Kaplan meets my LSAT needs
Written: Sep 14 '00 (Updated Sep 14 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great resources, targeted tutoring
Cons: Expensive, does require a lot of outside work (but so does every test-prep company!)
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| Krissieliz's Full Review: Kaplan LSAT Course |
The Fall semester is a maddening time for graduating seniors with law school ambitions. Not only must you decide where to apply, but you must come to terms with the fact your LSAT score can make or break your application. Realizing I need all the help I can get, I investigated different test-prep options. Because Kaplan has a location near my campus and offered an LSAT prep course about 5 minutes from my dorm, I opted to take their class for the month of September (Test date: October 7). For reasons I will later discuss, I've opted, after 4 sessions, to drop out of this class and take private tutoring (Kaplan method) instead.
First things first: what do you get?
For a sum of $1,000, you will get 10 classroom sessions. Because my exam is only a month away, this translated to 2 sessions a week, at 3 hours a pop. However, three of those 10 sessions are devoted entirely to taking practice (diagnostic) tests. Therefore, you end up with approximately 21 hours of classroom instruction.
After you register with Kaplan, you will receive study materials in the mail. They consist of a Lesson Book (which consists of the in-class lessions), a Home Study book (supplemental lessons and practice questions), and a CD-Rom (more practice questions).
Moreover, you will receive access to your local Kaplan center. This is a great opportunity to really brush up on your newly-learned skills. Each Kaplan center has a training library which consists of the past decade of LSAT exams, complete with explanations for every answer choice. The centers also boast a video library, so you can catch up or review a class you missed. These resources are great for supplemental practice.
One of the best services Kaplan offers is their diagnostic testing system. As I previously stated, you will take three diagnostic exams. These are full-length LSAT's from the past. Kaplan will then analyze your score and break it down very scientifically. You'll be returned a packet that indicates your problem areas and refers you to different sections of the Home Study book to which you can refer for additional help. This is an excellent tool for pinpointing your areas of concern and directing you towards resources that can help.
Sounds great ... so why'd you drop out?
I appreciate all the resources Kaplan has to offer. Upon receiving my first diagnostic test score, there were many areas of concern. Let's just say that the LSAT will be quite a mountain for me to overcome. With the help of the diagnostic exam, I was able to pinpoint areas I could study at home. However, the in-class portion wasn't as effective as I would have liked. In my case, it took place in a large lecture hall. There were approximately 50 other students. Granted, not everyone will have this experience: some will undoubtedly have a more intimate environment. To sit in a lecture hall for 3 hours, twice a week, just didn't do it for me. I had questions from my supplemental at-home problems, and I had no one to address them.
Don't get me wrong: I certainly learned from the in-class sessions. They did a great job of teaching me the basics. But I didn't have an outlet for all my questions: in a classroom environment where time is limited, it's impossible for everyone's questions to be addressed. That fact, coupled with my poor diagnostic score, led me to the conclusion that I needed more one-on-one interaction with a professional.
So I dropped out ... kinda
I called Kaplan, and they informed me that they offer a private tutoring option. For $2000, you can get 15 hours of tutoring. For $3000, you can get 30 hours. I opted for the 15 hours. My reasons were twofold: I didn't have 3K, and when you're in private tutoring, you're allowed to sit in on any class. Ding ding ding! Now I'm able to continue going to the Kaplan class at school, PLUS I get the targeted, one-on-one coaching afterwards. Now I have someone who will answer all my questions! I feel very confident that I made the right decision.
It's an investment, regardless
You will only gain from Kaplan what you put in. In addition to going to class 6 hours a week (and now tutoring for an additional 4-5 hours), I devote at least one hour a night to working out problems and thoroughly reading explanations. The Home Study book is daunting in size, but it's an extremely valuable tool - if you use it. If you're just going to class and listening to the lecture, I don't think you'll gain much knowledge. It's only in practicing, and practicing, and reading countless explanations, that it will finally "click." If you're going to fork over 1,000 or 2,000, you might as well put your heart into it. While it means I'm getting a bit less sleep than I ordinarly would, I've been satisfied with my progress (and yes, I've progressed in just 1.5 weeks) mainly because a lot of it was due to my own initiative.
Kaplan's Lesson Book contains the bare essentials for succeeding on the LSAT. It's divided into 10 sections, which correspond to the 10 class sessions. Each section has a pre-session, which you complete prior to class. Then there is a class section, which are basically your lecture notes for the class. Finally, there is a review section, to be completed after class. For further practice, it refers you to the Home Study book. At a minimum you need to commit to working out all the exercises in the Lesson Book.
Is test-prep really necessary?
Unless you're blessed with amazing logical reasoning skills, everyone can benefit from lessons. I wish I could work out logical reasoning questions without effort, but I can't. I tried to self-teach myself, and I couldn't. The LSAT is just too important to me to blow off. I decided to do everything in my power to secure a good score.
I have no doubt in my mind that Kaplan is going to help me succeed on the LSAT. Already I have made improvement in LSAT sections I thought impossible, and I still have 3 weeks to go. But there are no easy answers: just because you fork over the money for a prep-test course doesn't mean you're guaranteed to succeed. Kaplan provides you all you need to succeed: thousands of practice questions and answers, a training library, in-class lectures, and supplemental tutoring (if chosen). It's really a matter of taking the initiative and making the most of these resources. Think of it as an investment: by learning these skills for the LSAT, you're also using a new kind of analytical, critical brain power. I'm already starting to read differently for my regular classes.
Overall, Kaplan's philosophy works well for me. Be sure to check out the philosophy of your potential prep-test companies to see which best fits your learning needs. And once you've plunked down the cash, realize that you can only gain from the experience.
Recommended:
Yes
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Krissieliz
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Location: Washington, DC
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I'm a lawyer who loves to laugh, nap and watch bad TV.
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