kaplan course refund

[Gust]

Im currently enrolled in the kaplan mcat course and I was wondering if you could get your money back midway through the course. I've been doing all of their work and attending class; however, none of their tactics I try to employ on the practice exams seem to work. When I go to class, we don't discuss techni. but the material which I have a solid understanding. I feel that I could spend my time more efficiently by studying by myself. I went to their website to get info on getting a refund while being enrolled, but their website seemed to lack the information. Any thoughts.

Diagnostic=20
first full length=19

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[CardiacIntensivist]

If I remember correctly, once you start a class officially the only way to get a refund is to do worse on your real MCAT compared to your diagnostic.

But you can just their kap test number and ask...

 

[RookTookIt]

If I remember correctly, once you start a class officially the only way to get a refund is to do worse on your real MCAT compared to your diagnostic.

Even then I think you can only repeat the same class again for free. I don't think there is any way to get a refund.

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

Even then I think you can only repeat the same class again for free. I don't think there is any way to get a refund.

Hmmm unless they changed their policy you are allowed to repeat the class for free if you don't feel ready or if you aren't satisfied with your MCAT score.

If you score lower than your diagnostic however, you are entitled to demand a full refund.

edit - but caveat, I haven't taught for Kaplan in 2 years.

 

[RookTookIt]

Hmmm unless they changed their policy you are allowed to repeat the class for free if you don't feel ready or if you aren't satisfied with your MCAT score.

If you score lower than your diagnostic however, you are entitled to demand a full refund.

edit - but caveat, I haven't taught for Kaplan in 2 years.

Oh, you're right! http://www.kaptest.com/hsg

 

[Naquadria]

However scoring lower than your diagnostics seems pretty unlikely to me. Not if you take the class seriously at all and nothing unusual happens during testing.

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

However scoring lower than your diagnostics seems pretty unlikely to me. Not if you take the class seriously at all and nothing unusual happens during testing.

That's how they getcha.

1) The diagnostic is notoriously difficult
2) By the time people take the MCAT, they probably forgot about that Kaplan rule because it is only mentioned on a handout during their diagnostic (which probably no one reads)

 

[serosanguinous]

chances are, if you got a 20 on your last full length, then your understanding of the material isn't as solid as you think. technique is probably most important in VR; PS and BS are all about how much you know.

there's also a lot more to kaplan than the classroom trainings. they have heaps of resources on their website, including Qbank, which is a great resource for practicing passages.

but yeah, there's no way to get a refund unless you do worse on the MCAT than your diagnostic.

 

[Hoya2009]

^^ What he said.

From what it sounds like, you need to spend more time on learning the content of the material ans taking the Kaplan strategies seriously. You shouldn't expect a major increase on your first FL, but you should be working on your critical thinking approach and timing, not giving up on Kaplan strategies after 4 weeks, because it's hard.

 

[venacontracta]

I disagree with everyone telling you to take the Kaplan strategies seriously.

I took a Kaplan course and realized not-quite-halfway through that their strategies were poor and the teaching lousy. I think I checked out of that "educational opportunity" after my instructor answered a question by saying that glucose just diffuses through cell membranes without the need for any sort of transport proteins.

I then self-studied using Examkrackers, which is what I should have done in the first place, and got a 39.

The Kaplan course is a sunk cost at this point. You're not getting your money back. However, if its strategies are not helping you and you continue doing what Kaplan tells you to do, you won't only be out a lot of money, but your MCAT score may also be below what you could have achieved using a better prep method.

That being said - Kaplan does seem to be quite successful with turning below average or average scores into average or slightly above average scores. So considering your practice test scores, maybe you should ignore what I wrote above. Still, someone needed to interrupt the Kaplan lovefest that's going on.

 

[Gust]

I disagree with everyone telling you to take the Kaplan strategies seriously.

I took a Kaplan course and realized not-quite-halfway through that their strategies were poor and the teaching lousy. I think I checked out of that "educational opportunity" after my instructor answered a question by saying that glucose just diffuses through cell membranes without the need for any sort of transport proteins.

I then self-studied using Examkrackers, which is what I should have done in the first place, and got a 39.

The Kaplan course is a sunk cost at this point. You're not getting your money back. However, if its strategies are not helping you and you continue doing what Kaplan tells you to do, you won't only be out a lot of money, but your MCAT score may also be below what you could have achieved using a better prep method.

That being said - Kaplan does seem to be quite successful with turning below average or average scores into average or slightly above average scores. So considering your practice test scores, maybe you should ignore what I wrote above. Still, someone needed to interrupt the Kaplan lovefest that's going on.

Hey David06,

Its been about a month since I've given up on kaplan and currently self studying using examcrackers. Let me tell you this, I feel extremely liberated and I feel that I'm learning way more. We'll see how everything goes once I take my first full length in a month

 

[BadHorse]

Im currently enrolled in the kaplan mcat course and I was wondering if you could get your money back midway through the course. I've been doing all of their work and attending class; however, none of their tactics I try to employ on the practice exams seem to work. When I go to class, we don't discuss techni. but the material which I have a solid understanding. I feel that I could spend my time more efficiently by studying by myself. I went to their website to get info on getting a refund while being enrolled, but their website seemed to lack the information. Any thoughts.

Diagnostic=20
first full length=19

The problem could be your teacher, ask to be switched into another class.

The strategy is supposed to be incorporated into every level of the curriculum and if it isn't your teacher is doing it wrong. Every passage you go over in class you should be pre-reading and mapping, every question you should be STPMing.

