Princeton vs. Kaplan Review

[KS123]

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I'm trying to decide which review course to take and would really appreciate some advice on which course would better prepare me. I have already taken the MCAT once and am hoping to improve my score by taking a course. Anyone take a course after a first MCAT attempt and improve dramatically? I would like at least a 3-5 point improvement in my score.

Also I checked all available dates and realized I would have to miss 3 or 4 classes in a row due to a wedding I'm in this summer. Is it a waste of money if you know you will have to miss classes or can they give you the material to do on your on and help you catch up?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[LoneCoyote]

Try doing a search on this topic... there have been many threads on this and it will give you a broad range of opinions.

I think it comes down to the particular office in your location because if the instructors are terrible, the class will not be that great. I personally like Princeton Review because of the materials they gave you to take home and work on. Going to the Kaplan Center to study did not appeal to me. And as for missing class, it depends on the instructor.... some of mine were so bad I stopped going to the class and just did the work on my own. Princeton Review allowed you to make up 2 classes for free and then it was like $50 an hour after that. And if you wanted to be able to take the class again free if you weren't ahhoy with your score, you supposedly have to attend or make up every class.

 

[chewawa]

Originally posted by azpremed
Try doing a search on this topic... there have been many threads on this and it will give you a broad range of opinions.

I think it comes down to the particular office in your location because if the instructors are terrible, the class will not be that great. I personally like Princeton Review because of the materials they gave you to take home and work on. Going to the Kaplan Center to study did not appeal to me. And as for missing class, it depends on the instructor.... some of mine were so bad I stopped going to the class and just did the work on my own. Princeton Review allowed you to make up 2 classes for free and then it was like $50 an hour after that. And if you wanted to be able to take the class again free if you weren't ahhoy with your score, you supposedly have to attend or make up every class.

I agree, I tried both kaplan and princeton, and princeton instructors are alot better teachers. But, it still all depends on where you are taking these classes. The plus about kaplan is their videos so even if their instructors suck, the videos are great. But, beware sometimes it is so busy in the kaplan center that you can never get the video you want or video station. The books and exams that kaplan and princeton offer are equally good. So, the best thing to do is to go check out both of these places and see what each has to offer. And, as far as MCAT improvement alot had to do with me not procrastinating.

 

[KS123]

Thanks guys! I will plan on PR. I like the fact that you can make up courses and do work from home. Plus I noticed it was a lot more classes than Kaplan so missing a few shouldn't be as big a deal.

 

[ZigZag]

I took PR in Chicago. My instructors were "top dogs" really; I have a lot of respect for them.

I am not quite sure to what extend their question book correlates with the real thing though. But I studied with their books for 5-6 hours every day for 3 months or so and it worked just fine for me.