10 Month Study Schedule?

[2th Doc]

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I'm planning on taking the DAT next May/August and am trying to decide how to start preparing so far in advance. I know 10 months in advance may be overkill, but I'm determined to kill this thing. Also, I don't feel that I'll have a month where I can devote 8-10hr/day studying like others have mentioned, so I'm trying to study here and there when I have downtime over a longer period.

I'll be taking full semesters this Fall(14cr)/Winter(14cr)/Spring(6cr), along with all the other things like shadowing/volunteer, etc., and may take the summer off if I feel I need the extra time before a possible retake in mid-August. The thing in my favor, I think, is that I'm taking the majority of my science classes between Fall-Spring (Fall: GChem1/Physio, Winter: GChem2/OChem1/Molec.Bio, Spring: OChem2/Genetics) so I shouldn't have the problem of recalling things from classes two years ago.

I currently have Cliffs AP Bio, Schaums OChem 4th Ed / College Chem 9th Ed., and Kaplan DAT 7th Ed. that I plan on reading through. I have also been reading a lot about the different programs like Topscore, Crack DAT, Destroyer, Achiever, etc. I'm tempted to at least get practicing like crazy on the PAT/Reading since I haven't had any major chem/bio classes and might have a hard time following study material in that area. Also I am definitely planning on using Chad's videos, but would they be better after I have gone through the bio/chem classes or do they start from the fundamentals like Khan's? If I take my first test in mid-May (leaving time for a mid-August retake), that'll be during my OChem2 class so I hope to supplement whatever I haven't learned from class with Chad's vids.

My question about getting started on practice tests is, would it be okay to start doing them now, or is it something that needs to be done closer to test-taking time so I don't run out of practice tests early and have nothing to refresh with come DAT time? The Ultimate Pkg of Crack the DAT seems like it has a massive collection of information/questions to go over.

Anyway, your thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I love reading the forums - you guys are awesome. I am grateful to have this forum as a resource, and I hope I can contribute as well.

 

[KristopherTruth]

My advice for you is to focus on your classes right now. Keep that GPA up and strong. Chads is a great source, KBB is good too. Destroyer is a nice touch as well. If you want to start in advance then focus on PAT, RC. Get your hands practice test for those. As for the Gen Chem, Bio, and Orgo, you will be able to pick those up in due time. The sources you have will give you plenty of practice. Good luck!!

 

[ohohitsmagic08]

Id just recommend creating a schedule and pacing yourself through those books one time through. It will all come MUCH quicker when you read them again closer to your DAT.

 

[Pat Kelly]

focus on school. You will forget 3/4 of the stuff you read 7-8 months ago. You only really need about 2 months to study.

 

[avatarftw]

Wow, 10 months is very inefficient. I took the MCAT, not DAT, but devoted 3 months of hard core study. Also, most of my classmates didn't study as long or as much. Some studied 2 months, others 3 weeks!

At the school gym, I met a dentist and when I told him that I was interested in dentistry even after taking the MCAT, he told me to take the DAT soon since there is "less information to study". Thus, you may potentially study less for the DAT than the MCAT. By the way, not trying to insult the DAT or MCAT test takers.

Also, 8-10 hours a day is too much. If you only had a few months to study, would you seriously devote 63 hours a week studying? The tests aren't that hard. 30 hours/week is good. I'm talking about real studying and not including breaks.

I'm planning on taking the DAT next May/August and am trying to decide how to start preparing so far in advance. I know 10 months in advance may be overkill, but I'm determined to kill this thing. Also, I don't feel that I'll have a month where I can devote 8-10hr/day studying like others have mentioned, so I'm trying to study here and there when I have downtime over a longer period.

I'll be taking full semesters this Fall(14cr)/Winter(14cr)/Spring(6cr), along with all the other things like shadowing/volunteer, etc., and may take the summer off if I feel I need the extra time before a possible retake in mid-August. The thing in my favor, I think, is that I'm taking the majority of my science classes between Fall-Spring (Fall: GChem1/Physio, Winter: GChem2/OChem1/Molec.Bio, Spring: OChem2/Genetics) so I shouldn't have the problem of recalling things from classes two years ago.

I currently have Cliffs AP Bio, Schaums OChem 4th Ed / College Chem 9th Ed., and Kaplan DAT 7th Ed. that I plan on reading through. I have also been reading a lot about the different programs like Topscore, Crack DAT, Destroyer, Achiever, etc. I'm tempted to at least get practicing like crazy on the PAT/Reading since I haven't had any major chem/bio classes and might have a hard time following study material in that area. Also I am definitely planning on using Chad's videos, but would they be better after I have gone through the bio/chem classes or do they start from the fundamentals like Khan's? If I take my first test in mid-May (leaving time for a mid-August retake), that'll be during my OChem2 class so I hope to supplement whatever I haven't learned from class with Chad's vids.

