Anyone here only study 4 weeks for the DAT?

[SCDP]

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I want to apply by mid June but don't want to submit my application until after I take the DAT. My plan is take 1 week off after the spring semester and then study 4 weeks straight for the DAT... but can I do well this way?

Anyone done well this way? If so did you remember a lot of info from the classes you have taken or did you forget a lot and just were able to recall/re-memorize it while studying?

I'm beyond scared for the DAT because I feel like I've forgotten like 80%+ of the material I've learned in my bio classes, gen chem, and organic chem 1(which I just took this past semester) despite the fact that I have a 3.88 science GPA(all A's, one B)

 

[Brox2518]

I only studied for 1 month when I took the DAT. I was also working full time and married with 3 children at home. Needless to say, i was running on almost no sleep that whole month. It was completely exhausting, and if I had to do it over, I would've spread out my preparation time more. My test was scheduled in August though, so my procrastination is what resulted in such a hectic, and brief, study duration. I did well on the DAT tho: 23 AA 23 TS 25 QR 25 PAT, with 22 being my lowest score in O chem and BIO.

Take it from me, study as early as you can. It is stressful enough. Do not make it worse for yourself by limiting study time. Push it back until July if you must, it really is not a big deal as long as the rest of your application is ready to roll and turned in. I would even perhaps be working on at least the PAT even during the semester. It doesn't take much time every day to put the reps in for it, and once mastered it is really such an easy section of the test.

 

[SCDP]

I only studied for 1 month when I took the DAT. I was also working full time and married with 3 children at home. Needless to say, i was running on almost no sleep that whole month. It was completely exhausting, and if I had to do it over, I would've spread out my preparation time more. My test was scheduled in August though, so my procrastination is what resulted in such a hectic, and brief, study duration. I did well on the DAT tho: 23 AA 23 TS 25 QR 25 PAT, with 22 being my lowest score in O chem and BIO.

Take it from me, study as early as you can. It is stressful enough. Do not make it worse for yourself by limiting study time. Push it back until July if you must, it really is not a big deal as long as the rest of your application is ready to roll and turned in. I would even perhaps be working on at least the PAT even during the semester. It doesn't take much time every day to put the reps in for it, and once mastered it is really such an easy section of the test.

Thanks for the input and someone actually suggested that to me also. Any ideas on what would be good materials to use for the PAT if I'm just going to casually go about it for the semester?

 

[discensdentibus]

this breakdown may be relevant

 

[Alectrify]

I studied for 4 weeks (winter vacation) and it was enough for me. I admit that I'm an easily distracted person, so studying for 3 whole months is simply a nono. That, and I didn't have 3 months to spare.

If you understood the content in your gen bio/chem/ochem classes, you'll be in good shape. The DAT only touches on the basics of each subject, so you're not expected to know each subject's material at the same depth that they were taught to you. That means that, even if you did forget 80% of the content taught to you, you really only need 50% for the DAT anyway.

I can send you my schedule on an excel spreadsheet if you PM me. If you go for this route (and I don't advise against it because one month was sufficient for me), I suggest you make a detailed spreadsheet of your own study schedule too. 🙂

 

[swindoll]

Why not take two months?

 

[watermelon15]

I only studied for 1 month when I took the DAT. I was also working full time and married with 3 children at home. Needless to say, i was running on almost no sleep that whole month. It was completely exhausting, and if I had to do it over, I would've spread out my preparation time more. My test was scheduled in August though, so my procrastination is what resulted in such a hectic, and brief, study duration. I did well on the DAT tho: 23 AA 23 TS 25 QR 25 PAT, with 22 being my lowest score in O chem and BIO.

Take it from me, study as early as you can. It is stressful enough. Do not make it worse for yourself by limiting study time. Push it back until July if you must, it really is not a big deal as long as the rest of your application is ready to roll and turned in. I would even perhaps be working on at least the PAT even during the semester. It doesn't take much time every day to put the reps in for it, and once mastered it is really such an easy section of the test.

you are awesome for your dedication. Those scores are so well deserved

 

[watermelon15]

i think if you can make it from 4 weeks to six weeks you will be set to take the test, completely....Those two weeks in the end will be good for some thorough review and practice tests....You wanna aim at taking this test just once and doing good on it

 

[DAT Destroyer]

i think if you can make it from 4 weeks to six weeks you will be set to take the test, completely....Those two weeks in the end will be good for some thorough review and practice tests....You wanna aim at taking this test just once and doing good on it

Great advice "watermelon 15"

"You wanna aim at taking this test just once and doing good on it"

 

[matardug]

As someone who had to retake the test, I would like to say I agree with @watermelon15. DO NOT take the dat until you are 100% ready and feel prepared. Push the test date back if you have to.

 

[superluminal]

But dont keep on pushing it back until forever. Commit yourself to studying through it and take the exam when you're ready.