<p>I know I want to take a MCAT prep course but I am unsure which is better than the others. I have attended several free PrincetonReview classes which were nice but I want to keep my decision open. Here are the three choices (and if there are more, please inform me!)</p>
<p>Kaplan
PrincetonReview
Berkeley Review</p>
<p>I'm also planning to buy the MCAT prep books over the summer (going to take the test next year in May) to self-study. So is there any real differences between the three or do I have to bite the bullet? Any help or suggestion would be appreciate! I also live in southern california if that helps anybody.</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about Berkeley but the materials of Kaplan and Princeton are pretty self sufficient. I know some folks recommend exam crackers for verbal, but I didn’t feel any need.</p>
<p>mmcdowe,
Do you have any recommendation for improving Verbal?
There is great difference in my D’s practice test scores between Bio and Physical Science scores that are steadily improving and consistently very decent and Verbal that is staying the same and much lower than 2 others. Can it be improved at all? Her Reading scores has always been her lowest since elementary school all thru ACT. She has finished Kaplan and self-preparing now.</p>
<p>Well there is a long term way by reading the Economist and such. Otherwise, I guess I would recommend trying the Kaplan strategies and just doing LOTS of verbal problems.</p>
<p>^thanks! then she will do more of Verbal prep. she has been doing both Economist and Verbal practice, she will have to do more to get it closer to other scores.</p>
<p>For VR, Kaplan’s strategies has often been said to lower test scores. EK is generally considered the strongest on VR (it is, after all, their trademark; their sciences are generally very to the point and so quite good for those needing a quick review/already having a strong overall background).</p>
<p>Personally, I would buy an used copy of the EK set (includes verbal) + EK 1001/101 passages for each subject (1001 for sciences, 101 is for VR) and see if you can get someone to loan you the EK Audio Osmosis CDs (or get them from the library). Go through those using EK’s 10-week prep. For the final 2 weeks (after the 10 weeks of EK), do AAMC tests 3R, 6-10 (in that order) every other day with thorough review of the tests on the off days and leaving a day off before the test itself.</p>
<p>If she has a few mos, suggest she do A LOT of reading. The NYT and Economist are great, as are books from NYT Bestseller list. Basically, she just needs to get practice material and go at it. Using Number2.com’s GRE Verbal passages might also provide a decent yield, considering they are free and have questions aimed the GRE’s VR section (which is of a similar difficulty level to that of the MCAT). If she has struggled on verbal her whole life, though, she will probably want to get her VR up just enough to be in the double digits and then focus on the sciences as they will be higher yield for her (i.e., while, yes, a 12-12-12 is better than a 13-10-13, if she sacrifices those 13s and ends up w/ 11-11-11 because she put all her work into VR, she’s sort of shot herself in the foot).</p>
<p>She has exactly 1 month. She is focusing on final exams now. She will have about 2.5 weeks to focus on MCAT. She has consistently 13 - 14 on Bio & Physical Science on both Kaplan and AAMC. Reading is way behind. I will forward to her your suggestions. thank you.</p>
<p>I just looked into Kaplan classes for my D a couple of days ago, and it seems the best option for her schedule is going to be the online self study. Other than the class forcing the structure on you (which she doesn’t need) is there any difference in the material?</p>
I took the classroom course (at a discount, fortunately!).</p>
<p>Anyway, I thought the classroom portion was a waste of time. There’s no difference in the material between the online and classroom portions. I found the online material to be much more helpful than the classes.</p>
<p>apumic,
Great suggestion. D. does have one place as long as she has 27 (hopefully the real test will not be 10 points below practice one). She wants to do well and apply out to see where else she can get. Yes, consistent 10 seems to be a good goal.</p>
<p>So, you think that EK are better prep for VR than Kaplan, correct?
AAMC practice seems to be more difficult than Kaplan in VR, which explains why D’s scores are higher in Kaplan than AAMC which is unusual. Bio and Physical Science scores are the same, since Kaplan scores are adjusted a lot for higher difficulties in these sections in Kaplan. </p>
<p>Sorry for all these posts. Hopefully they are helpful for everybody, not just my D.</p>
<p>GA2012MOM,
My D. took the classroom based course and found it very helpful as you rightfully point out because it is forcing the structure on you. My D is also very good at time management and seems not to need forced structure, has been always very busy and involved and be able to keep it up. However, she still belives that it was helpful. I believe that whenever they sign on, discount is always availble. it is personal decision, i just wanted to share my D’s experience.</p>
<p>Yes, I’d say EK is far better. As I mentioned, some people have actually seen their scores <em>decrease</em> with Kaplan (and then increase again upon dumping the Kaplan strategy). Obviously just anecdotal and impossible to say if there is any causation here but EK seems to be quite a bit more respected. It may be that EK takes a very “the MCAT VR is different from the SAT” approach, whereas Kaplan appears to tend a bit more toward a “one size fits all” approach (i.e., similar strategies for the MCAT VR as for the SAT verbal reading comp).</p>
<p>Besides the MCAT prep course I’m taking (most likely TPR), I decided on the books I’m going to self-study beforehand.</p>
<p>Here’s the comprehensive list</p>
<p>Examkrackers:
Examkrackers MCAT Audio Osmosis with Jordan and Jon
Examkrackers MCAT Complete Study Package
Examkrackers 16 Mini Mcat’s
Examkrackers 101 Passages in MCAT Verbal Reasoning
Examkrackers: 1001 Questions in MCAT in Physics
Examkrackers 1001 Questions in MCAT Chemistry
Examkrackers: 1001 Questions in MCAT Organic Chemistry
Examkrackers 1001 Questions in MCAT Biology Questions</p>
<p>Kaplan:
Kaplan MCAT 2010-2011 Premier Program (w/CD)
Kaplan MCAT Practice Tests, 6th edition</p>
<p>NOVA’S
Nova’s The MCAT Physics Book</p>
<p>This is during summer (I’m transferring to a 4 year university from a community college) and I will take the MCAT May-June of next year since I’ve yet to take my physics series. Just wondering, for this time should I take the MCAT prep course (such as TPR or Kaplan)? Should I take it right before the MCAT (10 weeks and under from the MCAT test) or sometime early on (over 8 weeks from the MCAT test)?</p>
<p>I want to point out that that is a LOT of study material. Don’t underestimate the sheer amount of time to do all of that. Also, a year in advance studying is probably too long. 6 months tops for maximum retention, most people probably do 2-3 months. I would take the prep course earlier on. The more self study you do before hand the less worthwhile you are probably going to find the course.</p>
<p>Thanks for the heads up, I feel like I only have this upcoming summer for a good amount of study time for the MCAT. The spring break for most UC’s is in the middle of March which could be a potential test date. Here is another plan</p>
<p>After Fall quarter 2010 finals, begin studying for MCAT during winter break. Then take the MCAT during spring break.</p>
<p>This can be good but I won’t be done with the physics series by the end of spring quarter. Would this be a preferred route? Thanks in advance.</p>