April 22, 2010 DAT done!

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oae

oae

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Hey all,

IT FEELS INCREDIBLE TO BE DONE! Hang in there studiers, and you'll do just fine.

My scores are as follows:

Bio: 22 (95.7%)
Gen Chem: 30 (100%)— didn't see this one coming
Org Chem: 22 (91.5%)
PA: 21 (92.2%)- not hard in my opinion…
RC: 21 (84.5%)- getting "pianoed" does feel ****ty
QR: 17 (65.7%)- guessed on like 15 questions when I had 1 minute left

Total Science: 23 (98.2%)
Academic Average: 22 (96.4%)

Ive been studying for this exam for about 2 solid months. I wanted to perform really well so that I would make up for my low science GPA (2.75).

I have used so many different materials, the best thing I can do is provide a list of DAT study materials that I used.

DAT Destroyer (went through this book 3 times- simply AMAZING…. Yes its hard, but it helps you learn so good. I use to be skeptical when I would see so many people praising this book, but now Im a believer)

Chad's Videos for Gchem and Ochem (went through these videos twice, I love Chad. What an awesome guy he is. He just teaches the stuff so good)

Kaplan Review Notes (Big Blue Book) (went through this book twice)
Kaplan Online Course (went through this once- VERY VERY helpful but expensive)

Math Destroyer (went through two exams; I hate math so couldn't stand studying it for too long. But this book will definitely help you get an amazing score if you practice it enough. I got a 17 on math by simply doing 2 exams and barely studying. I saw a few problems on the DAT very similar to the ones in here)

CrackDatPat (Amazing practice for PAT--- don't expect a good score if you don't do this, it really helps you time yourself.)

I believe having used so many different materials is what helped me achieve my scores. Every book/material had something significant that it taught me or helped me learn. Sometimes seeing similar material presented differently in other materials was also helpful because it shed light on things from different perspectives.

A few suggestions:
1) Take your own side notes. Particularly jot down material you know you will forget
2) When doing practice exams, keep a track record of problems you missed, so that you can go back to those problems only. This will help you be efficient.
3) Mix up your material throughout your studying so that you don't get bored with the same things (Do some destroyer for a few hours, then do some math, etc)
4) DO NOT feel disheartened if you are not getting questions correct even after having learned them before- Truth is the DAT is not that hard. A lot of problems in Kaplan and Destroyer have been designed to be somewhat harder than the DAT.

DAT DAY schedule: I had a hearty COMPLEX CARB breakfast… basically Oatmeal and DARK coffee. I also made sure that during my 15 minute break, I at some raisons and nuts. The raisons were supposed to help raise my blood glucose…lol.. By the time I got half way through the Math section I felt like dying.

My number one suggestion is to pace yourself. If you cannot answer a question quickly enough, then skip it, and go back to it. Its REAL easy to lose track of time if you choose to be stubborn with harder problems. Just make sure you get to all the easy questions, and trust me, youll have plenty of time to go back to the ones you skipped.

That's all everyone. Good luck!

I thank everyone on SDN who has helped me through this depressing period!
 
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let me be the first to say congrats, those are amazing numbers 👍

I can't say for sure how schools will look at your GPA & DAT combo, but honestly EVEN if they had an issue with it, its not like your going to retake your DAT. Call up some schools of interest and ask them what you should do....

IMO, apply broadly, aim for 15+ schools and you'll have a couple acceptances by December 1st 🙂
 
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I'm studying GC with Destroyer, KBB, and EK. Do you think that could get me 30?

was it just general on concepts and calc?
 
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Congrats on the scores!
What happened with your science GPA? Did you take too many science classes at one time? Prepare a very good explanation (I wasn't sure where I was going, but now I am, I'm serious about dental school, look at my DAT, booya, etc.) and like dW said, apply broadly and early. Good luck!
 
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Congratulations,

a quick question:

Your Bio/GC/OC scores seem super high, yet your TS doesn't seem to follow that trend.

TS is based on Bio/GC/OC, correct?

Also, could you please post breakdown please 🙂
 
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dentalWorks said:
let me be the first to say congrats, those are amazing numbers 👍

I can't say for sure how schools will look at your GPA & DAT combo, but honestly EVEN if they had an issue with it, its not like your going to retake your DAT. Call up some schools of interest and ask them what you should do....

IMO, apply broadly, aim for 15+ schools and you'll have a couple acceptances by December 1st 🙂
Click to expand...


Thanks alot for your advice. Ill make sure to apply broadly. and i guess you are right about not having to take it again (unless someone complains about my QR).. lol
 
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lvtran said:
Congrats on the scores!
What happened with your science GPA? Did you take too many science classes at one time? Prepare a very good explanation (I wasn't sure where I was going, but now I am, I'm serious about dental school, look at my DAT, booya, etc.) and like dW said, apply broadly and early. Good luck!
Click to expand...

