Kaplan classroom based course?

[DiverDoc]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Does this actually produce results? Do the people who complete this course generally do better as in improving their own scores or doing better than the national avg.? I am planning on enrolling in it for the August MCAT but I cant find any stats. So is it really worth it? Will it help you get a good score as in 24 or 25+

 

[DrBowtie]

I don't think they quantify it by your final score.

They have you take a diagnostic and say you should expect to improve X amount of points from your base.

They can't say everyone will score above a certain mark because there are people who just can't score above 24.

 

[bubbleyum]

Does this actually produce results? Do the people who complete this course generally do better as in improving their own scores or doing better than the national avg.? I am planning on enrolling in it for the August MCAT but I cant find any stats. So is it really worth it? Will it help you get a good score as in 24 or 25+

i hope you are not aiming for 24-25 as your target "good score."
not to offend anybody on these forums who took the mcat and got that score, but if you are still studying for the mcat and hoping to do well, you should aim HIGHER. like 32-35 in the very least! then if you get a score that is maybe a few points below that, you still have a score that can be considered relatively competitive for allopathic schools. (if that is your goal.) heck, you might as well aim for 45 while you're at it!

anyways, good luck! i am thinking of retaking the mcat this april as well...

i took kaplan and i scored a 30. in my opinion kaplan was not worth it. i felt like it took away from my own study time and the practice tests were off-base. but a lot of people think kaplan really did work for them. it's all personal, depending on what type of help you need, how much time you can put into it, and what your study habits are.

 

[thegymbum]

I started one a few weeks ago.. and almost wish I wouldn't have wasted the money. I suppose I'll see in the long run, but my instructor seems like he doesn't know what he's talking about (and, interestingly, applied to medical school 4 times but never got in..), it's annoying to pay attention that long when it's mostly stuff you've studied before, and the huge stack of books they provide mainly consist of material in my old science text books.. so who knows. I'd say that if you want the review, have the time and the money to spare, and you learn better in person than from a book, go for it. Otherwise, I'd say ordering the books and studying on your own would probably be a pretty decent route. Either way.. best of luck!

 

[DiverDoc]

I started one a few weeks ago.. and almost wish I wouldn't have wasted the money. I suppose I'll see in the long run, but my instructor seems like he doesn't know what he's talking about (and, interestingly, applied to medical school 4 times but never got in..), it's annoying to pay attention that long when it's mostly stuff you've studied before, and the huge stack of books they provide mainly consist of material in my old science text books.. so who knows. I'd say that if you want the review, have the time and the money to spare, and you learn better in person than from a book, go for it. Otherwise, I'd say ordering the books and studying on your own would probably be a pretty decent route. Either way.. best of luck!

Yeah I am aiming for a high score. But I do feel like i learn better in person and want to take the review course and study at the same time to give myself confidence and the best shot at it. By the way gymbum are you taking the kaplan course in Lawrence on Mass. street?

 

[PPatel]

Does this actually produce results? Do the people who complete this course generally do better as in improving their own scores or doing better than the national avg.? I am planning on enrolling in it for the August MCAT but I cant find any stats. So is it really worth it? Will it help you get a good score as in 24 or 25+

At a seminar I went to the Kaplan rep said they did a poll with Harris Polls, and their average score for all of their students was a 29.6. For the top half of their students, the average score was a 33.3. You can compare this to PR, who always say that the top half of their students score is a 30.

The average score for testtakers is a 24. Applicants: 27. Matriculants: 30.

They also said that 53% of all test takers took Kaplan, and 78% of everyone who took a prep class took Kaplan, as well as 4/5 doctors took Kaplan.

 

[ADeadLois]

At a seminar I went to the Kaplan rep said they did a poll with Harris Polls, and their average score for all of their students was a 29.6. For the top half of their students, the average score was a 33.3. You can compare this to PR, who always say that the top half of their students score is a 30.

The average score for testtakers is a 24. Applicants: 27. Matriculants: 30.

They also said that 53% of all test takers took Kaplan, and 78% of everyone who took a prep class took Kaplan, as well as 4/5 doctors took Kaplan.

I'm taking the Kaplan class now, and I think it's been beneficial if only for their study materials, full-lengths, and keeping me on schedule. My instructor seems like she know what she's talking about. Some of their strategy, particularly their verbal reasoning, doesn't really work for me. The EK strategy is a lot simpler and works better for me.

I don't really understand why people complain about the Kaplan class. Yes, it's expensive, but it can only help you. I can definitely spare 3 hours a week for content reinforcement. The full-lengths seem like they would be tremendously helpful, even if they don't match exactly to the real MCAT (They have all of the AAMC test at the centers anyway). The only thing you really have to lose is the money, and given the amount of material and test experience they give you it's worth it.