networking opportunities.
5) And most importantly, offers proctored tests with other students.

 

[Csv321]

PS - Nice 30 on AAMC 3R but that test was easy. You will be fine though since you have until April.

Easy? I scored a 23 on that...and I got a 25 on April's MCAT...

What's wrong with me? 🙁

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

So it seems like the consensus is that the greatest value a prepcourse has to offer is the organized study schedule and the abundant materials. I am fortunate to have a friend that has provided me with all the new TPR materials (books, that is, I dont know about practice tests), and I believe I am capable of studying on my own without a prep course motivating me <crossing fingers>.

So here is my tentative plan of action:
1. Go through TPR materials, finish review books and practice materials by January
2. Use EK to shore up test taking skills and weaker areas January - April.

Any suggestions or critiques of the plan? Thanks 👍

 

[willthatsall]

Take plenty of practice tests, especially 3r-7.

 

[chopper]

It's just a hunch, but I would bet that the majority of people who score over, say, 36-37 probably didn't take a prep class. I think they're best suited to move you from 26 to 30, or 30 to 33.

I'm not sure I follow your logic. You think this because. .. . . ?

I will agree that the GREATEST benefit is the organized study time. If you are super self-motivated, I think that you can get away without it. But, I don't know too many people who have that kind of self-motivation. Think of the benefits (I took TPR, I can't speak for Kaplan):

1. The going to class thing. Even if you are totally unmotivated to study, if there is a class, you are more likely to show up. This means you do SOME studying, even on those 'hard to get going' days. Volunteer as the one to drive in a group of 2 or 3. That will help keep you from bugging out as well. I think having the cameradie that devleops in a class is very helpful.

2. The teachers are there to help. For those who had crap teachers, you got robbed. I don't want to start a Kaplan v TPR thread, but I think the philosophy for TPR is better - get highly motivitated instructors who actually teach (vice reading of a script). And - if you didn't get a concept when you first took the class, you get 're-taught' (albeit at a quick pace) the important concepts.

3. Strategies. Whether it is overall section strategies, or question type strategies (ranking questions, tricks for often asked type questions, whatever) - these are discussed and gone over.

4. At least in TPR, the passages you do in class are HARD. They explain it for a couple reasons: 1 - you get to see the difficult end of the spectrum. If you know the worst, it's easy to deal with everything else. 2 - it keeps the SMARTEST students occupied, and helps keep them motivated.

In the end, it is the test taker who does all the work, whether you use a course or not. If you don't study or review, no Kaplan/Princeton course will help you. But I think that hard studying in coordination will a course is the way to go.

And that is if you are shooting for a 30 or a 40.

-chop

disclaimer: I took TPR, did really well on MCAT, and currently teach for them. I've bought into the system, but I'm also not a totally unbiased source. 🙂

 

[lorelei]

I didn't take a prep course, just used my college textbooks, one MCAT review book, and the AAMC practice tests. I scored 43. As other people said, I think the best part about prep courses is they force you to study. One of the reasons I didn't take one was that I was working full-time and taking classes; I didn't have open blocks of time to attend class, so I did my studying at odd hours.

I'm about to start training to teach for Kaplan, though, so I think you should take a course especially if you live in the DC area so I will have work 🙂

 

[liverotcod]

I didn't take a prep course, just used my college textbooks, one MCAT review book, and the AAMC practice tests. I scored 43. As other people said, I think the best part about prep courses is they force you to study. One of the reasons I didn't take one was that I was working full-time and taking classes; I didn't have open blocks of time to attend class, so I did my studying at odd hours.

I'm about to start training to teach for Kaplan, though, so I think you should take a course especially if you live in the DC area so I will have work 🙂

Case in point. Lorelei, thank you for being supporting evidence.

 

[lorelei]

Oh, I meant to say that I tend to agree with liverotcod about the ranges where prep is most useful. I have heard many times (mostly from people affiliated with Kaplan) that on the SAT, prep can easily help you go from 1000 to 1100, but not so much from 1400 to 1500. This is basically because of how it's curved; learning test-taking skills will help you with the medium-hard questions, but in order to get the really hard ones you just have to be really good. And that's harder to teach in a brief course.

I suspect that the same is true on the MCAT (since it is on most tests) - you can make progress in the mid range but that last little bit, whether from 13 to 14 or from 95% to 98%, is the hardest.

 

[jeffsleepy]

Well I also got a 43 and I'm very happy with the money that I spent on TPR. I agree it isn't necessary, but I liked the structure it gave. With TPR, I could just go to class 2 hours each weekday and take a test every saturday without having to worry about the MCAT at any other time. Taking the diags with a bunch of other studens in a big room was also beneficial. I also liked how they broke down the scores topic by topic so I knew which ones I had to study for.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

i'll let you know when i get my results back after Saturday's exam; b/c i didn't take a course.

if you got a 30 on your first AAMC and have until April to review i don't think you need a course and think you can realistically anticipate over a 40 if you keep at the studying.

good luck!

 

[liverotcod]

<snip>I also liked how they broke down the scores topic by topic so I knew which ones I had to study for.

AMCAS practice tests (online) do this as well.

 

[liverotcod]

i'll let you know when i get my results back after Saturday's exam; b/c i didn't take a course.

if you got a 30 on your first AAMC and have until April to review i don't think you need a course and think you can realistically anticipate over a 40 if you keep at the studying.

good luck!

I disagree with this statement. Perhaps a 35-36.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

ok, well obviously i was being very optimistic but depending on the level of studying and innate intelligence it's not out of the spectrum.

 

[jeffsleepy]

AMCAS practice tests (online) do this as well.

There aren't that many of them, though. 1-3 are totally bs and even 4r is kinda off.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

i think taking kaplan has been valuable for me because it's been a few years since i've seen a lot of the material. prior to starting my kaplan class, i remember feeling so lost going over the examkrackers material. however, if i had been more up to speed on the sciences, i would have skipped the review class. so, if you're scoring a 30 on 3r before preparing, i would say you could keep your $1500.

 

[MoosePilot]

I did well on the test without prep. Later, coming back after some time away from school, I took TPR because I needed some help with review and I did even better. So I think commercial prep is valuable, but hard work is more important.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

ok, well obviously i was being very optimistic but depending on the level of studying and innate intelligence it's not out of the spectrum.

A 40 is what I'm shooting for. I tend to do well on standardized tests, so I think the question is whether or not I can (re)learn the physics/biology material that I need in time. Hence the question on prep courses - If everyone felt that their magic study formula works wonders, then I would do it. But if it all comes down to simply memorizing the right material, and then learning how to implement it, then I think I'll forgoe the test. I wouldnt mind holding onto that $1500 🙂

 

[jeffsleepy]

Forget it then. If you're diligent enough to keep to a set schedule then save your money. I think TPR helped me improve 5 points in verbal, however, so keep that in mind.

 

[MoosePilot]

A 40 is what I'm shooting for. I tend to do well on standardized tests, so I think the question is whether or not I can (re)learn the physics/biology material that I need in time. Hence the question on prep courses - If everyone felt that their magic study formula works wonders, then I would do it. But if it all comes down to simply memorizing the right material, and then learning how to implement it, then I think I'll forgoe the test. I wouldnt mind holding onto that $1500 🙂

I was in the same situation. Good at standardized tests, but worried about some time away from the subjects. TPR really worked for me, but I think I might have been able to get a similar improvement from a combination of some of the other books out there and hard work.