Confused Please Help 2010??

[doctoob]

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Hi guys,
First time here. Please advise???
I have a BS degree in MIS. Going back to school after 6 years and taking the Pre reqs for the DAT and admission. I have not had bio yet. but am enrolled in Gen Chem right now with general Physics. My question to you is I was thinking about taking the Kaplan course this summer and then taking the DAT right after. any suggestions on taking the DAT without any biology classes? Bottom line!! is it worth taking the DAT without having any bio and organic chem? I am planning to take Bio and organic Chem this coming up fall and spring. I would really appreciate any feedback. I want to apply this year if possible😕

 

[doc toothache]

I have a BS degree in MIS. Going back to school after 6 years and taking the Pre reqs for the DAT and admission. I have not had bio yet. but am enrolled in Gen Chem right now with general Physics. My question to you is I was thinking about taking the Kaplan course this summer and then taking the DAT right after. any suggestions on taking the DAT without any biology classes? Bottom line!! is it worth taking the DAT without having any bio and organic chem? I am planning to take Bio and organic Chem this coming up fall and spring. I would really appreciate any feedback. I want to apply this year if possible😕

Whether or not you take the DAT with or without bio/organic is a function of how well you expect to do.

 

[peanutb123]

you took off for 6 years from school and you cant wait for one more year.... I believe i do not know about everyone else but i am no bio major but bio on dat is not hard but you will see things that you never even heard of before, since we are not bio majors. if you never got the taste of what organic is... dont rush yourself. Take your time learn then take the exam. simple why set yourself up for failure?

 

[subdoc]

Hi guys,
First time here. Please advise???
I have a BS degree in MIS. Going back to school after 6 years and taking the Pre reqs for the DAT and admission. I have not had bio yet. but am enrolled in Gen Chem right now with general Physics. My question to you is I was thinking about taking the Kaplan course this summer and then taking the DAT right after. any suggestions on taking the DAT without any biology classes? Bottom line!! is it worth taking the DAT without having any bio and organic chem? I am planning to take Bio and organic Chem this coming up fall and spring. I would really appreciate any feedback. I want to apply this year if possible😕

I was in kind of a similar situation as you and took the DAT before Bio and Orgo. I had ZERO exposure to the material and all I had were a few DAT study guides to work with. I will also say I struggled on the DAT. My Kaplan study guides were not sufficient for the depth the DAT tested for on Bio. My exam had a lot more Biochemistry-themed questions than my practice tests. Consequently I was FML during the exam, and I went in thinking Bio would be my best section (ended up being my worst!)

Orgo reflected some of my materials, but also was very difficult without being exposed to the course. For me, it was also a decade since General Chem, and I had to learn to the depth of the exam as well - not easy.

I have no idea how well you self study, or how much the Kapplan course can possibly teach you, but I will say your odds are DRASTICALLY in your favor to have the classes first. You are not just on an uphill battle, you will be scaling a mountain!

It can be done, but it will be VERY difficult. 6 years post-bac is nothing. MANY applicants/D1s are well into their 30s. I know the feeling of wanting to not "waste" another year, because I am in the same boat. I will also say my weak DAT scores are not getting me as many interviews as I hoped; however, one school offered me an interview since they were impressed I took the DAT before taking Orgo/Bio - but this is the EXCEPTION, and not the norm.

Ultimtately, schools look at DAT scores first since they are an equalizer, GPA second, and resume/personal statement third.

Unless you have a GPA or resume which jumps off the page, to have a realistic shot, you need to have solid DAT scores. Best of luck. It won't be easy if you go the route you are proposing.

 

[doctoob]

Thank you so much guys🙂 Subdoc so the million dollar question is? Did you get in a dental program and if you did where and if not did you take the classes and then retake the test? and how did you do?

 

[subdoc]

Thank you so much guys🙂 Subdoc so the million dollar question is? Did you get in a dental program and if you did where and if not did you take the classes and then retake the test? and how did you do?

I have not gotten in...yet. 🙂 I interviewed at UIC in Dec (should find out early Feb), at Western a couple weeks ago (should find out this week), interviewing at USC on 4 Feb and at Pitt on 8 Feb. I have had pretty good dialogue with a few other schools and am hopeful for maybe one or two more interview offers...but obviously understand the later you go, the less likely your chances...My app wasn't mailed out to late Sep.

Did I take the Kaplan class?...no. I am taking Orgo and Bio now at a local CC, and am taking Microbio and Biochem online through various schools. I did not retake the test as my test date was early Aug. I gave myself one month to study. I could not fit in a retest with working full-time as a Naval officer and taking two pre-req courses, although it was advised by several schools. I have to take classes at a CC based on class times coupled with my military commitments.

Scores: 16 Orgo and Bio, 19 Chem, (17 TS), 19 QR, 22 RC, (18 AA), and 19 PAT.

I mentioned briefly in my personal statement about how I took the DAT w/o taking the prereq courses and not being in a college testing environment for about 8 years. I thought some schools would see that as explainatory as well as impressive.

I am by no means dilusional to think I am getting in based on my DAT scores. I am a white male, so URM does not apply. If I am accepted, I will get in based on my resume, my difficult undergrad, and the fact I can offer serious differsification vis a vis my life experiences as an 8 year submarine officer.

I had an earlier thread saying something along the lines of ADCOMS primarily looking at three things in this order: 1-DAT, 2-GPA/undergrad, 3-resume/diversification/personal statement. It's like football, if you win 2 of the 3 phases of the game (off, def, spec teams), more than likely you will be victorious. This is by no means an exact science and is based solely on discussions with Admissions-types.

Best of luck!

 

[doctoob]

I think that is great and I really hope you get in a decent program. keep us posted. Thank you for the great advice and giving me hope!!!
Good Luck~🙂

 

[davidius]

I took my bio before the DAT but had not started my ochem series when I took it. I would not do it with two subjects as you have suggested... I ended up scoring a 17 in ochem after 2 months of self study which was my lowest score on the test. I had to rely on my bio, gen chem and rc to boost my overall AA score. Honestly, I was so confused by the stuff Kaplan provided me for ochem study that about halfway through studying for the DAT, I gave up studying for the ochem portion hoping I'd just recognize some of the end products and spent my time boosting my other scores (shocked that I got a 17 somehow).

I managed one acceptance so far with that but am certain if I had not had biology it would have been another story as the biology is a lot more in depth than the organic. When I was studying for the DAT this summer I was more stressed than I have been in a long time with the pressure of the exam looming and working to pay down the debt accrued from all of the costs associated with the exam and applying. Do yourself a favor and avoid putting yourself through that more than once. You only get three shots and if you're not even prepared for the first shot, you're setting yourself behind.

If I were you and it was impossible to finish bio before starting the Kaplan course (or at least getting the majority of your way through it), I would wait a year before dishing out $1500 for the course (+ the additional expenses for applying), volunteer a lot, get involved in research and do all the right activities to make sure your app makes you out to be a sure fire candidate for the next cycle. If you can get most of your bio done before the course (drop physics for now...) then it is doable just not exactly fun.

-david

 

[subdoc]

doctoob...In at Western. Still waiting on others. Yes, I am proof you an get in without taking a bunch of classes, and yes, I am proof you can get in with a low DAT score; however, I would take the DAT when you are comfortable with the material. Fortunately, I had a great personal statement and excellent resume to mitigate my DAT fiasco. My path is definitely not the most recommended, but it worked for me. Whether or not it works for you, only you can decide...BUT, it will be an UPHILL battle and you may end up spending LOTS more money shotgunning out apps like I had to.