Kaplan or Princeton Review MCAT Course?

[metalgearHMN]

Hey I'm thinking of taking a review course over the summer. Anyone have suggestions one which course I should choose?

What self-study materials/ bonuses are given by each company? I know Kaplan gives you all the AAMC tests as well, and a home study package. What about Princeton Review?

Thanks

PS I know there are others but only these companies are near where I live

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[G1SG2]

Hey I'm thinking of taking a review course over the summer. Anyone have suggestions one which course I should choose?

What self-study materials/ bonuses are given by each company? I know Kaplan gives you all the AAMC tests as well, and a home study package. What about Princeton Review?

It depends. Where are you located? I'm taking TPR and it really sucks. My teachers are horrible, so I stopped going to class and just study on my own but still use their syllabus and materials and online student center. However, if I'm going to do just that, then I should've taken Kaplan's Online Course-FAR more resources. But it all depends on where you are located and how the teachers are, etc. I would suggest Kaplan's Online Course because for the most part, all I've heard about Kaplan's Classroom Course is that their lectures are garbage. BUT their online resources are terrific.

 

[metalgearHMN]

It depends. Where are you located? I'm taking TPR and it really sucks. My teachers are horrible, so I stopped going to class and just study on my own but still use their syllabus and materials and online student center. However, if I'm going to do just that, then I should've taken Kaplan's Online Course-FAR more resources. But it all depends on where you are located and how the teachers are, etc. I would suggest Kaplan's Online Course because for the most part, all I've heard about Kaplan's Classroom Course is that their lectures are garbage. BUT their online resources are terrific.

I'm in Seattle. What resources did Princeton Review give you? I don't like studying on the computer. Did they give you a book or flashcards or anything?

 

[G1SG2]

I'm in Seattle. What resources did Princeton Review give you? I don't like studying on the computer. Did they give you a book or flashcards or anything?

Do you know anyone that has taken a TPR or Kaplan MCAT course in Seattle? Ask them how it was, as the courses can really vary depending upon where you are located. TPR gave me all of their hyperlearning MCAT books (1 big review book for PS, 1 big review book for BS, a VR and WS review book), a huge science workbook, a VR workbook, and an In Class Compendium (ICC), which is composed of practice passages. They also give you access to their Online Student Center, which has the 8 AAMC exams, 9 TPR exams, and lots of practice passages. No flashcards, but I did get this "Science Review-Questions and Solutions" booklet.

 

[metalgearHMN]

Do you know anyone that has taken a TPR or Kaplan MCAT course in Seattle? Ask them how it was, as the courses can really vary depending upon where you are located. TPR gave me all of their hyperlearning MCAT books (1 big review book for PS, 1 big review book for BS, a VR and WS review book), a huge science workbook, a VR workbook, and an In Class Compendium (ICC), which is composed of practice passages. They also give you access to their Online Student Center, which has the 8 AAMC exams, 9 TPR exams, and lots of practice passages. No flashcards, but I did get this "Science Review-Questions and Solutions" booklet.

Thanks for your help pookiez. Wow it feels weird calling someone that I'll ask some of my friends, although I think they all took Kaplan, and only 1 took TPR.

 

[G1SG2]

Thanks for your help pookiez. Wow it feels weird calling someone that I'll ask some of my friends, although I think they all took Kaplan, and only 1 took TPR.

LOL, haha no problem! Good luck!

 

[JJMrK]

Don't waste your money.

 

[Protactinium]

Don't waste your money.

My thoughts exactly. You can get Kaplan stuff on the market and TPR on the secondary market. TBR books will do you best though. Look up that Boondocks post on the best book. I think he nails it down pat.

 

[Protactinium]

Here you go:

Originally Posted by TheBoondocks
This question gets asked like every three days. In short, EK series are stripped down with the basics you need to know. Get EK bio, it is by far the best for bio, all the responses on SDN say this. Know this book cold. If you don't believe me, type in EK bio in the search function. Personally, you learn the best from passages, If you have time and the cash I highly suggest purchasing Berkeley Review Gen Chem and Ochem. There physics is good too, but with PR it may be redundant. You will thank me later. You'll probably want EK biology review and EK 101 biology passages and EK verbal 101. PR is good, however, if you want to kill the MCAT you have to be able to integrate material. That's what BR does better than anyone else. Like, be able to answer questions if you see the circulatory system wired in parallel series.

bio - 1. EK bio and 101 bio passages 2. Kaplan 3. PR/BR however, these don't suck, they're just detailed which turns off many people.

Physics 1. BR/Nova 2. PR 3. Kaplan I really think BR but they're are a lot of people who swear by Nova on this site

Verbal 1. Ek verbal and 101 passages 2. PR 3. BR 4. Kaplan (read stay from)

Gen Chem 1. BR by far 2. PR 3. Kaplan/EK

O Chem 1. BR by far 2. toss up between Kaplan/PR/Ek

That is a general list of what i have read on SDN for the past 4 years, i came here and lurked throughout highschool. Good luck and hopefully this will help. EK is for people who KNOW the material and want review. If you are weak in something BR is the best since it's the most detailed and PR is detailed too, Kaplan is in the Middle, and EK is the least detailed but that doesn't mean it's bad. Just depends on the person. If you can I would buy the BR Chemistry books and Physics book. If you complete the PR science workbook along with BR passages and EK bio, you will kill the sciences. Ek Verbal should help you out with verbal.

 

[metalgearHMN]

Looks like most people are leaning towards self-study. I guess it would be cheaper. Thanks for the review on self-study books Protact.

 

[Protactinium]

Yeah it's on the money, unfortunately I wasted a lot of money to discover this.