I'm still trying to decide on my study plan this second time around. The only book I've ordered so far is NOVA Physics (heard it was great for PS review).
I'm debating purchasing the EK Complete Study Package vs. studying with my Kaplan review books again.
Also, I'd like to get EK 1001 for Biology and Chemistry, as well as EK 101 Verbal.
I don't want to have an overkill amount of materials, so it's either my Kaplan materials for content review, supplemented with the EK 1001/101 books OR EK Complete Study Package for content review supplemented with the EK 1001/101 books.
This is considering that I can commit to studying ~10 hours a week.
What do your thoughts guys?
Thoughts:
Skip the EK 1001 Physics and EK 1001 Chem. In my opinion, the questions focused on minutiae not tested on the mcat. I did about two chapters in each series before I realized completing the problems was not going to help raise my score. However, the EK 1001 Bio and EK 1001 Verbal are money; they both feel like passages/questions asked on the real deal and are worth completing.
As for what review material to use, that's your call. You said yourself you studied from Kaplan, so you know what their material is like. I studied from Kaplan and EK, and from my experience Kaplan gives a good overall in depth review whereas EK is very concise and focuses on conceptual understanding of topics. I personally felt like I needed both; EK was too light on certain topics for my taste and Kaplan was too bogged down with details to tie things together the way EK does.
In any event, if you're worried about time constraints and not being able to complete both EK and Kaplan, know that EK's books are very quick reads. Literally, I read EK's whole series three times in a little over a month. It's not that I'm a speed reader or had tons of time on my hands, just that EK's books are very concise, easy reads, and contain lots of pictures. Thus, I see no reason why someone wouldn't be able to review both Kaplan and EK simultaneously if they wanted to. Also, if price is a concern, I just looked on ebay and I'm seeing the very same EK books I used to study (the 5th edition) for this August's mcat on sale for 5$ a book (orgo, bio, physics, chem = 20$ for the whole 5th edition series, which has the same content that EK's 7th edition has).
In summary, what worked best for me might not be best for you. You should go to a library and check out an EK book, or if your library doesn't have an edition, perhaps purchase just one of EK's books to see if you like their style. If you find that you like it, and you've already tried Kaplan's books and things didn't go well for you, then why not switch it up and go the EK route using your old Kaplan books as a supplement? Good luck with your choice and studies.
