Kaplan and Princeton Review Face-off November 29, 2006
Question
Your courses require a
significant financial
investment on the part of
students. How do you
justify the prices of your
courses and materials?
Kaplan
AAMC estimated that on
average medical students
spend a total of $137,000
for medical school.
Medical school is a big
investment. Kaplan is the
largest preparatory
company. They prepare
more successful students.
The course is $1649, and all
AED members receive a
$150 discount. Teachers all
scored within the top tenth
percentile on the MCAT.
Kaplan also has tutoring
programs that specialize
towards your needs and can
be online or live.
How would a student with a Kaplan can make sure that
4.0 GPA who has already
the student continues to
scored well on a practice
score great. 130 medical
test, for example, benefit
schools were surveyed as to
from taking your test
the number one component
preparation course?
of choosing students to
accept and the top three
were a strong interview,
GPA, and MCAT score
respectively. Maybe the
student doesn’t need a prepcourse, but Kaplan would
help them improve not only
their test score but critical
thinking for problem
solving as well.
How do you personalize
Kaplan will work with the
your instruction for students student to fit their
with diverse learning styles individual needs and would
or deficit areas?
recommend tutoring instead
of a course to get more
individual attention.
Princeton Review
The course is $1699 for
materials and online and
classroom instruction and
there is also a $150 discount
for AED members. The
course breaks down into 9
hours spent on biology, 9
hours on physics, 9 hours
on verbal, 8 hours on
general chemistry, and 6
hours on organic chemistry
with a total of about 102.5
hours of in class instruction.
There are 5 teachers per
course each specializing in
a particular subject area.
There is an option for
tutoring to get personal
attention for any problem
areas and gain confidence
for test day. Princeton
Review has an average
improvement of at least 10
points for the students that
take their course. If the
student was consistently
scoring high, then maybe
the course or tutoring are
not for them.
Princeton Review focuses
on content and would
practice with timing more to
fit the individual’s needs.
They would recommend
tutoring, so that the student
can practice with their
special time framework if
for example the student is
allowed extra time for a
What are the qualifications
and credentials of your
instructors? Briefly
describe how your
instructors are trained.
Instructors scored within
top tenth percentile on
MCAT. They have 40
hours of training and then
more training that is
standard and prepared by
“super-experts.” They go
through an application,
credential check, interview,
and audition before being
hired. Students can choose
to attend different classes
with other instructors.
Briefly describe how your
practice tests are developed
and how the items are
generated. How
representative are your
practice tests with real
MCATs?
It is unethical to ask
students what exactly is on
the test. Kaplan has
reviewed all previous tests
and has looked for common
trends. They focus on
preparing in the same way
as the material will be
presented on test day. All
of Kaplan’s materials are
available online and in
center. Kaplan’s practice
test scores are proven to
match real MCAT scores.
The key is to practice and
become better MCAT testtakers, meaning to accustom
you to the format of the
MCAT. The course is set to
help all types of students
and test-takers improve.
Kaplan focuses on
What types of students/testtakers are best suited for
your programs?
disability. Princeton
Review would encourage
tutoring for one on one
instruction and to provide
additional specialized
practice for the student.
All instructors scored
within the top tenth
percentile on MCAT. They
have 5 teachers that
specialize in biology,
physics, verbal, general
chemistry or organic
chemistry per class. They
have an audition where
Princeton Review is looking
for their teaching styles.
Then they train for 20-25
hours in each section with a
total of about 100 hours and
then gain certification.
They have 100%
confidence in their
instructors.
Princeton Review
researches old test questions
from past 10 years of real
MCATs and puts is all
together into practice tests
for the course. They look at
common question types,
common topics and what
the passages are about. The
tests are updated each year.
Anyone can take course and
benefit. Anyone can learn
the strategies to become
better test-takers no matter
strengths and weaknesses.
remediation: fixing problem
areas before moving on.
Briefly describe the average Princeton Review boasts a
scores and score gains
10 pt. increase. At high
reported by your clients.
scores of 33-45 there is not
a big difference in
percentile. Having a score
of 28 and going to 38 is
almost impossible. A score
of 20 to 30 is fabulous, but
also hard to promise.
Kaplan does not think that
an average score
improvement means much.
Students who take Kaplan
get into medical school and
that is what is important.
What are the key benefits of 18 sessions and an
your test prep programs?
orientation for 54-57 hours
of instruction. You already
took the classes and have
busy schedules. Kaplan
targets your studying to
give you only what you
need to know. They are
specific for your needs and
focus on critical thinking,
crisis prevention, and
content.
What types of limitations do If you are get to test day
you place on your guarantee and feel unprepared or take
programs?
the test and are unsatisfied
with your score you can
take the course again for
free as long as you do the
minimum amount of
homework in the syllabus
and attend the classes. If
the course is not successful
in raising your score from
the diagnosis test and you
attended classes and did the
required homework you can
get your money back. 1.5%
of students actually get
money back from
There is always an average,
and the Princeton Reviews
average increase is 10 pt.’s.
Not everyone starts at a 28.
Princeton Review asks their
students how they did after
the test to quantify this.
Princeton Review’s strength
is in the number of hours of
instruction. Each session is
2.5 hours. 102.5 total hours
of instruction. Very
rigorous preparation that
gives you what you need to
know.
If for any reason you are not
satisfied, you can take the
course again for free. Full
money back if your score
does not improve from
diagnosis test.
Describe the advantages of
your test preparation
resources with the AAMC’s
practice materials which are
available online.
unsuccessful courses.
Kaplan has topical tests,
section tests, and discrete
questions all to help the
student practice at their
weak areas and hone their
skills. AAMC is not
designed to do this, but
Kaplan encourages students
to take their tests as well
which are available with the
course on paper. Kaplan’s
tests are now in CBT
format. Kaplan also teaches
how to practice, prepare,
and focus. 50% of people
taking the MCAT prepared
with Kaplan.
There are no new CBT
AAMC tests currently
available but the old paper
tests are. Princeton Review
has changed their course to
cater to the new CBT
format. Princeton Review
gives confidence so that you
will not freak out on test
day.