can I use 2001 MCAT materials for the DAT?

[DentPursuer88]

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Hey all. I recently met a D.O. and we started talking about what I wanted to do in the future. I told him I wanted to become a dentist, so he asked me if I've gotten any study materials for the DAT. Obviously I haven't yet and will not take it until another 2 years. However, he offered me THE WHOLE SHEBANG!

MCAT= lesson book (physics, general chem., verbal reasoning, writing, organ. chem, bio, math, problem solving)
MCAT=biological sciences(bio, org. chem)
MCAT=verbal reasoning
MCAT=Physical Science (Gen. Chem., Physics)
++++ALL OF THESE ARE 2001 EDITION THOUGH++++

ALSO FLASHCARDS INCLUDED

Now i know we don't have to take physics for the DAT, and the DAT contains RC and PAT.( I will get study materials on those in the future). I was just wondering if it's worth studying for it even though it's for the MCAT and it's 2001.

He said he is willing to give me all of these for about $50.00. So what do you guys think I should do?

 

[TheWiredNerv]

No, you aren't allowed to use those materials are you are banned from taking the DAT. Just Kidding.

What company are all those review materials from? Exam Krackers? If they are I hear you can learn a lot, but it is always best to get more than one primary review source. Also make sure to buy some sort of practice exam software.

 

[DentPursuer88]

hey thanks for the advice.. instead of saying "am I allowed" I should say would you advise me too. lol. Sorry for the confusion.

Any way, all the books were from Kaplan, but I just wanted to use these books as a foundation, and then buy more materials that go more in depth. I will definitely get a software program like achiever or topscore. I still got a lot of time, so what do you think?

 

[rose786]

hey thanks for the advice.. instead of saying "am I allowed" I should say would you advise me too. lol. Sorry for the confusion.

Any way, all the books were from Kaplan, but I just wanted to use these books as a foundation, and then buy more materials that go more in depth. I will definitely get a software program like achiever or topscore. I still got a lot of time, so what do you think?

I say take 'em. $50 isn't that bad, and Kaplan's MCAT stuff is better than the big DAT book.

I would consider adding the following: an extra bio review book (like cliffs or schaums), Crack the PAT (if you need it, otherwise Achiever's PAT is good practice), and then to get your timing down get Topscore & Achiever.

 

[DentPursuer88]

thanks rose, i appreciate the feedback. I think I am going to supplement my study materials with destroyer, cliff's and topscore or achiever. Something around those lines. Any other advice?

 

[bigstix808]

the material in those books is the same as it is today. Bio is different for the DAT though and you already know there is no physics. BUT, i wouldn't spend the $50 on those books only because all the "extra" stuff he has is designed to take the MCAT (the verbal stuff, study guides, etc...; i know because i have them). The verbal section on the MCAT is TOTALLY different that it is on the DAT so you wont need ANY of that stuff from him.

so, if you're already going to buy all the extra study stuff (destroyer, cambell's, etc), you might as well and use that $50 dollars and buy the newest kaplan DAT book, just so you wont have to lug all those other books around when you're trying to study as i don't think they would be worth the hassell. i think the ONLY thing that those MCAT books would have that would be the least bit benificial is the fact that they have about 10-15 questions at the end of each chapter, but if you're going to use other materials anyway, even that doesn't make them worth it. and it helps that the DAT book(s) already have the material for that test and all the extra sections as well not found on the MCAT.

 

[DentPursuer88]

excellent piece of information bigstix. thank you. so how much are kaplan materials usually. I mean how much should I save up for, kaplan, destroyer, cliffs, achiever or topscore? What do you think would be a beneficial amount.

Do you think if I study the MCAT, the DAT would come a lot easier for me, since everything if more critical thinking based? Just curious.

 

[bigstix808]

excellent piece of information bigstix. thank you. so how much are kaplan materials usually. I mean how much should I save up for, kaplan, destroyer, cliffs, achiever or topscore? What do you think would be a beneficial amount.

Do you think if I study the MCAT, the DAT would come a lot easier for me, since everything if more critical thinking based? Just curious.

i wouldn't try and do that. i would buy materials based on the format of the DAT.

Kaplan DAT (w/ two practice tests) - 45
destroyer (lots of questions for the sciences and math) - 150
acheiver (3 practice tests) - 50
topscore (5 practice tests) - 50 (i think)
crack DAT PAT (only PAT practice tests) - 60?

there are tons of other review materials out there. i personally just used kaplan and my text books on the first go around. now i'm adding all the practice tests in to help as well. if you were going to use ANY MCAT material, i would recomend examkrachers MCAT gen chem and orgo chem (~23 a piece) each book has 1001 questions and covers EVERYTHING for gen chem and orgo chem. although the questions are a bit different, you'll know the material inside and out by the time you get done.

 

[DentPursuer88]

thank you once again. I think I am just going to take your advice and just stick with DAT study materials when I am ready. I had one more question for you and others to answer, if you wouldn't mind.

