Have you heard of Knewton? I hadn’t, until their ads started appearing all over YouTube. And because I earn a paycheck teaching LSAT and GMAT classes, I thought I better check out the competition.
Coincidentally, Knewton contacted me the very next day. Turns out the good people at Knewton are giving away a free GMAT and a free LSAT course as a part of a back-to-school giveaway (the JD/MBA in me is tickled that there is an opportunity for both prospective law and business school students). Enter here before the September 10th, 2:14EDT deadline.
At this point, I don’t know a ton about Knewton, but I know there are many of you out there that don’t have the money for a prep course, but are too busy, too nervous or too lazy to do the kind of self-prep needed to optimize your score. Enter Knewton’s sweepstakes. What have you got to lose?
Here are the basic marketing points for the Knewton GMAT course (as provided by Knewton, not yours truly):
- Live and interactive web-based classes
- One-on-one attention from world-class GMAT instructors
- 5 full-length CATs created by the architects of the actual GMAT
- Live office hours and 24/7 academic support from GMAT experts
- Hundreds of concept videos
- Flexible 1-year membership
- Guaranteed 50-point score increase
- Price Tag: $690 (Get the course for $590 by clicking here.)
And the data points for the Knewton LSAT course (in Knewton’s language, not mine):
- Live and interactive web-based classes
- One-on-one attention from world-class LSAT instructors
- All 60 LSAT PrepTests
- Live office hours and 24/7 academic support from LSAT experts
- 6,000+ explanations and sketches
- Flexible 1-year membership
- Guaranteed 5-point score increase
- Price Tag: $890 (Get the course for $790 by clicking here.)
Frankly, I don’t find these data points compelling. I’m aware of other competitors offering comperable services for lower prices and with better guarantees. (There is a lower marginal costs associated with “live and interactive web-based classes” and the market price of enrollment in these classes has recently taken a dive). What I do find compelling, at least at first glance, is their human capital. They’ve got a LSAC alumnus working on their leadership team and a small but elite teaching core. But we can’t depend on the website to tell the whole story.
Knewton has been kind enough to offer me the opportunity to “walk through” their materials and report back to y’all in the near future. I look forward to it!
Now go enter their sweepstakes for a chance to win a free course.
*Despite that I hadn’t heard of Newton until just a few days ago, the company was founded in 2008.
Read the full article: New Kid on the Block*