The Kaplan Course

[JohnDoeDDS]

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I keep reading things about the Kapln book and how they lack in Bio and PAT but everything is good. But what about their course? Did any1 take it? Is it worth the money, or does their blue book have the same stuff as the course?


Also, can I take the DAT as many times as I want? And will the schools look at the higher score only and disregard the lower score like the SAT? Im asking because Im thinking of taking one next year in january, just to see hwo it is, and then if I dont do good that will give me more time to study and retake in the summer. What do you think?

 

[jak1905]

I took the DAT the first time and made a 15. I took the online Kaplan course and scored an 18 the second time. The only problem was that I thought it didn't prepare me as well for the PAT. I scored a 15 on that section. 🙁

 

[ruben22]

Most schools don't recommend you taking the test more than 3 times. And yes, they do look at every score you get. If you're not improving on your 2nd score...that's not good!...

As far as the Kaplan course, I haven't taken it and wish I knew the answer to your question.

 

[Dr.Smiley-OR]

First of all, DO NOT TAKE DAT FOR FUN AND TO SEE HOW IT LIKES!!! It is a very bad decision. (Sorry about the capitalization, it is not yelling, I just want to make sure that you see it and read it carefully). You should take the DAT and ace it on your first try. Schools will look down at people who take it several times, and especially those who do not show any improvement on the later times. The problem with DAT is that you think you can improve your scores on the second try, but most likely you run into a risk of lower your scores at different sections. If you really want to test what it is like, buy the KAPLAN book and do the practice exams in the book. It will give you a sense of what the real DAT looks like.

Regarding to taking the Kaplan course. Some people recommended it, others would not. I personally did not take the course. I studied from the Kaplan blue book and did fine (well, not on the PAT though, I only got 16). My friend who took the course and she got a few points better than me overall. But when we looked at each section, there were scores that I got higher than hers and there were some that I got lower. We both got into dental schools this cycle on our first try.

KAPLAN blue book definitely is helpful. And please once again, do not take the DAT just to see how it is. That is something you do not want to do (not like SAT).

 

[DMD_hopeful]

I keep reading things about the Kapln book and how they lack in Bio and PAT but everything is good. But what about their course? Did any1 take it? Is it worth the money, or does their blue book have the same stuff as the course?


Also, can I take the DAT as many times as I want? And will the schools look at the higher score only and disregard the lower score like the SAT? Im asking because Im thinking of taking one next year in january, just to see hwo it is, and then if I dont do good that will give me more time to study and retake in the summer. What do you think?

I would recommend taking the Kaplan online class. I took the classroom based one and found the lectures to be a waste of time. The online one has the same content as the classroom one. I believe that the Kaplan class has more info than the book you purchase in the bookstore. Take the class.. What have you got to lose. The cost of it is a drop in the bucket compared to a dental education.

About taking the DAT multiple times.... Are you trying to find reasons for them NOT to accept you? Study hard, shoot for the stars -- kill the exam. Look to only take it once.. If you screw up the first one, take it again. The exam should never be used as practice, that's what practice exams are for. Between Topscore and Kaplan I think there are like 7 full length practice exams.

Good luck

 

[eran76]

I took the Kaplan course and it was a complete waste of time. The dude spent most of his time covering basic science materials that, if you needed to learn them there, you were going to screw up the DAT no matter what you did. The real gold is in the Kaplan online materials and the course book, NOT THE BLUE BOOK. The blue book is great, but the reason people’s PAT scores went down was b/c all the helpful hints on how to solve those Q’s are in the course book and online course lectures.

My advice: take the Kaplan online course (w/ blue book) and get a hold of the Kaplan course book. In the week before the test, take the computerized practice tests everyday until the day before the test. That way, by the time you take it, it will all be very familiar and you’ll eliminate half the stress.

eran76

Kaplan: 18/17/21
DAT: 20/20/20

 

[Typo]

Yeesh, I hope my students don't think I'm as crappy a teacher as most people on SDN think their teacher was. 🙂 I think a lot of the problem comes from teachers spending the bare minimum amount of time preparing the material, and on treating it as just another job.

To JohnDoeDDS: Like people said above, definitely consider taking the online part of Kaplan. They've got tons of practice materials you won't find elsewhere. The classes are good for some people (and depending on who your teacher is), but not for everyone. One definite benefit of the classes, though, is that they give you a little more incentive for keeping up with your studies.

 

[joy2dmd]

Yeesh, I hope my students don't think I'm as crappy a teacher as most people on SDN think their teacher was. 🙂 I think a lot of the problem comes from teachers spending the bare minimum amount of time preparing the material, and on treating it as just another job.

To JohnDoeDDS: Like people said above, definitely consider taking the online part of Kaplan. They've got tons of practice materials you won't find elsewhere. The classes are good for some people (and depending on who your teacher is), but not for everyone. One definite benefit of the classes, though, is that they give you a little more incentive for keeping up with your studies.

Take the $1,000 for Kaplan, put it in your back pocket and sit on it while you study in the library. That should motivate just fine to study. Study until you get a callas on your gluteus maximus. Use college text books, the outline of topics on the topscore cd and their computer simulation, and kaplan blue book for reference only. If this doesn't get a 20, try again.

good luck

 

[eran76]

Yeesh, I hope my students don't think I'm as crappy a teacher as most people on SDN think their teacher was. 🙂 I think a lot of the problem comes from teachers spending the bare minimum amount of time preparing the material, and on treating it as just another job.

Sorry Typo, I didn't mean it as a personal attack on the Kaplan folks, or you for that matter. But seriously, I paid $1K for a class on IMPROVING my score (which I did outside of class), not trying to reteach GenChem. The kaplan guy just held our hand in class as we all read the same book and tried the same practice Q's (he was lost w/o the answer book). Let's face it, if your thinking about taking the DAT you had better have a firm grasp on the basic science. The course should have focused on the unique aspects of the DAT, namely the PAT, RC and QR, and on question types, formulas, and specific strategies for test sections. Basically, the content should have been practicing Q's rather than going over material. I was so pissed when I found out that the CD had the exact same practice tests as those online. Could they seriously not come up with more than 3 unique practice exams???? Anyway, just needed to vent for a bit. Thanks 😀

 

[Sweeti8286]

Do you still have some time? If so- I'd recommend looking at a summer program called Profile For Sucess from University of Michigan. This is a 6-week program. I went to this program- and it was very good. They fly you in at their expense or reimburse you for mileage if you're far away and drove there, prepared you to take the DAT (Kaplan..they pay), take you through the admission process, writing the personal essay-the do's and don'ts, what the admission offers look for (insider opinion), a mock interview, a taste of all the specialty areas of dentistry, AND they give you money for housing (in dorm) and food!!! It's too good to be true- but it is! But that's how I took the kaplan course. I'm guessing you're applying this next cycle?? If so, I'd say you still have time. When I was in the program, (it's a 6 week program that takes place in mid-May til end of June), there were a lot of people who took the DAT and applied right after the program. It was still pretty early in the cycle. (and I must mention that people who run the program are VERY friendly...they even offer to look over your personal essay and tell you what they think/areas of improvments..I mean...these editors are the people who look at the applicant's personal essays, so they can give you what an admissions officer would think)
Otherwise, this is what I suggest- if you are weak in the general sciences and need some refresher, the classroom Kaplan will be very helpful to you. I'd say the tips and tricks I've learned to do the PAT are very good-it placed me in the 91% percentile.

(sorry this was a long post....just trying to help 😉 )

edit: I forgot to mention.....you should check out the program VERY soon..I'd imagine they posted their application not too long ago..or just posted it online--it does require time to fill out, get letters of recommendations, yadda yadda....I believe the deadline is early March. Good luck!

 

[TX Hopeful]

There are several people who continue to say that Kaplan does not prepare you for the PAT adequately. I've taken a couple of actual old exams (1988, etc), and I've only noticed that the angles are more difficult (IMO) than what Kaplan products offer.

For those of you who have taken the DAT and feel that Kaplan doesn't prepare you for the PAT section, can you specifically explain in what sections it is lacking (i.e. T-F-E, cubes, pattern folding, etc) and why the actual PAT is more difficult? Thanks in advance.

 

[eran76]

Kaplan online materials and the course book do a great job of preparing you for the PAT section. However, two criticisms were made; one of the Kaplan classroom course and one of the blue book. The Kaplan course spent too little time on the PAT (only two sessions) and went over a bare handful of problems (too little practice). The Kaplan blue book, though providing a decent amount of practice, does not address much in the way of question solving strategies. So really, just getting the blue Kaplan book, as some people with low PAT scores have done, is insufficient preparation.

