I just got back from doing a practice MCAT session thru Kaplan and all I can say is - ACK! ACK! ACK! I've been so focused on worrying about my grades since I started classes this fall, but I think I can safely shift some of that concern over to the test. I'm thinking of taking the Kpalan course, but $1700 is a ton of money to shell out. I've seen a couple of threads on this, just wondering if any of you have taken it and what you thought.
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MCAT Worries
- Thread starter lainey234
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Dont worry about your diagnostic. it's all about how you do on the real thing. I know ppl who got 20 and ended up wth 35+.
Kaplan was great, lots of resources (more than PR). I took both, so I know.
I am curious how the course has been "re-designed" to teach the CBT.
QofQuimica
Seriously, dude, I think you're overreacting....
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I am teaching for Kaplan, so I can answer that question. 🙂 There are several changes in the new course:
1) Except for the diagnostic, all of the full length practice tests are now done by the students on computer, which means that I won't be proctoring them like I used to have to do. They are shorter and reorganized to reflect the new format of the test. The interface and feedback have also been changed to reflect the new test. We got a demo of the new interface, and it is way cool.
2) The strategies have been revamped somewhat because of the format, so the three strategy lessons are the ones with the biggest changes. There are now separate strategies for science versus VR, for example. The science content of both the test and the lessons is more or less the same, so those classes haven't changed much, at least not so far.
3) The students are being encouraged to take their practice tests on the computer. I believe that paper copies are still available at the center, but of course that is not the ideal way to do them now that the test isn't in that format any more.
4) The students have access to Qbank. This is one of the biggest boons, IMO. Qbank has been available for USMLE prep for quite a while, but it has only been present for MCAT prep for the past couple of years.
There are probably some others, but those are the main differences I can think of off hand.
OP, I recommend that you go to the MCAT forum and click on the Test Prep Rating sticky post at the top of the forum. You will see a link for the Kaplan course (as well as other courses) where people have posted feedback about their prep methods. One other option that you might consider is to take the online course instead of the live course. That's what I did, and it was fantastic. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Edit: Here is the link: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=280445
Hope this helps, and best of luck to you. 🙂
