Do not throw away ur 1500 inthe kaplan course!!!!!!!

[Ghady]

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[OTFuturePharmD]

I agree with you Ghady. I blew my money on the online Kaplan course. The science section topics that were covered by Kaplan were either not on the PCAT or only a few questions on the Aug. PCAT. I was WAY overwhelmed by all of the material. After I wrote the test, I realized that the information from the course was too much extra stuff to study. The practise tests were nothing like the real PCAT. The Harcourt practise tests were very useful, so I really recommend ordering those.

The only thing that was really good in the Kaplan course was the verbal section and the essay section. If you are looking for good study materials or websites, search the forum. Many people have posted some good suggestions.

 

[inquirer89]

This is interesting, as I was thinking of taking the Kaplan Course before my January exam. Thanks for the info!

 

[YiYaoYue]

no one i met really recommended the Kaplan Courses for people who can self study. It is only for those who procrastinate and need a set time to study. If you have the will power to study on your own, then you can get all the material for Kaplan Course (outside essay thing) through various books and online tools

 

[ufdlim]

I actually took the Kaplan course twice. The first time I learned nothing, canceled my PCAT and used my Kaplan guarantee to take it again. When it didn't work the second time around, I pretty much gave up and decided I should study on my own.

Harcourt Practice Exams + Kaplan Book is all you need.

 

[inquirer89]

Ufdim, did you use any other practice tests beside Harcourt and the Kaplan book? I'll be using both resources to prepare for the January exam, but want more practice.

 

[ufdlim]

I kept all the Kaplan course material, which had a lot more practice exams than you get with your typical off the shelf Kaplan book.

 

[Ghady]

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[wolverex84]

Ghady, yeah i know how you feel on the Kaplan course, i even regret more because i hired a tutor, paying over 2000 bucks when i could have just done it all on my own, giving me stupid assingments and diverging from what i really need to be studing since the August exam has changed. Anyway like what you said, the tutor was a medical student who only took the mcat and did really really well on it, he justified his level of expectise by saying "i took the mcat and did very well on it, mcat is much more harder than pcat, thats how i got this job as a tutor". when he said that, i felt well, mcat is still not pcat, they are totally different exams. I didn't really learn anything much only new tricks i could use to answer questions in maths, verbal and reading comprehension and perhaps, all the work still has to be done by me and me only, so you see, i could have just gotten only the kaplan materials. For those of you reading this, please spend your money wisely, the kaplan course is not in my opinion,👎 all that.

 

[foray]

I took the kaplan course this summer and thought it helped a lot. I didn't have to pay for it though... I took the pcat without taking the organic chem, microbiology and genetics but still managed to get a 91. Its honestly not as bad as people are making it out to be.

 

[mike25k]

🙁Hi People, i've plan to start taking the Kalan course this Nov. 2008, but i;m a little bit confused because of the way people are saying about the course. It would be really sad to spend such monies to receive nothing in return. Anyway, may i know the states that cases happend? because i'm living in nj.

 

[wolverex84]

🙁Hi People, i've plan to start taking the Kalan course this Nov. 2008, but i;m a little bit confused because of the way people are saying about the course. It would be really sad to spend such monies to receive nothing in return. Anyway, may i know the states that cases happend? because i'm living in nj.

well mike25k, you should do what ever you feel that would help you on the pcat, if you feel you can't do it on reading alone and that you need additional help, then don't let our comments deter you from taking the kaplan course, it all depends on how you feel, i felt the same way thats why i took it.

There are many options the kaplan can offer you, i personally picked the 3 combinations of a private tutor, online course and class room course, you will have all acess to every thing if you choose the private tutor. i felt i learn't more from the tutoring and online course than the class room course, i stopped going to the class room and just used the tutoring and online course, the online course is the same as what you will learn in the class room, but you will learn it at your own time, i also broke the private tutoring in half so that i can still get more tutoring before the jan pcat. You can request to have only the pcat materials, the books and packages etc.. if you still can't make up your mind.

well i can't guarantee it gave me a higher score cause i just took the october pcat, even if i did get a higher score, it will be from me and me only, don't get me wrong, it did help, but if i was to do it again, i won't be paying for it.