I actually do have a story to tell in regards to my GPA. Its an interesting one too, so Im hoping to explain this really well as you mentioned.
 
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Great breakdown, solid scores. I'm convinced the secret has to be the dark chocolate.

Gl with apps.
 
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Did you write answers on a destroyer book or in a different paper?

you mean you just studied questions instead of solving them 3 times right?
 
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jirotrom said:
4 months! how many hours a day? that seems crazy long.... ive got 7 weeks lol
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I treated studying for the DAT as if it were my job. So basically I was doing anywhere from 4-7 hours days. Its not feasible to try and do any more than that.
 
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luv8724 said:
Did you write answers on a destroyer book or in a different paper?

you mean you just studied questions instead of solving them 3 times right?
Click to expand...


I would write my answers on a different sheet of paper. I did not write in the book.

I went through the entire book, and narrowed it down to the questions I missed, or thought were hard. This condensed list of questions is what I used to go through the book for the second and third time.

And yes I did solve each problem over again. I did not just read through the book, I would actually try to pace myself when doing probems to see how fast I can do them (even though Destroyer is not really representative of the DAT because the DAT is easier)
 
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Hopeful20 said:
Would you mind sharing any tips for RC preparation?
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I actually did not prepare for reading comprehension. I did not even take a single practice test or anything.

I do believe that reading news articles on yahoo and google over the years has helped me read quicker and more efficiently.

I must admit though. The piano section was hard. I would hear people complain about it, but I always thought "how bad could it really be?"

Well, the answer is BAD. I think "knowing" in the back of my head that I had just gotten "pianoed" did not help me either since I started panicking a little. Luckily it was my last passage so I had atleast been able to finish the first two easy ones (Which were SUPER easy by the way).
 
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sfoksn said:
Congratulations,

a quick question:

Your Bio/GC/OC scores seem super high, yet your TS doesn't seem to follow that trend.

TS is based on Bio/GC/OC, correct?

Also, could you please post breakdown please 🙂
Click to expand...

Yeah, I dont know how they calculate these things.. but it would be nice if my TS could have been higher.

I could have gotten a higher AA if I had not gotten pianoed on the RC.

I went into the test thinking I was going to totally fail the Math section and get like a 14, and have to take the DAT over again. I had only studied a few hours for it the night before, so I was worried. During the test I guessed on like 15 -20 questions ... and still ended up with a 17. It feels good knowing that none of my scores are below any cut offs for schools.
 
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oae said:
Yeah, I dont know how they calculate these things.. but it would be nice if my TS could have been higher.

I could have gotten a higher AA if I had not gotten pianoed on the RC.

I went into the test thinking I was going to totally fail the Math section and get like a 14, and have to take the DAT over again. I had only studied a few hours for it the night before, so I was worried. During the test I guessed on like 15 -20 questions ... and still ended up with a 17. It feels good knowing that none of my scores are below any cut offs for schools.
Click to expand...


22 & 23.. still nicely above average, with a good PAT score. What was your method for RC?
 
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Well, I quickly read through the passage before I answered the questions.

I feel as though Search and Destroy method is inefficient, and that quickly reading through the passage helps answer the questions quicker.

I must admit though, for the piano passage, despite reading through it quickly, I still ended up having to use Search and Destroy for almost all of the questions. Its just not the kind of information I am used to. Very technical a little bit.
 
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congrats. very solid scores. I'm using the same material as you are in studying for the DAT I just hope i get similar scores especially in sciences. I'm relying heavily on the destroyer for Ochem and Gchem and math and it feels good to hear someone to say that it actually helped a lot. I may get other material later on just to see where i stand. what did you use for PAT? i havent looked at that section at all.
good luck to you and best of luck
 
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NewBee12 said:
congrats. very solid scores. I'm using the same material as you are in studying for the DAT I just hope i get similar scores especially in sciences. I'm relying heavily on the destroyer for Ochem and Gchem and math and it feels good to hear someone to say that it actually helped a lot. I may get other material later on just to see where i stand. what did you use for PAT? i havent looked at that section at all.
good luck to you and best of luck
Click to expand...


I used CrackDatPat. Excellent software for getting a good PAT score.
 
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Are the angles on the DAT harder than Crack DAT PAT? Crack uses 4 degree differences for each. Some people say on the DAT it is like 1-2. Since you used the program, what do you think?
 
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Personally, I felt as though the difficulty of the angles was comparable to Crack Dat Pat.

There was only a couple angle questions that had 1-2 degree differences on my test version.
 
