My
iPod is semi-crammed with
social work exam prep audio. My commute is long. So I've just about
made it through two sets of prep
CDs--
AATBS and
Gerry Grossman.
In brief: The AATBS
approach is to stuff an overwhelming amount of info into a small
set of CDs. A sometimes
maddeningly monotone voice reads off the essentials, 50 minutes at
a time--DSMDiagnosis, Law
& Ethics, etc. A hard listen. But...good for cramming in info
that's likely to come up on the test. Probably worth
re-suffering through right before exam time.
The Gerry Grossman
discs I have are a series of clear, calm, theory-focused
half-hours. Each takes an approach (e.g., Gestalt, Strategic
Family Therapy) and breaks it down by history, assessment,
interventions, etc. There's a pause between each section--a
gentle hand-holding that has little in common with the AATBS stream of facts.
Which is better? Neither, both. Completely
different approaches. If you can get hold of both, do.
Haven't heard the BTA or other course
audio...yet. Please feel free--companies or customers--to
send them my way: socialworkprep [at] gmail.com. Thanks in
advance.
UPDATE: I finally called to talk to an AATBS advisor (who advises
calling the advisors
earlier in the prep process than I did). Also advised:
Listening to the AATBS CDs over and over--as much as 15
times each. The maddening monotone is intentional. They
want you to be able to listen without really listening.
Half-listen while you drive, half-listen while you exercise,
half-listen while you cook...and just let it all soak in.