 

[Transformer]

🙁Hi People, i've plan to start taking the Kalan course this Nov. 2008, but i;m a little bit confused because of the way people are saying about the course. It would be really sad to spend such monies to receive nothing in return. Anyway, may i know the states that cases happend? because i'm living in nj.

Mike, It's not so much which state has the best kaplan review class or what people on this forum are saying about the course. Everyone is on their own level and study in their own ways so ask yourself what you want out of the class.

I took the Kaplan review PCAT course a year ago. It didn't really help me not because I didn't study hard but because the course went by too quickly for me. At that time, I been removed from college for over a year and didn't know the basic science concepts as well as my classmates.

To relearn what I've forgotten, I went back to my old University and retook calculus, chemistry, organic chemistry and biology. Then, I went back to study my kaplan review stuff and it really helped me get used to the format and style of the test.

Oh, and I also bought almost every PCAT review book and practice tests out there. I timed myself on every practice test and worked towards test taking strategy and finding ways to improve my timing.

Having done all that, I saw a dramatic increase in my math, chemistry, and biology subscores for August 08 test. I'm hoping for better scores for OCT PCAT. we'll see what happens in Dec.

Improvements can be made but you're gonna have to make sacrifices and ask yourself how badly you want to score high on the PCAT.

good luck🙂

 

[jersey9000]

Even if u procrastinated and are pressed for time, Kaplan course will push u over the edge into like 30th percentile or sum like that...Those idiots are cheats!!!! The money back guarantee is a rip off...they wont give u a dime back......Do not do it......Study on ur own......TAKING THE KAPLAN COURSE IS LIKE USING LSAT MATERIALS TO STUDY FOR THE PCAT......absolute waste of time....

I totally AGREE, i thought to take the PCAT because I graduated like 4 years ago and forgot alot of OCHEM, WHAT A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY! I AM PISSED.

 

[pkp]

Has anyone here been a PCAT instructor for Kaplan? If so, how were your experiences doing that? The pay is pretty decent!

 

[Transformer]

Has anyone here been a PCAT instructor for Kaplan? If so, how were your experiences doing that? The pay is pretty decent!

I recommend you also ask this question in the med and Dental threads since most or almost all Kaplan PCAT instructors are dental and/or medical students.

 

[alenadoma]

I recommend you also ask this question in the med and Dental threads since most or almost all Kaplan PCAT instructors are dental and/or medical students.

My Kaplan PCAT instructor was a P1, I think he'd received like a 95 on the PCAT. He was an excellent instructor, always answered questions, helped with problems, extremely knowledgable overall. I'm surprsed so many people thought it wasn't helpful, I think I would have done terribly if it wasn't for Kaplan. I'd highly recommend it!

 

[PharmD321]

My Kaplan PCAT instructor was a P1, I think he'd received like a 95 on the PCAT. He was an excellent instructor, always answered questions, helped with problems, extremely knowledgable overall. I'm surprsed so many people thought it wasn't helpful, I think I would have done terribly if it wasn't for Kaplan. I'd highly recommend it!

I believe these people that think it was a waste of money to go through the KAPLAN course is because they have different learning styles. I know that when I took my PTCE, I paid 800 bucks for a prep class to prepare for the exam and I passed it first try. If I didn't take the class and I would have probably fail the exam even if I studied for 3 months. The class (it was taught by a pharmacist) helped me a lot and I think the KAPLAN will help me prepare for the PCAT and I am going to take it whether people like it or not..

 

[xscpx]

I did all of my prereqs my freshman year, which now seems forever ago. I plan on taking a kaplan classroom course because I learn much better in a classroom type atmosphere than I do at home. I plan to study on m own in addition to the course, perhaps some of you relied only on the course to study? I plan to use the course as a way to "relearn" gchem and bio 1 etc. I also get a 30% discount because my organization has a contract with them, so that is probably why I am more willing to pay for it.

