Kaplan MCAT teachers - how much do you get paid?

[Alexander99]

So I finally finished training to be a Kaplan teacher and I thought the whole time I'd be making ~$17/hr (in class time) to teach as a first time teacher and move up to $20/hr once I've taught my first class. Then I hear at the end of our last training session that the least we can make is $12/hr. WTF? I wouldn't have gone through all this trouble for that kind of money.

So for the people on here that teach MCAT for Kaplan, how much are you getting paid and how much was your pay for your first class? Since we're all anonymous on here, it's not like we can get in trouble for "spilling the beans" (since they seem secretive about pay rates until you're basically teaching your first class.)

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[Alexander99]

Oh yeah. Kaplan now charges ~$1500 per student to take their MCAT prep course. I KNOW they can afford to pay their teachers more than $12-13/hr if they make that kind of money.

 

[TheFlash]

I'm teaching my first class in about two weeks, and I'll be starting at $15 an hour. They bump your salary up after you finish your first cycle of the course you're teaching. So my salary will go up in August after I teach my last class for the MCAT. I'd assume that it's variable upon each Kaplan center, though.

 

[TheFlash]

An addendum: the majority of your pay is going to come for the prep time for each lesson anyway. A three hour lesson requires many more hours of prep before you're able to teach it. I forget how many prep hours they allot for each lesson (there's a table in your manual somewhere), but I remember it being pretty generous. We're getting the better end of that stick.

 

[TTURedRaider]

I started at $15/hour for each hour of class time, and $7/hour for each hour of prep time. You're allowed 3 hours of paid prep time per class if it is your first time teaching the course.

 

[Fumoffu]

Just out of curiousity what minimum MCAT score do you need to qualify to teach?

Is it like 35?

 

[Ozymandsss]

What the hell? I don't know why you guys are getting screwed but I just finished my first cycle and was paid $20 an hour. I get $25 for private tutoring! I dont know what your kaplan center is trying to pull, but you should speak up for yourself. Incidentally, to the person who asked, you need to get 95 percentile or above to teach. According to the standard curve that came with my MCAT score report, thats a 35 or higher.

 

[pyroporphrin]

I also started at $15/hour. The prep course hours are generous at first but after the first course you teach you are only allowed 8 or 7 hours for the whole course.

 

[Alexander99]

So the range I'm getting is from $15-$20/hr to start (although $20 to start seems a bit high.) Anyone else? How much was starting pay for teaching MCAT for Kaplan (before the $3/hr raise you get after teaching your first class.)

 

[hamhamfan]

Just out of curiousity what minimum MCAT score do you need to qualify to teach?

Is it like 35?

I believe that you can teach certain sections if you do well on just those.

 

[kristabel]

I teach the SAT class for Kaplan and I get paid $18/hour plus $7/hour for prep. I'm pretty sure the MCAT teachers in my center make at least that.

 

[TheFlash]

I started at $15/hour for each hour of class time, and $7/hour for each hour of prep time. You're allowed 3 hours of paid prep time per class if it is your first time teaching the course.

Interesting, I'm getting in the neighborhood of 9 hours/class in prep time. However, that does change after teaching your first cycle.

 

[Gbemi24]

So the range I'm getting is from $15-$20/hr to start (although $20 to start seems a bit high.) Anyone else? How much was starting pay for teaching MCAT for Kaplan (before the $3/hr raise you get after teaching your first class.)

I also started at 20/hr. I guess it all depends on the center, but 15/hr to teach MCAT is very low. I get paid more than that to teach SAT.

 

[KarateGirl]

I started at $17/hr, and now I make $20. From what I understood this was the standard graduate test prep rate, at least at my center. Personally, I think MCAT teachers should make more than the other grad teachers because it really is on a totally different level from the other graduate tests. I remember the first day of training, each person was called up to get their TEL, and there was one for SAT, one for LSAT, one for GMAT, etc. But when I went up to get mine, the instructor said, "Oh, yours are coming." When the person came in with my 5 binders I thought it was a joke. At my center they're even talking about having a separate training for MCAT teachers because it is so much more involved.

I also have to disagree with those who said we're allotted ample prep time. Supposedly the general rule is 1 hour of prep per 1 hour of teaching. That is not nearly enough time, IMO. We work with a very intelligent group of people, and so I always feel like I have to anticipate and research any questions about the material that may come up, and it takes a really long time for me to be satisfied that I am fully prepared.

