1 Month DAT Prep

[Double Bonded]

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I'm thinking about signing up for the Kaplan Live Online (classroom anywhere) deal. It starts the day after my last final this fall (December) and ends a week before my classes start for spring (early January). The class runs MTWTh for 2-3 hours each day. I plan on taking the DAT sometime after the beginning of Spring semester.

I've done well in gchem, orgo, and bio but because I only want to do a structured course once, is doing a 1 month course a smart?

Is the Kaplan Live Online said to be helpful?

Studying for about a month and a half seems a bit risky, but I want to apply in the next cycle. Any advice on how I should schedule the DAT?

 

[MatthewLeeDDS]

I studied for a month back in Dec-Jan of 08-09 and it worked great for me. I didn't do any Kaplan stuff, just got a few review books and studied 8-10 hrs/day for 4 weeks. It can be done and it will relieve a lot of stress if you can knock out a good score before spring. Not many people do it, but I went for it and it really paid off. As for the Kaplan Live Online thing, I'm not a good source on that. I just did self-study so see what other people thought about that.

 

[Double Bonded]

Actually, I wanted to correct myself. It turns out the program is 4 weeks long and on M-Th for around 3 hours each day. It skips a few days around Christmas and New Years but besides that, it's going to be really packed.

I really want to take it so that, if necessary, I can take it again before I apply. I don't want to be in the situation where I'm still waiting for my 3 months to run out and applications are already out. So presumably, I'll be starting my spring semester when I take the DAT....Is this a bad idea?

I studied for a month back in Dec-Jan of 08-09 and it worked great for me. I didn't do any Kaplan stuff, just got a few review books and studied 8-10 hrs/day for 4 weeks. It can be done and it will relieve a lot of stress if you can knock out a good score before spring. Not many people do it, but I went for it and it really paid off. As for the Kaplan Live Online thing, I'm not a good source on that. I just did self-study so see what other people thought about that.

Thanks. Yeah I've noticed a lot of people studying for between 2-3 months which is a bit off putting. I think I might take the kaplan class and if I don't feel ready, self study until I am.

 

[drpoppapump]

the class gives you the basics, but most of the work is left to self study. Try to get some books from some dat takers and it might be better than paying that much for the kaplan class. I took it and i hated it. Waste of money and i didn't learn anything.

 

[lululime]

I just wrote the Canadian DAT last week and am thinking of writing the American one soon if the 90 day policy does not apply. I was thinking of spending this long weekend just studying organic chem and quickly reviewing the math. Considering I got A- in intro o chem (naming and stereochemistry), and only a B in the second half course (reactions and synthesis) am I giving myself enough time to prepare for the organic chem? Do you think it is do-able if I don't do anything but study that for 4 days straight?

 

[iamgosu]

I just wrote the Canadian DAT last week and am thinking of writing the American one soon if the 90 day policy does not apply. I was thinking of spending this long weekend just studying organic chem and quickly reviewing the math. Considering I got A- in intro o chem (naming and stereochemistry), and only a B in the second half course (reactions and synthesis) am I giving myself enough time to prepare for the organic chem? Do you think it is do-able if I don't do anything but study that for 4 days straight?

hey lululime
the DAT's OC is really easy. I studied for like 3 days only and did pretty well, and i got C's in all my ochem classes at UBC, and that was like 2 years ago haha. So you'll be fine.

 

[Rlow04]

I studied for 6 weeks, averaging about 10-12 hours a day. If you're asking if 3 hours a day for 6 weeks is enough, I'd say no. If you can treat the DAT like a full-time job for 6 weeks, then I think you'll do great.

 

[glo1984]

I studied for 6 weeks, averaging about 10-12 hours a day. If you're asking if 3 hours a day for 6 weeks is enough, I'd say no. If you can treat the DAT like a full-time job for 6 weeks, then I think you'll do great.

The typical student could not score on your level in 6 weeks, you are a walking encyclopedia. Just saying.. 🙂