So I'm using the Altius book, but not the course because I'm out of the country, atm. I'd be really interested on how the course works because I find the book to very vague at times. They say read to understand before you go to class, and not to use any other supplemental material besides wiki, but I find that to be difficult. I found the BR books and Khan Academy to help refresh my memory. The calculations are well intended, but if I don't remember the subject well, I'm not going to know how to use the formula. I'm thinking that stuff is more explained in the course when you're speaking to your actual tutor and other people in your class. I've heard great things about Altius (my friend calls it the bible), so good luck!
I'm not sure I quoted you right, but oh well!
Basically the course is structured around once weekly one on one tutoring sessions where the tutor drills us on a lesson from the book (which we have prepared the week before) to see if there are any holes in our learning. After the session we do the accompanying problem set. Twice per week we meet for 2-3 hours and just plow through MCAT passages. Verbal is ALWAYS included, but we rotate between the sciences. Altius emphasizes broad, conceptual based learning over blunt memorization which is a plus for me because I hate flashcards full of formulas (although there is some of that). It also teaches the Socratic method, a fundamental tool for figuring out what you know about a 'stumper' question. Honestly, I wish I'd learned these methods at the beginning of college because they would have been helpful in classes as well. So far I've liked the course but it's obvious who puts the recommended 20-30 hours of work in per week vs. the people who do the bare minimum to slide by. And having such a group focused mentality is positive in that we are all in this together but at the same time, I have motivation to study hard so I don't look like the idiot of the group. Anyway, I'm all for the program and my tutor and I have set my personal goal at 35. Here's hoping that happens (although I'd be happy with anything above a 32). Good luck!