Princeton Review Claim

[FloridaSun]

OK, I'd just like an opinion on this.

The Princeton Review claims that ON AVERAGE, it boosts MCAT scores by 10 points.

Can this POSSIBLY be realistic? On average????

I'm wondering if Princeton Review depresses their initial diagnostic test scores.

Any opinions?

-V

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[koopa_troopa]

Its not too farfetched of a claim if they make their "diagnostic" really really difficult. I took Kaplan, so I don't really know what TPRs diagnostic is like. But the way this test prep business is, I wouldn't be surprised if they did depress the diagnostic test, as you have said. I ended up improving 9 points.

 

[halekulani]

on average, the first diagnostic is probably sub 20.

for someone taking it a second time (used kaplan before, took TPR one year later), my first diag was a 24..got a 32 on the real thing..so it's not too far off.

 

[eellen3]

I'm not sure if the first test is too much harder than others. I got a 18 on my first diag, with a 28 as the highest diag, and 30 on the real one. So I def. think it helps, but it really matters who your teachers are. My TPR gchem teacher was awesome. I went from a 2 to 11 in phys science. My Bio teacher was so so. I went from a 9-11,but really just doing it on my own.

 

[FloridaSun]

Interesting thoughts from everyone. Well, I will probably never be able to evaluate TPR's claim myself because I went the Kaplan way.



But boy would I like to make a 40 on my *ACTUAL* MCAT by putting in an "average" amount of work. (Whatever "average" is.)



Let's just say that right now, going from a 30 to a 40 looks close to impossible from where I'm sitting.

 

[durrrr]

The problem with claims like this is that it isn't clear whether students improved because of the TPR course, or simply because they studied hard on their own. I would bet it's mostly because of the latter.

 

[p30doc]

I took TPR class room class, I got a 20 on their diag and 33 on the actual. BUT I took aamc cbt 3 casually 4 monthes before my diag and scored a 30 on it. So who knows, the course was a good materials review, taught me some new stuff and forced me to study. I would take it again.

 

[TheElement]

It's mostly you not them and plus their initial diag is harder than the rest.

 

[halekulani]

It's mostly you not them and plus their initial diag is harder than the rest.

definitely.

people who pay for tpr aren't there to throw away their money. they've commited themselves to getting top scores.

 

[osli]

If they guaranteed that kind of improvement from one actual MCAT to later retake, that would be one thing. Anyone can make a diagnostic hard enough to create whatever spread they want.

I have a new business idea though... for $100 I'll send you a packet of information through the mail. I guarantee that if you have previously taken the MCAT, just having this information will raise your score by 2 points. You only need to glance at it, no long studying required. If not, I'll give you your money back.

I'd make a profit if I sent nothing more than a postcard saying "good luck."

 

[durrrr]

Just to be clear, I think the TPR resources (online tests, books, etc.) are decent...... but for the price you pay, including the classes, it's a complete ripoff in my opinion....

Just ask your TPR teachers how much they get paid. It's ridiculous how much they get paid alone for the work they do... then think about how much TPR keeps for themselves.

 

[FloridaSun]

Thank you, Redrumi. That was the kind of controlled experiment I was looking for 🙂


Now I'm not going to feel as bad when I haven't lived up to my "average" 10-point increase. 😛

 

[RPedigo]

I took the Princeton Review course.

1st Princeton Review diagnostic: 27
May 25th MCAT administration: 39T

Point improvement: 12 (13 if you want to go from 1st diagnostic to my AAMC 10 CBT performance)

So large improvements are possible; how much was attributed to the class, I'm not sure.

 

[FloridaSun]

I think understanding how the TPR diagnostic test matches up to the AAMC tests is the real key to evaluating the TPR claim.

 

[Carlin]

Before I started my TPR class, I took the AAMC CBT 9, and got a 30 (9/12/9), but then on my first TPR diagnostic I scored a 23 (5/10/8). My actual score on the test was 36 (13/12/11). So, yes I did improve after taking the class, but it wasn't as marked of an improvement as they like to make it out to be. I do think that the classes are helpful, but more because they force you to focus, not because the teaching strategies are that revolutionary.

 

[FloridaSun]

Before I started my TPR class, I took the AAMC CBT 9, and got a 30 (9/12/9), but then on my first TPR diagnostic I scored a 23 (5/10/8). My actual score on the test was 36 (13/12/11). So, yes I did improve after taking the class, but it wasn't as marked of an improvement as they like to make it out to be. I do think that the classes are helpful, but more because they force you to focus, not because the teaching strategies are that revolutionary.

Wow...super-congratulations to you 🙂