DAT Finally Done! 7/15/2011

sportsguy20 said:

So, this was my second go-around with the whole DAT and all I can say is, I'm finally glad it's over!

Scores:

4/16/2011 7/15/2011
PAT: 21 (89.2%) 22 (93.4%)
QR: 18 (86.6%) 22 (97.9%)
RC: 19 (67.6%) 21 (76.7%)
BIO: 17 (55.7%) 21 (92.3%)
GC: 19 (79.9%) 21 (87.0%)
OC: 19 (75.7%) 22 (90.4%)
TS: 18 (70.2%) 22 (95.6%)
AA: 18 (72.5%) 21 (93.4%)

cGPA: 3.81 sGPA: 3.72

As you can probably tell, I am super happy with the improvement I made from the first time around the process.

Materials I used: DAT Destroyer, Math Destroyer, KBB, Kaplan flash cards, Cliff's AP Bio, Topscore, and CDP

As for the test...
BIO
Just about as random as everyone makes it seem. Despite this fact, it is attainable to know everything in there, it is just not predictable enough to try. Something I would suggest that I should have done more would to be vary your resources to really get a different perspective on this section. Maybe adding in another book, like Barron's would have helped me, but I am happy the most with my improvement in this section. I did have quite a few questions on cell biology/molecular biology for those that wonder though.

GC
I did research in chemistry for a while, but it's still just not one of my favorite subjects. I feel that I had quite a few calculation problems and a few concept questions though, something that probably helped me. I would have liked to have used Chad's videos here, as I hear great things, but just didn't have the money for it, so if you do, I would recommend it for the concepts (the ones I more than likely missed).

OC
My least favorite subject!!! I know it's odd since it was my best science section, but I still don't like it. The destroyer road maps helped me out quite a bit here, but as others would say, knowing the mechanism is far greater than memorizing reagents and products. Overall, everything here is pretty conceptual and if I can make a 22 here, believe me when I say it, you can too!

PAT
Crack DAT Pat...It's all I used. I didn't even do the PAT sections in Topscore my second time around, I jused just CDP. I had a few tough questions, but overall, it was a little easier (not a whole lot) than CDP.

RC
You know, this section really does frustrate me. I really feel like this section is a real average booster for some, but I never did the art of it down. I used the Kaplan outline method, but search and destroy can only do so much for you. I have heard good things from Achiever on this section, but I wouldn't count on Topscore being your best resource here because the questions in those tests are all search and destroy. All in all, I'm not the best to take advice from here.

QR
I don't love math, but I do appreciate beating math, haha. I felt good as I was taking this section of the test. Math destroyer is the best for this section. I don't think that there was a single question on the test that wasn't in destroyer somewhere. With that though, there was a good mix of variety here.

I'm a Texas resident so I will be applying to all three schools here in Texas as well as the University of Louisville since I did SMDEP (Summer Medical and Dental Education Program) there last summer.

I have done research in chemistry and am starting research in biology this summer as well as shadowing under a general dentist and oral surgeon. I also volunteer at a local soup kitchen and am in the honors program at my school. Not trying to be haughty here in this section, just wanted to throw out a portion of my application so everyone knows where I'm coming from.

I'll be sending in my application at the start of next week. Hopefully I will be getting some interviews!!

Good luck to everyone in the process, wherever you may be!

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