The one good thing is that since there is a lot of turnover when it comes to MCAT teachers, we are very valuable. I've been able to get some pretty good deals from my center and from neighboring centers because there is such a teacher shortage in my area. So especially if you're good, you have some leverage to get more $$.

 

[Benjo]

I started teaching this winter and got paid $20/hr from the outset. I also get $20/hr for private Kaplan tutoring. So, your centers are very parsimonious. Just ask--it cannot hurt.

 

[perambulate]

I teach at the Washington, DC center and the pay is $20/hour after you have taught your first class. To qualify for an audition, I think your total score has to be at or above the 90th percentile, but that may vary with teacher supply/demand. Also, people do specialize and teach only certain subjects, i.e. if you only score above the 90th percentile on two sections, you can be a specialist and teach those two sections.

 

[docmemi]

i feel like such a *******...i taught sat and mcat classes for free=volunteer.

 

[tonyjerry]

im applying right now to teach and have been offered auditions and was wondering if ill be able to get trained in time to teach the august mcat class which start early june. ive emailed kaplan and princeton but theyve been really bad with getting back to me. thanks for the help

 

[wilco57]

I just finished my first cycle of teaching MCAT and I've gotten $18/hr for class and $7/hr for prep. Also, I used to teach once a week for a class 30 miles away and would get $.35/mile which would end up being another $15 or so per class. Not too bad. As for prep time. You get used to doing it after awhile. I typically spend 1 hour of prep per 1 hour of class if its my first time teaching that class and then that number drops drastically as I teach the class more and more. It's a fairly easy and fun job after you get going so I'd suggest it to anybody. Also, at my center they just want 11 or 12+ per section that you teach. I didn't get that on my verbal so I just teach the sciences and nothing else. FYI, if you teach for a year, you get a free class which for all of us med students is nice because they're the big boys when it comes to USMLE prep and that makes the cost of the MCAT class look cheap.

 

[perambulate]

Generally speaking, training is scheduled to finish in time for MCAT teachers to sign up for classes. Training consists of about 5 sessions, 3-4 hours apiece. The Kaplan office you are referring to may be waiting until they have a sizeable (4+) training class to set a schedule. A word of warning - it is sometimes a scramble to get the classes you want because Biology (lots of Bio majors) and Verbal classes (not as tough to prepare) tend to get taken first. You will have a much easier time signing up to teach Physics and Organic Chemistry classes.

 

[....]

dont think for a second Kaplan wont put a teacher with 8's on all sections up there to teach. If you are the best they can find, they will take you, no make what your scores are. They will not throw away that kind of money if they have students wanting the class.

I personaly know people with utter crap scores who taught.

 

[does that hurt?]

Kaplan teachers don't start off very well financially. Starting last year, you had the option of private tutoring (which pays high, but fewer hours), OR becoming a slotted teacher (which pays not so high, but few MORE hours). Kaplan also was sued for not paying their teachers last year and settled out of court.

If you're expecting to get paid big bucks, you'd better look elsewhere. IF you teach for Kaplan, you're doing it because you enjoy teaching the stuff. The pay scale may have changed since I last taught for Kaplan, but I think when you do your one week "I shall demonstrate that I'm Kaplan material" to them, you're paid like $7/hour. Once you've finished, you fight over for open slots to teach and your pay goes up to like $15-17/hour. But since they have plenty of teachers to teach the courses (some haven't even taken the MCAT but teach in other courses and have theoretical knowledge of standardized testing), good luck getting more than two teaching slots.

But why on earth would you want to teach so much anyway? Use your time to study for the boards. Good luck.

 

[spaz]

So I finally finished training to be a Kaplan teacher and I thought the whole time I'd be making ~$17/hr (in class time) to teach as a first time teacher and move up to $20/hr once I've taught my first class. Then I hear at the end of our last training session that the least we can make is $12/hr. WTF? I wouldn't have gone through all this trouble for that kind of money.

So for the people on here that teach MCAT for Kaplan, how much are you getting paid and how much was your pay for your first class? Since we're all anonymous on here, it's not like we can get in trouble for "spilling the beans" (since they seem secretive about pay rates until you're basically teaching your first class.)

hey alexander,
i started at $17/hr and am now at $20/hr. maybe $12/hr is starting pay rate for SAT instructors?

