Teach MCAT

[America1]

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Got an oppurtunity to teach for Kaplan, anyone done this, ie pay, ease, committment.

 

[flaquita69us]

Teaching for Kaplan is not the easiest thing in the world. There is a 5 session (usually 1 month) training period, and then you get to teach. Every class requires about 3 hours of prep, and then you have to stand in front of a group of kids and teach them. Also, something that's very important is that you are teaching Kaplan's methods, not your own, so you have to make sure that you know their methods very well. If you didn't take one of their classes, this part can be a bit frustrating. The pay is very good and the training isn't hard, it's just a little time consuming. I think you also learn a lot of really valuable skills as far as communication and presentation are concerned that will probably help you for the rest of your life. That said, I'm teaching my first class on Saturday, and I'm kind of terrified. If you think you like teaching, go for it, and if you don't like training, you can quit.

 

[EBI831]

paid training tho right?

 

[TSK]

I taught the SATs for Kaplan and yes training is paid. Even teaching the SAT was more time consuming than I thought so the MCAT has to be worse...
Not to be discouraging or anything😳

 

[MeCord3]

I'm teaching the MCAT course for Kaplan now. Paid training, the pay in general is quite decent, and can go up as you progress. Its a lot of fun, but does take some getting used to. And since you're teaching a class full of pre-meds you need to be on your game in terms of material. If you have any more questions about it feel free to get in touch.

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

Biggest problem with teaching for Kaplan: You will have a class full of students who refuse to complete assignments, try to answer questions in class, review on their own and then blame you for their poor progress. They will expect you to make them experts on the subject when you're job is to help them review concepts they are struggling with.

Other than that, paid training is pretty sweet. You even get paid for the times outside of training that you spend 'reviewing' for the teachbacks. The hours are pretty flexible and you don't necessarily have to ace every single part of the MCAT to become a teacher. I myself requested to teach only the sciences while another person requested to do only verbal.

 

[dago]

fun job, builds your confidence and tests not only your knowledge but your ability to adapt and apply on the spot. i actually just got back from my class, my students are great and always chalenge me. i teach the mcat and now additionally the pcat and dat. kaplan thinks if you can teach the mcat you can pretty much teach anything and the starting pay for mcat teachers is higher than any other test.

 

[MadHopsMD]

Biggest problem with teaching for Kaplan: You will have a class full of students who refuse to complete assignments, try to answer questions in class, review on their own and then blame you for their poor progress. They will expect you to make them experts on the subject when you're job is to help them review concepts they are struggling with.

amen. Teaching mcat is a tough tough job, and you only get a good review if the student does well. Suffice to say, I wont be teaching it again. I got good reviews, but it's too much time commitment. After getting an acceptance, I rather focus on other things...

Edit: Teaching the class did help me for the interview...because as dago said: it teaches you confidence and how to "divert" the students difficult questions, so you are still in control of the class. The interviewer also loved that I was teaching...since teaching is important part of a medicine..

So I would definitely suggest you do it....

 

[TPROrgoTutor2]

Good job but is not an easy one.

 

[FemalesCANTDriv]

It is NOT WORTH IT teaching for Kaplan... it is a waste of time and the money isn't that great. The money only get good if you do it for a few years cuz then you don't have to prep lessons that much and your pay rate increases. BUT, in the beginning, it is **** and it is NOT WORTH IT AT ALL... just my opinion though.

 

[MadHopsMD]

Good job but is not an easy one.

what's the difference between TPROrgoTutor1 and 2....i have seen both of them online...

 

[TPROrgoTutor2]

what's the difference between TPROrgoTutor1 and 2....i have seen both of them online...

They are both me. TPROrgoTutor and TPROrgoTutor2. I lost my password to the first and it was an outdated email so I couldnt get it back.

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

They are both me. TPROrgoTutor and TPROrgoTutor2. I lost my password to the first and it was an outdated email so I couldnt get it back.

