Kaplan, yay or nay?!?!

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.

I was wondering what you guys think of the Kaplan review course. My school is offering it for 300$. Unfortunetly I can't afford it:( Im so poor. Almost everyone else in my class is taking it. I will be devastated if I don't pass NCLEX and i didn't take Kaplan. For those of you who have taken it, what did you think?? I ordered the book offline so i'm hoping it has most of the same stuff in it. I'm so nervous about NCLEX..im not a great standardized tester. The one problem I had was that it wasn't a content review...but I heard it does give good stratagies...sigh...

Specializes in OR.

I only know of one person who took the Kaplan review-the rest did self study and/or the free course review that my hospital offers to GN's who are going to be working there. All passed the NCLEX-I personally think it's a rip-off. $300(I've heard it's up to $400 now) to teach you how to take a test? I think they are aware that most people are nervous about it so they want to cash in. I say NAY to the Kaplan review but I usually test well. If you think it may be a problem because of nerves etc. do what you have to do. Just know that there are other(cheaper) options out there.

Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.
I only know of one person who took the Kaplan review-the rest did self study and/or the free course review that my hospital offers to GN's who are going to be working there. All passed the NCLEX-I personally think it's a rip-off. $300(I've heard it's up to $400 now) to teach you how to take a test? I think they are aware that most people are nervous about it so they want to cash in. I say NAY to the Kaplan review but I usually test well. If you think it may be a problem because of nerves etc. do what you have to do. Just know that there are other(cheaper) options out there.

im glad to hear you say that. I kind of thought that myself....if i need help with something its more of a content review, which kaplan isnt, if it was, id be the first one signed up. Im sure ill be fine...just nervous.

Specializes in OR.

I actually picked up an NCLEX guide today at Borders that offers a money back guarantee if you don't pass the boards on the first try. It seems good because there is a 500 question pre-test that helps you define your weak areas( mine was Maternity-no big surprise there!:p ). It also has outlines, practice questions for each area and a comprehensive test. It has a CD-Rom with additional material. The name of it is Davis's NCLEX-RN Success(2nd edition) The author's are McMillin, Nelson and Snider. It also has a free test prep consultation by phone. It cost about $42.00-which is a heck of a lot better than $300!

Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.
I actually picked up an NCLEX guide today at Borders that offers a money back guarantee if you don't pass the boards on the first try. It seems good because there is a 500 question pre-test that helps you define your weak areas( mine was Maternity-no big surprise there!:p ). It also has outlines, practice questions for each area and a comprehensive test. It has a CD-Rom with additional material. The name of it is Davis's NCLEX-RN Success(2nd edition) The author's are McMillin, Nelson and Snider. It also has a free test prep consultation by phone. It cost about $42.00-which is a heck of a lot better than $300!

Really!?!?! I'm on my way now.

i woudn't spend a cent on kaplan's review. the testable material on is so broad that no quickie review course is going to make that much of a difference, other than perhaps psychological.

i'd get mosby's cat for 40, and saunders for another 40 and keep it under a hundred dollars. mosby's cat will give you a good idea how you'll do, and saunders has everything you need to pass the test.

good luck.

Specializes in Neuro, Acute, Geriatrics, Rehab, Oncology.

I test next week and used Saunders and the online Mosby's to assess myself. I will let you know how I do. I agree with the poster who said that Kaplan is cashing in on NClex anxiety.

Specializes in ER.

Our school offered a review class that would have cost 400 bucks, but we got it FREE (read as, "included in our tuition already":rolleyes:). I suffered through a day and a half of a woman with the personality of a brick reading key points out of a review book they gave us...then decided I could read the book on my own!

I would not spend the money on a class. EVERYONE I talk to who has passed says to just do LOTS AND LOTS of practice questions with a good review book, reading all the rationales.

I haven't taken the NCLEX yet but from my past experience with Kaplan I would say NAY! I also think Kaplan is a rip-off and I've done better studying on my own using a review book than in one of their classes. It's really up to the luck of the draw who the instructor will be and if they are good or not. I had one that really sucked and confused me more than I was before I came into the class.

Specializes in Telemetry and ER.

Dont waste your money on the kaplan review, go to the book store and use the kaplan book while you drink coffee. I paid way too much for the course and I firmly believe you can self study. Good luck.

Specializes in Orthopedics/Med-Surg, LDRP.

I'm currently taking the Kaplan course and I really like it so far. The information is really great, especially on the mentality of how the NCLEX thinks. When I interviewed for my job back in March, they asked if I was taking Kaplan. I told them I probably was. They said "good becuase of all the candidates that we had last year 3 did not take the Kaplan review and those 3 failed the NCLEX". That cemented me taking it. And the cost varies school to school depending on how the class representative negotiates the cost. We got ours for $299 but I've seen where some schools have paid upwards of $500 for it.

I like the Kaplan course book, it's a great comprehensive review - like all my ATI books rolled up into one. But if you can't afford it, don't kill yourself to take it. Just really put a lot of effort into reviewing the material and memorizing your lab values and medications. Any review book should be fine.

Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.

I bought the Kaplan 05-06 review book and the whole first half are all the stratagies they are teaching in the review course plus 2 comprehensive tests int he book and an online question bank with 2k questions or so. From what I hear from my classmates I am getting the same thing for 25 dollars that they are getting for 300...BUT I do have to teach them to myself.

Received it friday and love it.

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