Critique DAT study schedule!

[TXpredent]

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Unfortunately, I found this forum only recently. I already purchased the Kaplan online course (hefty price, I know 🙁 ) and won't be able to get out of it. It starts Feb. 8th, I'm crossing my fingers for a good teacher and I plan on doing any and all of the extra materials that aren't required.

So basically I have to plan around the Kaplan schedule and use it as a base for my own study schedule. It meets twice a week and it'll make sense when I break it down further down. Any input from people who are familiar with the Kaplan course would be greatly appreciated because then I'll really know if my supplementation plan will fit will with the Kaplan course. For example, the course has Bio 1 and Bio 2, is it split like a review over all of Biology once and then a review over all of it again? Or is it half and half?

The course is in black and all of my own will be in red, I don't have exact timing yet because I'm not sure how long each thing will actually take me, I've poured over a lot of yall's schedules and it seems to be realistic, but yall be the judge.

Pre-week 1 Start Cliff's AP Bio and Chad's Gen. Chem Videos/Quizes
Week 1 -- DAT Strategy & PAT 1
Week 2 -- Complete Cliff's AP Bio and All of Chad's Gen Chem Videos/Quizes
Week 2 -- Biology 1 & General Chemistry 1


Week 3 -- Start Chad's QR and O Chem Videos/Quizes
Week 3 -- Organic Chemistry 1 & Reading Comprehension 1
Week 4 -- Complete Chad's QR and O Chem Videos/Quizes
Week 4 -- Quantitative Reasoning 1 & Online Midterm - Take at Home


Week 5 -- Start DAT Destroyer and Crack DAT PAT
Week 5 -- Perceptual Ability 2 & Biology 2
Week 6 -- General Chemistry 2 & Organic Chemistry 2
Week 7 -- QR 2 / RC 2 / Strategy 2 & Online Final - Take at Home
Week 7/8 -- Complete DAT Destroyer and Crack DAT PAT

I guess I'll take the DAT right around the time the Kaplan course ends or if I need a couple extra days to finish drilling the DAT destroyer and CDP. How many days off do yall recommend, if any, before the actual DAT? I know the schedule is in a really stupid format but I couldn't think of a better way to do it lol.

Basically my goal is complete my own studying materials before Kaplan goes over it so the class will hopefully just reinforce what I've learned and serve as a "review" for me. The main thing that might not jive is the whole part 1 and part 2 of their class, I chose to do all practice tests basically during the part 2 reviews.

Please let me know what you think!! 😛

Is it too much, too little? My cGPA is about a 3.3 and my sGPA is definitely lower than that, I'm not a bad student, I just didn't focus enough until it was too late. I really need to knock this DAT out of the park!

Thanks again folks for all your input

 

[TXpredent]

bump, please let me know if something's confusing and I can try and explain the formatting

 

[ushaseos]

Start CDP much earlier to assess your PAT needs. If you're getting low 20s without much effort, you can concentrate on other areas more.

You want to finish Destroyer a lot before your test so if you need to go through it again you'll have the time. Some people love doing the destroyer several times (I personally didn't but just letting you know). No matter what make sure you don't avoid any section to take it lightly (esp. RC or QR). They'll sneak up on you and ruin an otherwise perfect score.

Good luck studying for the DAT! I am sorry you got entangled with kaplan, hopefully you'll gain something from it for the money you put down.

 

[TXpredent]

Thanks for the response! I may start Destroyer at the same time, but move my DAT test date back a little to give me more time to go over the Destroyer again like you suggest. Also, I'll go ahead and get CDP. When I took the Kaplan diagnostic exam the PAT killed me... I only got a 15. It was only my second time seeing those type of problems though and the first time was another free exam from Kaplan during a promotion and I didn't even finish the section then.

Thanks again for your input!

 

[crax]

its really whatever works for you. but this looks good, especially if you Thourougly compelte the schedule. and it will be tough. One thing that looks odd is the destroyer is ~6 weeks after completing science sections. I would browse the destroyer before starting, so when you study you know what it is that you need to study. It would be helpful to reinforce studying with problems (For me anyway). So it will be good i guess if you complete the destroyer before kaplan, and learn how little you actually know. Then as kaplan goes on, you can relearn sciences for the second time, as you do destroyer for the second time, and finish all three at once.