- Joined
- Aug 27, 2013
- Messages
- 208
- Reaction score
- 51
IT'S FINALLY OVER!!!
I've been reading so many breakdowns for so long, I wanted to contribute to the SDN community.
AA: 25
TS: 23
PAT: 22
Background: Incoming junior at a top 25 university. Still deciding on my major, but it's between global health or economics, so as you can tell, not a very strong science background. I studied practically 9 weeks. Maybe 3-4 hours a day for the first month and a half, then cranked it up to 6-9 hours a day for the remainder. As for materials, I used a little of CDP, Bootcamp, and Destroyer 2012. I must also add that I took the 2007 test a week before my actual test (my 2009 copy didn't come on time lol) and it was much easier than the actual test.
I was also so tired of studying that I actually moved my test 2 days in advance just to get it over with. No regrets with that!
PAT (22): I did maybe 2 tests on CDP to learn what PAT was like, then just split up Bootcamp tests throughout the remaining time. Some days I would just do generators, other days I would do a full test. I actually ended up only doing 9/10 of the tests once I couldn't break 20's. Like others have said, Bootcamp PAT will prepare you well. I was ticked off today since the actual DAT sometimes didn't even follow size proportions.
Bootcamp scores: 17, 19, 20, 19, 19, 20, 20, 20
QR (27): I've always been good at math, and yeah Bootcamp is harder than the actual DAT but not by much. My guideline for QR was: if it's taking you more than 10 seconds to realize what you have to do, move on then go back. Most QR problems should not require "critical" thinking. Destroyer helped a lot, so I would highly recommend it.
Bootcamp scores: 24, 24, 27, 23, 20 (test 5 was ridiculous)
Bio (22): So I knew a basic foundation of biology going in - how all the systems worked, common concepts and whatnot. Destroyer will help you so much. My actual DAT has so many oddly specific questions that, honestly, required both reasoning + guessing + vague memory of one detail on one page in the entire biology textbook. It was terrible, and I honestly thought I failed right after SNS. Bootcamp is a great way to test yourself here!
Bootcamp scores: 22, 22, 21, 18, 22
GC (27) and OC (23): Destroyer will guide you and really teach you everything. Do all of Destroyer twice. Do all of BC twice. I did not use Chad's videos at all.
Bootcamp GC scores: 22, 26, 30, 26, 20
Bootcamp OC scores: 20, 22, 19, 29, 23
Overall notes: Honestly, compared to what I saw in the MCAT and doing a few tests there prior to switching to pre-med, the DAT is not too hard of a test. If you know your stuff, you will do well. If you don't really know your stuff, your score will tell. It's pure memorization + knowing the steps/methods; nothing really requires critical thinking so don't overthink anything! Study very hard if you want a good score very badly. Feel free to ask me any questions.
I've been reading so many breakdowns for so long, I wanted to contribute to the SDN community.
AA: 25
TS: 23
PAT: 22
Background: Incoming junior at a top 25 university. Still deciding on my major, but it's between global health or economics, so as you can tell, not a very strong science background. I studied practically 9 weeks. Maybe 3-4 hours a day for the first month and a half, then cranked it up to 6-9 hours a day for the remainder. As for materials, I used a little of CDP, Bootcamp, and Destroyer 2012. I must also add that I took the 2007 test a week before my actual test (my 2009 copy didn't come on time lol) and it was much easier than the actual test.
I was also so tired of studying that I actually moved my test 2 days in advance just to get it over with. No regrets with that!
PAT (22): I did maybe 2 tests on CDP to learn what PAT was like, then just split up Bootcamp tests throughout the remaining time. Some days I would just do generators, other days I would do a full test. I actually ended up only doing 9/10 of the tests once I couldn't break 20's. Like others have said, Bootcamp PAT will prepare you well. I was ticked off today since the actual DAT sometimes didn't even follow size proportions.
Bootcamp scores: 17, 19, 20, 19, 19, 20, 20, 20
QR (27): I've always been good at math, and yeah Bootcamp is harder than the actual DAT but not by much. My guideline for QR was: if it's taking you more than 10 seconds to realize what you have to do, move on then go back. Most QR problems should not require "critical" thinking. Destroyer helped a lot, so I would highly recommend it.
Bootcamp scores: 24, 24, 27, 23, 20 (test 5 was ridiculous)
Bio (22): So I knew a basic foundation of biology going in - how all the systems worked, common concepts and whatnot. Destroyer will help you so much. My actual DAT has so many oddly specific questions that, honestly, required both reasoning + guessing + vague memory of one detail on one page in the entire biology textbook. It was terrible, and I honestly thought I failed right after SNS. Bootcamp is a great way to test yourself here!
Bootcamp scores: 22, 22, 21, 18, 22
GC (27) and OC (23): Destroyer will guide you and really teach you everything. Do all of Destroyer twice. Do all of BC twice. I did not use Chad's videos at all.
Bootcamp GC scores: 22, 26, 30, 26, 20
Bootcamp OC scores: 20, 22, 19, 29, 23
Overall notes: Honestly, compared to what I saw in the MCAT and doing a few tests there prior to switching to pre-med, the DAT is not too hard of a test. If you know your stuff, you will do well. If you don't really know your stuff, your score will tell. It's pure memorization + knowing the steps/methods; nothing really requires critical thinking so don't overthink anything! Study very hard if you want a good score very badly. Feel free to ask me any questions.
Last edited:
