Kaplan-is it worth it?

[gatorchc27]

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Hey all,

I'm pretty new to this site and I'm sure this question has been asked time and time again. I looked at the Kaplan website and I see that there are 3 options: in person classes or online classes both with all the books, CDs, etc. Or just a CD. My question is, which option between the in-person classes or online classes is a better buy? And, I've heard a lot of the Kaplan blue book...can you get this book without purchasing their class? Thanks!!

~Linda~ 😛

 

[pbure]

Hey all,

I'm pretty new to this site and I'm sure this question has been asked time and time again. I looked at the Kaplan website and I see that there are 3 options: in person classes or online classes both with all the books, CDs, etc. Or just a CD. My question is, which option between the in-person classes or online classes is a better buy? And, I've heard a lot of the Kaplan blue book...can you get this book without purchasing their class? Thanks!!

~Linda~ 😛

online kaplan is the best. actual class isn't vital to the process. all you need is their big review book,their practise tests and topscore..combined with some discipline and half a brain and you'll do fine.

 

[superman]

Hey all,

I'm pretty new to this site and I'm sure this question has been asked time and time again. I looked at the Kaplan website and I see that there are 3 options: in person classes or online classes both with all the books, CDs, etc. Or just a CD. My question is, which option between the in-person classes or online classes is a better buy? And, I've heard a lot of the Kaplan blue book...can you get this book without purchasing their class? Thanks!!

~Linda~ 😛

kaplan offers an online class? interesting. well, i took the in-person class, and although i thought the lectures were not very helpful, i found the subject tests and practice tests that you check out at the center to be very helpful. paying $900 (i got 10% off) for the DAT class helped me stay motivated-- i'm sure i could have studied on my own at home with the kaplan book, CD, etc. but i think i had an easier time concentrating by going to the kaplan center and studying amongst other DAT takers. if i stayed at home, maybe i would've been too distracted by SDN! 😛

 

[gatorchc27]

online kaplan is the best. actual class isn't vital to the process. all you need is their big review book,their practise tests and topscore..combined with some discipline and half a brain and you'll do fine.

Can you only get the book by taking their class?

 

[Typo]

If you can afford it, you definitely want to take Kaplan. The classes can be helpful depending on your teacher, but most people (including myself) have found their practice tests to be the most helpful part. I studied almost exclusively from Kaplan's materials, and was able to do very well on the test just from their stuff.

Definitely at least get the online component. They've got way more practice questions than you'll find anywhere else, and the explanations to the answers make them even better (TopScore and Barron's have no explanations).

You can buy Kaplan's book in the bookstore for around $60, but the one with the course also comes with 5-10 practice questions at the end of every chapter, along with explanations. The more practice, the better!

 

[Typo]

i think i had an easier time concentrating by going to the kaplan center and studying amongst other DAT takers. if i stayed at home, maybe i would've been too distracted by SDN! 😛

I'm with you here! There's definitely something to be said about leaving the house and holing up someplace to study. Way easier to concentrate, especially away from the Internet. 🙂

 

[luder98]

online kaplan is the best. actual class isn't vital to the process. all you need is their big review book,their practise tests and topscore..combined with some discipline and half a brain and you'll do fine.

I agree. We all are at a level that we could study on our own. We just need the material. In my case, I picked online also because I couldn't come to class. Plus, it's cheaper. You won't be able to access to certain things, like their lib/tapes and so on. But I think their Review Notes, Subject Tests, Midterm, Final and Online exams are enough for preparation, except the Bio part. I'm glad I took it.

 

[DMD_hopeful]

I thought Kaplan was very helpful except for the the classroom lectures. It's all about their online material (full-length practice & subject tests and a host of other stuff). If I had it to do over again, I would have taken their online class and saved some money.

Just be weary of Kaplan with the bio. It doesnt cover it very well. You'll need some other sources. For all the other subjects, I thought Kaplan did a pretty good job.

Lastly, I would also invest in the TopScore cd with its full length practice exams.

 

[hockeydentist]

Again the classroom was only as good as the instructor teaching the class. I felt at times that my instructor was not up to par on some of the topics in biology and orgainc chemistry.

Again realize that the instructor has very limited time in getting through the material.

The consensus is that kaplan is worth it, for the studying materials and the study library they offer.

 

[Typo]

Just be weary of Kaplan with the bio. It doesnt cover it very well. You'll need some other sources. For all the other subjects, I thought Kaplan did a pretty good job.

I managed to score high on the bio using just Kaplan's materials, but you are right concerning animal diversity/classification - it skimps a little bit on that section. It seems like there's always at least one or two questions on the actual test that surprise people.

 

[DMD_hopeful]

I managed to score high on the bio using just Kaplan's materials, but you are right concerning animal diversity/classification - it skimps a little bit on that section. It seems like there's always at least one or two questions on the actual test that surprise people.

There was bio stuff on the exam that i didn't see in the kaplan book. Maybe like 4-5 questions, which is way too many in the world of the DAT. I guess it just depends on the version the of the DAT, some Kaplan is good for, some it isn't. I still say it's a good idea to go to other sources for bio.

 

[Typo]

There was bio stuff on the exam that i didn't see in the kaplan book. Maybe like 4-5 questions, which is way too many in the world of the DAT. I guess it just depends on the version the of the DAT, some Kaplan is good for, some it isn't. I still say it's a good idea to go to other sources for bio.

Yowsa! I'd definitely feel the same way if I'd seen that many. I only saw like 1 or 2 max, so you're probably right about it being a different version.

 

[tam0026]

Hey all,

I'm pretty new to this site and I'm sure this question has been asked time and time again. I looked at the Kaplan website and I see that there are 3 options: in person classes or online classes both with all the books, CDs, etc. Or just a CD. My question is, which option between the in-person classes or online classes is a better buy? And, I've heard a lot of the Kaplan blue book...can you get this book without purchasing their class? Thanks!!

~Linda~ 😛

Def. worth the money. I took the online class--all u really need are the study materials. My only thing was that the angle rankign was much harder on the actual test than what kaplan had given me. Other than that, the prac. tests and materials were the greatest help. Best wishes.

 

[mobius]

I did not use anything from kaplan except the blue book and organic edge, i used exam krackers for chem and ochem and i used schuams biology a little and some mcat study cards and i did well on it. i do better in a classroom setting with people explaining things to me but in this case i just sat down for 4 weeks 8+ hours of real study a day and did it... it worked for me and i did not have to spend 1k, now if your parents are giving you the money or you have a lot and cost is not a factor then go for it. cost was a factor for me as well as time, i looked into the schedule for dat but it did not fit my timeline anyways...

 

[Darksunshine]

I liked Kaplan. A good refresher, but they went into ultra detail on some areas and not enough on other. But 5 years since my last Bach. in Science, so I was happy with the money I paid. I would do it again. I got average to above average scores on the DAT.