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16bitbrain said:
OAE, can you compare contrast The Golden Standard DVD's vs. Chad's videos? You are the first I have heard that used both.
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The Golden Standard DAT is a really really basic video tutorial that essentially outlines fundamental basic concepts. You cannot get a good score using this DVD set alone. I would only suggest this video set if you really need to refresh the essentials and set yourself a foundation for the more difficult and complex material.

Chads videos go into a lot of detail and would thoroughly address both Organic Chemistry and General Chemistry topics.

If you have time for only one, then go with Chads.
 
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awesome scores man u aced it glad to see your resources helped you out just apply early and u shud be set!
 
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azar87 said:
awesome scores man u aced it glad to see your resources helped you out just apply early and u shud be set!
Click to expand...


Thank you for the encouragement azar87.

Unfortunately, my top 2 choices UCSF and UOP, still may not accept me due to my 3.0 Overall and 2.7 Science GPA.

I really want to get into one of these two schools.

I definitely have a story to tell for why my GPA is low, but still afraid that it may not cut it.

Anyhow, I will apply early and pray for the best. Thanks again
 
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Solid Scores 👍
How do you compare kaplan online math tests (especially word problems) to those math questions on the real DAT?.
 
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You, sir, are a G. That 30 on GChem is godly. I am in a very similar boat as you. I got a 23AA 26PAT, but GPA is terrible (oGPA3.15sGPA2.9). From your two top choices, I'm gonna guess you're a NorCalien?
 
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haha, Godly is a stretch, but thank you.

and yes I am a Nor Calien...lol

from your Cal picture, Id say you go to UC Berkeley? You applying this summer?
 
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Yeah I'm re-applying this summer. Hoping this time around will be better. NYU and NOVA didn't even bother sending me a rejection because I applied hella late (bone-headed move applying late November). FYI an admissions officer from UOP spoke at our Pre-Dental Society meeting and said that DAT scores are actually more heavily weighted than GPA at UOP. Take that with a grain of salt, however, because you never know what admissions is thinking. They're pretty erratic (I know someone who got accepted into UCSF but rejected by 19 other schools straight up.)
 
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thanks for the info. gives me some hope.

I called UOP today, and I was told that just because I knocked the DAT out of the ballpark, I still have a horrible GPA, and that I need to do something about it before I apply to dental school again this summer.

Although I already do plan on starting a post-bacc program in the fall, I was told that i would need to have atleast a year of solid grades under my belt before i apply.

I felt depressed for a few minutes, as I pondered how freaking long it would take before I get into dental school just because of a few compelling mishaps during my undergraduate. But then again, all I can do is continue to fight my way in. i want it bad enough to spend however long it takes to go to dental school. Maybe Ill get lucky like your UCSF friend. (What were his stats? Any special circucmstances?)

At this point, I just want to go anywhere for dental school. So Im planning on applying broadly this summer, even though UOP suggested that it would not make a difference considering my GPA. Although I agree with them about my GPA, Im just going to hope for the best, and at least allow some schools to acknowledge my existence.
 
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BTW.. I applied really late last year too in addition to having a horrible DAT scores (16AA). What was I thinking?! LOL.

I guess it might help a little that I will be considered a second-time applicant this year....
 
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I hope this comes off as encouraging rather than the opposite but I feel like I am in the same boat as you although you have AMAZING DAT scores. I wish I could have gotten a 30 in some subject area. I was sitting here bugged by my GPA last night and was a little down about my chances but I'm guessing for guys like us it's alot of luck. I have a 3.3 overall and a 3.1 science and no story. I just got the weaker end of the bell curve for some subjects and then physucks got the worst of me. Oh well. Like you mentioned, I want it bad enough and am willing to stick it out until I get in. Was any of your family part of the dental community or are any of them health professionals? I've heard that helps...I don't have anyone but I'm just throwing it out there.
 
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Its always encouraging to meet others who are working hard to get themselves out of difficult situations.

As you mentioned just stay positive and take it one step at a time. Your GPA isnt as horrendous like mine, so you dont have to worry about getting some 30s on your DAT or anything crazy like that. Lastly, its about TRENDS. If you really needed to, then you could go back to school for a post-bacc and spend a year or two taking classes. Getting good grades will help show that youve matured and are ready to handle a heavy load of courses.


Finally, I do have a couple extended relatives in the dental field. No one in my immediate family though. To be quite frank, having these family members does not help with gaining admission. They might be able to help with advice, but you can get that advice from most dentists you meet/shadow. (Do you shadow a dentist consistently?). Oh also if your relative Donates money to like a private dental school then that might help too, but unfortunately thats not the case for me. lol
 
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