I want to wait for my ATT before scheduling Kaplan...

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I would like to schedule Kaplan as close as possible to my actual NCLEX exam date so the information is "Very FRESH" in my mind. It doesn't seem complicated, however, I would just like to hear from your experience if you think doing this will be difficult? Do test dates fill up quickly? How was your Kaplan experience? Any information would be greatly appreciated! Thanks very much!

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Hi - I'm taking the Kaplan course right now, although I haven't received my ATT yet. Yes, the classes in my area filled up pretty quickly, but you can always take their live online classes if you can't find a live class. If you do all the work they tell you to do, it is a lot, and I'm not sure if you want to cram it all in right before you take NCLEX.

Also, either I didn't do enough research or just didn't pay attention, but Kaplan just teaches you their decision tree and how to answer questions based on their strategy. Of course you need to know content but they will not teach you content in the class. All you do in class is answer questions based on their decision tree. If you need help with contest, you are on your own to study from their online video library and their course book.

My one gripe with the class is really the instructor. I feel like she is new and can't answer many of our questions because they are content based. Or the questions are ambiguous, and the instructor is not able to fully explain the question and/or answers and the rationale behind the answers other than reading from the teacher's manual, which many times is not as clear as we would like.

This is just my personal experience so far, and it is not meant to encourage/discourage you from taking the Kaplan course.

Here's my personal opinion to your comment about keeping the contest "fresh" in your mind: the contest will stay "fresh" if you continue to do questions each day. This helps you reinforce what you already know (with the ones you get right), and it helps you learn content that you did not know (with the ones you got wrong).

My school said to do a minimum of 6000 questions prior to taking NCLEX. If you don't start early, I don't know how anyone could do them all the "proper" way by reading through all the rationales.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Tina

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Thank so much - For some reason, I assumed that Kaplan would review questions + rationales with me - I just realized that does seem difficult to do in a couple classes!! I have a couple NCLEX books right now that have many questions, so I guess I will be working through these before Kaplan and while waiting for my ATT.

Very good advice!! Thanks again!

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Also, if you do take Kaplan, there are assignments, tests, and a LARGE review book to read cover-to-cover BEFORE the class begins... Add that to the 1000s of questions in the Qbank to complete after Kaplan but before NCLEX, and I wouldn't suggest waiting for the ATT... it's a lot to do! If you are going to shell out the almost $500, I guess, I wouldn't shortchange yourself by not completing the entire course (especially since it is guaranteed and said to be VERY successful). Just my two cents.

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You will want to schedule some prep time between the course and the test. Give yourself time for the course material to percolate and settle.

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Specializes in Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes.

I took the NCLEX 3 weeks after taking the kaplan course. I didn't schedule my test until after I had finished the classroom part of kaplan. The kaplan instructor will go over your "diagnostic" practice exams and have a one-on-one with you to help you determine when you should consider taking the NCLEX, or at least that is what they did for my class. Good luck :)

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