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Old 11-04-2009, 09:03 AM   #1
hkim1026
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Default Anybody heard of verbal virtuoso?


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has anyone heard of or tried verbal virtuoso?
i found it on the website, and i dont know if it works as it promised.
please give me some insight if you have thanks!
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Old 11-04-2009, 10:36 AM   #2
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Originally Posted by hkim1026 View Post
has anyone heard of or tried verbal virtuoso?
i found it on the website, and i dont know if it works as it promised.
please give me some insight if you have thanks!
Searching here came up with no hits, which probably means it's not that good. The problem with verbal reasoning products, is that there are several magic bullets being advertised for a section of the exam that takes work and practice more than anything. Stick to the ones that get the best feedback. EK verbal gets a great deal of love around these parts, so it's pretty safe to assume that everything else is chasing EK in verbal.
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Old 11-05-2009, 02:05 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by hkim1026 View Post
has anyone heard of or tried verbal virtuoso?
i found it on the website, and i dont know if it works as it promised.
please give me some insight if you have thanks!
Are you talking about http://verbal-virtuoso.com?

It looks very shady to say the least. Unfortunately, many people lack street smarts, and get taken advantage of by crooks and pranksters. Here aer some reasons I'd be suspicious of this website:

1) First of all, just look at the website itself - if it has 100% money back guarantee plastered all over the front page, that should raise your suspicions.

2) They give testimonials on the same front page of the website. Okay, this might be legit, but have you ever seen testimonials posted with a photograph of the individual also? It looks like those photos were obtained by google image search.

3) Scroll down to the bottom - the website is privately owned by someone named Tanvir Fayaz Kabir. It also says this website is privately hosted through Microsoft Office Live. So unless this guy is really an MCAT guru who is producing this MCAT prep material single handedly, it's very questionable.

4) Note how there is VERY little info given on what you are actually buying.

5) Click on Contact Us- and you'll see an address. Seems fair enough right? Put this address into Google Maps, and you'll see it's just a private residence on a dead end lane... doesn't look like a corporation to me.

Always do a little investigative work to avoid getting ripped off.
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Old 11-05-2009, 10:35 PM   #4
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Hey friends,

My name is Tanvir Kabir, and I am the author of Verbal Virtuoso. I just noticed these comments about my MCAT verbal workbook, which I wrote myself and have been teaching to my own students through my own MCAT course (www.MCATelite.com) for the past year. Thought I'd respond to some of these comments:


1) First of all, just look at the website itself - if it has 100% money back guarantee plastered all over the front page, that should raise your suspicions.

Yes....I provide a 100% money back guarantee because my technique has consistently improved the MCAT verbal score of just about every one of my own MCAT students. That's right, 100% money back guarantees are a good thing when you're selling an effective product! I'm confident enough in this workbook that I'm more than happy to offer anyone their money back if their verbal score cannot improve after completing this workbook along with its four full-length MCAT verbal exams.

2) They give testimonials on the same front page of the website. Okay, this might be legit, but have you ever seen testimonials posted with a photograph of the individual also? It looks like those photos were obtained by google image search.

It's illegitimate to post a picture with a testimonial? Haha seriously? I was granted permission from a few of my students to post their image with their testimonials...that's because they were extremely happy with this verbal technique and were willing to openly describe their satisfaction.

3) Scroll down to the bottom - the website is privately owned by someone named Tanvir Fayaz Kabir. It also says this website is privately hosted through Microsoft Office Live. So unless this guy is really an MCAT guru who is producing this MCAT prep material single handedly, it's very questionable.

Yup, that's my name! I love Microsoft Small Business Live...I use it for my MCAT course website as well!

And yes, as a matter of fact, I am an MCAT guru who single-handedly wrote this workbook. I scored a 38 on my first and only official MCAT exam and have been instructing my own MCAT students for almost two years. I've had students score 13s and 14s on their MCAT verbal using my technique.

4) Note how there is VERY little info given on what you are actually buying.

You're buying a workbook that contains a powerful reading technique and four verbal practice exams to practice on, as well as troubleshoot guides to help you diagnose and improve upon your weaknesses.

