Which one -- Kaplan or Falcon or Pass Program???

[Baby Robbins]

Hi,
I'm trying to decide between these programs. Can someone please tell me how their experience was and if they would recommend the program? Thanks.
BR

[Unregistered]

Dear BR

I think these review courses are a lot like medical schools - some are better than others. I took the step 1 Falcon review last year & it wasn't that good as it was nothing more than 7 weeks at a bad hotel w/bad meals. I exchange emails w/a med student who took Falcon this year & he wasn't happy w/it at all & would not go back to them for step 2. In fact our experiences were similar. I would suggest that you do a search of the posts about Falcon & Kaplan by different people on this & other forums regarding this topic of the different step 1 reviews & make your decision.

I think you would be safer w/Kaplan because they have been around a lot longer doing this type of thing. Look at their reference material - its pretty good. Kaplan seems to be the choice of most of us. Its tried and proven. You also could have Goljan to teach path if you signed up w/the right review city. Their instructors just seems to be better. Have you thought about getting the Kapaln videos & review it yourself?

Of course, you can't please everyone & there will always be those who are unhappy. We can't all pass on the 1st try. Good luck w/your decision & I hope this answers some of your questions. I'm not trying to bash Falcon & I'm not affiliated w/Kaplan, but just trying to answer your question.

[Cadusma]

I think it depends on what type of student you are.

PASS Program
If you really want to understand the physiology and concepts behind medicine, then choose the PASS Program. This is a pattern-based learning approach. They provide a very nice housing package, for an additional charge, along with the course.

Kaplan
If you understand the physiology and concepts, but are weak on details, then go with Kaplan. Kaplan will provide you with text books that cover, at least, 90% of what you'll be expected to know for the exam. However, you may only be see 40% of that material on your exam. Which means a lot of extra studying. You may have to find housing on your own, but they have many more branch locations across the country.

Falcon
Falcon has had controversial reviews by many, and it might have something to do with inconsistencies between their professors. I can't comment too much about this program, but I do know of several study buddies who had tremendous success with the Falcon (Dallas) approach.

You can learn a lot from these programs. I think the best thing about these programs is that they get you focused on studying. In all cases, I would advise that you consult with graduates from these programs before making any firm decisions.

[gbono2]

I personally am using the pass videos for my third try. I'm very pleased w/the basic approach used to instruct the material. I feel that if this is any representation of the live program , then it should be a worthwhile experience. The videos have clarified many concepts for me.

Kaplan has been around for a long time. So by default 1 would assume they have lasted this long because their material & program works.

There is another review out there that I just learned about. It is called Topper. They guarantee your money back if you don't pass step 1 after taking their review. The review is a little expensive, but who cares about the cost if you pass.

[Cadusma]

For those using, or thinking about using, the Pass Program video lecture ...

Successful graduates of the Pass Program recommend supplementing the program with at least two things:
1) First Aid for the USMLE Step1
2) Plenty of questions (NMS, Kaplan Qbank, Kaplan Qbok, Rapid Review, BSS, etc.)

[Md2b22]

You want to have a review and you do not want to redo the whole medical school again! I guess any review that is longer than 10 days is just a waste of time. Has anyone tried Yuol's company or Northwestern Medical Review? Both of them offer short-term and focused courses. I am opting to select one of the two but just don't know which one to pick--any suggestions?

[gbono2]

I don't know about NW. I've got Youel's review on tape. I don't like it. He gets too tied up in his mneumonics. They are unusable nothing you can easily relate to. Now, his questions book is good. I'm going to put his tapes & books on Ebay real soon. According to Dr. Youel, he ahsn't changed his prep materials since 2002. He is planning an update in late 2005 or 2006.

Hope this helps.

[md2b22]

Thank U gbono2! I decided to enrol with Northwestern. I will share my experience after I finish the course on August 22. Thank you so much!!!!!

[Unregistered]

I went to school in Guadalajara. They did not do a great job in preparing me. I took step 1 and got a 151. I took the falcon program and got a 203. It worked for me.

Someone wrote about the hotel not being nice. I thought it was really nice.

[Unregistered]

I see you have put this on some other forums. I'll bet you don't even go to med school in Mexico. In fact, I bet you are a falcon plant trying to lure someone into taking the review. Get a life & quit lying to people on these forums by writing this deceitful trash.

[Unregistered]

Actually I did go to school in Guadalajara.

And I now help teach there. If you go to Guadalajara, you know who I am. If you don't, then you have no idea what you are talking about.

Real current students at Guadalajara know me, know my experience, and know that I am employeed by the school. Our school does not do a good job preparing students for Step 1 or Step 2. That's why I went to Falcon. Now that I have, I am 100% ECFMG certified, am working for the school in the International Program, and am getting interviews for residency.

