Is Kaplan worth the money?

[BingDent]

---

Members don't see this ad.

For those of you took kaplan to prepare for your DATs. Do you feel that what Kaplan offers is worth the money ($1000)?

From what I know, Kaplan is good only for their test banks, but I think I could get the the same amount of practice questions from other sources, i.e. topscore, Kaplan book, barrons, princeton...etc.

Those of you score 20+, do owe it mostly to Kaplan (if you took it), or is it mostly due to your own time and efforts?

Thanks for any reply 🙂

 

[DaCrust]

Spending 1000's on the test prep class is not worth it. It would be wise to buy just the Kaplan DAT prep book because that was all I used. The classes were useless. Basically what you're paying for are materials which you could obtain at a fraction of the cost. I highly recommend Top Score Pro by Scholarware, some flashcards are useful, and get your hands on as much test material as you can. Save your textbooks because they may come in handy later on. The MCAT prep book may also help and it comes with a CD-rom as well. Study hard and good luck!

 

[BingDent]

DaCrust, Thanks so much for your input! I'm scheduling to take DAT on aug.10 and am planning to spend at least 8 hrs/day.

 

[Supernumerary]

I don't want to inspire false confidence, but I thought the DAT was way easier than I had expected. Looking back, I'm glad I didn't do Kaplan - I got a 21 with just the Kaplan book and TopScore. Even those I didn't use much and I'm no superbraniac either. If you're a science major and paid attention in class you should be in great shape with just a little review. 🙂

I might do Kaplan for NBDE Part 1, though. Have to see how interested I am in specializing when my junior year comes around. 🙂

 

[cgt3477]

I took Kaplan and I thought it helped alot. Especially since I waited to take the DAT (about 1 1/2 yrs after I finished school why you may ask?---long story). Anyway I thought it was a great crash refresher course. Before I signed up for Kaplan I bought other study aids but I felt like most of them just wanted you to know everything and didnt bother to streamline their info. In any case if you are still in school and the info is still fresh in your memory you might be able to skip the class and just use the books and cds. Just be aware that if you think just taking the class will get you a great score that is wrong...you still have to put in alot of your own time.

 

[Jyaki]

For me, it was well worth the money. Then again, I've been out of school for more than 5 years and wanted the student-instructor contact. I also knew that I would only have one shot at it so I didn't want to skimp out in any way or fashion. The numerous practice tests that they offer in their training centers were also very helpful in preparing me for the DAT's. In the end everything paid off. I scored a 22 and was accepted in most of the schools I applied to. (I had one school that kind of questioned my scores since it had been so long that I've been out of school!)

 

[BingDent]

Ahh!!! Very Mixed inputs 😱

 

[Supernumerary]

Here are reasons I can see for taking the Kaplan course:
- Your dad is a neurosurgeon and $1500 is spare change.
- You've been out of school for a while.
- Your grades are weak, and a high DAT is the only way you'll get in.
- You have poor self-discipline and need a course to keep you on track.
- You weren't a bio/chem major.
- You were a science major but don't remember a thing even after doing some review on your own.


Good Luck. 🙂

 

[BingDent]

Guess I'm gonna study on my own. I would rather spend the time traveling back and forth kaplan on studying. Thanks supernumery on making it clear for me🙂

 

[tinker bell]

I had Princeton. But I think my success was my effort, the course helped. But I think I could review those on my own (just longer time) because I'd been out of school for 5 yrs.

If you have topscore CD and all the books, just study by yourself, or with some other predents is the best thing.

Not everyone in my class did well though. So, I think it's individual effort.

Good luck

 

[Jyaki]

tinker bell, I agree with you, it's all about individual effort. I was the only one in my Kaplan DAT class that actually took any of the practice exams. It's what you make of it.

 

[ohgee]

I didn't take the course in kaplan and I did fine. Save youself $1000+ and use it for the interview process... I usually can't study for a long period of time, but for this test...you just have to work hard, I learned to study everyday for at least 10 hours/day for the month prior to the test, and I was proud of that. So what I am saying is....study hard! Kaplan only will help you if you study hard, they can only "show you the path, but you have to walk the path.."

If you think you really have studying problem, I heard that PR is better than Kaplan....

 

[BingDent]

Thanks for all the replies, I think I will study by myself.
Plan:
At least 8 hours/day for the next 2.5 months.
Treat myself something really nice for the extra $1000 I saved