5) Click on Contact Us- and you'll see an address. Seems fair enough right? Put this address into Google Maps, and you'll see it's just a private residence on a dead end lane... doesn't look like a corporation to me.

That's where I live!!!



Good luck with your studies my friends!


Tanvir Fayaz Kabir
www.MCATelite.com
www.verbal-virtuoso.com

Last edited by Verbal Virtuoso; 11-05-2009 at 10:54 PM.
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Old 11-05-2009, 10:56 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by Verbal Virtuoso View Post
Hey friends,

My name is Tanvir Kabir, and I am the author of Verbal Virtuoso. I just noticed these comments about my MCAT verbal workbook, which I wrote myself and have been teaching to my own students through my own MCAT course (www.MCATelite.com) for the past year. Thought I'd respond to some of these comments:


1) First of all, just look at the website itself - if it has 100% money back guarantee plastered all over the front page, that should raise your suspicions.

Yes....I provide a 100% money back guarantee because my technique has consistently improved the MCAT verbal score of just about every one of my own MCAT students. That's right, 100% money back guarantees are a good thing when you're selling an effective product! I'm confident enough in this workbook that I'm more than happy to offer anyone their money back if their verbal score cannot improve after completing this workbook along with its four full-length MCAT verbal exams.

2) They give testimonials on the same front page of the website. Okay, this might be legit, but have you ever seen testimonials posted with a photograph of the individual also? It looks like those photos were obtained by google image search.

It's illegitimate to post a picture with a testimonial? Haha seriously? I was granted permission from a few of my students to post their image with their testimonials...that's because they were extremely happy with this verbal technique and were willing to openly describe their satisfaction.

3) Scroll down to the bottom - the website is privately owned by someone named Tanvir Fayaz Kabir. It also says this website is privately hosted through Microsoft Office Live. So unless this guy is really an MCAT guru who is producing this MCAT prep material single handedly, it's very questionable.

Yup, that's my name! I love Microsoft Small Business Live...I use it for my MCAT course website as well!

And yes, as a matter of fact, I am an MCAT guru who single-handedly wrote this workbook. I scored a 38 on my first and only official MCAT exam and have been instructing my own MCAT students for almost two years. I've had students score 13s and 14s on their MCAT verbal using my technique.

4) Note how there is VERY little info given on what you are actually buying.

You're buying a workbook that contains a powerful reading technique and four verbal practice exams to practice on, as well as troubleshoot guides to help you diagnose and improve upon your weaknesses.

5) Click on Contact Us- and you'll see an address. Seems fair enough right? Put this address into Google Maps, and you'll see it's just a private residence on a dead end lane... doesn't look like a corporation to me.

That's where I live!!!



Good luck with your studies my friends!


Tanvir Fayaz Kabir
www.MCATelite.com
www.verbal-virtuoso.com
where the hell did he come from
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Old 11-05-2009, 10:58 PM   #6
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where the hell did he come from
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Old 11-05-2009, 11:09 PM   #7
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So Mr. Tanvir Fayaz Kabir, graduated from college in 2008, and has already published an MCAT prep book which claims "No other MCAT preparatory service in the country guarantees such a high score!" (and of course, charges equivalently)

Kaplan should hire this guy ASAP - could help their verbal.
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Old 11-07-2009, 03:09 AM   #8
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haha. "Status: Medical Student"
For someone in medical school...to have the time to create such a website with so much information and maintain it, is pretty impressive. Even more impressive, is finding and replying to a thread about your product the very next day.

I don't really care if your story is real or some scam. But, just a heads up, most credit cards only have a 90 day (like mines), some have 6 months and very very few have one year dispute periods. So irregardless of any money back guarantees posted on websites if it's outside the period your CC won't dispute the charge if the site says no to a refund.

Basically anything you purchase online has a money back guarantee, but very few get their money back because (1) they have strict rules about when you can call and ask for a refund, when it has to be postmarked, etc. and (2) it's guarantee period is longer than most CC dispute periods. (kind of like those lifetime warranties, "if your product breaks we'll replace it", but you realize the company went out of business a few months after you bought your thing) and worst all (3) the email/number you call to get a return, they never reply/pickup
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Old 11-07-2009, 08:01 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by hiiiEEE View Post
haha. "Status: Medical Student"
For someone in medical school...to have the time to create such a website with so much information and maintain it, is pretty impressive. Even more impressive, is finding and replying to a thread about your product the very next day.

