MCAT Review classes

[villiarp]

Are Kaplan or the other MCAT prep classes really worth it? I have heard that it may not be worth the money. If I don't take a prep class are there many places were I can get practice mcat's? Thanks everyone!

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[Doc AdamK in 2006]

I biggest thing I thought the review classes provided was the DISCIPLINE. If you have it, you have to make the choice between spending a lot of money ($1250-1500) or just for review books.

I thought the diags helped because it was a test day simulation.

If you want all the Princeton books I have them. plus lots of Kaplan materials, and AAMC Test 4 and 5.

Good Luck
Have a great day

AK

 

[The Fly]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by villiarp:
•Are Kaplan or the other MCAT prep classes really worth it? I have heard that it may not be worth the money. If I don't take a prep class are there many places were I can get practice mcat's? Thanks everyone!•••••Like Doc AdamK says, it comes down to discipline -- regardless, you need the books from one of the courses (which you could buy on ebay) because they're vastly superior to the pathetic one volume book they sell at Borders and the like.

If you can adhere to a syllabus you set for yourself and commit to studying the necessary hours each day (and wasting entire days taking practice tests under time constraints), then you will be okay. But no matter how compulsive you are, you'll find this harder than it sounds.

 

[Sweet Tea]

I thought it was worth it, just for the imposed discipline and for the full-length practice tests. I took Kaplan and supplemented it with examkrackers physics and gen chem books b/c it's been a loooooong time since i've had the PS classes. I also liked being able to go to the Kaplan center to study-- they had TONS of practice materials, review videos, and they didn't have many distractions.

I guess I'll find out in 2 days if it was really worth it... :wink:

 

[Hoo\/er]

You can get the AAMC practice tests and test items <a href="http://www.aamc.org" target="_blank">here</a>. Also, you might want to check the For Sale forum on this site and eBay for additional materials.

Hoovah

 

[spacecadet]

I could have written Sweet Tea's post. I'm a procrastinator by nature, and just having that weekly checklist was a huge benefit to me. I ended up doing every single item in the Kaplan library, so I got my $1200 worth. Also, the full-length proctored tests are really helpful. There's no way I would have been able to take five (probably not evey one) MCATs in test-like conditions without them forcing it on me.

In my case, I KNOW it paid off.

I do know people did well studying on their own. It takes a ton of discipline and you need good materials. Under no circumstances should you try to study from textbooks. Use review materials and all the practice tests you can find.

 

[Assassin]

the best thing kaplan offers is the sheer amount of high-quality practice stuff that you would not be able to get anywhere else.
is it worth $1500? you be the judge; but keep in mind med school may cost you well over $150,000 <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> so the prep course price tag pales in comparison.

 

[Doc AdamK in 2006]

I agree w/ The Fly and a couple of others that you need really good books. The should be the exact books that one of these courses provides.

Kap and PR have been doing this for many years and they have the best materials.

So don't buy some generic prep MCAT book. You should get a full set.

AK

 

[Doctor Octopus]

I don't know about the other prep companies, but I found Kaplan to be very helpful. The classes, in my opinion, could almost be considered optional. The materials were, on the other hand, invaluable. By the time I took the real thing I had taken 13 full length MCATs, not to mention hundreds of practice passages and practice items.
My advice is take the course, keeping up with the syllabus and online topical tests. At the same time, go to your Kaplan center 3 days a week. Take a full length exam every weekend and make sure you go over the explanations when you are done, so you know why you missed the ones you missed and got the ones you got.

Take Kaplan 1-5 when they are proctored, and save AAMC 4-6 for when the MCAT draws near.

Take it easy for a few days before the test. I went and saw the Kids in the Hall live. Talk about a stress reliever!

Hope that helps.