Are the Kaplan classes worth taking?

[Future-D]

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I am thinking of signing up for the Kaplan classes but I just don't know if they are really worth the money and time. Do they really give you an advantage? And if so how about the private sessions they offer, are those worth taking also?

Thanks

 

[Clover]

no, they are not -- in my opinion

you'd find more on this in the DAT discussion forum

 

[DAS]

there resources are really good, I have used it when I took the DAT. But I haven't taken the course so I can't say anything about that. If you think you can study by yourself and get a score then don't bother paying all that money. But if you need to have someone guide you,(and you don't mind paying a thousand dollars) then take the course.

 

[RT0223]

I'd say "NO", not worth a penny...took it over the summer and it was horrible.

 

[MoobDDS]

don't do it. it's not that good

 

[pine88]

I say yes, totally. It's not so much the class as access to all the practice material and tests that they have. If you put the time into it, its a great resource.

 

[UtahDad]

I took it over the summer. The books were great, but I could have picked those up on eBay for $35. The classes were useless and there really isn't as much personalized help as they proclaim. It seems that every time I would call the center, they had little idea of what further help they could offer besides the books they sent in the mail. For example, I called and asked, "Are there any other practice exams, in the center or elsewhere, that I could take before I take the actual DAT in a couple of weeks?" The response I got was, "I don't know what you mean. Did you answer the questions in your book?" My response: Yes I did, but I would like to know if you have any other practice questions or exams that I could use to practice more material? The response once again (after a long hold)..."I'm sorry, I guess I don't understand what you mean by practice exam. There should be plenty of questions in the book. Did you read your book?" Anyway, $35 would have given me the same amount of help as the $1,100 I paid. My opinion...NoT worth the money!! Save the money and use it to buy lots of treats or something else (maybe to take a small bite out of your application costs). Sorry about the narrative, but it is a nice story!!

 

[dddsmack]

I forked out 2000 bones for Kaplan class with additional one on one private tutoring hours.

Best thing I ever did. My private tutor was headed to med school and had his MBA. I mostly need math help. It was priceless. The tricks I learned helped me save boatloads of time and I scored 20+ in every section.

My diagnostic was a 14. It worked for me. I can't say enough good things about the tutor who helped me. I have heard of shatty instructors though, mine wasn't.

I think of it as an investment that paid off.

Good Luck

 

[pine88]

I took it over the summer. The books were great, but I could have picked those up on eBay for $35. The classes were useless and there really isn't as much personalized help as they proclaim. It seems that every time I would call the center, they had little idea of what further help they could offer besides the books they sent in the mail. For example, I called and asked, "Are there any other practice exams, in the center or elsewhere, that I could take before I take the actual DAT in a couple of weeks?" The response I got was, "I don't know what you mean. Did you answer the questions in your book?" My response: Yes I did, but I would like to know if you have any other practice questions or exams that I could use to practice more material? The response once again (after a long hold)..."I'm sorry, I guess I don't understand what you mean by practice exam. There should be plenty of questions in the book. Did you read your book?" Anyway, $35 would have given me the same amount of help as the $1,100 I paid. My opinion...NoT worth the money!! Save the money and use it to buy lots of treats or something else (maybe to take a small bite out of your application costs). Sorry about the narrative, but it is a nice story!!

wow, that sucks. At the Kaplan center where I took classes they had files and files of videos, practice problems, and practice tests. I guess find out what your center has to offer first...

 

[Mackchops]

I definately got my 1300 bucks worth and then some. But you have to work at it. A lot of people expect that merely writing the check will boost your scores and of course this just isn't true.

Also, find out if your teacher is a med student or a dental student. Depending on what you're looking for in a class, this can really make a difference -- remembering that a med student probably never took the DAT and can't speak about the structure of the test at all from personal experience.

 

[MaxAnn]

It depends on who you ask. I think TopScore and old text books are the best option. Kaplan exams, especially the PAT, are not like the real DAT exam.

 

[fancymylotus]

Destroyer😍

 

[Typo]

Completely depends on your teacher. The classes are helpful because you'll meet other people who are preparing to take the test the same time as you. Also, they give you more structure than you would have otherwise - you're assigned pages to read and tests to complete before each class, for example. You're not getting a grade, but it still helps to have structure and pushes some people to study harder than they might otherwise.

