Kaplan Vs Exam krackers

[OrGoMan]

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Ok guys, I'm sure this threat is really played out, but here it goes.. Do you all think the the review course makes that much of a difference? what do u think the differences are? I figure I will take the EK course, and also have all the Kaplan books which i got from friend for free.. This way I get the pure "Mcat" driven review, and all the details that some ppl say Kaplan overdoes in there course? Does any1 have any opinions or ideas about these 2 ?

 

[willthatsall]

I don't think review course matters. I like the Kaplan materials, but the teaching isn't that great. The class is really a waste of time. I thought Kaplan review notes were a little on the light side, if anything. TPR has more detail I have heard. I've never heard anyone say Kaplan overdoes the details.

 

[thegenius]

I respectfully disagree - I find review courses to be of immense help. I have been out of school for 6 years so the review course is more beneficial to me than, say, current students.

What you learn in college and how you are tested on your learned knowledge does differ in the way the MCAT tests your knowledge. You can pick up good test-taking techniques from the review courses. You'll cover material that is ONLY on the MCAT.

If you can afford a course I recommend it. I'm taking Kaplan now and they have 10-15 full length practice tests as well has 100's of problems on each subject. It's hard to find books at bookstores or other material that provides you specific practice for the MCAT.

The teaching is pretty good too. About as good as I think it could be (which on an absolute scale I would give a B+/A-).

 

[willthatsall]

I respectfully disagree - I find review courses to be of immense help. I have been out of school for 6 years so the review course is more beneficial to me than, say, current students.

You're right. When I said I don't think review course matters, what I meant was I don't think which review course you take matters because I thought he was asking for advice on which specific one to take and not whether or not it is worth it to take one. I agree, it's a nice thing to have.

 

[jpro]

EK all the way

 

[saildawg]

I took Kaplan for April 04 MCAT and hated it. The review books were ok, but the teaching was awfull, one time the procter didn't show up for the practice test. They were 2+ hours late. I also took all the AAMC practice tests, now I am using the EK books with Audio Osmosis. I feel the books are easier to read and they have awesome diagrams, and if anything give you more background detail to reinforce ideas. This is the thing Kaplan overlooks, the importance of diagrams. I feel the MCAT has alot of diagrams not only in the passage but on the questions.
Now that I am reviewing the EK books I read info that was not present in Kaplan. For instance, the half equivalence point is thouroghly introduced in EK, and I do not remember Kaplan even talking about it. On one of the AAMC practice tests, there is a whole section devoted to half equivalence point. Also the EK book has a Capacitor velocity vs time graph in the physics section. This was an actual question on one of the practice MCATS. These are just a few examples. Hope this helps

 

[lotanna]

is that even a question?

Kaplan and TPR is played out, EK runs thangs!

 

[OrGoMan]

Thanks for all the replys.. I figure I'm just gonna get all the free kaplan books to have on the side, and take the EK course which will give me there own books, that way i will have both sets of books, but the EK "Mcat specific" review course.

 

[thegenius]

Oh, right on.

My overall thought on these courses is they are a great benefit if you are not just a flat out genius. I have known a few people in my lifetime who get all A's without breaking the cellophane off their chemistry books.

What the courses teach you is a style and strategy for taking these hard exams. They all work. They may not all work for all people but they all have their merits. I haven't not heard of EK. I guess that is ExamKrackers. What does ExamKrackers do that Kaplan and Princeton does not? What is their value proposition?

 

[Clemson Doc]

I have personal experience with both Examkrackers and Kaplan (as in busting my butt with both companies' materials in preparation for the MCAT).

Examkrackers has some really good materials. Their regular subject books, their 1,001 series for the sciences, the Verbal 101 book, and Audio Osmosis are all useful. I have used all of those materials religiously in the past, and I liked them. I do think that it's difficult to study on your own though, no matter how motivated you are. That is why I decided to enroll in a Kaplan course in preparation for this August's exam.

I am extremely pleased with my Kaplan course. As good as EK's publications are, I think Kaplan's are equally as good. It's true that the time you spend in class doesn't always seem optimal, but the materials you have access to are worth it. Passage-based questions, discrete questions, resource materials - you name it.

I am using Kaplan's materials first, but when I have extra time or need even more emphasis in a certain area, I will not hesitate to use EK. I think you should use both as well if you have access to them.

 

[milliardo_L]

I am using EK too and so far like them. I don't know how necessary the classes are, but if you have the money and the time... One thing about EK is that I believe that they based their books pretty much on the available AAMC tests... We will have to wait until the real thing to see if they actually cover everything that will be on the MCAT, as they proudly proclaim...