Is an online course really different than books? Forum

[tina3]

I want to take a prep course this summer with Testmasters, but all of the locations are too far from where I live for me to do the live classes. I see that they have online classes, though. Will taking an online course really be different than getting prep books and studying on my own?

Also, Princeton and Kaplan offer live classes in my area. Is Testmasters online better than Kaplan or Princeton Review live? I'm looking (as is everyone) to raise my score to the 170s.

[Mr.Binks]

It's quite a bit different. You get more in-depth explanations, and online instructors are able to use examples to clarify different concepts that books aren't allowed to. Also, the instructors will allow you to ask them questions if their videos aren't sufficient.

I'd recommend Velocity if you're going to do an online course.

[Br3v]

It's quite a bit different. You get more in-depth explanations, and online instructors are able to use examples to clarify different concepts that books aren't allowed to. Also, the instructors will allow you to ask them questions if their videos aren't sufficient.

I'd recommend Velocity if you're going to do an online course.

The jokes that could be made from telling OP to do velocity instead of test masters lol.

But OP, I didn't take velocity (or any company) but Dave from velocity has helped my prep immensely. He has a big presence on this site. I've looked around velocity stuff a little and everyone on TLS who used it loved it so if your going to do online course, I would agree Velocity would be a good pick.

[TheColonel]

I want to take a prep course this summer with Testmasters, but all of the locations are too far from where I live for me to do the live classes. I see that they have online classes, though. Will taking an online course really be different than getting prep books and studying on my own?

Also, Princeton and Kaplan offer live classes in my area. Is Testmasters online better than Kaplan or Princeton Review live? I'm looking (as is everyone) to raise my score to the 170s.

Just to further muddy the waters here, I took Blueprint's online course and was really impressed by it. Going the book route can work for you but I liked the classes because of the structure, entertaining lessons, and tonnnnns of material in addition to the "in class" problems. If you have any questions about Blueprint ask BP Shinners whose active on this board, a blueprint employee, and LSAT guru.

I'm taking the LSAT tomorrow but have been PTing in the high 170s for the last month. Judging by the wisdom around here, I'd stay away from Kaplan and Princeton Review since most will tell you that they're really for people looking to break into the 160s.

[bp shinners]

If you have any questions about Blueprint ask BP Shinners whose active on this board, a blueprint employee, and LSAT guru.

Posting so that the OP doesn't have to wade through posts to find me and shoot a PM. Tina, if you have any questions about Blueprint's online course, just click the little 'PM' button in the lower left-hand corner of this post, and you can send a message directly to me.

As far as the difference between the courses and the books, a big thing is the amount of material you'll get. If you sign up for an online course, I think all of the major companies send you a full complement of their course books, which are much more extensive and exhaustive than the books you can pick up at B&N. You'll also get all of the question explanations they have available (which varies depending on the company) - that's almost never included in the books (because there would be tens of thousands of pages of them). Access to an instructor can also be helpful in case you run into a concept with which you're struggling.