Self study with only one test prep company?

[nepatslvr]

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Hey all! So I'm getting ready to start self-studying for the early April '08 MCAT and I had a question for those of you who decided not to take a class. I've got the Kaplan '08 Premiere Edition book which has some online resources (like monthly quizzes) and practice tests along with the big review book. Is just using this book in conjunction with the aamc practice tests enough if I am not taking a class? Is the Kaplan book lacking in some areas that I could pick up with another book? I tried to search and see if this has been brought up before (as I'm sure it has) but all I really managed to find was a bunch of stuff on Kaplan classes vs. other programs. Thanks! 😍

 

[Tourterm]

I think your approach is not uncommon. I took a Kaplan course the first time I took the MCAT and didn't find it very helpful at all. I kept the books (I'm sure the content is the same as Kaplan '08 Premiere) and just used them, the AAMC practice tests, and my college texts to study for the retake. I don't think the book is missing anything, but I guess it depends what your strengths and weaknesses are. If you feel you aren't getting what you need from it, you can always look up specific topic information from other sources. Generally speaking, practice tests are more important than review anyway.

 

[nepatslvr]

Thanks tourterm! I think I'll just stick with the Kaplan book I have now and if I notice any big problems when taking the practice tests, then I'll start looking for additional resources. If I can avoid dropping unnecessary cash on a process that's only going to get more expensive, I'm all for it!

 

[doytch]

i don't think the kaplan book would leave any material out. if they did, maybe those topics don't show up on the test that often.

 

[littlealex]

I strongly believe people should not waste their money on the classes. All the classes does is to keep the students on a strict studying schedule, which most of us can do on our own.

No material is left out of the book, and in general the "teachers" of these classes are just students on their float year. They do know the material but may not be competent teachers.

I will say that most of the self-studying success stories I've heard had done so studying the Examkracker series. Personally, after failing to score as I wished after the Princeton Review classes, I studied off o the Examkracker books a friend gave me on a schedule I set for myself, and I drastically improved my score (10 points? =O ).

 

[BYUCougar2011]

I would recommend studying on your own. Using a variety of resources will be the biggest help to you! I scored a 522 and mainly used the following resources:


1) AAMC Practice Materials. $200 for their MCAT package. Practice questions produced by the same people who wrote the test!

(2) Khan Academy. Free and very useful for reviewing all the material very quickly. I watched every video at 2x the speed within a month of my exam.

(3) Kaplan 7-book series. Great for getting the overall content down.


Don't rely on just one method for your prep. It is important to use a variety of resources. If you need structure, then I would suggest hiring a private tutor rather than using a prep company. You can find freelance tutors for a quarter of what test prep companies charge for private tutoring. I am sure there are many other tutors out there as well! Best of luck!

 

[Two Sides]

It honestly depends on what type of student you are. If you have the materials and can find resources/explanations for concepts you don't understand, then self studying is the way to go. If you enjoy having a professional tutor explain difficult concepts and make a strict schedule for you to follow, then definitely consider a class. IMO there are pros and cons to both, and there's no real winner.

 

[AnotherLawyer]

I would recommend studying on your own. Using a variety of resources will be the biggest help to you! I scored a 522 and mainly used the following resources:


1) AAMC Practice Materials. $200 for their MCAT package. Practice questions produced by the same people who wrote the test!

(2) Khan Academy. Free and very useful for reviewing all the material very quickly. I watched every video at 2x the speed within a month of my exam.

(3) Kaplan 7-book series. Great for getting the overall content down.


Don't rely on just one method for your prep. It is important to use a variety of resources. If you need structure, then I would suggest hiring a private tutor rather than using a prep company. You can find freelance tutors for a quarter of what test prep companies charge for private tutoring. I am sure there are many other tutors out there as well! Best of luck!

I think this is exactly the advice the OP has been waiting for these past 9 years. Better late than never. 👍