 

[Alexander99]

hey alexander,
i started at $17/hr and am now at $20/hr. maybe $12/hr is starting pay rate for SAT instructors?

So I negotiated my way to getting paid $18 an hour but now I have to teach 2 classes at the same time starting immediately. I need the money though so it'll be worth it. I've TAed for a while now and I figure teaching a Kaplan course should be much easier considering everything's laid out for you. It almost requires very little of your own thinking--just following the material.

 

[Xandie]

My center starts teachers at $12/hr, then with each round you go up $3/hr. We also get $7/hr of prep time, and 3 hr prep/session for the first cycle and 1 hr prep/session thereafter. I'm moving this summer for school though, so I'm hoping I'm moving to a higher pay bracket!

 

[Alexander99]

My center starts teachers at $12/hr, then with each round you go up $3/hr. We also get $7/hr of prep time, and 3 hr prep/session for the first cycle and 1 hr prep/session thereafter. I'm moving this summer for school though, so I'm hoping I'm moving to a higher pay bracket!

Is your $12/hr for the MCAT? In which case, damn, I got a pretty good deal!

 

[Xandie]

It just occurred to me that it depends on where you are. I just finished teaching two sets of full classes (meeting three nights a week, yikes!) and that was worth the money for me, given that I couldn't find another job that payed this much and only need me for 9 hours a week.
We need teachers really badly, since I'm leaving in July, so if anyone has good scores (90th %ile) feel free to apply to the Kalamazoo Center.

 

[LA:)]

i believe base pay is related to your degree. people who are still undergrads start ~$15, post-grads are like ~$17, etc...

as for prep hours, we were given one hour of prep for one hour of class time for the first round. after that it gets trimmed quite a bit.

is it just me, or did you spend waaaaay more time prepping than you were allotted? honestly, it ended up not being worth it to me after all the time prepping and travelling to class. boo. i never want to teach a complete class again.

 

[Xandie]

Yeah, it was $12/hr for the first part. I think it depends on where you are (cost of living, yada yada). Southwestern Michigan is not an expensive market.

 

[Alexander99]

Yeah, it was $12/hr for the first part. I think it depends on where you are (cost of living, yada yada). Southwestern Michigan is not an expensive market.

Let me ask you this then. Are the classes cheaper to take for the students as well then? If not, you're still getting ripped off cause that means they're making more money off you guys by charging the students the same while paying you less. I think they should just pay you per student. That'd be fair.

 

[Xandie]

Nope, the class is still $1449 per student! I wish I got paid more, obviously, but I'm not complaining at this point!

 

[Alexander99]

Nope, the class is still $1449 per student! I wish I got paid more, obviously, but I'm not complaining at this point!

I'd actually look for another job. You can get paid way more than that and the job would probably be less demanding (mentally) as well.

 

[Xandie]

Have any suggestions? Especially ones that allow me to work nine hours a week and can deal with me leaving in six weeks? I've thought about it, this is it for me!
Besides, I like teaching.

 

[nikoo]

Besides Kaplan and Princeton Review, are there other major test prep centers? I'm interested in teaching - anyone willing to give an overview of how they started teaching MCAT?

 

[Alexander99]

Have any suggestions? Especially ones that allow me to work nine hours a week and can deal with me leaving in six weeks? I've thought about it, this is it for me!
Besides, I like teaching.

Well, any job can deal with you leaving in six weeks. Just don't tell them you're leaving in six weeks. (That's what I plan to do for my summer job anyway--it's a matter of survival so I don't feel so bad if I have to bend the truth.)

Are you teaching 2 courses or just 1?

 

[Dr. Chiquita]

Sorry if this has been posted on this thread before, but do you guys know how long the training session is for Kaplan teachers? Thanks!

-J

 

[hamhamfan]

Mr. Chiquita, I like your avatar.

 

[HipToBeSquare]

SAT starting pay rate: 17/hr (i don't know whether this is based on your degree of education)...

training rate: 10/hr

prep rate: 7/hr.

1:1 ratio of prep time: class time (so, 3 hours of prepping for a 3 hour class, the first time you teach the class. afterwards, it's more like, 1.5 hrs prepping - at the most - for 3 hours)

I will go up to 20/hr after teaching a full SAT course.

you're getting jipped (sp?) if as an MCAT teacher they're giving you anything less than 20/hr...

for example, princeton teachers i know in seattle make 25/hr for their first class...kaplan's at the very least, competitive, if not exactly the same as princeton.

i agree with what people have said about there being a greater supply of teachers at kaplan...which may or may not affect pay rate.

