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. Kaplan can make sure that the student continues to score great. 130 medical schools were surveyed as to the number one component of choosing students to accept and the top three were a strong interview, GPA, and MCAT score respectively. Maybe the student doesnt need a prepcourse, but Kaplan would help them improve not only their test score but critical thinking for problem solving as well. Kaplan will work with the student to fit their individual needs and would 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.

How would a student with a 4.0 GPA who has already scored well on a practice test, for example, benefit from taking your test preparation course?

How do you personalize your instruction for students with diverse learning styles or deficit areas?

Princeton Review focuses on content and would practice with timing more to fit the individuals 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

disability. Princeton Review would encourage tutoring for one on one instruction and to provide additional specialized practice for the student. What are the qualifications Instructors scored within top All instructors scored within and credentials of your tenth percentile on MCAT. the top tenth percentile on instructors? Briefly describe They have 40 hours of MCAT. They have 5 how your instructors are training and then more teachers that specialize in trained. training that is standard and biology, physics, verbal, prepared by super-experts. general chemistry or organic They go through an chemistry per class. They application, credential have an audition where check, interview, and Princeton Review is looking audition before being hired. for their teaching styles. Students can choose to Then they train for 20-25 attend different classes with hours in each section with a other instructors. total of about 100 hours and then gain certification. They have 100% confidence in their instructors. Briefly describe how your It is unethical to ask students Princeton Review researches practice tests are developed what exactly is on the test. old test questions from past and how the items are Kaplan has reviewed all 10 years of real MCATs and generated. How previous tests and has puts is all together into representative are your looked for common trends. practice tests for the course. practice tests with real They focus on preparing in They look at common MCATs? the same way as the material question types, common will be presented on test topics and what the passages day. All of Kaplans are about. The tests are materials are available updated each year. online and in center. Kaplans practice test scores are proven to match real MCAT scores. What types of students/test- The key is to practice and Anyone can take course and takers are best suited for become better MCAT testbenefit. Anyone can learn your programs? takers, meaning to accustom the strategies to become you to the format of the better test-takers no matter MCAT. The course is set to strengths and weaknesses. help all types of students and test-takers improve. Kaplan focuses on remediation: fixing problem areas before moving on.

Briefly describe the average scores and score gains reported by your clients.

What are the key benefits of your test prep programs?

What types of limitations do you place on your guarantee programs?

Describe the advantages of your test preparation resources with the AAMCs practice materials which are

Princeton Review boasts a 10 pt. increase. At high 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. 18 sessions and an 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. If you are get to test day and feel unprepared or take 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 unsuccessful courses. Kaplan has topical tests, section tests, and discrete questions all to help the student practice at their

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 Reviews 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.

There are no new CBT AAMC tests currently available but the old paper tests are. Princeton Review

available online.

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. Kaplans tests are now in CBT format. Kaplan also teaches how to practice, prepare, and focus. 50% of people taking the MCAT prepared with Kaplan.

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.