For those who used Kaplan and then moved on to destroyer:

1. Does Kaplan provide a good foundation needed to work through destroyer? (many people voice concerns that Kaplan falls a little short and thus it takes longer to go through destroyer)

2. Did you find that the transition from Kaplan to working destroyer problems confused you? (i.e. is it better just to stick to Kaplan's subject tests etc for practice?)

Any other advice is appreciated

Well im no expert but for one this might be best on the DAT board.

but two, im only on the bio section and I think kaplan has covered everything im reading in destroyer. It is solidifying the information but it doesnt really give the explanations like I am used to reading, it sums up the info and says know 1. 2. 3. but its not as detailed which can be nice, its really nice after having gone through all the kaplan bio. Its a quicker faster sum up of what they think you need to know. I did all kaplans bio subject tests twice and now im working on destroyer. I think doing kaplan and then destroyer would be the best way to go pesonally.

Destroyer + Campbell and Reece (or any other text book):thumbup::thumbup:

When you start doing destroyer you will feel like you were wasting your time with Kaplan blue book. It just skims the details and doesn't explain things well. However if you don't have any foundation you will be lost in destroyer. Like the poster above me said you must supplement your bio with a good text. I am also using campbells and its great for the details except for species classifications :cool:


However the subject tests are nice as they pinpoint where you are weak but they too are easier than destroyer.

When you start doing destroyer you will feel like you were wasting your time with Kaplan blue book. It just skims the details and doesn't explain things well. However if you don't have any foundation you will be lost in destroyer. Like the poster above me said you must supplement your bio with a good text. I am also using campbells and its great for the details except for species classifications :cool:


However the subject tests are nice as they pinpoint where you are weak but they too are easier than destroyer.


Does that only apply to bio? (i.e. does Kaplan gchem/ochem provide a good foundation for destroyer)

I didn't truly grasp most of the chem aspects till I started doing Destroyer. I however learn best by solving problems as opposed to just scanning over reactions written out. If you can absorb all the information just by looking over concepts and how other people pushed electrons then Kaplan can provide a decent base and for some it was all they needed. Back when taking orgo chem there were people who could just watch the lecturer push the electrons around and they were set for the test, I on the other hand had to write out the reactions 30-50 times to understand it fully.

For those who used Kaplan and then moved on to destroyer:

1. Does Kaplan provide a good foundation needed to work through destroyer? (many people voice concerns that Kaplan falls a little short and thus it takes longer to go through destroyer)

2. Did you find that the transition from Kaplan to working destroyer problems confused you? (i.e. is it better just to stick to Kaplan's subject tests etc for practice?)

Any other advice is appreciated

if you just relay on Kaplan, when start Destroyer, you will got shocked specialy for Bio. it looks you know nothing about Bio, and you know a little about organic chemistry. just remeber Destroyer is much harder and try make you master of Organic( in my opinion Bio in Destroyer is so Detail and important points from Dr Romano view). But is still good because it motivates you study harder.
Good luck :thumbup:

I found that the Kaplan book has a lot of information thats good for a base, but the Destroyer goes a step above it and requires a much better understanding of the material.
The questions in Destroyer are slightly more difficult, but thats exactly the level you need for the DAT.