7/7/11 DAT (One and Done!!) and Preparation

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ADC1115

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PAT 21 (89.2%)
QR 19 (92.9%)
RC 19 (67.6% 😕)
BIO 23 (98.9%)
GC 22 (95.2%)
OC 25 (98.4%)
TS 23 (99.3%)
AA 22 (98.9%)

GPA: 3.41
sGPA: 3.20

I finished my spring semester in mid-May, took one week off, and studied 5 days a week (Mon-Fri), 8 hrs. per day from 9am-5pm (with a one hour lunch break around 12:30pm). I studied with a friend who was preparing to take the MCAT on July 6th (misery loves company). We helped each other out if we had questions concerning O.Chem, G.Chem, or Bio and pretty much motivated each other to stay focused by simply committing to what some would consider to be a not-so-fun Summer study schedule. Also, I took weekends off completely because I felt like my brain was about to explode :bang:.

I mainly used the DAT Destroyer to do my studying (I had never heard of these Chad videos until the week before my DAT 🙁). I went through all the sciences once and hand-wrote the answers and explanations to every single question I had gotten wrong (even if it was because of a stupid mistake). I ended up with about 40+ pages of G.Chem and O.Chem and about 90 pages of Bio (Bio answers/ explanations were generally longer than those of O.Chem and G.Chem). I reviewed all of my wrong answers twice and then went back to the Destroyer for round two. Although I was still getting some questions wrong (probably because I was timing myself in 30min. intervals), I felt like I knew the material much better than I did initially. Writing my wrong answers made me fee as if I was actually engraving the information into my system (call me crazy, but it worked for me...I think).

For the QR section, I went the DAT Destroyer three times and only used one practice test from the MATH DESTROYER (I didn't have time to go through it all). For the RC section, I really just used the free Kaplan practice test online (which is only two passages I think) and another free practice test I found through Google.

I would recommend anyone who is looking to study 7-8hrs. a day for THE BIG DAY to find a study buddy. I know people say it's distracting, but if you both are motivated enough to do well, it definitely makes studying seem less brutal 🙂.

This was my first time taking my DAT and I don't think I'm going to take it a second time (any feedback on this decision would be greatly appreciated 😀).
 
I thought the Bio section was fair. It incorporated a wide range of topics that the DAT Destroyer covers. However, there were some questions that the Destroyer did not cover (which were probably the ones I got wrong). However, I do have a decently solid biology background and had taken both Cell Biology and Human Physiology during my spring 2011 semester...much of that material was also fresh in my mind. But if you actually read the Destroyer's explanations and understand not only the right answers, but the wrong ones too, I think you'll be in good shape. I honestly did not use any material besides the Destroyer...and the practice tests that I previously mentioned.
 
I thought the Bio section was fair. It incorporated a wide range of topics that the DAT Destroyer covers. However, there were some questions that the Destroyer did not cover (which were probably the ones I got wrong). However, I do have a decently solid biology background and had taken both Cell Biology and Human Physiology during my spring 2011 semester...much of that material was also fresh in my mind. But if you actually read the Destroyer's explanations and understand not only the right answers, but the wrong ones too, I think you'll be in good shape. I honestly did not use any material besides the Destroyer...and the practice tests that I previously mentioned.

Oh sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you were misrepresenting yourself. I was just basically saying congrats on your 23 in Bio. 🙂
 
Oh sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you were misrepresenting yourself. I was just basically saying congrats on your 23 in Bio. 🙂

No worries! I was just trying to reply to two posts with one. I didn't think that you were implying anything...I apologize if my post implied otherwise 😳
 
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