Concerns about DAT and application.

[Dentalman11]

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Okay, I'm scheduled to take my DAT August 15, but I will have only had one semester of organic at that time. Do you think it's possible to score a 17+ in that section without the second semester? I'm applying to the University of Oklahoma, and they require at least a 17 in each subsection. I'm just worried that I'm going to do a crash course on organic II and still perform poorly. I'm taking organic I this summer, so I haven't really taken a practice test to gauge my abilities, because I feel it'd be useless without knowing all of organic I.

Further, I'm a mathematics major with a 4.0 applying to dental schools (2) this cycle, which brings me to my next concern: I think my Pre-Medical Advisory Committee dislikes non-traditional applicants--they're a part of the biology department. I go to a small state school, and the departments don't really collaborate all that much. I've emailed the committee to schedule an interview, and they said they were holding them in July and September. Well, my application is due October 1, so I was assuming they'd put me in with the July dates, because I doubt they can do 10+ letters in half a month, but I guess not. I e-mailed them a week ago regarding this and haven't gotten a reply. People have been telling me to go to the head's office, but I don't want to run the risk of receiving a bad letter of evaluation for nagging them; however, I need the committee letter to apply. Should I be worried?

Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[Tunaman]

Okay, I'm scheduled to take my DAT August 15, but I will have only had one semester of organic at that time. Do you think it's possible to score a 17+ in that section without the second semester? I'm applying to the University of Oklahoma, and they require at least a 17 in each subsection. I'm just worried that I'm going to do a crash course on organic II and still perform poorly. I'm taking organic I this summer, so I haven't really taken a practice test to gauge my abilities, because I feel it'd be useless without knowing all of organic I.

Further, I'm a mathematics major with a 4.0 applying to dental schools (2) this cycle, which brings me to my next concern: I think my Pre-Medical Advisory Committee dislikes non-traditional applicants--they're a part of the biology department. I go to a small state school, and the departments don't really collaborate all that much. I've emailed the committee to schedule an interview, and they said they were holding them in July and September. Well, my application is due October 1, so I was assuming they'd put me in with the July dates, because I doubt they can do 10+ letters in half a month, but I guess not. I e-mailed them a week ago regarding this and haven't gotten a reply. People have been telling me to go to the head's office, but I don't want to run the risk of receiving a bad letter of evaluation for nagging them; however, I need the committee letter to apply. Should I be worried?

Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated!

Generally speaking, a pre-health committee won't write you a letter unless you have all of the requirements completed for d-school, plus they want to see decent DAT's, they won't just write you a letter based on a solid GPA alone. The fact that you're only shooting for a 17 because of ones schools requirement is kind of limiting your options. Don't waste your money applying this cycle, you're trying to rush a process that can't be rushed. I don't recommend going into the exam without Orgo 2, you'll be shooting yourself in the foot without all of the major reactions seen on the DAT. Good luck!

 

[Dentalman11]

Thank you for your reply! It was very helpful! I guess I just need to calm down and let things happen.

Also, when I said I was shooting for a 17, I meant in the organic section, alone. I'm not too worried about the other sections, because I'm certain I can score >20 on them. I'm still going to apply this cycle, though. Mainly because I've already spent all the money, so not applying wouldn't save me any money.

Good luck to you, as well!

 

[DoeAdeer]

Do you think it's possible to score a 17+ in that section without the second semester?

People have been telling me to go to the head's office, but I don't want to run the risk of receiving a bad letter of evaluation for nagging them; however, I need the committee letter to apply. Should I be worried?

Definitely yes to the first question.

If getting a committee letter is not a timely option, why don't you just get individual letters from professors? And I doubt "nagging them" would yield a "bad letter."

 

[RU1992]

I took the DAT without taking Organic Chemistry 2 and got a 20 on that sub section. I'm taking organic 2 now and have already applied. The schools want the pre-reqs done before you begin their school, so that shouldn't stop you from applying. It's definitely do able, the Orgo section isn't hard. Just memorize a few reactions from Orgo 2 on your own and you should be set.

 

[mario0923]

like everyone says, you can still take DAT without orgo 2 and score +17.
I took orgo 1,2 but it's been a while so I didn't remember anything and I did poorly in those classes.
So I studied by myself and used Chad and I scored 25.

Concerning your committee letter, I don't know why your school dislike non-traditional majors. That is not fair for the students who are not majoring in bio. You do not have to get a committee letter, just try to get strong LORs from individual professors. You have to get your LORs ASAP because some dental schools don't look at the applications without them.

Good Luck to you!

 

[b0110]

You can definitely score 17+ without orgo 2. You may have to learn a few things while reviewing, but it is doable. The orgo section on the DAT is pretty basic.

 

[Kingsta2426]

Watch Chad's Organic Chem videos and go thru Ochem DAT destroyer twice and that will almost guarantee 18+

 

[Dentalman11]

Oh, wow! Thank you guys so much! I've been stressing over this night after night, and you all helped calm my nerves. Once again, thank you.

I finish summer school tomorrow, and I plan on picking up my DAT study pace to 15 hours/day, so I'm certain I will be able to shove many organic II reactions into my brain before the 15th.

About the committee letter: one of the schools I am applying to requires a committee letter if your school has a pre-medical advisory committee, and the school I'm applying to KNOWS that my university does.

I'll just become a hound in the beginning of September and force them to give me a LOR. Even if I have to tie them down. (Not really, but I WILL politely visit their offices.)

You all are seriously the greatest people. You have no idea. THANK YOU!

 

[b0110]

Oh, wow! Thank you guys so much! I've been stressing over this night after night, and you all helped calm my nerves. Once again, thank you.

I finish summer school tomorrow, and I plan on picking up my DAT study pace to 15 hours/day, so I'm certain I will be able to shove many organic II reactions into my brain before the 15th.

About the committee letter: one of the schools I am applying to requires a committee letter if your school has a pre-medical advisory committee, and the school I'm applying to KNOWS that my university does.

I'll just become a hound in the beginning of September and force them to give me a LOR. Even if I have to tie them down. (Not really, but I WILL politely visit their offices.)

You all are seriously the greatest people. You have no idea. THANK YOU!

Don't study 15 hours a day because you will most likely burn out. 10 is plenty.

 

[sacapuntas]

I scored in the high 20's without OC 2. I used Chad's, Destroyer, and OC as a 2nd language (1st and 2nd semester topics). I watched all of Chad's first, then OC as a 2nd Language to gain some more understanding, then did DAT Destroyer all the way through once, then Chad's + all quizes from Chad's. Lastly I did Destroyer over and over until I got all of them right. I made lots of note cards along the way. Out of the science sections on the DAT, I think organic chemistry is the easiest to self-teach and do extremely well as memorization works on the DAT if you have basic understanding.