I am planning to take my DAT around 2010 or 2011...depending on when I'll get my pre-reqs done. Now the question is, there are a few people I know this year who have finished taking their DAT and are willing to see it to me for a negotiable price. Do you think I should take it from them, or just wait until my turn comes up. Any suggestions?

 

[bigstix808]

thank you once again. I think I am just going to take your advice and just stick with DAT study materials when I am ready. I had one more question for you and others to answer, if you wouldn't mind.

I am planning to take my DAT around 2010 or 2011...depending on when I'll get my pre-reqs done. Now the question is, there are a few people I know this year who have finished taking their DAT and are willing to see it to me for a negotiable price. Do you think I should take it from them, or just wait until my turn comes up. Any suggestions?

first off, no one has copies of DAT tests unless they are really old paper copies which are so archaic they prob would not even be worth looking at. second, THAT IS HIGHLY ILLEGAL TO COPY ACTUAL TEST QUESTIONS AND REDISTRIBBUTE THEM!! i would invest the money to use the legal resources out there that are computer based-mock DAT format. all the other stuff you plan on buying is MORE than enough to adaquatly prepare your self for the test without resulting to criminal activity.

 

[DentPursuer88]

hey man, thanks for the info. I guess I am going to save up until the time comes.

by the way...sick videos... I should make a video of me solving the rubik's cube blindfolded lol...wouldn't be as interesting as yours though lol..

thanks again buddy.

 

[PSU SHC 414]

I say take 'em. $50 isn't that bad, and Kaplan's MCAT stuff is better than the big DAT book.

I would consider adding the following: an extra bio review book (like cliffs or schaums), Crack the PAT (if you need it, otherwise Achiever's PAT is good practice), and then to get your timing down get Topscore & Achiever.

Totally agree that the MCAT stuff is better than the big DAT book. I prepared for the MCAT using Kaplan material, and I'm using a combo of the Kaplan DAT blue book and the Kaplan MCAT materials to study for the DAT.

Hands down the MCAT material goes into greater depth than the DAT blue book which means you'll be much better prepared if you study from the MCAT material. I'm not even using the blue book except for the PAT section and practice tests.

Be aware that the MCAT bio material does not cover taxonomy, ecology, and plant details (all of which is useless information that we shouldn't have to study... IMO).

 

[bigstix808]

Totally agree that the MCAT stuff is better than the big DAT book. I prepared for the MCAT using Kaplan material, and I'm using a combo of the Kaplan DAT blue book and the Kaplan MCAT materials to study for the DAT.

Hands down the MCAT material goes into greater depth than the DAT blue book which means you'll be much better prepared if you study from the MCAT material. I'm not even using the blue book except for the PAT section and practice tests.

Be aware that the MCAT bio material does not cover taxonomy, ecology, and plant details (all of which is useless information that we shouldn't have to study... IMO).

is that right, because i have both DAT and MCAT books and they are both VERBATIM!! (with the exception of bio b/c of what was already mentioned)

 

[PSU SHC 414]

is that right, because i have both DAT and MCAT books and they are both VERBATIM!! (with the exception of bio b/c of what was already mentioned)

I kid you not - I have kaplan MCAT books from the actual live course which are broken down into sections (i.e. Biological Sciences in one book, Physical Sciences in another) and they go into MUCH greater detail than the DAT blue book, which is almost a joke compared to the MCAT material. Try to do Destroyer problems using JUST the Kaplan DAT blue book as your base of knowledge and you'll find yourself in a fairly deep hole.

The thick Kaplan MCAT book that you can buy in bookstores might be more similar to the DAT book - not sure, but that would be my guess.

 

[PSU SHC 414]

I kid you not - I have kaplan MCAT books from the actual live course which are broken down into sections (i.e. Biological Sciences in one book, Physical Sciences in another) and they go into MUCH greater detail than the DAT blue book, which is almost a joke compared to the MCAT material. Try to do Destroyer problems using JUST the Kaplan DAT blue book as your base of knowledge and you'll find yourself in a fairly deep hole.

The thick Kaplan MCAT book that you can buy in bookstores might be more similar to the DAT book - not sure, but that would be my guess.

Let me clarify a little - the biggest difference I saw (as far as level of detail is concerned) between the MCAT books I have and the DAT blue book (2007 ed.) is in the BIO section. Gen Chem and OChem material is relatively the same between the two.

Bottom line... as BigStix said before... just relying on Kaplan material is not going to do it for you. It's fine to use Kaplan to build a base, but like nearly everyone else on this forum, I HIGHLY recommend Destroyer and Achiever (towards the end of your studying).

Also, there's really no need to spend the full $150 on Destroyer. Go to the classified's section of SDN and do a search for DAT destroyer.... plenty of people are selling fairly recent editions. I got mine for $80 and it's an early 2007 edition with updates on a CD up to Aug 2007. From what I've been told, the updates that you're entitled to when you buy the book directly from Orgoman aren't crucial to have.

 

[DentPursuer88]

thank you once again guys!