I enrolled in the Kaplan course and took the MCAT last year, but I didn't do as well as I should have. Is there another prep course I should try which might help me prepare better, i.e. Berkely review or Columbia review?
Acca,
I took TPR (actually, they call it "Hyperlearning" out in LA) in preparation for the April 99 MCAT. In my opinion the instructors were for the most part first rate, although the Verbal seminars could have been better organized and the OChem reviews were weak (and awfully rushed!). Regardless, after reading their entire review book and completing countless hours of practice exams I felt well prepared for the actual test. Honestly after completing the test I felt that I understood EVERYTHING so much better (I kinda wish I had taken the class BEFORE taking my undergrad classes).
Anyways, after all was said and done, I was pleased with my score, a 33R (12, 11, 10). From what I've heard from other friends who've taken Berkeley or Kaplan, the techniques utilized in most of the programs are quite similar. For what its worth, I think the key to succeeding with an MCAT prep course is to get down and dirty with the material--spend so much time with it that it comes out your pores. Truthfully I spent on average ~40 hrs per week studying or attending classes for the freakin test. It killed my social life for awhile, but if your gonna spend upwards of $1K on a prep course, do it right.
Best of Luck. Contact me if you have any questions.
Take Care!!
Acca,
I took TPR (actually, they call it "Hyperlearning" out in LA) in preparation for the April 99 MCAT. In my opinion the instructors were for the most part first rate, although the Verbal seminars could have been better organized and the OChem reviews were weak (and awfully rushed!). Regardless, after reading their entire review book and completing countless hours of practice exams I felt well prepared for the actual test. Honestly after completing the test I felt that I understood EVERYTHING so much better (I kinda wish I had taken the class BEFORE taking my undergrad classes).
Anyways, after all was said and done, I was pleased with my score, a 33R (12, 11, 10). From what I've heard from other friends who've taken Berkeley or Kaplan, the techniques utilized in most of the programs are quite similar. For what its worth, I think the key to succeeding with an MCAT prep course is to get down and dirty with the material--spend so much time with it that it comes out your pores. Truthfully I spent on average ~40 hrs per week studying or attending classes for the freakin test. It killed my social life for awhile, but if your gonna spend upwards of $1K on a prep course, do it right.
Best of Luck. Contact me if you have any questions.
Take Care!!
has anyone taken the EK course? Thoughts on it?
I swear by TPR (The Princeton Review). If you get the book set that is given with the courses you have the materials to get a great score. I don't like EK at all. They try to cut down on information but it comes at the price of a thorough understanding. Additionally the main books are lacking in the way of practice questions and the 1001Q series they offer is a bad representation of the real MCAT questions. The 101 reading passages aren't too bad, but verbal is only a 1/3 of your score.
Score with mainly EK: 30 (P11 B10 V9)
Score with only TPR: 39 (P14 B12 V13)
I will admit that I am normally a verbal guy so I can't really say that TPR cause the big jump in verbal, more likely the lower one was a bad day for me/not enough test simulation (causes test day jitters = drop in score)
Score with mainly EK: 30 (P11 B10 V9)
Score with only TPR: 39 (P14 B12 V13)
By the way, I highly recommend EK Audio Osmosis. More helpful than the books IMO
Audio Osmosis made me want to claw my eyes out, but I guess it depends on what time of learner you are. Kaplan's materials were great when I really took advantage of all they provide. I think alot of my learning came from when I reviewed FL's. The class was so-so, I think it depends on who your instructor is. And they were def the weakest for PS, I wish I had something else I could have used for that.