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- Mar 4, 2011
- Messages
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- Reaction score
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Hello ^_^
I had a thread previously about how I did terribly in the QR section. Thread here:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...-myself-need-advice-25-ts-21-aa-qr-1.1077075/
(I initially was told I got a QR of 1, I actually got a 17.. also bad.. but better than 1!!!!!!!!!!!!)
After many phone calls and e-mails, the ADA confirmed that there was a mistake with my DAT and sent me my actual scores TODAY. Going to submit my application now.. hopefully... a school will at least invite me for an interview.
Breakdown:
Timeline
Started doing Chad's Chemistry videos with quizzes: February 10th- March 21st. Monday-Friday, with weekends off.
April: DAT Destroyer for Organic Chemistry and General Chemistry - Weekends off.
Some chapters of Organic Chemistry Odyssey.
Watched Chad's Math Videos and did associated quizzes.
May: DAT Bootcamp for Organic and General Chemistry - all 5 tests.
DAT Bootcamp for Math - all 5 tests.
Rewrote Feralis' notes by hand.
DAT Qvault for Biology and PAT (10 tests).
2012 DAT Destroyer for Biology.
June: Week before DAT: Did full length DAT Bootcamp tests to stimulate test taking conditions (First time with RC and developed my own strategy)
Materials used:
DAT Bootcamp $97 for 5 tests, WHAT A STEAL!?! (10/10)
DAT Qvault - only for Biology and PAT 10 test versions (8/10)
Feralis' Notes - Free (9/10)
Chad's videos - I paid for all of them for 90 days. Totally worth it for Math/Chemistry. Especially his quizzes. (10/10)
Organic Chemistry Odyssey - Borrowed from a friend. (8/10)
Craig Savage Videos - Free (10/10)
Ben Chem's Videos on Youtube - Free (8/10) Really helped solidify paramagnetic and diamagnetic differences for me.
Total number of hours? God knows. I made sure to study from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday from Mid April to mid May. I made sure to spend time with my family on the weekends and stay away from pre-dents in my SMP program who were freaking out about finals. After my finals were over I spent 12 hours a day for the last 2 weeks studying. With breaks on Sundays for church/family.
Organic Chemistry - 25
My weakest subject (received a C in undergrad.)
1. Watched Chad's videos and took quizzes right after. Started with Organic Chemistry only for first 2 weeks. Took detailed notes in a notebook.
2. Started DAT Destroyer with approximately 30 questions a day, supplemented with Organic Odyssey wherever I felt weak in the same notebook.
3. Instead of doing DAT Destroyer a second time, I opted to make cards of all the reactions/notes from Chad and study from them before attempting Bootcamp.
4. Checked my understanding by redoing chad's quizzes. Took notes on notecards on questions I answered incorrectly.
4. DAT Bootcamp 5 test Organic Chemistry completed in 1 week. Did NOT take notes after doing Bootcamp because I was going to do it a second time.
5. DAT Bootcamp week before my test: Took notes on cards. Read them day before, and stopped studying at 5pm day before my exam.
Note about orgo: I felt that writing notes out and actually studying off of them was the most effective method for me.
General Chemistry - 30
My second weakest subject (received a C+ in undergrad)
Did EXACTLY the same as organic chemistry, except no Orgo Odyssey. I started Gen Chem after I was finished my 2 weeks of Chad's videos for Orgo.
1. Watched Chad's videos and took quizzes right after. Took detailed notes in a notebook.
2. Started DAT Destroyer with approximately 30 questions a day in the same notebook.
3. Instead of doing DAT Destroyer a second time, I opted to make cards of all the reactions/notes from Chad and study from them before attempting Bootcamp.
4. Checked my understanding by redoing chad's quizzes. Took notes on note cards on questions I answered incorrectly.
4. DAT Bootcamp 5 test General Chemistry completed in 1 week. Did NOT take notes after doing Bootcamp because I was going to do it a second time.
5. DAT Bootcamp week before my test: Took notes on cards. Read them day before, and stopped studying at 5pm day before my exam.
Note about General Chemistry: I felt that DAT Bootcamp and Chad's quizzes is why I got a 30 in this section. They both prepared me very well.
Biology - 24
1. Did well in my graduate program biology classes - this was huge because a lot of the material on the DAT was in my Cell Biology class.
2. Watched Craig Savage's Youtube videos and took notes in a notebook. Great for Biodiversity, plants, and menstrual cycles. Before bed, I watched his videos a second time for recall. Made associated note cards on sections I found difficult.
3. Rewrote Feralis' notes by hand. I tend to remember things if I write them down, this was the most effective way to memorize everything. I did approx. 1 chapter a day. This took longer than anticipated, and I was short with time.
