BIO on DAT

[sumozmom]

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I would like to know how much bio is on the test...

Would it be enough to take 1 semester of BIO and than the test....do you really need 2 semesters?

ok here is the deal....I took bio 1 & 2 --- 10 yrs ago for my BS. Now I'm taking all the Chem pre-recs...I will not have time to take a BIO course....But i will independantly study. I do not work in the BIO field so studying this will be like doing all again for the first time.
Will Kaplan be enough to teach me some BIO?

HELP.....😳


I will take tha DAT in 1 yr....so MAy 2007.

PLEASE ADVISE

😕

 

[scottyhoop]

I'd go thru some of the review books (such as Kaplan,Schaums) and see what you remember and if you think it's possible to do it without classes. I just finished 2 semesters of gen Bio, and I'm glad that I'm taking cell bio and anatomy before the test as there is some stuff on the DAT scope that I def. need more work on. Good luck tho...hope it works out for you!!!
Scott

 

[bpenly]

Like you, I changed careers. I was in a hurry to take the DAT, but my science background was garbage and outdated. I took a total of nine credits of biology, including 6 credits of 101-102 type and then an upper level genetics course. At U of Texas, they split 101-102 into four 2 credit classes. I took the first two a year before the DAT, then the second one and genetics right before I took the DAT. I did not take the final 2 credit class (ecology/diversity), but read all the chapter in the syllabus on my own before the DAT.

Having a class helps keep you focused and reading. It forces you to memorize the material on a set time schedule.

Finally, I used other materials to quiz myself, including an AP Biology Guide. I made about 2500 notecards (for all the chapters in the Campbell book that were relevant) during the classes I took. These were my primary source of study material for the DAT.

How did I do? I scored a 30 on Biology (in August 2004). I applied as a post-bac with 49 credit hours of additional work and was accepted to every school I applied to in 2004 and even scored a small scholarship at Baylor. My wife then got a great job and we moved to Nebraska and I got into the two schools I applied to this year. I think it had to do with the biology score.

My point is. Take the classes as they forced me to study things I would have otherwise been tempted to skip (i.e. classification, plant hormones, etc.)

 

[sumozmom]

so do i need to take more than gen BIO I & II?

 

[bpenly]

so do i need to take more than gen BIO I & II?

No. The genetics class I had was overkill, but it was nice because it made the genetics problems on the DAT look easy (i.e. I didn't even review genetics at all b/c I just took the class). Just make sure that the classes cover all the material as I can see you have a busy, non-school schedule.

I really believe that taking the summer school classes right before the DAT was a great use of time because you are forced to learn it to get the grade you want, which translates to a fresh memory on test day.

 

[sumozmom]

No. The genetics class I had was overkill, but it was nice because it made the genetics problems on the DAT look easy (i.e. I didn't even review genetics at all b/c I just took the class). Just make sure that the classes cover all the material as I can see you have a busy, non-school schedule.

I really believe that taking the summer school classes right before the DAT was a great use of time because you are forced to learn it to get the grade you want, which translates to a fresh memory on test day.

Do I even need Bio II?

 

[scottyhoop]

Do I even need Bio II?

A lot of the stuff in the review books was covered in my Bio 2 class....but if you can get it from a book you're fine. Depends on how good of a "book learner" you are.
Scott

 

[bpenly]

Do I even need Bio II?

I think perhaps you are misunderstanding me a little. I had a lower division genetics/evolution (i.e. Bio 102) and an upper division genetics. The upper division version is overkill for the DAT. I think that taking the prescribed bio classes are a good idea as per my insinuation that they force you to study some rather dry material.