[ejfr4c]

Have you figured out which one you're doing?
I'm also deciding between the two. I know I need a lot of structure, which is why i was leaning towards falcon. But i live closer to Pass, and it's a lot more convenient. Plus, my friends liked it a lot.
I've read all the comments on the two programs and I'm nowhere closer to a decision so I thought I'd ask someone who is working on the same decision. If you dont mind, what are you leaning towards and why?

[Baadshah]

How about the Princton Review? Do they help by any chance?

[Baadshah]

Have you figured out which one you're doing?
I'm also deciding between the two. I know I need a lot of structure, which is why i was leaning towards falcon. But i live closer to Pass, and it's a lot more convenient. Plus, my friends liked it a lot.
I've read all the comments on the two programs and I'm nowhere closer to a decision so I thought I'd ask someone who is working on the same decision. If you dont mind, what are you leaning towards and why?


I do know that people had used the USMLE World as a major tool and they did good on step 1

[ejfr4c]

Yeah Baadshah,
Thanks for responding. I have Q bank and when I'm not studying for school, I use that. it's good. Falcon provides students with USMLE world and I've heard that's good too. I'm not really worried about being able to answer the questions--my school kinda' teaches to the boards. But I have a hard time retaining information. And if i dont have the information, then I can't think through the questions. That's why I'm doing a prep course...

Looking forward to retirement!

[sopher]

By far stay far, far, away from Falcon, the instructors were less than adequate overall, the resident who did step2 peds prep was awesome, but most everyone else sucked, so keep in mind who is teaching you, any program should be "okay" since most go in there with the mindset of studying hard, and plenty of these people and myself would have been okay no matter where we went because all of these programs provided structure, but I can tell you by far Pass was the best, felt small, and most personalized, Dr. ******* is good at keeping you involved and on your toes, Kaplan is not bad, a little crazy on details, at times too much so, ******* and Pass emphasize relationships. Falcon was just bad, the guy who runs it does not even have his Boards from what I have heard, I would stay far away from that one.

[bpoichan]

when did you take the falcon program sopher?
Goljan seems to have joined the falcon program and that will boost their reputation. Maybe falcon has improved in its teaching.. who knows?

[Share]

Wow im trying to decide whether to take falcon or pass. So i decided to come on here and read some thoughts from you all but I am still puzzled over which one to take. This is a big decision. All the time and money that we invested is worth doing research on which reveiw course is the best in catering to different types of students. I want to know are there more people who have done both falcon or pass? And who has done falcon when Goljan was there.
In the meantime I will be doing more research and if I find something i will let everyone know

[sshieh]

Pathology week is at the end, so maybe next week the people in Dallas will see Dr. Goljan and can tell us if he does show up.

Most of the other instructors are better than good. Quite a few of them are excellent.

[endymion]

Family and friends experiences:

Facon was VERY unprofessional and a MAJOR disaster. The hotel was horrible and the Falon staff was NOT helpful.

PASS absolutely rocked. Better housing and the ability to actually cook in apartments made for better moral and better classes. The MD's/instructors wee WAY better and FAR more accessible. The base price may be a little higher bus you can save money in other ways, plus the added study/tutor time is far easier to customize.

[Caerus]

I passed Step 1 with Falcon. I would have taken it again for Step 2, but the dates did not work out so I took Kaplan instead. Both programs were great. I thought Kaplan instructors were much better, but I liked the Falcon books better. Kaplan instructors were fun and engaging and they were experts in their respective fields. Falcon lecturers varied in their ability to teach. However, the Falcon books presented information in a clear and concise manner, while the Kaplan books were extremely verbose. I would make my decision on which course to take based on what type of learner you are (auditory vs visual).

[sshieh]

It's pathology week here at Falcon in Pittsburgh and Dr. Goljan is absolutely great. The hotel is good, but I heard they don't use the same hotel every time. The staff are very helpful and addressed issues quickly. I have also heard bad experiences with Falcon as well, but this year around they seem to have improved.

[ajinder]

This is such a confusing topic.

[kemper6036]

it is......sounds like its a personal preference thing

[Leagrrl]

Well, while I can't speak from experience when it comes to Kaplan's USMLE prep programs, I can tell you that I did shell out a lot of money for their MCAT prep course after making a mediocre score on my exam the first time around, and yet I still managed to earn the EXACT same mediocre score on my second attempt.

Perhaps the instructors they hire to teach the USMLE courses are better skilled or more educated than those teaching their other prep programs, but if I was contemplating shelling out a bunch of money again for a prep course, it probably wouldn't be for a Kaplan course just based on my previous experience.

Of course, everybody's experiences are different, and probably your best option is to inquire about people's experiences at specific locations if you're thinking about taking a live prep course - in particular, at a location near where you live. Just because I feel like the Kaplan program in Charleston was basically worthless and a total waste of money doesn't mean it isn't awesome in Dallas, Pittsburgh, Seattle, etc., etc...

Anyway, best of luck!