 

[Xandie]

Here, the rate is flat regardless of your education.

Right now I'm teaching two classes.

Xandie

 

[Xandie]

Sorry if this has been posted on this thread before, but do you guys know how long the training session is for Kaplan teachers? Thanks!

-J

It's five sessions, three (avg.) hours each. Depending on where you are, they may jam the sessions into two or three days, or spread them over a couple of weeks.

Xandie

 

[emily69]

Have you guys considered teaching for the Princetown Review? They paid me 25 bucks and hour right off the bat. They paid for my training, too. I ended up working for about 15-20 hours per week with them. Plus they paid me extra for office hours.

 

[rgporter]

For those who are currently teaching do you plan on teaching while in med school? There is a first year working full time at my lab, which seems insane to me, but he seems to be handling it just fine.

 

[Pedonc]

Kaplan pays me $20 per hour

I think all this talk of competing for class slots is funny. At my center, you can have all the slots of whatever subject you want. They are always wanting me to teach or tutor more than I have time to do.

 

[Bad Mojo]

I've taught for Kaplan for awhile. Overall, its been pretty good. I got $15/hour, which is good for my city. I've had 4 or 5 center managers, so that's kind of messed up. I'm kind of mad right now though because I've gotten the shaft for summer classes. Pretty much, I was offered only a few classes that noone else wanted/was qualified for, so I passed. Instead, I'll just keep working at the gas station...

 

[Alexander99]

Have you guys considered teaching for the Princetown Review? They paid me 25 bucks and hour right off the bat. They paid for my training, too. I ended up working for about 15-20 hours per week with them. Plus they paid me extra for office hours.

$25/hr to start? F***! Why didn't anyone tell me this before I started working for Kaplan. Oh well. I'm stuck at $18 now. Kaplan should hopefully be easier than TPR to teach though--you're basically just reading the lessons using your own words.

 

[MedJoe]

There's this amazing little technique that will work wonders. Ready for this.....it's called......NEGOTIATION. Perhaps some of you have never applied or interviewed for a job before. Never take their first offer. Tell them the wage that you need, not want. Kaplan offered me $16/hr when I first applied. I told them I couldn't leave my current part-time job for less than $25. Although I didn't take the job, their final offer was $21. So there's always room to negotiate.

 

[TripleDegree]

So I finally finished training to be a Kaplan teacher and I thought the whole time I'd be making ~$17/hr (in class time) to teach as a first time teacher and move up to $20/hr once I've taught my first class. Then I hear at the end of our last training session that the least we can make is $12/hr. WTF? I wouldn't have gone through all this trouble for that kind of money.

So for the people on here that teach MCAT for Kaplan, how much are you getting paid and how much was your pay for your first class? Since we're all anonymous on here, it's not like we can get in trouble for "spilling the beans" (since they seem secretive about pay rates until you're basically teaching your first class.)

17 bucks per hour is the standard rate for Kaplan teachers. Unless the instructor happens to be a ***** like you, in which case they downgrade the salary.

Perhaps you should flip burgers until you join UCSD???

 

[Brickhouse]

17 bucks per hour is the standard rate for Kaplan teachers. Unless the instructor happens to be a ***** like you, in which case they downgrade the salary.

Perhaps you should flip burgers until you join UCSD???

OUch! They give me 21$. I've been there a year and if I continue teaching in med school, I'm gonna ask for more!

 

[physics junkie]

Bumping this thread from the grave. I'm teaching for Kaplan now and they won't discuss compensation or hours with me. The email I received in response painted a nice picture of the training process as being an extension of the hiring process. Uh, no.
Why would I possibly commit to 40 hours of training at $10/hr if I don't know what I'm going to be paid or what kind of hours I will be able to work? I'm young, not stupid. To quote them, "Also, the starting compensation varies from person to person based on objective factors including degrees, score, KTDP performance."


So how much did you guys start at in 2007/8?

 

[Nevadanteater]

I'm at $22/hr.

But I have teaching experience and I live in a notoriously expensive city, so it might be higher than what you're getting paid..

If you get good evals they bump you $5/hr after each class