<p>Are MCAT Prep Courses, particularly Kaplan, generally considered useful for preparation for a somewhat advanced student (say, a Yale undergrad) who is not the best test taker?</p>
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<p>Check the MCAT thread, I think there's some discussion about it there:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/80275-mcats.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/80275-mcats.html</a></p>
<p>But in my personal experience (I took a Kaplan class), while a lot of the material and practice tests are helpful, I was not at all a fan of the "strategy" they tried to instill in us from every single day. I don't know, some people find it helpful and it may help you, but I wouldn't take the class to learn test-taking strategy.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Does anyone else have experience with the Kaplan course?</p>
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<p>If you think you know the material decently well, then look at the EK books. They are concise and get to the point. Though they do lack depth in some areas, such as genetics, and their physics isn't as good as some of the other review companies (if physics isn't your strong suit). But no prep book is perfect. </p>
<p>If all you are having trouble with is "taking the test" and not the actual material for the test, then my suggestion is take a diagnostic test, figure out your weak points and suit your study for that. In the meantime, find as many practice tests as you can, AAMC has great ones for purchase, though you could save some of those for when you get closer to the actual test. Look at all the prep services and read reviews on their practice tests. The only way to get get better at "taking the test" is to put yourself in a similar situation multiple times and acclimate yourself to it.</p>
<p>sorry but it sounds like an oxymoron----“Yale undergrad who is not good at test taking” LOL…Thats really hard to believe…I think we might have different ideas on what a “bad” test-taker is…</p>
<p>I took Princeton and then SWARTWOOD.
Princeton had lots of material. SWARTWOOD had the most incredible instructor.
So, I’d recommend P for material and S for the instructor (John).
But I’m at UCLA. I think S is only in LA. P is obviously everywhere.</p>
<p>Hope that helps!</p>
<p>That’s really weird. I looked up Sarah Vu on the UCLA student roster and there isn’t one. Do you go to UCLA? It just seems weird that as someone who just recently registered that you would pull up such an old thread and post about a tiny MCAT company basically no one has heard of. I’d take PR over something called Smartanything.</p>
<p>She probably graduated. I did. Duh!
Aren’t you that desperate Todd guy. Didn’t you get it when Icarus pointed out how great Swartwood was (senior member 2,000 something posts).</p>
<p>If anyone has taken both which did you prefer? I took my pre-reqs a while ago so I would say that I need the most help in the Physical science section. I took it once before and got an R on the essay and did well on the verbal section. Which would you recommend?</p>
<p>never heard of either of those, I would go with tried and true kaplan, although I do think the course isn’t geared towards getting an ultra high score. I would either recommend doing private tutoring or making sure you do a ton of practice work on your own since the higher you get the harder it is to improve.</p>
<p>Really??? From what I was told I thought Kaplan is mediocre in comparison to Princeton or Swartwood (which I think is only in Los Angeles). I heard Princeton is extremely fast pace and that it is unlikely to even be able to keep up with material. Not sure yet, still researching though 
What was your studying schedule with Kaplan?</p>