3. DAT Qvault 10 tests - I did one a day for two weeks, with breaks on the weekend. Wrote note cards on questions I answered incorrectly.
4. DAT Bootcamp week before my exam, and read note cards the day before.
Math - 17
I did 6 Math Destroyer tests, DAT Bootcamp 5 tests, Chad's videos and associated quizzes. Looking back, I should have started Math earlier and not to the last minute.
PAT - 19
1. Started my review by looking at "Sick Wicked Pat Tutorial" on SDN.
2. Had a hard time with TFE and holes, so I just used DAT Qvault for practice. 10 test version.
3. DAT Bootcamp PAT 5 test 2 weeks before exam.
4. Week before exam, did DAT Bootcamp PAT a second time.
Reading - 23
1. I like to read Tolkien. I'm a huge Lord of the Rings fan, even before Peter Jackson came out with his movies. I feel like that has a part to play since I pay attention to details, and try to immerse myself in what I am reading.
HOWEVER, this is the DAT. They are testing you through M/C questions. So what I did was a modified version of other breakdowns:
I would read the passage, writing down key terms or key themes from each paragraph. Once I reached half way through the passage, I would begin answering questions. Once I was through a few questions, I would finish reading the passage. I would do search and destroy based off the passage map I made, and would make sure I spent 20 minutes for each section. I developed this strategy while using DAT Bootcamp. I will say Bootcamp was WAY harder than the passage I was given.
2. Completed 5 test Bootcamp only ONCE for Reading, the week before my exam. (Yes I left reading to the end.)
DAT Bootcamp (2nd time) Scores:
Bio: 30/25/25/25/25
Gen Chem: 22/19/25/23/25
Orgo: 22/19/21/29/22
PAT 19/17/15/18/18
RC: 21/19/20/23/20
Math: 20/20/19/20/20
DAT Qvault Biology:
23/22/20/19/20/20/21/21/22/20
DAT Qvault PAT:
19/19/19/20/19/19/20/20/21/22
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Well, this was quite the experience. I never in a million years thought this would be such a journey to get my score. I am so happy that I got a 24 AA. I thank everyone who was supportive in the previous thread, especially @Glimmer1991 ,@DogeDDS , @Ari Rezaei , @FeralisExtremum for their amazing resources here on SDN and elsewhere.
~~~~~~~~~~I'm so happy I could eat a cake~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had a thread previously about how I did terribly in the QR section. Thread here:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...-myself-need-advice-25-ts-21-aa-qr-1.1077075/
(I initially was told I got a QR of 1, I actually got a 17.. also bad.. but better than 1!!!!!!!!!!!!)
After many phone calls and e-mails, the ADA confirmed that there was a mistake with my DAT and sent me my actual scores TODAY. Going to submit my application now.. hopefully... a school will at least invite me for an interview.
Breakdown:
Timeline
Started doing Chad's Chemistry videos with quizzes: February 10th- March 21st. Monday-Friday, with weekends off.
April: DAT Destroyer for Organic Chemistry and General Chemistry - Weekends off.
Some chapters of Organic Chemistry Odyssey.
Watched Chad's Math Videos and did associated quizzes.
May: DAT Bootcamp for Organic and General Chemistry - all 5 tests.
DAT Bootcamp for Math - all 5 tests.
Rewrote Feralis' notes by hand.
DAT Qvault for Biology and PAT (10 tests).
2012 DAT Destroyer for Biology.
June: Week before DAT: Did full length DAT Bootcamp tests to stimulate test taking conditions (First time with RC and developed my own strategy)
Materials used:
DAT Bootcamp $97 for 5 tests, WHAT A STEAL!?! (10/10)
DAT Qvault - only for Biology and PAT 10 test versions (8/10)
Feralis' Notes - Free (9/10)
Chad's videos - I paid for all of them for 90 days. Totally worth it for Math/Chemistry. Especially his quizzes. (10/10)
Organic Chemistry Odyssey - Borrowed from a friend. (8/10)
Craig Savage Videos - Free (10/10)
Ben Chem's Videos on Youtube - Free (8/10) Really helped solidify paramagnetic and diamagnetic differences for me.
Total number of hours? God knows. I made sure to study from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday from Mid April to mid May. I made sure to spend time with my family on the weekends and stay away from pre-dents in my SMP program who were freaking out about finals. After my finals were over I spent 12 hours a day for the last 2 weeks studying. With breaks on Sundays for church/family.
Organic Chemistry - 25
My weakest subject (received a C in undergrad.)
1. Watched Chad's videos and took quizzes right after. Started with Organic Chemistry only for first 2 weeks. Took detailed notes in a notebook.
