Should You Take a Prep Class?

When looking into taking a test prep class, you have a
couple of options. In the United States, Kaplan and The Princeton Review are well-known companies. In Europe,
there are a few more choices. The most prestigious option is Manhattan Review, which
offers courses in London and continental Europe including Germany and Spain.
There is also ClubIvy in
Madrid. Over the recent years, those companies also started to offer online
courses. Some of them only provide canned recorded lessons while others offer
both real-time online instructions and recorded lessons. When you shop around,
look for those good and proven online technology platforms since transmission
speed and voice crispness may have a big impact on your learning
experience!

Test prep classes can be an effective, efficient method of
getting ready for your exam. As competition for top business school admissions
increases, more people are turning to professionals to ensure that they are
prepared for the test. Read the following breakdown of the pros and cons of
attending a prep class. If you do decide to attend a class, be sure to read our
page on how to get the most out of your course!

The Pros
of Attending a Prep Class:

• Test prep classes are an incredible bargain - When you compare the cost of
  the test prep class with the extra amount of money you'll earn by graduating
  from a top business school, you'll realize that the cost of the classes is
  really a drop in the bucket. Average starting compensation at the top 5 business
  schools is over $100,000 (courtesy of U.S. News & World Report). However,
  for graduates of the next tiers, compensation falls dramatically. In fact, most
  of the schools in the top 50 sport compensation in the $60,000-$80,000
  range.
• You're looking at up to a $40,000 difference in
  compensation in just your first year out of school! Furthermore, the gap in
  salary actually increases after that! When you look at it in this light,
  you'll see the courses aren't as expensive as they seem.
• Some test prep courses are so efficient that while you do still have to
  shell out a bit of cash, you don’t have to spend hours every week in the
  classroom. Some of the top test prep companies offer weekend courses that
  prepare you just as well, if not better, than the traditional courses, which are
  spread over many weeks. Look into a weekend course if you’re interested in
  saving time and money, while ensuring your future success.
• Guidance - One of the most important reasons to take a class is that you'll
  have an instructor to show you how to prepare with the right study habits. This
  will be extremely important if you've always been one of those people who
  struggled in any particular area. For example, if algebra has always given you
  nightmares, having someone there to help you can be priceless. Taking a course
  can give you the self-confidence you need to not get discouraged during your
  preparations. And that will help you to shine on exam day!
• Also, self-studying a particular area of the test might not be feasible for
  you especially if you've struggled with either quantitative or qualitative
  problems in the past. It is important to make sure that the person who guides
  you is a professional academic. Learning from the best ensures that you will
  prepare the best.
• Motivation - Taking the GMAT is difficult. Having someone to start you off
  on the right foot and guide you though your preparation can make all the
  difference on the test day. Having someone to turn to, who will answer your
  queries will surely keep you from getting discouraged along the way.
• Everyone studying for the GMAT wants to go to a top business school. And the
  fact is, very few will achieve this goal. Are you willing to let another
  candidate for admissions get a head-start on you? When your decision letter
  comes in the mail, having that extra study-boost could mean the difference
  between admission and rejection.

The Cons of
Attending a Prep Class:

• Will they reveal top-secret techniques? Not all claims made by test prep
  companies should be believed. Pay close attention because what we’re about to
  tell you will make some people at the test prep companies very mad. The techniques that you will learn from Kaplan and the Princeton
  Review's test prep classes are really not much different from what you can get
  by buying the test companies' $35 book. Virtually all of their "secret
  techniques" are revealed in these books and even though the classes might go
  more into depth in certain areas, there is very little new earth-shattering
  material. So, if your reason for taking a class is to get access to testing tips
  that no one else can get, you're probably doing it for the wrong reason.
• Cost – Make sure that any course you decide to take provides you with all
  the practice materials you will need. Some don't provide you with everything.
  You could be looking at well over $200 in expenses in
  addition to the prep class. Just make sure that you select the right
  course so you won’t have to shell out additional cash for things they don't
  provide.

In a perfect world, you would be able to afford all the
materials and the prep class. However, we understand the
budget constraints of most people studying for the GMAT. Heck, that's why we
designed this site!