 

[qaztake82]

ok in defense of kaplan teachers like myself, we have very limited say in how the class is taught. they are very strict on us to enforce the concepts and strategies as they have been written in the teachers manual for the review books. its basiclly required that we go through every class session minute by minute as it is in this stupid teachers manual. to add to the ****ty teacher quality, kaplan doesnt take the time to prepare their teachers to teach a class with confidence and definately doesnt pay them enough to put in the 12-15 hours that is required to prepare for each class session if this is your first time teaching the kaplan course and for most of us the first time we have ever really taught anythng. if you are asking yourself why would they do this its because there is a huge increase in the demand for DAT prep due to the corresponding huge increase in the number of people who want to become dentists. THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY TO BE TAKEN FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO JUST SEE THE FAMOUS KAPLAN NAME. i want to quit and tutor privately so that i am compensated for my efforts but i am afraid that if the big kaplan name doesnt back me up i most likely wont find any clients even though i can provide them with more materials than kaplan can at 2/3 the cost and focus on just concepts they want/need.

 

[wuwu81]

Do you still have some time? If so- I'd recommend looking at a summer program called Profile For Sucess from University of Michigan. This is a 6-week program. I went to this program- and it was very good. They fly you in at their expense or reimburse you for mileage if you're far away and drove there, prepared you to take the DAT (Kaplan..they pay), take you through the admission process, writing the personal essay-the do's and don'ts, what the admission offers look for (insider opinion), a mock interview, a taste of all the specialty areas of dentistry, AND they give you money for housing (in dorm) and food!!! It's too good to be true- but it is! But that's how I took the kaplan course. I'm guessing you're applying this next cycle?? If so, I'd say you still have time. When I was in the program, (it's a 6 week program that takes place in mid-May til end of June), there were a lot of people who took the DAT and applied right after the program. It was still pretty early in the cycle. (and I must mention that people who run the program are VERY friendly...they even offer to look over your personal essay and tell you what they think/areas of improvments..I mean...these editors are the people who look at the applicant's personal essays, so they can give you what an admissions officer would think)
Otherwise, this is what I suggest- if you are weak in the general sciences and need some refresher, the classroom Kaplan will be very helpful to you. I'd say the tips and tricks I've learned to do the PAT are very good-it placed me in the 91% percentile.

(sorry this was a long post....just trying to help 😉 )

edit: I forgot to mention.....you should check out the program VERY soon..I'd imagine they posted their application not too long ago..or just posted it online--it does require time to fill out, get letters of recommendations, yadda yadda....I believe the deadline is early March. Good luck!

Wow.... that UofM 6-week program does sound too good to be true. 😳 Are they really selective on their applicants? I'm really interested in that program, I'm actually going to the website right now as I type to check out the application. Do you know how many people they accept out of the applicant pool?

 

[wuwu81]

aawww...it is too good to be true. 🙁 The website says you're only qualified if you are from a disadvantaged background. Hmmm...maybe I should try anyway?

 

[hockeydentist]

There are several people who continue to say that Kaplan does not prepare you for the PAT adequately. I've taken a couple of actual old exams (1988, etc), and I've only noticed that the angles are more difficult (IMO) than what Kaplan products offer.

For those of you who have taken the DAT and feel that Kaplan doesn't prepare you for the PAT section, can you specifically explain in what sections it is lacking (i.e. T-F-E, cubes, pattern folding, etc) and why the actual PAT is more difficult? Thanks in advance.

I thougth the problem with Kaplan pat bank, was the lack of variety, either easy or real easy questions. Nothing difficult.

 

[Sweeti8286]

Wow.... that UofM 6-week program does sound too good to be true. 😳 Are they really selective on their applicants? I'm really interested in that program, I'm actually going to the website right now as I type to check out the application. Do you know how many people they accept out of the applicant pool?

Dr. Todd Ester is the lead guy behind this...charlita is the coordinator....they said they had to use some kind of "disadvantage" background- but it's not true at all.....that's what they said.... But if you're truly interested, I'd apply and try anyway. The earlier the better. The application process is similar to real dental school application, except no interview before admitting 😉 But do take seriously in the letters of recommendations, personal essay, and whatever else on the application. It is open nationally...so anyone from anywhere can apply- so the earlier the better. Good luck! If you have any questions, please e mail me at [email protected] I'll be happy to answer any questions to the best of my knowledge 🙂

When I was in the program, there were close to 30 people participating.