Sounds like a job for the support forum and mods. I can't see why they can't just email you your old password

 

[jules922]

I taught SAT for Kaplan for 3 years and MCAT for about 4 months ... their MCAT curriculum (unless it's changed recently) is pretty crappy ... the outside-of-class resources (practice tests, question banks, etc.) are great, but I found the classroom instruction materials to be really embarrasingly bad - especially the writing section stuff. I decided I should stop teaching when I spent most of my time correcting the curriculum (e.g. it included a bunch of orgo topics that were taken off of the MCAT 3 years ago) and wanting to tell people to just skip the classes and spend all their time doing the practice materials (which is what I did and I got a great MCAT score).

 

[GoodDoctor]

I got offered a spot at both Kaplan and The Princeton Review, and decided to go with TPR because they pay significantly more here, and they are still starting up in my area so I figure it might have better opportunities.

Most of the posts make it sound like Kaplan has some negatives and that MCAT teaching in general takes a lot of time.

Has anyone had similar negative feelings about teaching for TPR? From reading past threads, it sounds like TPR might be a little better than Kaplan.

 

[leahmaria]

I am going to start teaching kaplan mcat this coming spring, i am kind of excited and kind of nervous. i went through the training and that went well...i just feel like after you prepare to teach these classes, you could really ace the mcat, i wonder if teachers ever re-take for the heck of it....you have to be in the 90th percentile to teach in the first place so many of them probably don't need to

 

[MadHopsMD]

I taught SAT for Kaplan for 3 years and MCAT for about 4 months ... their MCAT curriculum (unless it's changed recently) is pretty crappy ... the outside-of-class resources (practice tests, question banks, etc.) are great, but I found the classroom instruction materials to be really embarrasingly bad - especially the writing section stuff. I decided I should stop teaching when I spent most of my time correcting the curriculum (e.g. it included a bunch of orgo topics that were taken off of the MCAT 3 years ago) and wanting to tell people to just skip the classes and spend all their time doing the practice materials (which is what I did and I got a great MCAT score).

WOW...could not agree more! 😀 it is the practice materials that makes kaplan great. The teaching is useless..i know as a student and teacher...

 

[MadHopsMD]

I got offered a spot at both Kaplan and The Princeton Review, and decided to go with TPR because they pay significantly more here, and they are still starting up in my area so I figure it might have better opportunities.

Most of the posts make it sound like Kaplan has some negatives and that MCAT teaching in general takes a lot of time.

Has anyone had similar negative feelings about teaching for TPR? From reading past threads, it sounds like TPR might be a little better than Kaplan.

TPR is better if you want to teach...because there isnt wacky rules like Kaplan to follow. I freaking HATE the TEACHER's GUiDE...For TPR, you basically teach physics and biology as it is the textbook (princeton books)....

 

[FemalesCANTDriv]

I taught SAT for Kaplan for 3 years and MCAT for about 4 months ... their MCAT curriculum (unless it's changed recently) is pretty crappy ... the outside-of-class resources (practice tests, question banks, etc.) are great, but I found the classroom instruction materials to be really embarrasingly bad - especially the writing section stuff. I decided I should stop teaching when I spent most of my time correcting the curriculum (e.g. it included a bunch of orgo topics that were taken off of the MCAT 3 years ago) and wanting to tell people to just skip the classes and spend all their time doing the practice materials (which is what I did and I got a great MCAT score).

ya i concur with this... this happened to me as well

 

[pretenda]

Anybody want to post a range of pay for Kaplan teachers versus TPR teachers?

Also, how many hours a week did you work? Did you get paid for training? Did you do any private tutoring?

-William H. Holla

 

[MadHopsMD]

Anybody want to post a range of pay for Kaplan teachers versus TPR teachers?

Also, how many hours a week did you work? Did you get paid for training? Did you do any private tutoring?

