Good Study Habits Already: Take Prep?

[Strauss6868]

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Although I haven't been as perfect as I would like, I am pretty good with time management and my study habits. Since I am already use my time wisely, is there any benefit to taking a

prep course (Kaplan, TPR, etc.)? Should I study on my own? I heard that some prep courses consist of the instructor "spoon feeding material" that can be processed by budgeting your

time. Do the prep courses offer any extra insight? I don't want to waste my money, if I won't get too much extra.

 

[apgar]

Although I haven't been as perfect as I would like, I am pretty good with time management and my study habits. Since I am already use my time wisely, is there any benefit to taking a

prep course (Kaplan, TPR, etc.)? Should I study on my own? I heard that some prep courses consist of the instructor "spoon feeding material" that can be processed by budgeting your

time. Do the prep courses offer any extra insight? I don't want to waste my money, if I won't get too much extra.

The prep courses are good to keep you on track but they aren't really necessary if you are self-motivated. They do help you stay on schedule, but there isn't anything extra that you can't get from prep books you buy elsewhere.

If you follow SN2ed's schedule or something along those lines, the prep course is unnecessary. Save your money!

Source:
How to Decide Between an MCAT Course and Studying on Your Own

 

[SN2ed]

Is a prep course necessary to do well?

No one needs to spend thousands for a prep course. Yes, a great teacher and the camaraderie with your fellow students can help both in terms of MCAT prep and social support, but they aren't necessary. Courses are also good for providing a schedule, but I hope I've helped in that category 😛 Beyond that, it's important to keep in mind that everyone basically studies on their own. When you're signed up for a course, you'll attend classes and maybe some 1-1 review sessions with the teacher, yet the bulk of your studying is by yourself.

 

[Strauss6868]

Is a prep course necessary to do well?

No one needs to spend thousands for a prep course. Yes, a great teacher and the camaraderie with your fellow students can help both in terms of MCAT prep and social support, but they aren't necessary. Courses are also good for providing a schedule, but I hope I've helped in that category 😛 Beyond that, it's important to keep in mind that everyone basically studies on their own. When you're signed up for a course, you'll attend classes and maybe some 1-1 review sessions with the teacher, yet the bulk of your studying is by yourself.

I figured that the prep courses did nothing more than provide a study schedule. I am committed to preparing myself for the test, so it will probably serve me best to save that chunk of change and put a fraction of it toward some good review books.

 

[Silverfalcon]

The prep courses are good to keep you on track but they aren't really necessary if you are self-motivated. They do help you stay on schedule, but there isn't anything extra that you can't get from prep books you buy elsewhere.

If you follow SN2ed's schedule or something along those lines, the prep course is unnecessary. Save your money!

Source:
How to Decide Between an MCAT Course and Studying on Your Own

No offense, but did you write that article? Wow, I wonder if you took an actual MCAT before you wrote that article.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

I figured that the prep courses did nothing more than provide a study schedule. I am committed to preparing myself for the test, so it will probably serve me best to save that chunk of change and put a fraction of it toward some good review books.

As said over in non-trad, with the books and any of the commonly discussed content review schedules floating around here, you will only be held back by your ability. And you'll be significantly more wealthy.

 

[apgar]

No offense, but did you write that article? Wow, I wonder if you took an actual MCAT before you wrote that article.

I took the MCAT last summer but no, I didn't write that article, just thought it seemed relevant.

 

[370102]

Is a prep course necessary to do well?

No one needs to spend thousands for a prep course. Yes, a great teacher and the camaraderie with your fellow students can help both in terms of MCAT prep and social support, but they aren't necessary. Courses are also good for providing a schedule, but I hope I've helped in that category 😛 Beyond that, it's important to keep in mind that everyone basically studies on their own. When you're signed up for a course, you'll attend classes and maybe some 1-1 review sessions with the teacher, yet the bulk of your studying is by yourself.

SN2ed I have a question for you. You mention in your 3 month study plan that you should read eg. chapter 2 in the TPR and then every 1/3.
What do you mean by that? So I should first read the whole chapter eg. 2 and then read again section eg. 2.1, 2.4, 2.7....etc?

 

[Silverfalcon]

I took the MCAT last summer but no, I didn't write that article, just thought it seemed relevant.

That's good, I didn't like the article. 🙄

It is somewhat relevant, but personally, I think that there's a lot more to prep course vs independent studying for MCAT than just motivation. Most people - in other words, people who are not SDN geniuses - should refer to prep courses if they want to somewhat have assurances to do well if they have only taken basic sciences.

I think it's very possible for people to do well with basic sciences, but it's rather difficult for an average Joe pre-med. There are just so many factors to consider - and I personally do not think not everyone can "learn" the necessary reasoning from just taking pre-reqs. So, people should keep that in mind before getting advices from SDN because there are some really really smart people here, and they can get by without prep course.

 

[mzblue]

Go back and reread the 3month schedule, the introductory post and then the schedule itself. The info is right there. First of all, his schedule is based on TBR and he explains what he means by 1/3. I've never seen a person write a more detailed explanation than he does in that schedule. If you can't figure it out, i'm not sure how any of us can explain it any further without quoting what he wrote.
I know the info is dense but you don't need to carefully peruse it to know what he's talking about, quickly skimming the material should be enough. the fact that you write TPR makes me wonder if you glanced at it and thought he wrote TPR.
Just go back and read it, you don't need him to rewrite that info when it's a sticky on this forum.
Best wishe🙂

SN2ed I have a question for you. You mention in your 3 month study plan that you should read eg. chapter 2 in the TPR and then every 1/3.
What do you mean by that? So I should first read the whole chapter eg. 2 and then read again section eg. 2.1, 2.4, 2.7....etc?