Kaplan Course -- thumbs up or down?

[Kane]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Have people here taken the Kaplan course? If so, do you recommend it?

It seems like more people are just using books/CDs.

 

[Notoriousjae]

👎

 

[Clover]

👎

pros:
-- diagnostic test simulating real test and breakdown of scores
(but you can get that with Topscore & Achiever on your own comp)
-- practice tests (you can also get this online, lots of ppl willing to trade/give)


cons:
-- too much money for little
-- instructor competance is a gamble
-- they stand at the front of the room and read answers from their binder that you copy into your review book
-- kaplan blue book for $50-65 is same as the white book they send you (except about 10-15 review questions at end of chaps)

 

[Kane]

very convincing.

maybe i'll just plan on studying on my own.

about topscore. how many tests do you get?

 

[checkamundo]

Topscore and DAT Achiever each give you 3 full-length tests. DAT achiever is for the most part tougher than the real thing. Topscore is the closest to the real thing. Only take these after you've studied though, so you know where you stand

 

[Kane]

well, it's tough to know what you need to work on if you don't take them! lol

about the advantage of the kaplan class. while the poster above was very convincing, as i said, i'm still a little on the fence. what about the little tips and tricks and test-taking strategies the kaplan course could offer?

here's an example, if you're going to blindly guess, what's the best answer to pick? i think i remember that you should never choose "B". see? stuff like that.

 

[Futureortho24]

The Kaplan course iteself I did not find very useful - the materials are good. I.e. the practice subject tests and the big review book. (but you can buy the same big book at B&N for like $60) - as far as little tricks go, I cant remember many from the class - hope this helps 🙂

 

[apaul]

around here, Kaplan does a free diagnostic test at the beginning of the semesters to try to hook you in, so I just got their feedback and did the studying on my own.

 

[jmick101]

As far as tips and tricks go, Topscore also comes with this 100 page study guide thing that gives plenty of goodies for PAT, scratch paper setup, etc. Topscore has been invaluable for all sorts of things and even if you do end up taking the Kaplan course you really oughta get it. I would say the same for DAT Achiever but... they only let you take the tests once and then you can only review it. Topscore lets you retake it as many times as you want. I take the DAT tommorrow so I will tell you then if I wish I had taken Kaplan or not, but when it comes down to it, I think the best thing is to study on your own and work practice problems and stuff.

 

[tom_servo_dds]

As far as tips and tricks go, Topscore also comes with this 100 page study guide thing that gives plenty of goodies for PAT, scratch paper setup, etc. Topscore has been invaluable for all sorts of things and even if you do end up taking the Kaplan course you really oughta get it. I would say the same for DAT Achiever but... they only let you take the tests once and then you can only review it. Topscore lets you retake it as many times as you want. I take the DAT tommorrow so I will tell you then if I wish I had taken Kaplan or not, but when it comes down to it, I think the best thing is to study on your own and work practice problems and stuff.

Second that!

👎

 

[ddsjymaeng]

waste of money 👎
just get the blue book and study for it
then get achiever and topscore....

 

[liskiewi]

Have people here taken the Kaplan course? If so, do you recommend it?

It seems like more people are just using books/CDs.

It all depends on what kind of studier you are. The Kaplan course is great for pacing your studies if you are a person who needs motivation and pacing. It has an online syllabus that has a long list of everything that needs to be completed by certain dates. However, if you are the type of person who can devise a study schedule to cover each topic on the DAT and stay dedicated to it then you may not find the class useful.

My personal experience with the class is that it got me acquainted with each subject that was covered on the DAT through the readings, workshops, and subject tests, and then re-solidified everything I learned through the lecture in the classroom. The classroom setting was great because the class was small and I was able to interact with the instructor and ask as many questions as I wanted as well as set up times outside of class to have any additional questions answered. I had a very knowledgable instructor. She had taught the class several times, had taken the DAT herself, as well as the MCAT, and was currently in medical school, so she knew what she was talking about and was an effective teacher. Overall, the most valuable tool the class has to offer was getting me acquainted with the DAT's style of testing and strategies for approaching problems from each subject. In addition, the tools and materials were covered very intensely in a short amount of time, and adequately prepared me for the DAT - which is nice if you do not have the luxury of being able to sit around all summer and do nothing but study. To put things in perspective, I took two classes in addition to the DAT class (all three classes, DAT class included, were from May 15th-June 28th, and I took the DAT on July 3rd), and was able to score very well on the actual DAT.

BIO: 25
GCHEM: 18
OCHEM: 21
PA: 19
RC: 21
QR: 21
TS: 21
AA: 21

 

[hopelessdoc]

just use the kaplan book/cd and if possible all subj test...study on ur own. And yes try to use the topscore and achiever...