HELP!!!! Dat done 10/16--avg score..advice needed for a retake

[shvora]

Hello
I took my DAT on 10/16. My prep included
1) Kaplan course + all online material practice tests etc.
2) Schaum Bio book
3) DAT destroyer
4) Dat achiever
5) Top Score
6) Crack the DAT PAT 10 tests
7) Studied entire Barron's entire Book scored over 20 in each section for all tests
8) Cliffton's tests scored over 20 in each section

I did well on last 2 top score Topscore (AA of 21 PAT 21; Reading comprehension 22). On the DAT achiever I got average scores on the 1st test but then on:
2nd test AA 18 Reading Compre 17. QR 20 PAT 17
3rd test AA 18 QR 22 Reading Comp 20; QR 22; PAT 17

NOW on the real DAT taken on 10/16
AA 18
TS 19
GC 19
OC 19 ran out of time with 3 questions left
Bio 19 very very harder than destroyer trust me. I had some cell images to idenstify and DNA expt charts.
QR 16 horrible the questions were mad hard (focal length questions??? a lot of problem solving about 25 or more) and no time
RC 15 ouch ouch 8% that means I sucked really big time. Also I have studied all my life in India though Eng medium of edu...just that I am not used ti stdized tests. I have all A's at RUtgers in expos writing and I have even contributed to teh Scientific writing course there + I am tutoring English reading and writing. This 15 score just doesn't prove my true abilities.

I have over 1000 hrs volunteering as my sis is a dentist and a 3.7 overall GPA and 3.66 sc GPA. I have High Hon BA in Genetics and a year's undergrad research + dental research currently from UMDNJ. I really worked very hard for this test but am very nervous about getting even an interview. Should I retake it in Jan if yes I will have to drop a course from my full time school and will lose my scholarship. My overall package is very good but that RC hurts. Pls advise me how to improve on that and what material should I buy. I am very good with Math but if the questions are going to be out of no where I cannot do anything much. Any advise on teh Math improvement would be good but Math is definitely my strength and the 16 does not reflect that. I really have trouble finishing teh test and now with these scores I am getting nervous with this whole Std ized test taking process. I feel like a helpless person because even if I get a great score Jan is really late I believe. I have appled to more than 43 schools (don't laugh) which shows how bad I want it this year. I am bankrupt guys, please help!!!

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[rose786]

Have you looked into MCAT material? I think their verbal section is much harder than the DAT's RC section.

Examkrackers sells a book with 101 passages in verbal and another book that gives strategies. Although I've never used these books (I only have the science ones), I have heard good things about them. I'm sure the extra practice would only benefit you. Good luck

 

[JMJRDH1]

All you can do now is go with the flow and hope for the best this cycle. All of your stats look great except for the RC-15 and QR-16 on the DAT. These are gonna hurt you at schools with cutoffs in addition to the fact tht RC is looked highly upon.

On a positive note, if you do not get in this cycle, you have seen the DAT and know exactly what sections to concentrate on. In addition, I suggest you work hard on your timing because there is no way you should be missing questions on Ochem due to running out of time. With lots of RC and QR speed practice you are in a good position to do well on the DAT on your second attempt if needed.

Good Luck!

 

[TheWiredNerv]

You really have to work on getting that RC score 19+ as many D schools consider it very heavily.