Are Kaplan Videos Really Worth the Value???

[Jacksonthefamou]

Hey! I am considering buying the Kaplan "Level 1 OnlinePrep w/QBank Plus". Can anyone tell me from experience if the videos are worth your time if you are reading the lecture notes as well??? I just don't want to be wasting my time on the videos if they are just the same thing as the readings...Or, are they actual lecture-style videos with knowledge-worthy instructors teaching the material in an "easier to understand" way???

I just want to make sure I am not wasting my money if I end up getting the videos...THANKS!

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[Turkelton]

I am also very curious to know whether the Kaplan videos were worth the money?
Here's the two different options I am considering buying from Kaplan.

1. Qbank + Step 1 books for $650.00 or
2. Qbank + Step 1 books + Lecture Videos + 3 Practice Exams for $1899.00

So obviously quite a big price difference here, but I dont want to short myself on step 1 prep, so any advice from people who watched the kaplan videos IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. Thank you.

 

[Syncity]

Hey guys. I used the Kaplan videos for Step 1 (as well as the QBank and books) and found them fantastic.

While using the books alone is certainly an option, I found that the videos helped clarify and drill home certain concepts. After reading a chapter of the book, I'd watch the videos corresponding to that chapter and found that they clarified an awful lot for me.

Even now, as a Final Med student, I feel my concepts are still clean as a result of the videos.

If you have the money - go for it.

 

[Syncity]

The only caveat I would add is that they are quite time consuming and will require a strong commitment. Well worth it, though.

 

[tundri]

They're awesome. I wish I would've known sooner. You can obviously read the lecture notes on their own, but the lecturers will not dissapoint you. The only problem is that they are very time consuming and not only because of the 100+ hours, but because we're all bound to fall asleep every now and then, making us have to pause/resume and at the end of the day not watch more than 4-5 hours of videos.

Are they worth it? They're worth their weight in gold.

 

[loveoforganic2]

I've heard good stuff about pharm, micro, and biochem, terrible things about path, and not much about any of the other subjects

 

[Phloston]

I am also very curious to know whether the Kaplan videos were worth the money?
Here's the two different options I am considering buying from Kaplan.

1. Qbank + Step 1 books for $650.00 or
2. Qbank + Step 1 books + Lecture Videos + 3 Practice Exams for $1899.00

So obviously quite a big price difference here, but I dont want to short myself on step 1 prep, so any advice from people who watched the kaplan videos IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. Thank you.

I hope you're kidding. Either of those options would be the biggest waste of money imaginable.

I found all eight Kaplan lecture notes books off Ebay for $99.

 

[Phloston]

They're awesome. I wish I would've known sooner. You can obviously read the lecture notes on their own, but the lecturers will not dissapoint you. The only problem is that they are very time consuming and not only because of the 100+ hours, but because we're all bound to fall asleep every now and then, making us have to pause/resume and at the end of the day not watch more than 4-5 hours of videos.

Are they worth it? They're worth their weight in gold.

After having gone through the QBook, QBank and much of the lecture notes material, I feel Kaplan is actually not a good use of time overall. They seem to have their own preconceived idea of a superfluous medicine course that they choose to teach in place of concise USMLE prep.

I'd only recommend the Kaplan lecture notes to someone starting MS1 who wants to build foundation. If you're within 6 months of your exam, toss the lecture notes and just do as many questions as you can + read FA.

I only realize all of this now that I'm late in my prep and have covered enough question resources through which to gauge Kaplan from a relative standpoint. The QBank is good and the QBook is okay, but the lecture notes are just off the mark entirely.

 

[tundri]

After having gone through the QBook, QBank and much of the lecture notes material, I feel Kaplan is actually not a good use of time overall. They seem to have their own preconceived idea of a superfluous medicine course that they choose to teach in place of concise USMLE prep.

I'd only recommend the Kaplan lecture notes to someone starting MS1 who wants to build foundation. If you're within 6 months of your exam, toss the lecture notes and just do as many questions as you can + read FA.

I only realize all of this now that I'm late in my prep and have covered enough question resources through which to gauge Kaplan from a relative standpoint. The QBank is good and the QBook is okay, but the lecture notes are just off the mark entirely.

So you suggest just skipping LN & videos altogether and do the Qbank instead? I just hate trying to guess on most questions and I feel like I'll do better having good enough concepts to manage my way around. I still haven't started any question banks and I was hoping to take my test late December but being that I have to do at least 6000 questions, I don't know how doable that may be.

Now that you've tasted UW, do you think anyone can do good with it on its own, I mean without doing Qbank nor USMLERx?

I take into account a lot of the things you say. You must be very close to what Pollux achieved.

Cheers! 😛

 

[san2]

no the videos are not worth your time or money. Buy the lecture series books which will come much cheaper, Kaplan MedEssentials, FA, Uworld, and Kaplan Qbank. That is all you need. even the lecture series books are not absolutely necessary if you have strong fundamentals from med school. They are good to clarify concepts which you absolutely have no idea about or never quite understood when during classes. the only exception to that I will say is the Kaplan Pharm and Path lecture series books. they def should be looked at before your exam