2. Started DAT Destroyer with approximately 30 questions a day, supplemented with Organic Odyssey wherever I felt weak in the same notebook.
3. Instead of doing DAT Destroyer a second time, I opted to make cards of all the reactions/notes from Chad and study from them before attempting Bootcamp.
4. Checked my understanding by redoing chad's quizzes. Took notes on notecards on questions I answered incorrectly.
4. DAT Bootcamp 5 test Organic Chemistry completed in 1 week. Did NOT take notes after doing Bootcamp because I was going to do it a second time.
5. DAT Bootcamp week before my test: Took notes on cards. Read them day before, and stopped studying at 5pm day before my exam.
Note about orgo: I felt that writing notes out and actually studying off of them was the most effective method for me.
General Chemistry - 30
My second weakest subject (received a C+ in undergrad)
Did EXACTLY the same as organic chemistry, except no Orgo Odyssey. I started Gen Chem after I was finished my 2 weeks of Chad's videos for Orgo.
1. Watched Chad's videos and took quizzes right after. Took detailed notes in a notebook.
2. Started DAT Destroyer with approximately 30 questions a day in the same notebook.
3. Instead of doing DAT Destroyer a second time, I opted to make cards of all the reactions/notes from Chad and study from them before attempting Bootcamp.
4. Checked my understanding by redoing chad's quizzes. Took notes on note cards on questions I answered incorrectly.
4. DAT Bootcamp 5 test General Chemistry completed in 1 week. Did NOT take notes after doing Bootcamp because I was going to do it a second time.
5. DAT Bootcamp week before my test: Took notes on cards. Read them day before, and stopped studying at 5pm day before my exam.
Note about General Chemistry: I felt that DAT Bootcamp and Chad's quizzes is why I got a 30 in this section. They both prepared me very well.
Biology - 24
1. Did well in my graduate program biology classes - this was huge because a lot of the material on the DAT was in my Cell Biology class.
2. Watched Craig Savage's Youtube videos and took notes in a notebook. Great for Biodiversity, plants, and menstrual cycles. Before bed, I watched his videos a second time for recall. Made associated note cards on sections I found difficult.
3. Rewrote Feralis' notes by hand. I tend to remember things if I write them down, this was the most effective way to memorize everything. I did approx. 1 chapter a day. This took longer than anticipated, and I was short with time.
3. DAT Qvault 10 tests - I did one a day for two weeks, with breaks on the weekend. Wrote note cards on questions I answered incorrectly.
4. DAT Bootcamp week before my exam, and read note cards the day before.
Math - 17
I did 6 Math Destroyer tests, DAT Bootcamp 5 tests, Chad's videos and associated quizzes. Looking back, I should have started Math earlier and not to the last minute.
PAT - 19
1. Started my review by looking at "Sick Wicked Pat Tutorial" on SDN.
2. Had a hard time with TFE and holes, so I just used DAT Qvault for practice. 10 test version.
3. DAT Bootcamp PAT 5 test 2 weeks before exam.
4. Week before exam, did DAT Bootcamp PAT a second time.
Reading - 23
1. I like to read Tolkien. I'm a huge Lord of the Rings fan, even before Peter Jackson came out with his movies. I feel like that has a part to play since I pay attention to details, and try to immerse myself in what I am reading.
HOWEVER, this is the DAT. They are testing you through M/C questions. So what I did was a modified version of other breakdowns:
I would read the passage, writing down key terms or key themes from each paragraph. Once I reached half way through the passage, I would begin answering questions. Once I was through a few questions, I would finish reading the passage. I would do search and destroy based off the passage map I made, and would make sure I spent 20 minutes for each section. I developed this strategy while using DAT Bootcamp. I will say Bootcamp was WAY harder than the passage I was given.
2. Completed 5 test Bootcamp only ONCE for Reading, the week before my exam. (Yes I left reading to the end.)
DAT Bootcamp (2nd time) Scores:
Bio: 30/25/25/25/25
Gen Chem: 22/19/25/23/25
Orgo: 22/19/21/29/22
PAT 19/17/15/18/18
RC: 21/19/20/23/20
Math: 20/20/19/20/20
DAT Qvault Biology:
23/22/20/19/20/20/21/21/22/20
DAT Qvault PAT:
19/19/19/20/19/19/20/20/21/22
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Well, this was quite the experience. I never in a million years thought this would be such a journey to get my score. I am so happy that I got a 24 AA. I thank everyone who was supportive in the previous thread, especially @Glimmer1991 ,@DogeDDS , @Ari Rezaei , @FeralisExtremum for their amazing resources here on SDN and elsewhere.
~~~~~~~~~~I'm so happy I could eat a cake~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
