Which Is Better? Kaplan Or Princeton Review

[Miss155]

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Hi

I was wondering for people who have already taken the MCAT or even plan to, which test prep is better Kaplan and Princeton Review? Thanks for your response.

 

[paranitroxide]

I feel your pain.... I kill threads all the time as well.


Kaplan... for sure

 

[UT_OC]

Hi

I was wondering for people who have already taken the MCAT or even plan to, which test prep is better Kaplan and Princeton Review? Thanks for your response.

Well, I personally think that TPR is for ppl who don't study on their own... TPR makes you go to classes which is helpful to those ppl. Kaplan on the other hand meet like once or twice a week and most of it is practice on your own. I heard that they had better material.. but TPR was not bad as well. I mean the bottom line it comes down to is yourself.. dedication to studying. So choose wisely but also use your time wisely..

 

[neuropower]

I think I agree with UT OC
I didn't take a course, so all I had was the review books and practice tests and Kaplan was SO much better. The TPR Flowers and Silver Guide was recommended to me but I found so many mistakes in the organic chem section...it was so frustrating. But the Kaplan Guide I used was really great.

 

[wends]

kaplan all the way! the classes suck but all those practice exams are glorious

 

[kwgold]

I had a really bad experience with Kaplan. I think the quality depends on the set of teachers your location has. I actually had to walk our physical science teacher through several chemistry questions. He had the answers right there with him too, their book is the same as what you get except it explains how to solve the problems. Anyways, the practice tests are very helpful. So my reccomendation is to borrow someone's old Kaplan books, get help from a professor or friend if you have trouble with a question, and buy a set of practice tests from the AAMC. Total savings....$1,000.

 

[Miss155]

Hi

It seems that most people like Kaplan. I thought Princeton review was really good. Also when should you start the class for the April test, Sept., Oct., Nov., or January. Thanks for your help.

 

[Fusion]

Between Kaplan and Princeton Review, I would go with...Examkrackers!

 

[ScottERogers]

I have only taken Kaplan and I wasn't too impressed. Honestly, I learned more by buying the AAMC tests and going through them a bit at a time and looking up the topics in my Kaplan books. The Kaplan class used professors from our college without even knowing how good of teachers they were. Consequently they picked almost all of the bad teachers we had. The teachers that people would avoid to the point of going to another college to not take their class because they are such poor teachers. However, that may be different at your University. It doesn't matter which one you take as long as you just study. The class didn't help me at all but the practice tests were ok. Just practice would be my main advice to you. What helped me the most was spending 5-7 hrs a night going over the AAMC tests in the library every night for one month before the test. Try it, it will help. Good luck!!!

 

[jdc5]

There are several threads on this already...just search for it.

 

[Dr. N]

I had a really bad experience with Kaplan. I think the quality depends on the set of teachers your location has. I actually had to walk our physical science teacher through several chemistry questions. He had the answers right there with him too, their book is the same as what you get except it explains how to solve the problems. Anyways, the practice tests are very helpful. So my reccomendation is to borrow someone's old Kaplan books, get help from a professor or friend if you have trouble with a question, and buy a set of practice tests from the AAMC. Total savings....$1,000.

I would totally agree with this. I am taking Kaplan right now -- what a waste of money. Guess who is your teacher? another premed like you who took this class semester before you and did good on MCAT. I have great MCAT teacher, BUT here are my complains:

1. you read your homework before class and when you come to class you hear it again. 😴

2. we do not solve many problems in class - you do it on your own.

3. personally for me what works the best: more classroom hours with solving problems -- KAPLAN does not have it.

4. Books are terrible. After a while I got sick with their books and decided to buy Examkrackers. EK books are so much better than Kaplans!!!!

So it is for you to decide, but if I would have to do it again: no prepcourses, buy EK books, buy practice tests -- bunch of them on Ebay for almost nothing. Do your practice tests, read books, review your mistakes, read answers and read, read, read verbal passages. This way you will benefit more, will save money and time. I wish somebody would give me advise like this before I signed up for Kaplan. 👎

 

[ut_stephen]

From what I have heard and experienced, both are about the same. I went w/ TPR last summer and was happy with them. It's not really the specific program that brings up your scores. The practice you get through the homework and all the practice tests you take are what bring your score up. I would just go with whichever is cheaper.

 

[med_stud_07]

i took TPR, and when I was taking the MCAT, i felt like a MCAT taking machine. They were really supportive there.

 

[Kazema]

I took TPR and was happy with it. The classes were like, well, classes - they went through what you needed to know and you asked questions and such. They teach a lot of strategy especially in verbal, which I think is helpful. Doing practice problems was mostly on your own.

The downside is if you get a bad teacher - then you're pretty much learning the subject on your own.

Kaplan as I understand it has better practice materials. So I guess that may be better for very independent learners.

But either way, make sure you do lots and lots of practice. Review courses aren't magic.

 

[txguy]

Between Kaplan and Princeton Review, I would go with...Examkrackers!

Ditto!!

And if EK is not detailed enough in certain areas then refer to either TPR or Kaplan or a classroom text.

-tx

 

[MoosePilot]

This is a tough question, because people don't normally take both.

I took TPR and loved it. Gained 4 points over my last real MCAT score.

 

[JohnHolmes]

TPR all the way 👍

 

[sunflower79]

Buy used TPR books from someone and save your cash for amcas! Classes are a waste of time; why pay 4x as much to learn half as effectively as doing it on your own.

 

[FutureERDoc]

EXAMKRACKERS!!! I took a Kaplan class, was doing terrible on the practice tests, bought some EK stuff (including audio osmosis which rocks) and my score showed it. I agree-- get your self on a strict schedule, buy the EK stuff, buy many, many practice exams (AAMC or whatever), and then practice your butt off. EK is it!

 

[TripleDegree]

In a nutshell.

For OHIO

Princeton sucks royal a$$