-William H. Holla

At Kaplan you get 21 dollars an hour for in-class teaching, and 10 dollars an hour for prep (3 hours limit for the first time teaching per lecture and 1 hour afterwards). Ppl use to get 10 dollars an hour to protor, but not anymore since it's CBT (exception is for the diagnostic exam). I had only one class, and usually it came down to 6 hours a week class time. So you do the math, blah. There are 18 lectures in total, each 3 hour long. I taught only 12-13 I believe (only sciences for me)

At Princeton what I have heard it is pretty much the same...but there is bonuses that you get, based on how student evaluates you...this is where you can make serious money. Kaplan didnt have that (at least in my area).

Edit: kaplan makes you train..2 hours X 4 times...10 dollars an hour...

 

[leahmaria]

At Kaplan you get 21 dollars an hour for in-class teaching, and 10 dollars an hour for prep (3 hours limit for the first time teaching per lecture and 1 hour afterwards). Ppl use to get 10 dollars an hour to protor, but not anymore since it's CBT (exception is for the diagnostic exam). I had only one class, and usually it came down to 6 hours a week class time. So you do the math, blah. There are 18 lectures in total, each 3 hour long. I taught only 12-13 I believe (only sciences for me)

At Princeton what I have heard it is pretty much the same...but there is bonuses that you get, based on how student evaluates you...this is where you can make serious money. Kaplan didnt have that (at least in my area).

Edit: kaplan makes you train..2 hours X 4 times...10 dollars an hour...

in my area the pay is slightly less for kaplan...20/hr in class and 7/hr for prep, so it depends on where you're teaching, i think

 

[MadHopsMD]

in my area the pay is slightly less for kaplan...20/hr in class and 7/hr for prep, so it depends on where you're teaching, i think

accually looking at my pay stub it was 24 bucks an hour and 10 for prep. but i live in canada, so....

 

[Cirrus83]

Dang, Kaplan instructors make more money than me (per hour). Although I guess once you average in prep it's not really more.

Oh well, I get to read SDN =p

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

21 dollars an hour?! I'm getting 15 and hour and it will increase to 22 after a year of working I think. Also, I'm only getting 7 bucks an hour for training. Where's your Kaplan center? I've been bamboozled!

 

[juiceman311]

Is teaching the SAT for Kaplan worth it, if you're getting MCAT teacher pay? That's what I was offered this afternoon; I applied and auditioned for an MCAT spot, was selected, but she asked me if I'd be willing to do SAT classes since they are in dire need of them, and she said she'd give me MCAT pay ($20/hr in class, $7/hr prep, $10/hr proctor). So do you think it's worth it? I graduated undergrad in December, I have already been accepted to my #1 med school, and I work Mondays and Fridays at the hospital 24 hrs/week. So Kaplan is just extra spending money for my vacations this Spring and Summer and new golf clubs. I guess it'll let me use my brain too, which may be over-rated. Worth it, or too much work? I feel like being lazy.

 

[Yamaooka]

I've worked in two different Kaplan centers, teaching SAT, ACT and MCAT. It's really surprising how much they differ from each other in terms of pay. One paid $15/hr while the other starts at $22/hr and often goes higher. All in all, though, I'd say it's been a great experience.

 

[future_dr_house]

i'm teaching for princeton with 20/hr and 10/hr for training with bonuses at the end of classes for good reviews. lots of work at the beginning, but once you have the lessons made, it's a piece of cake.

 

[RichardParkr]

I teach mcat for Kaplan. The starting pay is 20/hr and the preparation work is 7/hr here. It's really fun, and I've definitely talked about it at my interviews, too.

imho, this is a great job for students who only want to teach once or twice a week (which i hope to do during med school!)

