MCAT prep course

[mud91]

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Hey all,
I'm planning on applying next year. My cGPA is 3.4 and sGPA 3.2, majorin in biochem. I took a diagnostic and made 6P, 4V, and 8B. I should be taking the MCAT in April. I'm planning on taking a prep course. My budget is $2000. Do you suggest any prep course? Any course that you think helped improve on the MCAT?

 

[Medicine4Bruhs]

At this point, yes, I would suggest any prep course.

 

[Eric01]

Since it's verbal that you're struggling with most, I don't think a course would be able to help you in that area. It is a highly personal choice though, how do you learn? If you feel like you need a tutor im sure there are tutoring alternatives that are cheaper, but if you feel that you are an auditory learner and could benefit significantly from lecture go for it.

 

[eagles22]

Since it's verbal that you're struggling with most, I don't think a course would be able to help you in that area. It is a highly personal choice though, how do you learn? If you feel like you need a tutor im sure there are tutoring alternatives that are cheaper, but if you feel that you are an auditory learner and could benefit significantly from lecture go for it.

He got an 18 overall. He's struggling on everything. Take a class. Pay attention. Study. Verbal is the hardest section to improve drastically on.

 

[IHOPness]

English, biology, chemistry, physics, and organic chemistry

 

[Myuu]

Moving to MCAT.

 

[mud91]

I know that I'm struggling! But I just wanted to know which prep course is better before I spend 2000 bucks. I'm looking at Kaplan on demand...but any other suggestion is welcome. Let me know what you guys think!

 

[zeppelinpage4]

I feel like the replies you receive will be pretty opinionated.

If you're on the west coast, I'd look at Berkeley Review, no experience with them but I've only heard great things about them, they'd probably trump the other prep companies.

I'm taking the Kaplan advantage class now and it's pretty solid. If you get a good tutor, I think it's worthwhile cause they really force you to stay on track. However I have yet to take my MCAT and my current scores are pretty lackluster so I can't comment on how successful the class will be (hoping for the best 🙂). Though a number of people at my school did well with Kaplan.

I also hear good things about Princeton Review's study materials on these forums, but I can't comment on their actual classes.

If you have the discipline, I'd look into SN2ed's schedule too.

 

[nabeel76]

Since it's verbal that you're struggling with most, I don't think a course would be able to help you in that area. It is a highly personal choice though, how do you learn? If you feel like you need a tutor im sure there are tutoring alternatives that are cheaper, but if you feel that you are an auditory learner and could benefit significantly from lecture go for it.

I believe it was a diagnostic test that the OP took, probably prior to any studying or practice what so ever. I got a 12 on my diagnostic, I believe also a 4 on VR, but was well into the 30's on subsequent practice exams after studying, with my verbal average at around 11.

I don't think diagnostic exams are in any way reflective of what you may or may not be weak on. Now on the other hand, if the OP had been studying and then received that score - now that's another story.

 

[nabeel76]

He got an 18 overall. He's struggling on everything. Take a class. Pay attention. Study. Verbal is the hardest section to improve drastically on.

I believe an 18 is pretty average for a diagnostic score. My entire Kaplan class scored around an 18 or below on their diagnostic - to then go on and get a 28+ with quite a few over 31 on their real MCAT. So I wouldn't say that the OP is struggling just yet, maybe he/she just hasn't started to study.

 

[mud91]

I took the AAMC practice #11 after studying for 2 months. I didn't go into too much details but just reviewed the main concepts using Examkrackers. I need help with verbal the most. I was a slacker....I feel like I need a course to keep me on track. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

 

[mud91]

I feel like the replies you receive will be pretty opinionated.

If you're on the west coast, I'd look at Berkeley Review, no experience with them but I've only heard great things about them, they'd probably trump the other prep companies.

I'm taking the Kaplan advantage class now and it's pretty solid. If you get a good tutor, I think it's worthwhile cause they really force you to stay on track. However I have yet to take my MCAT and my current scores are pretty lackluster so I can't comment on how successful the class will be (hoping for the best 🙂). Though a number of people at my school did well with Kaplan.

I also hear good things about Princeton Review's study materials on these forums, but I can't comment on their actual classes.

If you have the discipline, I'd look into SN2ed's schedule too.

Good luck!🙂

 

[nabeel76]

I would take Kaplan if I were you for one reason. The BEST online course material. As far as I have seen, no other company gives you access to the amount of practice quizzes, practice topical tests based on subject, practice exams by subject, full length practice exams, and ALL of the AAMC exams.

I agree that they may not be the best in terms of some things, such as their prep books (the berkeley review has the best prep books) but their wealth of online prep material FAR FAR outweighs the quality of their prep books or any prep books for that matter.

I used Kaplan, Berkeley Review, and Exam Krackers, but feel I could've dropped BR and EK and done just as well. On the other hand, if I didn't have access to Kaplan's online material however, I would of failed miserably.

Also, if your budget is 2K you should have a couple hundred left over if you do Kaplan (not as expensive as Princeton Review and they always run specials - make sure you don't pay full price). And then, if you feel you absolutely need better prep books for certain subjects you can individually buy only the ones you need. I would recommend Berkeley Review for Gen Chem, OChem, and Physics; and Exam Krackers for Verbal and Biology all of which you could probably get used for pretty decent prices. At the very least grab yourself a copy of EK 1001 Verbal Reasoning Passages to supplement Kaplan's online material - I got it new for about 30 bucks from Amazon.

 

[mud91]

I would take Kaplan if I were you for one reason. The BEST online course material. As far as I have seen, no other company gives you access to the amount of practice quizzes, practice topical tests based on subject, practice exams by subject, full length practice exams, and ALL of the AAMC exams.

I agree that they may not be the best in terms of some things, such as their prep books (the berkeley review has the best prep books) but their wealth of online prep material FAR FAR outweighs the quality of their prep books or any prep books for that matter.

I used Kaplan, Berkeley Review, and Exam Krackers, but feel I could've dropped BR and EK and done just as well. On the other hand, if I didn't have access to Kaplan's online material however, I would of failed miserably.

Also, if your budget is 2K you should have a couple hundred left over if you do Kaplan (not as expensive as Princeton Review and they always run specials - make sure you don't pay full price). And then, if you feel you absolutely need better prep books for certain subjects you can individually buy only the ones you need. I would recommend Berkeley Review for Gen Chem, OChem, and Physics; and Exam Krackers for Verbal and Biology all of which you could probably get used for pretty decent prices. At the very least grab yourself a copy of EK 1001 Verbal Reasoning Passages to supplement Kaplan's online material - I got it new for about 30 bucks from Amazon.

Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question but which Kaplan course did you use? I'm looking at MCAT on demand and that sounds nice. I was just wondering if they give you access for whole year or few months. Thanks!

 

[mud91]

Also any thoughts on the Gold Standard course? My friend gave me the books and the whole package is worth around $300...I was just wondering if I should spent my time using that because I haven't heard anything about them as much as I heard about Kaplan.