If I teach for KAPLAN, can I also teach for TPR?

[lea]

There is a restriction in the contract that Kaplan makes teachers sign, that you cannot work for any other test prep company. But I need to make the money, and I was wondering if Kaplan or TPR will know if I work for both...

I have already been accepted to teach for both, but need to know if I could work for both. Do they know who is teaching for their competitors? (Like, does Kaplan get a list of who is teaching for TPR, and vice versa?)

I really need the money, and already accepted, so any ideas?!

I don't want to get into trouble...

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[PublicEnemy]

yeah i have the same question.

 

[lea]

haha, i hope someone can answer us

 

[apar01]

I was thinking about doing that too, but decided against it. I currently teach for TPR and am fairly happy. I figure that if either of them find out, you'll probably be canned. I didn't want to take that risk.

Does Examkrackers offer classes in your area? I hear they pay like $40-50/hr for their teachers, which would be TPR + Kaplan combined. Might be an option to look into instead.

 

[pem8erly]

I was thinking about doing that too, but decided against it. I currently teach for TPR and am fairly happy. I figure that if either of them find out, you'll probably be canned. I didn't want to take that risk.

Does Examkrackers offer classes in your area? I hear they pay like $40-50/hr for their teachers, which would be TPR + Kaplan combined. Might be an option to look into instead.

?

What's the worse that can happen? One company finds out and fires you? No, I don't believe that they swap lists of employees. I think the non-compete agreement they have you sign is simply a scare tactic to keep you from sharing information with the competition.

 

[MeowMix]

Your contract with any test prep company includes a non-compete clause. This usually has a provision that you may not teach for any other company (or run your own company) for a year or more following termination of your employment with the first company.

How will they find out? Someone will see you coming out of the competitor's office. A student will talk to a friend who will mention it to someone. You will go to a preview and the competitor's staff will be there. People talk.

They take these contracts VERY seriously and will threaten/take legal action if they find out that you have violated the terms of the contract. So it is not just getting canned. This will look really, really bad on your med school app and could be very expensive. Also, it is difficult to stand up in front of a class and say "XXX's technique is the best!" with any kind of conviction, if you are teaching for the competitor as well. If you don't believe the techniques are any good, then go start your own company.

Make your decision carefully. Look at what each company is offering to you. Think about whether you are going to be happy having to mention the company name X times each hour. Think about whether you can religiously follow their lesson plan as you are supposed to. Look at what kind of support they offer you as a teacher. There are mistakes in every curriculum - do they provide quick responses and corrections, or are you teaching from a book full of mistakes that have been there for a while? Do you really think their techniques are as great as you are supposed to say they are?

I was very unhappy teaching for one of the above-named companies (too much crap, lousy techniques, too little pay despite great evaluations) and quite happy teaching for another (great curriculum, great pay, bonus for good evaluations).

 

[paco]

It's very common for friends or classmates to take different test prep programs at the same time:

"I love TPR. My teacher's great. Her name is Lea."

"Oh really? My Kaplan teacher's name is Lea, too! I really like her. What a coincidence!"

And it steadily degenerates from there.

The risk is way too high. Find a part time gig somewhere else.

 

[lea]

Hmm, so it IS really serious?
Okay then, I think I should follow the rules.

Does anyone from the top know what really happens ?(legal action)?

MeowMix, would u mind telling me which prep company was the better one for you? I took Kaplan, never took TPR before, so I don't know the TPR principles. Could you PM me if you are uncomfortable in this thread?

Thank you very very much for helping me out.

 

[paco]

I'm working for Kaplan and they are actually really flexible about letting you cross train to teach other tests such as the SAT, GRE, DAT...

It depends on the location, but you should look into this. I have one friend teaching in CO who actually teaches the LSAT more than the MCAT despite his being premed.

This makes it much easier to make money and the best part is that they pay for all of them at the high MCAT rate (again, this depends on the location)

 

[lea]

thanks paco, that's a good idea.

my friend just asked me, what if you just use a different first name at the other company? like, lea versus leandra?

Or do these companies also check ur social security numbers?

i'm guessing you guys will say that that's a bad idea...

 

[paco]

Well... I for one, when choosing between TPR and Kaplan (as a student) actually went to a class or two of each. So, in this case, there's certainly the chance that such a shopper would see you extolling the virtues of both companies...

It's really not worth the risk. Imagine being worried about it constantly trying to cover your tracks so you don't get caught.

 

[MeowMix]

thanks paco, that's a good idea.

my friend just asked me, what if you just use a different first name at the other company? like, lea versus leandra?

Or do these companies also check ur social security numbers?

i'm guessing you guys will say that that's a bad idea...

Think about this in terms of an honor-code type thing. Start practicing now for the high professional standards you will hold as a doctor.

Plus, they need your social so they can pay you. Lying about your social would look REALLY bad on your med school app. 😛

 

[MeowMix]

Hmm, so it IS really serious?
Okay then, I think I should follow the rules.

Does anyone from the top know what really happens ?(legal action)?

MeowMix, would u mind telling me which prep company was the better one for you? I took Kaplan, never took TPR before, so I don't know the TPR principles. Could you PM me if you are uncomfortable in this thread?

Thank you very very much for helping me out.

Legal action. These are multi-million-dollar companies and MCAT prep is a big business. They will not hesitate to act if they think you are screwing them. Sueing you is nothing to them; they will make an example of you to deter others.

The best company for me might not be the best for you. It varies also by location. Consider the working conditions, compensation, and the opportunities for more income (Paco's suggestion is great). If you are not a very experienced teacher, you will want a more structured curriculum. If you are very experienced, you will want more freedom. Talk to teachers at your local centers to find out what they like and what they are unhappy about.

good luck

 

[QofQuimica]

There is a restriction in the contract that Kaplan makes teachers sign, that you cannot work for any other test prep company. But I need to make the money, and I was wondering if Kaplan or TPR will know if I work for both...

I have already been accepted to teach for both, but need to know if I could work for both. Do they know who is teaching for their competitors? (Like, does Kaplan get a list of who is teaching for TPR, and vice versa?)

I really need the money, and already accepted, so any ideas?!

I don't want to get into trouble...

It is completely unethical for you to do this. Whether you get caught or not is immaterial. When you sign your noncompete, you are making a promise to NOT do exactly what you are proposing to do. I don't think it is especially relevant which company you teach for in terms of pay; to me, what matters most is that I'm working with good people. Get to know the center manager at each place as well as your fellow instructors, and see whether you like these people enough to work with them. But whatever you do, hold yourself to a high standard of ethics. No amount of money in the world is worth the price of prostituting your personal integrity.

 

[Shrike]

Just piling on, I suppose:

No. Absolutely not. You could get away with it for about two hours, and then they would catch you -- people talk, even more in MCAT-land than elsewhere. And even if they didn't, you would be violating your contracts with the companies and, I hope you would agree, behaving unethically as well. They have invested in you; it is unethical to take the training they have given you into a competitor's classroom in violation of the specific agreement into which you have entered.

Everyone thinks about this sort of thing at some point, I suspect; just don't go beyond thinking about it.

 

[Shrike]

Also, anent paco's point about crosstraining at Kaplan: TPR does it too. About half of our MCAT instructors do some other grad classes as well, and a couple even do SAT (eek!). I survive on LSAT and a little GMAT work through the fall.