Originally Posted by txlotusboys37

So, I started out doing the planned out study program listed on this forum, in conjunction with my Kaplan Course. I went day by day using this outline planned for reviewing. I initially used to the KBB to review everything. This I felt was a big mistake when I started doing practice problems...especially with chemistry and math. So after the 1st week of doing practice problems I knew that I needed to review someone. One of my good friends, who is starting at San Antonio in a couple of weeks, said that I should review Ochem and Gchem using Chad's Videos...(and OMG was he right!!! I cannot tell you how well worth the money and time that those videos are for relearning you chemistry!! There's a reason why everyone suggests Chad's videos..that because it works and he amazing! BUT, you have to do your part in making detailed notes!). So, I went through Gchem in 7 days and the Ochem in 6 days...just how he has it planned out on the website. The only video I did not watch as the nomenclature on because I already knew enough from the KBB to do nomenclature. In essence, I had to review for an extra 2 weeks before I restarted my "practice problems" phase again.

After the "reviewing phase" I jumped into "practice problems" phase and things got better! Chemstry now made sense haha...or more than it did. I actually did more problems per day than the study guide from SDN said because that's what I need, personally. I think that in the first week I may have followed the schedule but the last 3 weeks I did more problems than the schedule said. I obviously had to modify the schedule to fit in the Ochem Odyssey...when I went through it for the 1st time, I did 2 chapters a day, and made notes from the questions that I missed. Then I did 3 chapters a day (which some days turned out to be a 100 or so questions for the remaining time.

I studied Mon-Fri and logged, on avg, about 8-10 hours a day. I would focus on Gchem and Math on saturdays (after I go off of work) and I did a practice tests every sunday until my exam. I ended up taking my last practice test 2 days before the real DAT.

So, what does on do the day before the DAT?! Well, what I did was played Black Ops and had a couple of mixed drinks (whiskey and coke)!!! ...I didn't get drunk though...I don't suggest over drinking the day before the exam but if you're going to drink...do it modestly haha

Side note: I do not recommend doing the course. It's a waste of money and time... 3hrs sitting in a room just to hear someone read of the notes that you basically already have, because all you're doing is filling in the blanks, is a total waste of time in my opinion. I didn't feel that I was learning anything after having attended the class 3 or 4 times, so I stopped going! I figured that those 3hrs would be better spent in the library studying!!! The only thing I can say is that the practice were good in preparing you for timing and taking the real DAT (other than in the PAT section...angles and hole punching is hader on the real DAT...this is where CD PAT steps in to help!!!!)

Oh, and another thing... I was originally suppoed to take my DAT during the last week on April but after the first week of the "practice problems" phase I resheduled to give myself and extra 6 weeks (2 weeks for reviewing and 4 weeks for practice problems)...that date ended up being June 14th...it was the best deicision I made. The reason I mention this is to give hope and support to anyone who is struggling. I felt horrible and frustrated after the 1 week of practice problems but I buckled down and kept going. It's a hard and long road but in the end its worth it!