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Wednesday, June 7th
The idea for Manhattan Prep came about in 2000 when Zeke Vanderhoek, a Teach For America alumnus and Yale graduate, wanted to find better resources for students studying for tests such as the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, SAT/ACT, and EA. Vanderhoek started scouting the best teachers for course studies. His goal was to have the best and most accomplished educators in order for students to achieve academic success.
Expert teachers
Teachers who work for Manhattan Prep have scored in the 99th percentile in whatever test they are instructing for. We like the idea of such high-quality test prep services, but we wish they made it easier to see exactly what was offered on their platform and how much each option costs.
More expensive
Manhattan Prep has reached over 1 million students, taught over 16,000 classes, sold over 1 million books, and served over 190 countries. Their four courses range from $199 - $1,399, so they are one of the more expensive GRE test prep services. Students do have the ability to try out the first 15 lessons of the GRE prep courses that Manhattan prep offers for free. This way, a student gets to feel more comfortable with their decision to purchase the full course if they choose to.
4 GRE test prep options
There are four options for GRE study materials at Manhattan Prep. They include:
Private tutors
In addition to signing up for one of the courses listed, students have the option of paying for a private tutor to go over specific areas of weakness and set individual goals. The cost for this is between $225 and $255 per hour depending on how many hours are needed. Another paid option for students needing a refresher in a specific area would be the Foundations of Math GRE course for $199. This includes 6 hours of instruction, and a big. book of practice problems, the official guide to the GRE, 6 online practice tests, and a syllabus. Students will choose from the available schedules and tune into the online lectures.
Freebies
Manhattan Prep not only provides paid study plans, but you'll be happy to know that there are some freebies to take advantage of as well. There is a free GRE practice test, GRE flashcards to help with vocab skills, a mobile app for on-the-go studying, and study guide plans. Although these aren't all that would be required for succeeding on the GRE, they are sure to give a taste for the full Manhattan Prep platform as well as some added assistance for students dipping their toes into GRE test prep.
Experienced instructors
We really like that all the instructors at Manhattan Prep are extremely qualified. The fact that all instructors scored in the 99th percentile on the GRE means they will have much knowledge to impart to students as well as tips and tricks for getting a good score.
Enthusiastic student reviews
Students have great things to say about the instructors, course material, and their performance after using the GRE test prep from Manhattan Prep. There is almost nothing negative to be found about their services, which is unusual for any company. We are very surprised to find that the Better Business Bureau (BBB) only gave Manhattan Prep a D+ rating. Typically, we would be leery of a company with such a low rating, however the customer satisfaction makes us quite confident in Manhattan Prep. At the time of the review, the BBB low rating was the result of 1 bad unanswered complaint related to a customer who bought the material used. Regardless, Manhattan Prep has earned one of our highest ratings among GRE test prep services.
For students hoping to get into specific schools and programs, their performance on the GRE is important. Having to retake this test for a higher score is both expensive and time consuming.
Each GRE test costs around $205 and scores are sent to the designated schools chosen by the student. Test takers will want to be prepared by reviewing all relevant content so they can be confident on test day and get a GRE test score that will open educational doors for them.
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test required for admission for many graduate schools in the U.S. and Canada. It was first established in 1936 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Essentially, the score that a student receives on the GRE measures the student's readiness for graduate or business school.
In this 3 1/2-hour test, students are tested on their abstract thinking skills in the areas of vocabulary, mathematics, and analytical writing. The test scores are sent to graduate schools to help them with admission decisions. Students are assessed in their algebra, arithmetic, geometry, grammar, and multi-source data analysis skills. The GRE is a long test, so it's not something that students will want to have to retake multiple times.
The best way to secure a high GRE score is to study all the relevant content ahead of time so you know what to expect. This might come in the form of watching videos, working with a tutor, taking practice tests, and answering practice questions. There are many online resources that offer all of these things specifically for students taking the GRE. Most of these programs come at a cost, but it will be worth it when you receive a satisfying test score.
There are a few GRE test prep services to choose from out there. Before buying a membership for one of them, we suggest you keep the following criteria in mind:
To help you find the best GRE test prep service, TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked a variety of options. We hope this information helps you feel confident and successful when you take the GRE!
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