Retaking Prep course: (Kaplan/Princeton)

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I'd like to hear from those of you who have retaken either one of these courses and if you think you benefited the second time around. I took the course and my score did not improve, (my diagnostic score= MCAT score).
I certainly was overstreched while taking the course and didn't not put in everything I could.
I am not very motivated to study on my own and maybe need some structure. On the other hand, I don't want to spend another $$$$ this early in the application process.
I've taken a couple of practice tests since and don't feel ready for April. That's why I am contemplating taking the course and be ready for August? 🙁
HELP! 🙁

 

[medicomel]

kaplan has their higher score guarantee, but you have to do a bunch of stuff to be able to get your money back. but, if you did everything they wanted you to do, there's no doubt your score would rise.

you have books full of science notes
a lesson book with strategy
a high-yield guide which zones in on typical problem types
a bunch of flashcards (which are great because i'm too lazy to run through the review notes again)
Saturday full-length exams to get you into the mode of test taking
online workshops that hit topics like spectroscopy, microbiology, etc.
a WEALTH of subject tests, topical tests (passage-types), full-lengths, and

when you're sick of all their stuff, you can do some AAMC-released passages that they have in their library

honestly, if you do most of that (who could do ALL of it???) you will be in good shape. if you didn't put into the course what you should have, then i think you should give it another go.

also, take an earlier class, say the earliest available date, so you don't have to do crazy amts of reading with 3 classes a week. that's insane in terms of learning the material, doing all of the assignments, and practicing.

i think the earliest date is a week after the April administration.

anyway, i'm taking Kaplan right now, and i know for sure my score will go up. how much is anybody's guess. good luck to you in whatever kind of preparation you undertake.

 

[KiwiFruit]

kaplan has their higher score guarantee, but you have to do a bunch of stuff to be able to get your money back. but, if you did everything they wanted you to do, there's no doubt your score would rise.

you have books full of science notes
a lesson book with strategy
a high-yield guide which zones in on typical problem types
a bunch of flashcards (which are great because i'm too lazy to run through the review notes again)
Saturday full-length exams to get you into the mode of test taking
online workshops that hit topics like spectroscopy, microbiology, etc.
a WEALTH of subject tests, topical tests (passage-types), full-lengths, and

when you're sick of all their stuff, you can do some AAMC-released passages that they have in their library

honestly, if you do most of that (who could do ALL of it???) you will be in good shape. if you didn't put into the course what you should have, then i think you should give it another go.

also, take an earlier class, say the earliest available date, so you don't have to do crazy amts of reading with 3 classes a week. that's insane in terms of learning the material, doing all of the assignments, and practicing.

i think the earliest date is a week after the April administration.

anyway, i'm taking Kaplan right now, and i know for sure my score will go up. how much is anybody's guess. good luck to you in whatever kind of preparation you undertake.

I totally agree. Kaplan helped me a lot. I studied for 2 months with no outside commitments the second time and my score went up 13 points (total) from my diagnostic the first time I took the prep course. The longer you have to prepare, the better...just keep a steady pace and DO NOT cram towards the end...cramming/stressing actually made my practice test scores go down. The entire week before the test, I did no studying except for the flashcards Kaplan gave and relaxed with friends...it is possible to get burnt out. I loved the topic tests and full-length tests under 'real' testing conditions and the office hours of the instructors (I think only Kaplan trains their instructors?). If you do everything they require of you for the higher score guarantee, you have to go up or else they give you a full-refund or a chance to retake the prep course for free. You've got nothing to lose! BUT, you only qualify for the higher score guarantee if it's your FIRST time taking the prep course...sucked for me...I had to pay $399 the second time, but I still recommend it! I lived at Kaplan and it was worth it at the end.

 

[Canuck75]

Just a note, my MCAT score went from a 20Q to a 27O with Kaplan, damn writing sample!!!

 

[najeno]

just fyi: princeton review does NOT charge you again as long as you went to the classes...but i doubt your instructors would have marked you "absent" even if you did miss a class.
if you're not looking forward to sitting through every single class the second time around, i would recommend contacting your region rep and asking for new copies of the practice exams. take them with the other students, and i'm sure that will get you back in test mode.

i repeated just the exams with princeton and my score went up a little. best of luck!

 

[katiedid919]

I'd like to hear from those of you who have retaken either one of these courses and if you think you benefited the second time around. I took the course and my score did not improve, (my diagnostic score= MCAT score).
I certainly was overstreched while taking the course and didn't not put in everything I could.
I am not very motivated to study on my own and maybe need some structure. On the other hand, I don't want to spend another $$$$ this early in the application process.
I've taken a couple of practice tests since and don't feel ready for April. That's why I am contemplating taking the course and be ready for August? 🙁
HELP! 🙁

I took the Kaplan class over again for free because even though I improved I was not happy with my scores and decided not to take the April MCAT (which was a mistake not only because it meant my application got to schools late, but I also ended up with the first part of mono(horrible sore throat and fatigue) during the August MCAT and I couldn't make up for it by taking the test again. Even though I wish i would have taken the April MCAT, I'm glad I took the class again in the summer. I was able to spend more time studying and my scores did increase from the last practice test during the first time I took the class to end of the second time I took the class and the actual MCAT, despite my being really ill during the exam. So i figure, since you're score didn't improve and now you think you'll have more time to study-and it won't cost you anything more (higher score guarentee) it might be good to do it. I think you get out of Kaplan what you can put into it, and I know I had a hard time keeping up with the work while taking 19 credit hours during spring semester, so it was nice to have more time in the summer to study. hope this helps! good luck!
~Katiedid919

 

[jrae]

I would like to point out that Prinction also offers a higher score guarantee....at least if you have previous MCAT scores. Hopefully it will work for me!

This past year, it seems like everyone I know who took Kaplan either retook the MCAT or felt ill prepared this past week.

 

[kaikai128]

I would like to point out that Prinction also offers a higher score guarantee....at least if you have previous MCAT scores. Hopefully it will work for me!

This past year, it seems like everyone I know who took Kaplan either retook the MCAT or felt ill prepared this past week.

Kaplan also has the same guarentee in an increase in score.

One thing with the prep courses--make sure you have the time to dedicate to it outside of the classroom. The majority of the prep work is still on your own. Most of the people I know who did little work outside of class didnt get the scores they wanted--but those who fully used the resources available were happier with their scores on a whole.