Kaplan courses....useful?

[docmira]

Hey ...

just wondering if those of you who took the Kaplan prep courses found it useful?

It is a lot of money, but is it worth it??

Thanks

 

[DrMom]

I found the course very useful...BUT you have to actually take advantage of it and put in some effort (do readings, go to class, do practice tests).

It is expensive, but in my case I was able to raise my score enough for me to get a full tuition scholarship (the scholarship is based on GPA and MCAT, but the GPA requirement was pretty average). Pretty good payoff. <img border="0" alt="[Clappy]" title="" src="graemlins/clappy.gif" />

BTW: I also did well enough to be able to teach Kaplan (good extra $$). By teaching I will be able to *earn* free USMLE/COMLEX review classes. Another good payoff.

 

[psyc.lover]

i agree , none of the courses are useful unless you study your ass off with all of the material they give you. thats why i took PTR they gave us so many pratice materials that were for us to keep and ues at any time. i heard Kaplan requires you to come to the center to check your answers and take pratice tests.

 

[DrMom]

You don't have to go in to the center. The topical tests are available on the internet (with answers and explanations). There also is review material online. The full-length tests are done in the center, but I think that is good because it makes you adjust to testing conditions (timing, etc).

 

[Doctora Foxy]

I took Kaplan and I was very happpy with it. The structure they offer is helpful, but only if you use it. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

 

[lola]

I'm taking Kaplan right now and am not all that happy with it. It's ok, but not great. What I needed most was to be kept to a schedule, and it is doing that. However, the instruction is not the greatest, and I usually end up with more questions at the end of the class period than I had coming in.

 

[jot]

i took kaplan and am waiting my scores from the april admin. i thought the classes were close to worthless if you already have an idea whats going on. nevertheless, i knew this before taking the course, and took it for their practice material. i actually went through almost everything in their library and all the aamc stuff so it was worthwhile. their material, however, is getting quite outdated and not really representative of the real thing. aamc and april test was all about concepts and critical thinking, while kaplan is centered around pushing details and formulas. i understand their reasoning for doing this, and to some extent it makes sense, but in some ways it is a wasted effort. anything to improve critical thinking skills will take you much further in all sections than knowing Beer's Law. just my opinion.

 

[Green912]

I haven't taken the course but have heard very mixed reviews. Most courses are taught by individuals who themselves attended and had done well on the MCAT. I don't know how much training they get in instruction, but you certainly run the risk of getting a poor and inexperienced instructor.

 

[chak_de_phatee]

Hi,
I have taken both kaplan and princeton. Yes I was a slacker. Your choice should depend on what your study habbits are like. Princeton lets you take the materials home and you have to use the kaplan ones at the center. I will repeat what other have stated on this board, you will get out what you put in. The time I took princeton I only put in about a 2 hrs per day. I did not get much out of it. At the end it made me think that princeton sucks while the fault lied in me. The second time I took Kaplan and I spent 8 hrs a day at the center and was getting mid to high 30's on the practice tests. I took the test in april so I dont know how I did. I know there are some very smart people on this board who took the MCAT cold and got high 30's. But I think for the majority of the people on the more time you put in for the sciences the better your scores will be. The verbal is another story. So the conclusion would be take either course but be sure you are willing to put in the time. Putting in time means finish allllllllllllll the work(Pre class reading, sample problems and practice tests) they give you.
Sorry for the long post.

 

[wgu]

Out of curiousity, how much work did Kaplan make people do? # of practice tests and how many workbook stuff? I've decided to do independent study instead of classes since my experience for the SAT at PR was horrible.

 

[relatively prime]

I think Kaplan has the best materials (though PR is a close second).

As far as courses go, it all demends on where you take it and what teachers you get. You can get great teachers or really bad ones... this is true of every review course.

Only take Kaplan or PR if you know you're going to use the materials. If you don't use the materials than it's useless and a waste of money.

I took Kaplan and took all of their practice tests and did many of their subject tests and other practice materials... I was very satisfied with the materials, the courses were only ok.

 

[dtreese]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by wgu:
<strong>Out of curiousity, how much work did Kaplan make people do? # of practice tests and how many workbook stuff? I've decided to do independent study instead of classes since my experience for the SAT at PR was horrible.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I should start with the disclaimer that I recently taught for Kaplan, so take my statements as you will (if I use the company name a lot, it's just habit -- they tell the instructors to try to do that). Kaplan doesn't MAKE you do anything. Kaplan provides vast resources for YOU to do whatever you want. Independent study is really the only way to succeed on the MCAT, but Kaplan has the tools to make this more effective. Think of the classes as one of many resources available to you. No one holds you accountable for your performance in Kaplan's classes -- it doesn't go on a transcript or get sent to medical schools.

I found Kaplan extremely helpful. After taking their courses, I boosted my composite by seven. The classes are mostly review, but the review is geared toward what you need and how you need to think about it for the MCAT. There are some classes that are just on strategies, methods and question types for the MCAT.

Along with LOTS of class time, you get review books; flash cards; access to videos; topical tests; subject tests; section tests; full-length tests; and all the materials that AAMC puts out, as well. Rest assured, few people run out of practice tests, and even fewer complain that there just weren't enough materials in the course. So while Kaplan is not cheap, you get a whole lot of QUALITY study materials for your money. I emphasize quality because I've seen and (unfortunately) purchased some really crappy review materials at the bookstores.

 

[lady bug]

One thing I really like about Kaplan is that they have a variety of study options to choose from- videos, books, flashcards, online resources, etc....so it caters to everyones needs...and if you get bored studying one style, you can go to another. The versatility relieves some of the tediousness of studying for this evil test.

 

[dtreese]

forgot to mention all of their computer materials -- I never was too familiar with what they've got online

 

[wgu]

Thanks for the replies. I wish there was a way to access all the resources w/o taking the class. Good quality and quantity... yet high price. Hmmm.... there is always Ebay

 

[lady bug]

Anyone else feel like the "Kaplan physics review notes" doesn't explain some concepts that well? I just don't like really like it that much....and it doesn't teach you how to think critically...just keeps giving formulas & examples...and I can't even follow some of the examples. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />