Kaplan experiences

[CremasterFlash]

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I just started the Kaplan program and I'm a little uncertain as to whether I want to stick with it or just study on my own. I took the diagnostic and got a 32. I'm taking the May 20-something exam but I still have to take the last 2/3 of organic and bio between now and then.

Do the classes get better or is the whole value of this thing just taking the practice exams/questions, etc over and over? The whole passage mapping thing seems silly to me.

I guess what I'm asking is are there any people who felt that when they started Kaplan it was not too helpful but changed their mind as the course went on?

cf

 

[halekulani]

take a full length aamc and decide if you really need it.

 

[fireflygirl]

I didn't really believe in or agree with the Kaplan method. However, I did like some of the resources that I got out of it. I really appreciated their practice tests and the AAMC practice tests that they give you access too. Take your practice exam from Kaplan with a grain of salt - a lot of the time, Kaplan is unable to accurately replicate the depth and difficulty of the actual exam. I know of no one that hasn't falled in their real scores on test day. My advice, like halekulani, is to take one of the most recent AAMC exams and see how you fare. Then you will get a real sense of how you are doing and what your strengths and weaknesses are. If money isn't an issue, I would just stick it out with Kaplan for the sake of the resources and practice material you get. Though something I did was use material from other companies as well in studying for the exam. Princeton Review has some great practice material as does ExamCrackers. While I did not do well on my MCAT, I was performing significantly higher on the practice exams, so you have to take my advice with a grain of salt. However, how I studied was on the advice of several students that had done well. Good luck!

 

[caliprincess]

I took Kaplan and I did not like them at all. The review books are way too lengthy and I did not really like my teacher either. However, I also agree that their testing materials are great and they have some good practice resources. After Kaplan, I invested in the ExamKrackers books (I did not want to sit through another MCAT prep course). I am a converter and I swear by ExamKrackers. They are soooo much better and I wish I started out with them. I attribute my subsequent MCAT performance to EK and not Kaplan.

Do a full length at Kaplan and look at their materials to see how you feel. Do this prior to the last day to get a full refund. Another option is to stick with Kaplan (for the resources), not go to class, and watch the videos online. If you buy the ExamKrackers books to go with it, you can have the best of both worlds. This is of course if you don't mind Kaplan holding on to your $1600. Good luck!

 

[lawnboy313]

I just started the Kaplan program and I'm a little uncertain as to whether I want to stick with it or just study on my own. I took the diagnostic and got a 32. I'm taking the May 20-something exam but I still have to take the last 2/3 of organic and bio between now and then.

Do the classes get better or is the whole value of this thing just taking the practice exams/questions, etc over and over? The whole passage mapping thing seems silly to me.

I guess what I'm asking is are there any people who felt that when they started Kaplan it was not too helpful but changed their mind as the course went on?

cf

IMHO, the real value of Kaplan lies in the resources. I really liked their review books, flashcards, quicksheets, and all the online tests and quizzes. It was worth it for that stuff. As for the classes themselves, I found them useless. The teachers are all fresh out of college--most are recent hires bound for medical school the next year. They (poorly) re-learn the material the night before to regurgitate it the next day at $25/hour. This is exactly what I did when I was teaching SAT prep. I stopped going to class because the review books covered the same info in a fraction of the time. And the passage mapping strategy--pointless. It's like forcing you to use a tricycle when you're used to driving a car.

My first Kaplan diagnostic in Jan 07: 25
My second Kaplan diagnostic in May after my post-bac was done: 27
My real MCAT just 3 weeks later in June: 38Q

What I did in that 3 weeks: poured through all the review books, did as many online quizzes as I could, memorized the flash cards and quicksheets, and did 7 of 10 AAMC exams. No class necessary.

So yes, if you're finding class isn't helpful, I say don't go and study on your own. It worked out for me. Good luck!