The teachers are supposed to teach the strategy, which, if you're a bad test-taker, is actually a pretty good way to take the MCAT. If you're well versed in the strategy (that means self-studying, doing homework and practicing) I've heard of kids bumping their scores up by double digits within a month, just from the strategy. Just having a plan for each question and passage type means you won't get overwhelmed, which is probably the biggest danger on the MCAT.

Full disclosure: I'm a Kaplan teacher, but if old habits are what works for a student I won't push the Kaplan method, it's for the people who don't know how to attack the test, and kind of sounds perfect for you.

PM me if you have any more Kaplan related questions, I'd be glad to help. And about the money... really, we don't want to take your money if you're not getting anything out of it. The guarantees aren't meant to be a clever ploy or to employ impossible loopholes, they're meant to help our students. If you're still convinced Kaplan is wrong for you I'll try to find out if you can get reimbursed without taking an official MCAT.

 

[patel2]

Im currently enrolled in the kaplan mcat course and I was wondering if you could get your money back midway through the course. I've been doing all of their work and attending class; however, none of their tactics I try to employ on the practice exams seem to work. When I go to class, we don't discuss techni. but the material which I have a solid understanding. I feel that I could spend my time more efficiently by studying by myself. I went to their website to get info on getting a refund while being enrolled, but their website seemed to lack the information. Any thoughts.

Diagnostic=20
first full length=19

kaplan will refund your money over their dead body. When I tried to repeat the course originally, the Kaplan rep said I wasn't eligible because I hadn't completed all the assignments (one or two of those silly 5 question quizzes or something before each class wasn't done). I ultimately was able to retake it after a long tirade with the manager, but kaplan will never give out a refund, and will break any existing contract it has with the consumer to avoid giving money back (srs).

I sympathize with youy OP...yes mad

 

[venacontracta]

Hey David06,

Its been about a month since I've given up on kaplan and currently self studying using examcrackers. Let me tell you this, I feel extremely liberated and I feel that I'm learning way more. We'll see how everything goes once I take my first full length in a month

Glad to hear I wasn't the only one this strategy worked for!

One other thing -- the only tests with good predictive value of your actual score are the AAMC tests. Make sure to supplement your EK prep with as many of the actual AAMC tests as you can (once you feel ready to take this step).

 

[apumic]

kaplan will refund your money over their dead body. When I tried to repeat the course originally, the Kaplan rep said I wasn't eligible because I hadn't completed all the assignments (one or two of those silly 5 question quizzes or something before each class wasn't done). I ultimately was able to retake it after a long tirade with the manager, but kaplan will never give out a refund, and will break any existing contract it has with the consumer to avoid giving money back (srs).

I sympathize with youy OP...yes mad

Does is say somewhere that they must be done before class or simply before the MCAT is taken?

 

[patel2]

Does is say somewhere that they must be done before class or simply before the MCAT is taken?

yes, technically it needs to be done before class, but 0% of people do it then. The instructor explicity tells people that the only thing they need for the guaranteed refund is the Full Length tests to be done, and that the mini-assignments are not enforced, and can just be checked off at the end of the course, and they won't have any problems. And the instructors are usually students, so I generally believe that Kaplan has told them this is the case. My theory is that Kaplan purposely tells teachers this, so that they will tell this to students, and then students will not do the assignments on time and not be eligible for the guaranteed contract.

 

[0919mmk]

Yeah my kaplan teacher told me all the required stuff just has to be done before your MCAT/access to the class material expires.

My personal experience with kaplan has been good, mostly because of the online materials that are available to you. I agree that the teachers are not necessarily the best, but you're not supposed to depend on the teachers to learn anything- you're supposed to do 95% of the work on your own.

What you are mostly paying for is access to the online material, which is good stuff. The cost of Kaplan includes access to more full length tests than you could do, plus all the AAMC tests. That's where the real value is.

Personally, i got a 32 on the real MCAT 2 years ago (self-studying). I'm retaking on Saturday, and my last 3 FL exams were 38, 40, 35 (AAMCs), so something worked in there! Mostly I learned proper timing, working fast, and reinforced material with Qbank.

 

[apumic]

yes, technically it needs to be done before class, but 0% of people do it then. The instructor explicity tells people that the only thing they need for the guaranteed refund is the Full Length tests to be done, and that the mini-assignments are not enforced, and can just be checked off at the end of the course, and they won't have any problems. And the instructors are usually students, so I generally believe that Kaplan has told them this is the case. My theory is that Kaplan purposely tells teachers this, so that they will tell this to students, and then students will not do the assignments on time and not be eligible for the guaranteed contract.

So which way is it, then? Do they enforce doing the assignments before class or do you qualify as long as all "required" materials have been completed prior to the end of your access period?

 

[patel2]

So which way is it, then? Do they enforce doing the assignments before class or do you qualify as long as all "required" materials have been completed prior to the end of your access period?

Really it's ambiguous. The teachers tell you (probably instructed by Kaplan) that you just need it done by the end of the access period. But often (like in my case), they will try to screw you over if you don't get it done prior to class. However, sometimes they will let it slide if you get it done by the access period.

To be on the safe side, do every little quiz/assignment on time. That way there won't be any doubt should you want to retake the course

 

[thespazz]

Really it's ambiguous. The teachers tell you (probably instructed by Kaplan) that you just need it done by the end of the access period. But often (like in my case), they will try to screw you over if you don't get it done prior to class. However, sometimes they will let it slide if you get it done by the access period.

To be on the safe side, do every little quiz/assignment on time. That way there won't be any doubt should you want to retake the course

We're not told by kaplan to lie to the students. you need to have all the items completed PRIOR to access being lost. that's it, period.