How to appraoch studying

[seventhplace]

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Hey

I have heard different opinions on how to approach prepping for the OAT. My former doctor recommends I take some time off and focus on only studying as well as taking a Kaplan course. However, some students I have spoken to recently have said they didn't find that the course helped. I have to begin studying in the spring and would like some personal opinions on what worked for you (and if anyone took the kaplan course, your input would be apprecaited!!) Thanks.

 

[bd722]

I wouldn't recommend taking the Kaplan course. I didn't get anything from going to the class but I thought their materials were really useful. I basically studied from their materials. So, if you can buy their materials from someone, it will be cheaper than buying the course. Their online materials were helpful too if you can get those as well.

 

[sportsdude00]

Hey

I have heard different opinions on how to approach prepping for the OAT. My former doctor recommends I take some time off and focus on only studying as well as taking a Kaplan course. However, some students I have spoken to recently have said they didn't find that the course helped. I have to begin studying in the spring and would like some personal opinions on what worked for you (and if anyone took the kaplan course, your input would be apprecaited!!) Thanks.

i personally wouldn't take time off, unless you're a very diligent person who doesnt get distracted much. for myself and the majority of the people i know, extra time gives me the mindset "oh, i have plenty of time, i can do it all later," and pushes me back to the point where i'm totally screwed. material wise, i've heard kaplan stuff is good, like bd said. i found the achiever to be quite a good resource in preparing me for the format of the exam, but the content wasnt just ok.

 

[blysssful]

For me, I took a Kaplan course over the summer. The lecture part of the class was pointless, but the material (as someone said before) is really helpful. I wouldn't recommend just buying the material off someone though, because the online material is extremely helpful (lots of practice exams and section tests). They also offer an online course.

As far as taking time off... over the summer I was taking organic I & II as well as prepping for the OAT. Once the fall semester started though, I virtually stopped studying for the OAT. So, if you CAN take time off... it might be helpful. It was for me.

 

[Absolute Vision]

In addition to taking a rigorous summer bio course, and balancing a family life, I was able to spend 4 weeks (3-4 hours/day) during the summer to prep for the OAT. Since I had to be efficient in my OAT prep, I focused my studies in areas in which I needed to improve the most.

 

[pienfoo]

if you don't consider yourself dumb or extremely lazy i don't think you'll need the kaplan course. most people I know including myself did fine without it. read some of the previous posts in the OAT section and you'll see how people studend and what they used to help them get the scores they got. unless you have 2 jobs and tons of other responsibilities, you should be fine studying for the OAT without taking any time off. g'luck!