 

[RichardParkr]

... and we don't get bonuses for good (or even excellent) student reviews 🙁

 

[dsh]

they started me at 25/7 teaching/prep.

edit: at my center graduate level teachers get paid 20-30/hr on a sliding scale based on teaching experience, earned degrees, how well they think you will teach, and prior performance. long-time teachers that are good can get a 5/hr bump if they have some pro guy come in and watch them

 

[jules922]

Is teaching the SAT for Kaplan worth it, if you're getting MCAT teacher pay? That's what I was offered this afternoon; I applied and auditioned for an MCAT spot, was selected, but she asked me if I'd be willing to do SAT classes since they are in dire need of them, and she said she'd give me MCAT pay ($20/hr in class, $7/hr prep, $10/hr proctor). So do you think it's worth it? I graduated undergrad in December, I have already been accepted to my #1 med school, and I work Mondays and Fridays at the hospital 24 hrs/week. So Kaplan is just extra spending money for my vacations this Spring and Summer and new golf clubs. I guess it'll let me use my brain too, which may be over-rated. Worth it, or too much work? I feel like being lazy.

Just realize that a lot of the SAT students are forced to be there by their parents 🙄 - they're not always the most enthusiastic (compared to the grad/professional students) - can make teaching them a bit frustrating sometimes. The curriculum is pretty straightforward though - and once you've taught each lesson once your golden.

 

[future_dr_house]

oh, one big difference b/t kaplan and tpr, tpr you train for one subject and teach only that. kaplan you can train for science (both PS and BS material) or verbal, or you can teach it all. what this means is that you have to make more lectures for kaplan, but you have to teach less classes to get a good amount of hours.

really, both are very comparable (as they should be). if you want to raise your score, probably go with kaplan since you have to teach more material. if you want to spend less prep time b/c you only teach one subject, go with tpr.

 

[sprinkibrio]

Don't ever teach Kaplan in Puerto Rico. They will make your life hell and won't pay you. I wasn't paid for about two months... that's EIGHT pay periods. It left a really bad taste in my mouth about Kaplan.

 

[Schaden Freud]

Kaplan pays really poorly. At my center MCAT teachers start out making 17/hr for live teaching and 7/hr for prep (which is capped at 3 hours per lesson- not NEARLY enough time unless you're prepping Verbal or MSCT).

The Teacher's Edition of the Lesson (the script) is rife with factual inaccuracies, typos, misprints, confusing diagrams, superfluous illustrations, and random blank pages that throw off the flow of the class. The transitions from topic to topic as written are absurd and will make you sound like a huge tool if you actually use them. The writing sample lessons are completely useless...

I can write more but need to add substrate to my ELISAs now...

Got an oppurtunity to teach for Kaplan, anyone done this, ie pay, ease, committment.

 

[Anastasis]

I got 1/2 through the Kaplan training and just could NOT stand it. I really really hate their teaching methods and I knew I wouldn't get comfortable enough with it to do as well as I thought the students deserved.

Unless you have a few years to teach or you can get multiple classes running at the same time (prep for more than 1 class at once) I wouldn't suggest teaching for them.

 

[Schaden Freud]

Hey Ana we agree on something!

I got 1/2 through the Kaplan training and just could NOT stand it. I really really hate their teaching methods and I knew I wouldn't get comfortable enough with it to do as well as I thought the students deserved.

Unless you have a few years to teach or you can get multiple classes running at the same time (prep for more than 1 class at once) I wouldn't suggest teaching for them.

 

[ssquared]

From all of y'all's posts, I'm getting totally shafted! I teach verbal and bio for Kaplan and I get a whole $12/hr. Yeah, $12. I got $7/hr for prep and training.

When I move back home after I graduate I better make more, given that it's a big city versus a small town!

But so far I like it. Training was quite enjoyable (although a bit long-4 hours each session was a bit much, especially since it was during finals). Part of it was that the guy teaching training for us was a lot of fun to be around. That, and everybody else who was training for LSAT/GMAT/SAT made me feel smart for the first time in a long time. "Oooh, wow, I can't believe you know all this stuff!"