 

[Lemming]

I didn't take the course, but I think I could have done better if I had. I simply didn't have the time or money to put into a course like that. I scored 20/20/20, but I really feel I could have done better by utilitzing a structured studying environment.

 

[Snugstar]

I thought the actual Kaplan class was not that helpful. But the online materials are fantastic, especially for the sciences. There are tons of practice questions and tests. The subject tests are especially good because they're much more in depth than the actual DAT - they make sure you really know everything. Kaplan also gives complete explanations for each answer (not like topscore's - which are lame). It's all really nicely organized, which made studying so much more efficient.

 

[pine88]

I definately got my 1300 bucks worth and then some. But you have to work at it. A lot of people expect that merely writing the check will boost your scores and of course this just isn't true.

Also, find out if your teacher is a med student or a dental student. Depending on what you're looking for in a class, this can really make a difference -- remembering that a med student probably never took the DAT and can't speak about the structure of the test at all from personal experience.

I totally agree. I signed up for some tutoring because the class wasn't offered when I wanted to take it (although I had taken the class 3 years earlier - then got sidetracked : ) ), and at first they gave me a med school student who had never taken the DAT. When I talked to them about it, my teacher and the admin person both said "It's no big deal, it's practicly the same test," which is TOTALLY WRONG. Luckily, I told them I needed someone that had at least taken it (It's Kaplan policy that all teachers have to take the test they teach and get something like 90th %ile or above, so if they try to do that to you call them on it), and I'm really glad I did -- it made all the difference in the world.

 

[dent_girl]

if money's not the issue, you should take it. I took it and found it really helpful. I don't even know what I got on my diagnostic, had a mediocre
teacher ( I knew everything that she was covering but it was a good
review) spent lots of time doing their practice exams and such. those
are the things that definitely help! (Not the actual classroom, but
all the questions you get from their online service.) taking the actual
classroom helped me not b/c I learned so much from there, but
kinda gave me a motivation to study because I have to wake up,
and physically walk there. hehe I think kaplan course is good for people
who don't know where to start. I got around 23's

 

[thiennga]

Kaplan is worth it if you put the effort into it, theres alot of "homework" and workshops online. They give you a book with all the information you need to study, flashcards for Bio, Chem and Orgo and online stuff. I found the online resources the most helpful. The only difference between the online class and classroom courses is $100. If you know you won't keep up with material by yourself at home then do the classroom, you're already paying $1000, whats another $100 to boost your score. I found the Kaplan practice DATs harder than the real DAT, my Kaplan scores were always under a 17 but my real DAT was raised by a couple points in each section. The only section that was much easier in Kaplan than the real DAT was the angle ranking in PAT. The actual PAT angle ranking is ridiculously hard, like 2 degree differences. Doing a lot practice tests help, you get the hang of the time limits and working under pressure. If you don't want to pay over $1000, then buy the Kaplan DAT book for $65, Im sure they have the same material. Sorry this is long but good luck, and study your butt off.

 

[hsama]

I purchased the online class. It was somewhat helpful but very time consuming for what you get out of it. I thought the practice tests and book did help the most. I agree there weren't really people available that could answer questions, like they said. What they send you is about all there is. It isn't like it sounds. There were mistakes here and there throughout the material, too, which I found really annoying. For what you pay, that really surprised me. Anyway, I raised my score to a pretty good level. Not stellar like some of the scores you're seeing these days. I'm sure it does depend on what you put into it and your own ability. HOWEVER...my classmate had the private tutor and raised his score like 8 points! He totally recommends it. I didn't have the $$ for that. If you do, that's the way to go.

 

[rasheedwallace]

I am a Kaplan DAT Teacher, so hopefully my advice will help. Honestly, I didn't take this job just because it paid pretty well, I truly believe in the system. It helped me so much when I took the DAT. You can always buy the book at any bookstore, but you won't be able to take the practice exams that simulate the actual DAT. I know probably over 100 friends who are applying to dental school and took Kaplan, and NOT one thought that it wasn't worth it. Plus, every single person thought that Kaplan's practice tests were harder. I thought the Kaplan tests were very difficult, so by the time I got to the actual test, it was a piece of cake! If money is a problem, at least take the Online Course. Hope this helps.