Is Kaplan overrated?

jadu1106 · Jul 26, 2008

thanks for posting. i also agree with you in that kaplan is overrated. kaplan only stresses on test taking strategies, but to take the nclex and sucessfully pass, you have to know content and patho as well, which imo they lack to stress upon. i do not even recommend kaplan to anyone.

[color=#2f4f4f]i also have the book exam cram and while it has good questions on the cd, i really love the saunders book. it explains all the rationales and is concise, information you will use and retain and learn from, plus on the cd, you can answer questions based on topic, etc.

[color=#2f4f4f]:)

CrystalClear75, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2008

I think Kaplan is good based on my experience(I've taken the online course and thought it was worth the money) and reading many of the posts here of people who took the exam and that said that Kaplan questions come very close to what the exam is like.

Harley Quinn · Jul 26, 2008

I used Kaplan twice. I have taken the NCLEX and failed the exam twice. The course might help with strategies??? It does work well for some. I guess we all need to assess what kind of learning style fits our own unique individualized style. The Kaplan course lacks in regards to a real content review. I do not really care for the course book. I have started to study for round three of my goal to pass the NCLEX and this time I am going to use the Saunders book and Suzanne's Plan. I have looked through the Saunders book and I really like it for a content based review. I have to try a new path since Kaplan did not work for me and I can not afford another $499.00. So I feel like it was a waste of $1000.00 for me! The Kaplan course is very expensive. The books are not really a great review book in my opinion. The on-line test/quiz are good but I am not sure that I was really learning anything from them except for maybe becoming more comfortable taking tests on the computer. Hope this helps at least a little.

Good luck and Happy studying :wink2:

jadu1106 · Jul 26, 2008

i used kaplan twice. i have taken the nclex and failed the exam twice. the course might help with strategies??? it does work well for some. i guess we all need to assess what kind of learning style fits our own unique individualized style. the kaplan course lacks in regards to a real content review. i do not really care for the course book. i have started to study for round three of my goal to pass the nclex and this time i am going to use the saunders book and suzanne's plan. i have looked through the saunders book and i really like it for a content based review. i have to try a new path since kaplan did not work for me and i can not afford another $499.00. so i feel like it was a waste of $1000.00 for me! the kaplan course is very expensive. the books are not really a great review book in my opinion. the on-line test/quiz are good but i am not sure that i was really learning anything from them except for maybe becoming more comfortable taking tests on the computer. hope this helps at least a little.
good luck and happy studying :wink2:

i couldn't agree with you more!!! i also have finished suzanne's 1st tip and will be starting her 2nd tip around august 15. it took me a month to finish her 1st tip, but it was a great review. the saunders book, 4th edition, is wonderful.

[color=#483d8b]happy studying to you as well!!! :)

Jack_ICU · Jul 26, 2008

I passed the NCLEX with 75 questions w/o using Kaplan.

I agree with you that Kaplan may be overrated. However I think that it all comes to a personal preference. Many people said that Kaplan helped them passing the NCLEX. I mostly used Saunders and I passed with 75 questions. Hard to tell what works or doesn't work. I think many factors play a role such as the preparation during nursing school, study habit, and others.

Check my thread on the same topic: https://allnurses.com/forums/f197/kaplan-overrated-318875.html

mommy2three2 · Jul 26, 2008

I did not use Kaplan for th NCLEX but rather another test I have taken and I was very unimpressed with the whole shebang. Overall, my scores did not rise after taken Kaplan but in one section (and I think that had to do in a large part with the grad classes I had taken). But, what really turned me off is that I was asked to come back as an instructor and let me tell you that I did not make it because I could not keep within the time limits for a page (when I was trying to explain Ochem SN1 rxns to people who were there to teach the LSAT). From my experience on both sides of the coin, it is very formulaic and they do not give you time to ask questions, rather they point you to a book or one of the zillion and one resources they have. Personally, I will not use them when it comes to NCLEX prep, I think I can do better with a study group by myself.

kinajp · Jul 26, 2008

I LOVE KAPLAN! I took the NCLEX in '06 and passed on w/ 75 questions...finished the exam in 1hr 40mins. But as previous poster wrote, alot of other factors determine your success on NCLEX. Preparation from school, study habits, learning needs, etc...

LuvaBSNRN, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2008

For those of you that have used Kaplan to study for the NCLEX... What did you think?
Was it worth the $$?
I passed the NCLEX w/out using Kaplan mainly because I didn't have the cash for it. My classmates that used Kaplan seemed just as unsure and stressed out about the test as I did.
I thought EXAM CRAM was the best book with the hardest questions and it was easy to read. So tell us.... what do you think about Kaplan?

IMO I feel that Kaplan really helped me pass the exam (which I took 7/23 and found out I PASSED 7/25 :nurse: )!!! As I was told from other RNs, you don't really need to focus on content (unless it is absolutely an area that you are really really WEAK in), but rather how to answer the questions and this is what Kaplan focuses on!!! If you can identify the topic of the question and then sort through the rest of the strategies that apply, you will get the question right!!!! I feel that on the test, as a nursing student, you have seen the content before (with the exception of meds) and you know the material. I was really surprised that there were so many conditions that I was somewhat familar with and could use the strategies and feel comfortable with my choice being the best answer.

Everyone has their own preference and you really have to find what works for you....Kaplan is not for everyone, but it really worked for me!!!

GL to you and I wish you all the best :)

elefantastic · Jul 26, 2008

i did not take the kaplan course, though a couple of my classmates did. we had a review course at the end of our last semester, which i thought was enough. i passed the nclexrn this week with 75 questions having not taken kaplan. i think if you did well enough in school and you do enough practice questions, you will pass on your own. those i know who did take kaplan felt just as stressed after the test as those who did not.

:loveya:

mnknight · Jul 26, 2008

So what type of person would benefit from taking the Kaplan course??? Im looking for a live review so if this wouldn't be good does any one know of others?

Go Green Girl Jr. · Jul 26, 2008

I havent done any of the Kaplan courses or anything, just the Quiz Trainers and so far i've been very frustrated with the questions. I feel as though they don't give enough information in the question to determine the answer. Also, I dont think the rationales are helpful at all. For instance, one question asked about a chest tube that wasnt draining, but didnt give any info on how long the chest tube was in place (so how is one to determine if its because there is a kink, or reexpansion has occurred?) Right now I'm just very frustrated with these questions! :banghead: