Anyone here only studied the DAT in 3 weeks?

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RuffDay

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Hi all,

My plan is to learn everything by the end of this week using Cliff's and Chad's Videos, and start on practice problems for the other two weeks. I am not sure if I will be ready, has anyone studied for 3 weeks? And If you did, how was your schedule like? I would love to see your breakdown as well! Thank you very much!
 
I think it would be possible depending upon how well you did in your science courses, how strong your math background is, and how quickly you understand the PAT.

Assuming you are strong in science / math and that you have innate PAT skills, I think 3 weeks of the following would have gotten me about as much practice / studying as I achieved in the 6 weeks I actually studied for the DAT. You will probably need to study a solid 8 - 10 hours each day for all 3 weeks.

1. Read Cliff's 4 times and supplement on the first pass with Campbell's. I also advise taking notes on the first pass, just to solidify your understanding of the material. This seems like a lot, but you can do it in a week if you really make yourself do it every day. It was on the 4th pass that I solidified and fully integrated my biological understanding, that's why I say 4 passes (I scored a 28 on bio and there were a few questions I wouldn't have been able to answer without the 4th reading). The 1st pass is a review, the 2nd pass is to find your weaknesses, the 3rd pass is to refine your understanding, the 4th pass will integrate everything. Also, save the memorization stuff (phylums, hormones, etc.) until the last few days before the exam.
2. Get through DAT Destroyer GC, OC, and Bio 3x (2 days for each 1st pass which is 150 questions for ochem / gen and 250 for bio, then 1 day each for the subsequent passes). That will be a total of 12 days.... But, it will be well worth it. Again, difficult, but possible. The first time through will take about as long as the next two times combined if you are diligent on the first pass. My last pass through Destroyer Bio I did 400 of the 520 problems in 4 hours. Your first time through will be frustrating, and it will make you think that your timeline is impossible. Just work through the pain, and you'll see that your 2nd and 3rd passes are MUCH easier.
3. Watch all of Chad's videos once at normal speed while taking notes, and then again a week later at double speed. It took me 2 days to watch each chem section with quizzes, but I could have done each in a day. Take the quizzes after each video, and then do quizzes without watching to find your weak spots. If you suck on a quiz, then watch the corresponding video.
4. Do DAT Destroyer's math section. I am assuming you are strong in math, otherwise 3 weeks is unlikely.
5. Use Bootcamp + Youtube to study for PAT. If you are really struggling with PAT then 3 weeks may also be unlikely. If you find the PAT reasonable, then 3 weeks is doable.

12-14 days with DAT Destroyer and Chad's, 7-9 days with Cliff's and Campbell's. Hit the PAT intermittently to complete 10 full practice exams (that's only 10 hours in total).
 
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I think it would be possibly depending upon how well you did in your science courses, how strong your math background is, and how quickly you understand the PAT.

Assuming you are strong in science / math and that you have innate PAT skills, I think 3 weeks of the following would have gotten me about as much practice / studying as I achieved in the 6 weeks I actually studied for the DAT. You will probably need to study a solid 8 - 10 hours each day for all 3 weeks.

1. Read Cliff's 4 times and supplement on the first pass with Campbell's. I also advise taking notes on the first pass, just to solidify your understanding of the material. This seems like a lot, but you can do it in a week if you really make yourself do it every day. It was on the 4th pass that I solidified and fully integrated my biological understanding, that's why I say 4 passes (I scored a 28 on bio and there were a few questions I wouldn't have been able to answer without the 4th reading). The 1st pass is a review, the 2nd pass is to find your weaknesses, the 3rd pass is to refine your understanding, the 4th pass will integrate everything. Also, save the memorization stuff (phylums, hormones, etc.) until the last few days before the exam.
2. Get through DAT Destroyer GC, OC, and Bio 3x (2 days for each 1st pass which is 150 questions for ochem / gen and 250 for bio, then 1 day each for the subsequent passes). That will be a total of 12 days.... But, it will be well worth it. Again, difficult, but possible. The first time through will take about as long as the next two times combined if you are diligent on the first pass. My last pass through Destroyer Bio I did 400 of the 520 problems in 4 hours. Your first time through will be frustrating, and it will make you think that your timeline is impossible. Just work through the pain, and you'll see that your 2nd and 3rd passes are MUCH easier.
3. Watch all of Chad's videos once at normal speed while taking notes, and then again a week later at double speed. It took me 2 days to watch each chem section with quizzes, but I could have done each in a day. Take the quizzes after each video, and then do quizzes without watching to find your weak spots. If you suck on a quiz, then watch the corresponding video.
4. Do DAT Destroyer's math section. I am assuming you are strong in math, otherwise 3 weeks is unlikely.
5. Use Bootcamp + Youtube to study for PAT. If you are really struggling with PAT then 3 weeks may also be unlikely. If you find the PAT reasonable, then 3 weeks is doable.

12-14 days with DAT Destroyer and Chad's, 7-9 days with Cliff's and Campbell's. Hit the PAT intermittently to complete 10 full practice exams (that's only 10 hours in total).

Thanks! I will look into this and try my best to follow this schedule of yours. It sounds pretty difficult, but I know that setting your goals high are always better.
 
I've seen it done, but it's very intense and challenging. You know yourself the best, and if you think you're the type of person that can study for 3 weeks and get the scores you want, then go for it. Make sure you have a detailed study schedule that lays out what you should be doing day by day and stick to it, what @Cello posted is excellent.

Last thing I want to say is don't feel rushed to take this exam. It's better to take a little longer and do very well the first time you take it, than to rush and stress yourself out and have to retake it. If 3 days before the test you don't feel ready or that you won't be ready, really consider postponing your exam a bit to study some more.
 
3 weeks????? Unless you know all your sciences cold and very comfortable with PAT QR and reading then I think you are ok.
form what i've seen here on SDN there is a very small percentage of people who do really well on DAT by only studying less than a month.
I hope I'm wrong.
good luck
 
That is definitely not enough time to learn the material and do a sufficient amount of what's more important: practice tests!!
 
jimmpanzee had a breakdown where he studied 4 weeks and got like a 26 or something. His initial destroyer scores were on average 60%-70% so it's not like his foundation was rock solid and he knew everything before going in. He studied like 12 hours a day to get that score and others here have gotten 23's through 4 weeks of study so it can be done. Just probably not the easiest way
 
I think it would be possibly depending upon how well you did in your science courses, how strong your math background is, and how quickly you understand the PAT.

Assuming you are strong in science / math and that you have innate PAT skills, I think 3 weeks of the following would have gotten me about as much practice / studying as I achieved in the 6 weeks I actually studied for the DAT. You will probably need to study a solid 8 - 10 hours each day for all 3 weeks.

1. Read Cliff's 4 times and supplement on the first pass with Campbell's. I also advise taking notes on the first pass, just to solidify your understanding of the material. This seems like a lot, but you can do it in a week if you really make yourself do it every day. It was on the 4th pass that I solidified and fully integrated my biological understanding, that's why I say 4 passes (I scored a 28 on bio and there were a few questions I wouldn't have been able to answer without the 4th reading). The 1st pass is a review, the 2nd pass is to find your weaknesses, the 3rd pass is to refine your understanding, the 4th pass will integrate everything. Also, save the memorization stuff (phylums, hormones, etc.) until the last few days before the exam.
2. Get through DAT Destroyer GC, OC, and Bio 3x (2 days for each 1st pass which is 150 questions for ochem / gen and 250 for bio, then 1 day each for the subsequent passes). That will be a total of 12 days.... But, it will be well worth it. Again, difficult, but possible. The first time through will take about as long as the next two times combined if you are diligent on the first pass. My last pass through Destroyer Bio I did 400 of the 520 problems in 4 hours. Your first time through will be frustrating, and it will make you think that your timeline is impossible. Just work through the pain, and you'll see that your 2nd and 3rd passes are MUCH easier.
3. Watch all of Chad's videos once at normal speed while taking notes, and then again a week later at double speed. It took me 2 days to watch each chem section with quizzes, but I could have done each in a day. Take the quizzes after each video, and then do quizzes without watching to find your weak spots. If you suck on a quiz, then watch the corresponding video.
4. Do DAT Destroyer's math section. I am assuming you are strong in math, otherwise 3 weeks is unlikely.
5. Use Bootcamp + Youtube to study for PAT. If you are really struggling with PAT then 3 weeks may also be unlikely. If you find the PAT reasonable, then 3 weeks is doable.

12-14 days with DAT Destroyer and Chad's, 7-9 days with Cliff's and Campbell's. Hit the PAT intermittently to complete 10 full practice exams (that's only 10 hours in total).

Excellent response Cello, especially where you stated "if you are strong in science/math and have innate PAT skills. A student with a high GPA and solid foundation usually needs less review time and work than a weaker student.

The best advice I can give any student is do not take the DAT until you feel confident and prepared. This is NOT a test you want to take more than once. Only you can determine how long that will take.

Wishing you the best RuffDay in your studies and on the DAT!

Nancy
 
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Hi all,

My plan is to learn everything by the end of this week using Cliff's and Chad's Videos, and start on practice problems for the other two weeks. I am not sure if I will be ready, has anyone studied for 3 weeks? And If you did, how was your schedule like? I would love to see your breakdown as well! Thank you very much!
Are those videos free? And if so can you post a link for me
 
I did it in 4 weeks, although my last week was honestly pretty chill.
First week: Chad GC and OC, Cliff AP Bio
Second week: Destroyer
Third week: Destroyer
Fourth week: Bootcamp

15 hours a day (9AM-12AM). ARE YOU UP FOR IT?
 
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I did it in 4 weeks, although my last week was honestly pretty chill.
First week: Chad GC and OC, Cliff AP Bio
Second week: Destroyer
Third week: Destroyer
Fourth week: Bootcamp

15 hours a day (9AM-12PM). ARE YOU UP FOR IT?

Hi Alectrify

Would you mind posting your GPA and background prior to study.
I did it in 4 weeks, although my last week was honestly pretty chill.
First week: Chad GC and OC, Cliff AP Bio
Second week: Destroyer
Third week: Destroyer
Fourth week: Bootcamp


15 hours a day (9AM-12PM). ARE YOU UP FOR IT?


Hi Alectrify

Would you mind posting your GPA and background prior to study.

Your DAT scores are very nice indeed! I am going to make the assumption you were a strong student prior to your grueling study schedule.

Alectrify scores.. DAT - 23 AA, 23 TS, 24 PAT

Nancy
 
^ Whoa no need to bash each other with financial statuses.

Hi Alectrify

Would you mind posting your GPA and background prior to study.



Hi Alectrify

Would you mind posting your GPA and background prior to study.

Your DAT scores are very nice indeed! I am going to make the assumption you were a strong student prior to your grueling study schedule.

Alectrify scores.. DAT - 23 AA, 23 TS, 24 PAT

Nancy

My current GPA is 3.4ish, which only compels me to say that DAT and GPA are two very different metrics. I feel like my background was already quite strong because of a rather grueling undergrad courseload and the cutthroat nature of my school's classes. Otherwise, I'm no different from any other student!
 
^ Whoa no need to bash each other with financial statuses.



My current GPA is 3.4ish, which only compels me to say that DAT and GPA are two very different metrics. I feel like my background was already quite strong because of a rather grueling undergrad courseload and the cutthroat nature of my school's classes. Otherwise, I'm no different from any other student!

My GPA is about the same as yours as well. I am just hoping that my DAT scores will be similar haha.
 
Hi all,

My plan is to learn everything by the end of this week using Cliff's and Chad's Videos, and start on practice problems for the other two weeks. I am not sure if I will be ready, has anyone studied for 3 weeks? And If you did, how was your schedule like? I would love to see your breakdown as well! Thank you very much!

Hey RuffDay...
I took my DAT last summer and gave myself 3 weeks exactly to study for it!
I had to stop working (and even shadowing!) so that I could commit most of my days to studying, but it ultimately turned out to be a successful approach! Feel free to message me if you are curious as to materials I studied/how I planned out my 3 weeks and my time studying during the day!
 
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