My question about getting started on practice tests is, would it be okay to start doing them now, or is it something that needs to be done closer to test-taking time so I don't run out of practice tests early and have nothing to refresh with come DAT time? The Ultimate Pkg of Crack the DAT seems like it has a massive collection of information/questions to go over.

Anyway, your thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I love reading the forums - you guys are awesome. I am grateful to have this forum as a resource, and I hope I can contribute as well.

 

[99burs]

Best advice I can give you right now is to focus on the material in your classes. If you can go through g chem and o chem while mastering everything from the lectures and doing all the practice problems in the textbook, it will be MUCH easier to take the DAT and get a high score. This is coming from someone who wasn't 100% focused during the semester, and only grasped the material just well enough to get through the class exams but is now having to relearn a lot of concepts in preparation for the DAT.

 

[hoylematt]

Give yourself 2-3 months of solid studying using DAT review materials and you will be golden. None of this long term stuff.

 

[yappy]

Depends how you learn, I tried the 8 hr/ day thing for two months and only got to a 19AA. I honestly felt I was covering somthing once then didnt touch it and forgot it as i was learning a new concept later in the week.
I'm applying next cycle so i constructed notes to go over, and will work through materials over the whole year in order to get a higher score. I feel like if i do this I will have cemented the concepts and built them into my long term mem. I found this to be true with classes too... i hate cramming.

two months is a long time... but respective to the amount of material - it's still cramming.

**note: my sit is different b/c of a lower gpa ~3.3-.4. I NEED better than 19. If you have above a 3.5 you may not.

 

[hoylematt]

I honestly felt I was covering somthing once then didnt touch it and forgot it as i was learning a new concept later in the week.

Learn to Anki.

 

[2th Doc]

Thank you all for your constructive input. I think I will just start practicing here and there with the PAT/RC, but as far as everything else goes, it makes sense just to focus hard on my classes since most or all of the material I'll need will be taught in class anyway. Then a good solid review two or so months in advance should hopefully do the trick.

Thanks again, and good luck to all of you who are preparing for next cycle as well!

 

[yappy]

Learn to anki? Is this what you're referring to?
http://ichi2.net/anki/

Does it really help?

 

[doc3232]

The best thing for you to do is make your spring schedule EASY. This way you can study just for the DAT those 3-4 months.

 

[2th Doc]

The best thing for you to do is make your spring schedule EASY. This way you can study just for the DAT those 3-4 months.

While I would LOVE to take off Spring to study for my first take of the DAT, as opposed to taking off Summer to study for a mid-August retake if necessary, I'm worried that taking the DAT before OChem2/Genetics (since those are currently scheduled for Spring, an 8 week term at my university) might be a bad idea? Do you think it would be more beneficial to take Spring off, and just try to study for OChem2/Genetics on my own? I haven't gotten into any DAT study materials so I'm not sure how easy it would be to pick up the OChem2/Genetics parts before taking the classes, but I'd love to hear opinions on this. I'd much rather get a great score the first time around so I'll be able to have the earliest app. date possible.

 

[2th Doc]

Has anyone had any experience with taking the DAT before OChem 2, or other subjects that are big on the DAT, just by learning from study materials?

 

[Maygyver]

You don't need 10 months. Honestly, I think 2 months is fine. I studied for 1 month with a full schedule of classes and did fine. I honestly didn't even study as much as I wanted during the day. Just do well in classes for now and relax...relax. Good luck!

 

[DoCt0rPeTe]

don't take the dat without ochem 2. Also the upper div bio classes help.

10 months may be good for you if you don't know that much to begin with. But I'd say just do some math every day. Get an SAT math book or something and just bang out problems. That way, when test time comes, you'll be comfortable with math, and can focus on the sciences. I'd say practice math + PAT. And just read newspaper articles in spare time.

 

[drpj]

In all honesty, 10 months is a bit long. I'd say study around 2~3 months. Some people can study for only 3 weeks and do well while others have to study for 2 months and do well. It's all about how strong your background is in the science subjects. Everyone is different and if you feel you need more than 3 months to study then study for more than 3 months.

 

[LittleTomato]

If you start studying that early, you'll probably run out of steam by the time you really have to kick it in to gear. If you want to do something proactive though, reading a chapter here and there to start an anki deck wouldn't hurt, but you ought to focus on school and your GPA first. As far as structured studying goes, 2-3 months is plenty to make you want to scratch your eyeballs out and hope that by some miracle your friends haven't forgotten your name by the time the whole experience is over.