How do adcoms view teaching for Kaplan?

[non trad]

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I'm writing update letters to a few schools (waitlists) and also working on my app for next cycle just in case, and I'm not sure whether to mention my job as an MCAT instructor.

I thought it would look good (could come under paid employment or teaching as an EC), but I heard that adcoms sometimes discount your MCAT score if you've worked for Kaplan, PR, etc. The irony is that I didn't actually take an MCAT prep course and never heard of the Kaplan method until I started working for them, but my score is still probably the strongest part of my app so I'd hate to diminish it.

 

[LizzyM]

I'm writing update letters to a few schools (waitlists) and also working on my app for next cycle just in case, and I'm not sure whether to mention my job as an MCAT instructor.

I thought it would look good (could come under paid employment or teaching as an EC), but I heard that adcoms sometimes discount your MCAT score if you've worked for Kaplan, PR, etc. The irony is that I didn't actually take an MCAT prep course and never heard of the Kaplan method until I started working for them, but my score is still probably the strongest part of my app so I'd hate to diminish it.

Yes, it is silly but some adcoms don't consider working for the test prep companies to be something to brag about.

 

[ESzczesniak]

I'm writing update letters to a few schools (waitlists) and also working on my app for next cycle just in case, and I'm not sure whether to mention my job as an MCAT instructor.

I thought it would look good (could come under paid employment or teaching as an EC), but I heard that adcoms sometimes discount your MCAT score if you've worked for Kaplan, PR, etc. The irony is that I didn't actually take an MCAT prep course and never heard of the Kaplan method until I started working for them, but my score is still probably the strongest part of my app so I'd hate to diminish it.

It's a job. That's about it. You don't actually need anything all that special to teach for Kaplan (I think you just needed greater than or equal to a 10 to teach any given MCAT section).

 

[Isoprop]

Not working for Kaplan, but I got quite a few positive comments from interviewers about my teaching experience in my ECs and essays. My guess is that some adcoms are teachers themselves so can relate to it if you speak passionately about it. Of course, this varies greatly per individual.

I don't see why adcoms would discredit your MCAT score if you scored well. Can you picture this conversation:

Adcom 1: Wow this applicant scored a 39S.
Adcom 2: Oh but he works for Kaplan now.
Adcom 1: Oh well pass.

 

[movax]

Yes, it is silly but some adcoms don't consider working for the test prep companies to be something to brag about.

Really? Can you explain further, I'm kind of curious about the reasoning (are the test prep companies viewed as a scourge or something? )

 

[Kaustikos]

I don't see why adcoms would discredit your MCAT score if you scored well. Can you picture this conversation:

Adcom 1: Wow this applicant scored a 39S.
Adcom 2: Oh but he works for Kaplan now.
Adcom 1: Oh well pass.

l33t h4x

 

[anriar]

It's a job. That's about it. You don't actually need anything all that special to teach for Kaplan (I think you just needed greater than or equal to a 10 to teach any given MCAT section).

I'm a Kaplan teacher. You need to score 90th percentile or higher in each section. For MCAT, that's (approximately) 11 in verbal, 12 in physical, and 12 in bio. So all the MCAT teachers score at least a 35.

I listed it as a job on my application, but I didn't bring it up during interviews and they didn't ask about it.

 

[non trad]

I don't see why adcoms would discredit your MCAT score if you scored well. Can you picture this conversation:

Adcom 1: Wow this applicant scored a 39S.
Adcom 2: Oh but he works for Kaplan now.
Adcom 1: Oh well pass.

Yes, this is exactly what I'm afraid of.

I think the rationale is that people who work for a test prep company are more likely to have taken an MCAT prep class, or perhaps just to be good at taking standardized tests. But no, it doesn't make much sense.

 

[charju]

i kind of understand and dont understand this concept. I teach for PR, but only for biology and probably chemistry soon. Funny thing is I might retake the MCAT (i have a 32R atm but if i dont get in this cycle..).

I never took a prep class of any sorts before this. But granted tons of people do take prep classes, so how can it be even of unfair advantage? By becoming an instructor, the only advantage i see myself get is all the fancy test prep material that I had not used prior. But then tons of people had access to these when they dished out 2k for the course no? And if i really did want to get my hands on them, I can most definitely get it from a friend or two.

 

[LizzyM]

It isn't anything to brag about but it isn't a deal breaker, either. You aren't going to be set aside in favor of someone else but you aren't getting a leg up over someone else either.

 

[0919mmk]

I'm a Kaplan teacher. You need to score 90th percentile or higher in each section. For MCAT, that's (approximately) 11 in verbal, 12 in physical, and 12 in bio. So all the MCAT teachers score at least a 35.

I listed it as a job on my application, but I didn't bring it up during interviews and they didn't ask about it.

I guess this must vary from state to state: my kaplan teacher got a 34 (not sure of breakdown...)

 

[Isoprop]

Yes, this is exactly what I'm afraid of.

I think the rationale is that people who work for a test prep company are more likely to have taken an MCAT prep class, or perhaps just to be good at taking standardized tests. But no, it doesn't make much sense.

There's nothing wrong with taking a prep class. I highly doubt adcoms are going to care if you took a prep class.

Also, being good at standardized tests is a good thing. There will be more standardized tests in med school and beyond.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

It's just a job. It won't hurt or help any more than any other college job. Adcoms won't discount your solid MCAT score due to your working for Kaplan (after receiving said score.)