Got 2007 MCAT books- too dated to be any use?

[ForHumors]

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Hi guys! I'm a pre-med student about to enter my junior year of college, and as such its time to start thinking about the MCAT. My extended cousin is in medical school, and my aunt gave me her old Kaplan MCAT books from 2007 for free. I'm still planning on having to shell out some major $ for current prep books later on, but what's the opinion for using these 2007 books during the summer for my initial prep? Are they any good or should I just get new ones right off the bat instead?

 

[plumhill]

I don't think it'll be a big deal; just remember that there isn't an essay anymore.

 

[KindofBlue]

Should be fine, other than the fact they're Kaplan's..
I personally haven't used them, but I only heard negative reviews about them.
Either Berkeley or Princeton for heavy content review, or Exam Krackers for a lighter review is what people generally recommend here.

 

[CopaceticOne]

I found this site pretty darn useful for reviewing when I took the MCAT: http://mcat-review.org/

You can use it as a sort of gauge as to how much of the content is covered in those books.

 

[littlelight]

I'm actually in the same situation! I got the 2009 Kaplan review notes from a friend. They're ok. I like all the analogies they used to summarize the topics which did help me remember them. Not enough examples for me or practice problems. They are over simplified and I wouldn't use them as my only preparation method. I just got the Princeton books (2010) and I love them. They are much more in depth and loaded with examples. I got the Examkrackers 1000 questions for practice.

I personally really liked reading the Kaplan books first. It was a great simplified refresher to all the topics covered by the MCAT.

 

[music2doc]

Kaplan's materials are VERY subpar. I won a Kaplan course and, frankly, I still used my TBR books as they were FAR superior to anything Kaplan offers. The only advantage to having the course was the free access to lots of practice exams. (Their other practice passages suck but Kap 1-6 are decent.)

 

[ForHumors]

Huh, sounds like I should just use the Kaplan books for now until I get new ones. Does anyone have a preference between Princeton and Berkeley? Also when's a good time to get new books; I'm going to be studying abroad for the fall semester, should I get them before I leave or should I wait until December when I get back and start hardcore studying?

I found this site pretty darn useful for reviewing when I took the MCAT: http://mcat-review.org/

You can use it as a sort of gauge as to how much of the content is covered in those books.

Huh, thanks for the tip! I'll have to check that website out.

 

[ForHumors]

Also, apologies if this should be in the MCAT forum instead- I'm still pretty new here!

 

[littlelight]

Huh, sounds like I should just use the Kaplan books for now until I get new ones. Does anyone have a preference between Princeton and Berkeley? Also when's a good time to get new books; I'm going to be studying abroad for the fall semester, should I get them before I leave or should I wait until December when I get back and start hardcore studying?



Huh, thanks for the tip! I'll have to check that website out.

I haven't looked through the Berkeley books at all but a lot of people say they are very hard to get through but prepare you very well. I plan on getting them once I get through my Princeton ones.
I got the Princeton review ones because they are marked down right now, probably because of the 2015 MCAT. I got mine used from Amazon and Barnes and nobles for about 7-11 dollars each plus shipping. If you want Princeton, I'd get them now if you can. They're about 30 each new.
Good luck!