Kaplan Prep Class or Online Manhattan Course? Or...

I think part of the answer is in the question - What is the main motivation for the class? Is it collaboration? Time with instructor? Students?

how is it is different for you from using a textbook?

I took the MGMAT 9 week class prep course and all the online classroom recordings are available to me as part of the package I purchased. They are great but not as great as in class instructors.

In my opinion, unless you really need tips and strategies, one can do just fine with MGMAT + OG books. I mean, MGMAT class really was all about forcing me to study 30-40 hrs every week on homework. Most of the stuff they went over in class was strategy and tips. If you think these in class prep classes are going to teach you everything, including fundamentals, you are mistaken.I found this hard fact after spending $1400 in the course.

So to elaborate on MGMAT - my personal opinions:

* What did I expect from MGMAT 9 week course and was I satisfied with the program?
I thought for $1400 or whatever they charged me, I expected the course to teach me EVERYTHING, including the fundamentals in both math and verbal. However, this wasn't the case. The 9 week course is more about teaching you strategy for GMAT and also to provide overview of each section. You are expected to do all the studying on your own based on their syllubus. BTW - the syllubus is so unrealistic. No way in hell I can work FT and get all the stuff done.

You also get those online classes ($900 or so) as part of the 9 week course. Those recordings are boring and not as effective as class lectures. However, learning the GMAT strategy alone can increase your score by 70 to 100 pts in my opinion. So if that's worth it for you, then take either the online course or in class course. Otherwise, just buy MGMAT books and study by yourself. that's what their syllubus makes you do anyway.

* What's the quality of the lecturer in classes?
My lecturer was top notch. She had Stanford UG and Harvard MBA. She knew what she was teaching and her lectures were vivid and fun most of the time.

If you have time and need to save $$...use books and GMATclub......

Wow 30-40 hours a week? How long did you study for? I just don't have that kind of time throughout the week. I was planning on about a 3-4 month studying period doing about 20 hours a week and then ramping up to 30 or so during the last month of prep.

obviously it depends on how much you need. whats your current baseline gmat score? whats your q and v scores? How much are you aiming for? What do you think your good at and what do you think your bad at?

30-40 hours a week? Sounds like a full-time job! If you can allocate 2 full weeks of intense, full-time studying, I would recommend that. Why? Because consecutive studying will help you easily remember what you studied the day before and internalize the concepts in time for the exam.

For those who can't dedicate sprint-like periods of study time due to other obligations, try to evaluate yourself. You know best how much time you can allocate to studying and how disciplined you are to sticking with that routine.

If you have extremely good study habits---your undergraduate GPA is strong--and you don't really need a strong GMAT score to balance weak academics, then the OG and GMAT Prep software alone can be good enough. However, most students will look for additional assistance spread out between at least 1-3 months, usually more.

Paying for classes is like paying for motivation! Keep an eye out for what's out there and choose what fits your study habits best.

In any case, I would highly recommend consecutive studying as opposed to studying only on Saturdays and Sundays and leaving the weekdays empty. Having said that, since many students are on a schedule that is tight during the weekdays, online prep is the way to go. Keep an open mind when considering your available options!