Advice??

[CK2006]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I will be taking the DAT for the second time on the 18th (one week). 😱

I wanted to get an opinion on Schaum's Biology Outlines. 😕

I have gone through the kaplan Blue Book as well as practiced with Top Score and all the kaplan Subject tests and Practice tests.

I am thinking about buying Shaum's tonight and just trying to completely memorize it and refresh on everything. What is the general consensus about Schaum's and will it serve as a good final review? 😎

Thank you. 😍

 

[dat_student]

I will be taking the DAT for the second time on the 18th (one week). 😱

I wanted to get an opinion on Schaum's Biology Outlines. 😕

I have gone through the kaplan Blue Book as well as practiced with Top Score and all the kaplan Subject tests and Practice tests.

I am thinking about buying Shaum's tonight and just trying to completely memorize it and refresh on everything. What is the general consensus about Schaum's and will it serve as a good final review? 😎

Thank you. 😍

Many SDNers think schuam is good. I don't like it very much. I have the book but only read 3-4 chapters before I decided to use my own textbooks. On two occasions I went back to schuam to compare some authors' arguments. On both occasions I didn't get much out of schuam. It's not a bad book. It's good overall. Actually, any book is good but I doubt I'll read schuam cover-to-cover before my DAT. I haven't taken the DAT yet. So, I may end up getting a horrible biology score for not reading schuam cover-to-cover. Who knows? Bottom line: if you have plenty time and nothing else to do reading schuam won't hurt...Thank God, schuam doesn't copy other sources such as ADA and Campbell.

 

[Missserica]

I think most people here on SDN, who have used the book thought it was worth the time and effort reading it just because you never know what the DAT can throw out at you, especially in bio. I took out the Schuam's Biology book from the library. I thought it was helpful and very detailed, although the presentation is kind of dull. I don't know if that is important to you though 🙂

 

[lcinva]

I will be taking the DAT for the second time on the 18th (one week). 😱

I wanted to get an opinion on Schaum's Biology Outlines. 😕

I have gone through the kaplan Blue Book as well as practiced with Top Score and all the kaplan Subject tests and Practice tests.

I am thinking about buying Shaum's tonight and just trying to completely memorize it and refresh on everything. What is the general consensus about Schaum's and will it serve as a good final review? 😎

Thank you. 😍

SDN got me super worried about how impossible bio was before I took it. I didnt have a whole lot of time, so what I did was memorize and outline in the margins all of Kaplan (white book, which I think is the same). That, plus the questions from SDN got me a 20, which was missing about 5-6 questions. I actually purchased Schaums, and looked through it, but didn't use it. Looking back on my test, I am fairly confident that reading Schaums and adding that extra stress right before my test wouldn't have helped me with those last few. Everyone bashes Kaplan bio, its really not that bad. Schaums is WAY too much info, and it could POSSIBLY get you one or two questions, but the bottom line is that if its going to stress you out and be tons of work, I wouldn't bother for the extra questions (which may or may not even boost your score). If you don't have anything else that would be more important to brush up on (chemistry that you KNOW will be on there as opposed to random facts that probably won't be), go for it. Thats just my two cents about the biology...not as impossible as it seemed to be!! Good luck!!!

 

[DinoDentist]

I really like the book, and I think that reviewing it right before the test would be a great idea. Most people on this forum feel that the Schuam's book fills in the gaps of the Kaplan book. If all else, study the bio subjects you feel weak at, and definetely take a look at the classification section of Schuam's. Kaplan's classification blows. My 2 cents 😀

 

[CKaK]

Thank you so much for your responses. I ended up buying the Bio and "College Chemistry" outlines last night and from what I've seen so far, they seem really good. I just hope I can get through the books in 6 days (abt 60 pgs/day in each book).

I also got the crash course outline for OChem, which is really broad, but anything will help me in O Chem, haha.

Also, what is the Sea Urchin Question/Answer everyone always talks about on this site?

Thanks again, I really appreciate your help and advice.

 

[dat_student]

Thank you so much for your responses. I ended up buying the Bio and "College Chemistry" outlines last night and from what I've seen so far, they seem really good. I just hope I can get through the books in 6 days (abt 60 pgs/day in each book).

I also got the crash course outline for OChem, which is really broad, but anything will help me in O Chem, haha.

Also, what is the Sea Urchin Question/Answer everyone always talks about on this site?

Thanks again, I really appreciate your help and advice.

reading quickly will improve your RCT as well. 😉

 

[CK2006]

Hahah, yeah, that may be my only RC practice.

Does anyone know if schools take your best scores from each test or does it all have to be from the same test?

 

[Bonkers29]

SDN got me super worried about how impossible bio was before I took it. I didnt have a whole lot of time, so what I did was memorize and outline in the margins all of Kaplan (white book, which I think is the same). That, plus the questions from SDN got me a 20, which was missing about 5-6 questions. I actually purchased Schaums, and looked through it, but didn't use it. Looking back on my test, I am fairly confident that reading Schaums and adding that extra stress right before my test wouldn't have helped me with those last few. Everyone bashes Kaplan bio, its really not that bad. Schaums is WAY too much info, and it could POSSIBLY get you one or two questions, but the bottom line is that if its going to stress you out and be tons of work, I wouldn't bother for the extra questions (which may or may not even boost your score). If you don't have anything else that would be more important to brush up on (chemistry that you KNOW will be on there as opposed to random facts that probably won't be), go for it. Thats just my two cents about the biology...not as impossible as it seemed to be!! Good luck!!!

This was a great reply, it actually helped me figure some stuff out for myself on what I should do. I was also feeling the pressure to go and buy Shaums Bio book after coming on SDN but I'm still first trying to get the Kaplan bio all down first. thanks!