I don't really care if your story is real or some scam. But, just a heads up, most credit cards only have a 90 day (like mines), some have 6 months and very very few have one year dispute periods. So irregardless of any money back guarantees posted on websites if it's outside the period your CC won't dispute the charge if the site says no to a refund.

Basically anything you purchase online has a money back guarantee, but very few get their money back because (1) they have strict rules about when you can call and ask for a refund, when it has to be postmarked, etc. and (2) it's guarantee period is longer than most CC dispute periods. (kind of like those lifetime warranties, "if your product breaks we'll replace it", but you realize the company went out of business a few months after you bought your thing) and worst all (3) the email/number you call to get a return, they never reply/pickup
I will save you all time and money. Just go to amazon and buy EK 101. Study diligently and use common sense / post game analysis.

Verbal prep has no one greater than this.
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Old 11-07-2009, 02:37 PM   #10
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i wouldn't risk it. Stick to the more well known prep
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Old 11-08-2009, 05:40 PM   #11
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Friends,

The money-back guarantee I offer on the Verbal Virtuoso workbook is simply for the MCAT test-taker's security. I offer it so students have the option of getting their money back if the technique and workbook fail to help. If you all think it amounts to a scam, then do stick to what you're doing. But I took advantage of this reading technique, which helped me score a 12 on the verbal section of my own MCAT (and I performed horribly on my SAT reading comprehension), as well as the students who've already used the Verbal Virtuoso technique and scored 11s, 12s, 13s, and even 14s (I haven't heard of a 15 yet!). And I finished my official verbal section with nearly 8 minutes left on the clock, which allowed me to check every one of my answers.

What I offer in this workbook is completely different than what's offered in EK101. I offer a reading technique that will help the test-taker analyze every sentence of every verbal passage on the basis of two important questions, which helps the reader grasp the author's primary message to the reader in a highly focused manner. If anyone needs extra practice, I would highly recommend them to pick up the EK101 to practice the Verbal Virtuoso technique (or the online AAMC exams from e-mcat.com, as I mention in my workbook). When I studied for my own MCAT, I used my technique as I practiced through EK101, and I highly praise Orsay for his quality work. It is truly wonderful practice.

For those wondering how I have time to read this forum as a medical student....I've deferred from medical school for two years and am working on and supporting a number of projects, including cancer research. In fact as I mention in the workbook, a significant portion of the workbook's proceeds will be donated to an emerging and highly potential cancer research project, that's described in one of the verbal practice passages contained in the workbook. The cure is certainly near.

I hope you all choose to spend your time wisely and work to improve our common good. Let's strive to help each other as we develop into compassionate physicians. That's one of my primary reasons for offering a money back guarantee on this workbook, especially when times are hard and people need all the help they get. And they should get what they pay for. But it's important to note that I CAN offer this guarantee because I know this reading technique works (with ample practice of course).

For fifty dollars, I'm offering any MCAT test-taker an improvement in their MCAT verbal score, or they can choose to get their money back if that's what they want. That sounds like an amazing opportunity to me, especially for those struggling with the MCAT verbal.

Good luck to everyone in your studies!

Tanvir Fayaz Kabir
www.verbal-virtuoso.com

Last edited by Verbal Virtuoso; 11-08-2009 at 07:19 PM.
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Old 11-19-2009, 02:04 PM   #12
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I was actually hesitant to purchase it at first, but I bought it to check it out. Although it looks like it would be a scam, it actually isn't. It's true that it does give you a technique that's different from PR, BR and EK. I think it emphasizes more on reading comprehension. So, if you've got issues trying to comprehend dense passages, this may work for you. If you haven't purchased PR's verbal review, you should buy it to supplement verbal virtuoso.

And Tanvir, you should really look into updating the look of your website if you want more people to trust your work.
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