I am about 99.9% sure that I will prepare for the MCAT without a test prep course. For those of you having just received your scores, did you find a course particularly helpful? Would you have done as well preparing on your own?
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I would have, but I went with a prep course just in case. I didn't learn anything in the classes but the practice tests they give you are invaluable.
I didn't have take a prep course. About 6 weeks before the test I studied using Kaplan's MCAT Comprehensive review book, devoting about a week or so to each subject (About 3-4 hours a day). I only started doing practice tests the week of the test...I got a 24 on the first one, a 30 on the next, and a 34 on AAMC IV. I got a 33 on the real thing. 
If you think you can do it, I'd save my money. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
If you think you can do it, I'd save my money. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />First time with prep course = 29
Second time without prep course = 33
Personally I think the only thing the prep courses did was take time away from my active learning and studying.
Of course, I'm just waiting for Blitzkrieg to come in here and recommend Kaplan.
Second time without prep course = 33
Personally I think the only thing the prep courses did was take time away from my active learning and studying.
Of course, I'm just waiting for Blitzkrieg to come in here and recommend Kaplan.
before mcat frenzy started i was certain i wasn't going to use a prepcourse. i had heard that the classes were useless. what swayed me was a friend who put it to me this way: basically a lot about test day is feeling confident, and you don't want to look at your classmates and feel insecure that you didn't do something which may have helped. almost everyone around me was taking it, and though i hate to do things just because everyone else was, i figured this wasn't a time to make some sort of misguided intellectual statement (only applies to myself). its an expensive security blanket, and i'm sure that those self-motivated people will (and have)do well regardless. the classes were useless, the materials, though off base at times, were quite helpful in retrospect. but if you get enough materials, and feel confident that you can handle it, either will lead to your success if you work hard. goodluck.
-jot
-jot