I think how useful the class is to you depends on your learning style and what you do with the information. I think relying on any one thing is not a good idea when studying for the PCAT. A mixture of the class, self study, prep books, etc, seems the most logical way (to me) to assure all bases are covered.

 

[alenadoma]

I did all of my prereqs my freshman year, which now seems forever ago. I plan on taking a kaplan classroom course because I learn much better in a classroom type atmosphere than I do at home. I plan to study on m own in addition to the course, perhaps some of you relied only on the course to study? I plan to use the course as a way to "relearn" gchem and bio 1 etc. I also get a 30% discount because my organization has a contract with them, so that is probably why I am more willing to pay for it.

I think how useful the class is to you depends on your learning style and what you do with the information. I think relying on any one thing is not a good idea when studying for the PCAT. A mixture of the class, self study, prep books, etc, seems the most logical way (to me) to assure all bases are covered.

You are absolutely right. You can't go to the classes, sit there for three hours, and then go home and forget everything. During your preparation, the PCAT has to be your number one priority. If you go to the classes, do the Kaplan homework, study the flashcards, do the exams, it's almost a definite that you will do well on the exam.
Good luck 🙂

 

[PharmD321]

I did all of my prereqs my freshman year, which now seems forever ago. I plan on taking a kaplan classroom course because I learn much better in a classroom type atmosphere than I do at home. I plan to study on m own in addition to the course, perhaps some of you relied only on the course to study? I plan to use the course as a way to "relearn" gchem and bio 1 etc. I also get a 30% discount because my organization has a contract with them, so that is probably why I am more willing to pay for it.

I think how useful the class is to you depends on your learning style and what you do with the information. I think relying on any one thing is not a good idea when studying for the PCAT. A mixture of the class, self study, prep books, etc, seems the most logical way (to me) to assure all bases are covered.

Of course that is what I meant by! I forgot to put in there that my PTCE prep class started in April to June, then after the exam, I studied by myself until the exam on September. It just my point was that the pharmacist teacher guided me into success!

 

[Ghady]

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[OTFuturePharmD]

Ok, let me make it clear...the PCAT has changed dramatically...Take the October test for example. We had chemistry questions like when ethylborobull**** reacts with watever, which will be the majoe product. They did not give the structural or even the condensed formula. They gave the student nomenclature, so in the 40 secs you have to answer the question, you have to draw the structure and then try to figure it out. Kaplan is so rigid and status quo to recognise these changes. Kaplan teaches the stages of mitosis and makes u memorise all that crap while PCAT ask you wat stage a drug like colchicine arrests protein synthesis...This is too much disparity btw wat kaplan teaches and wat PCAT test. Its like u take the course and u feel super smart and then on the 6th week u wanna commit suicide. I'm the kinda person that active everywhere I am. I hate see a second person manipulated. I change the world around me. If u have money do Dr. Collins. It is the closest thing to the PCAT ever. I wish I listened to him. Do not waste ur money on Kaplan especially if you are in Dallas...Those people are idiots that make a ridiculous amount of money from ripping students off.....Christine is gonna be like "Well I understand your frustration and am sorry, I will have the kaplan national office call u so u can tell them wat we could do to make the prep better" I was like "Biizzzzzardtch" Im not ****ing frustrated! One of the guys at that office, even said that he has been getting alot of complaints from students who thought the class was useless but the next day he denied saying that......Pls DO NOT DO KAPLAN!!!!!

Here Here!!! That is what I was trying to say to. If you take the Kaplan course just think carefully about it. You will definitely need other things to help you prep for the exam. I studied a lot and did practise questions. What Kaplan provided me for subject review materieals and practise tests were nothing like the August exam. The PCAT has changed too much. If you get a good teacher for the classroom then the course may be helpful.

 

[LongPigeon]

To add to this, I know someone who is tutoring for Kaplan's PCAT course. He took the MCAT but has never even seen a PCAT. Just days before he started teaching the course, I was explaining to him the different sections on the exam. So, I would agree and say studying the PCAT on your own is probably more efficient and less costly.