Confused.

[house2272000]

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I am a freshmen in college and I want to start studying for the DAT this summer. I need to know which book to get????? I read so many post and It was very confusioning to which ones to get. Also Which year is a good time to take the DAT??? Thank You!!!!!

 

[purplepanda]

Take DAT during junior year summer.

Good DAT books that I am using:

Bio: Cliffs AP Biology, Shaum's Outlines, Kaplan (Blue Book)

General Chemistry: Kaplan DAT (Blue Book), Destroyer

Organic: Kaplan DAT (Blue Book), Destroyer

Math: Destroyer, Crack Math

Reading: Top score

PAT: Crack the PAT

Tests: Top score and the Kaplan CD that came with my Kaplan book


As a freshman, if you have taken any pre-reqs (Bio, Chem, etc) start studying those..There are tons of threads that have suggestions, so do a search on SDN.

 

[harrygt]

Take it in the summer of your sophomore year, if you have taken all the classes necessary to know the material on the test (i.e. Ochem II, Bio II).This is the best time to take the test IMO, cos all the subjects are fresh in the mind. Taking the test in the summer of sophomore years is of course a hard thing to do, since you don't have the urge to do it (you can always take it in the summer of junior year). So you gotta be really determined and disciplined to do this. GL

 

[nze82]

Take it in the summer of your sophomore year, if you have taken all the classes necessary to know the material on the test (i.e. Ochem II, Bio II).This is the best time to take the test IMO, cos all the subjects are fresh in the mind. Taking the test in the summer of sophomore years is of course a hard thing to do, since you don't have the urge to do it (you can always take it in the summer of junior year). So you gotta be really determined and disciplined to do this. GL

Don't rush trying to take your DAT out of the way early on. You'll end up hurting yourself, because you'll end up taking the test while you haven't learned many of the topics you need to know for it. This is particularly true for the Bio section. Most people tend to to rather well on the chemistry sections, but somewhat poorly on the Bio section, because by the time they take the test they've only completed very few upper division bio classes. So, just take your time and take the exam when you feel you're ready for it.
Also, all people who post here (inclduing myself) are posting their personal opinions. Things that work for some group of people may not work for you at all. So, don't try to follow everything you read here. You'll end up lost and confused!
Good luck👍

 

[HowAboutDAT]

If you do decide to take it your junior year, IMO its too early to start. I don't mean to offend you, but if you start now, you're probably going to forget most of the stuff and will have to review it before the DAT anyway. If you do study, make sure you make flashcards that can be used later on. Also, you might want to consider spending this summer shadowing some local dentists which might actually be more productive than DAT studying.

 

[BiomajorPreDent]

Whatever you do make sure you take

Bio 1 and 2
Chem 1 and 2
OChem 1 and 2
Anatomy 1 and 2

before you attempt to take the DAT

taking upper levels like molecular bio and microbio and genetics will also help on the bio section

If you take bio and chem your first year and ochem and anatomy your second year..u can take it that summer..and retake it a year later after taking more advanced sciences if u need to

as was said in the first post..those are all great books to use

dont bother studying organic and anatomy before you take those classes tho

 

[nze82]

I don't understand the benefit of taking the DAT during the 2nd year, while you can't get into Dental School, before earning your BA degree.

 

[vlct0ria]

I don't understand the benefit of taking the DAT during the 2nd year, while you can't get into Dental School, before earning your BA degree.

Because most people have class fall-spring, and if you take the DAT the summer before your junior year, its done and over with and then you can just apply and have everything complete as soon as the app opens the next June. But I didn't plan ahead like that, and now I'm stuck sending in my app while schools wait for me to take my DAT.

 

[nze82]

Because most people have class fall-spring, and if you take the DAT the summer before your junior year, its done and over with and then you can just apply and have everything complete as soon as the app opens the next June. But I didn't plan ahead like that, and now I'm stuck sending in my app while schools wait for me to take my DAT.

Oh well! I guess there's a benefit to it after all. Don't worry! Planing ahead isn't always a good thing. When are you planing on taking your DAT?

 

[BaylorDDS]

Whatever you do make sure you take

Bio 1 and 2
Chem 1 and 2
OChem 1 and 2
Anatomy 1 and 2

before you attempt to take the DAT

taking upper levels like molecular bio and microbio and genetics will also help on the bio section

If you take bio and chem your first year and ochem and anatomy your second year..u can take it that summer..and retake it a year later after taking more advanced sciences if u need to


as was said in the first post..those are all great books to use

dont bother studying organic and anatomy before you take those classes tho

There is no anatomy on the dat. It is pointless to take this class to prepare for the dat.

 

[razblo]

There is no anatomy on the dat. It is pointless to take this class to prepare for the dat.

I believe some schools have 'Anatomy 1 and 2' where Anatomy 2 is physiology.

 

[nze82]

There is no anatomy on the dat. It is pointless to take this class to prepare for the dat.

There maybe no anatomy questions on the DAT, but taking anatomy courses is somewhat crucial, because most schools want to see that you've taken them. If you read the requirement section on most of the school websites, they've specifically asked for some kind of anatomy course.

 

[BaylorDDS]

There maybe no anatomy questions on the DAT, but taking anatomy courses is somewhat crucial, because most schools want to see that you've taken them. If you read the requirement section on most of the school websites, they've specifically asked for some kind of anatomy course.

Maybe two schools require anatomy. Many recommend it along with a plethora of other courses. I'm not saying don't take it, but other courses will help you on the dat like bio courses, but anatomy will not help you on the dat in any way.

 

[BiomajorPreDent]

A&P is "not required" for the DAT but Id say its essential..I dont know how bio 1 and 2 were taught at your schools

but we did not cover all the systems and the ones we did do was at the very end of the semester and they were just touched on lightly..we spent so many weeks on stupid plants...

Oh and by anatomy, I know theres no actual "Anatomy" covered, in my school Anatomy and Physiology was taught as one course together, they do half the systems in one semester and the other half in another semester..so i guess "physiology" would be the course to take if you want to be technical..depending on how your school is

Anyway, the benefit to taking it your second year is so that if you do bad or want to retake..its not game over. Plus its fresh in your mind