- Joined
- Aug 7, 2012
- Messages
- 20
- Reaction score
- 0
I've been a lurker for over a year now, and i had originally planned to write out my DAT experience quite a while ago. Better late than never right?
PAT: 21
QR: 24
RC: 22
Bio: 25
Gen Chem: 23
Orgo: 21
TS: 23
AA: 23 (98.7%)
i attended a very big private university for my undergrad, and i ended up graduating with a 3.05 gpa with a 2.86 sgpa. i am currently in a masters program. i studied for the test during the school semester and i believe that the DAT is definitely manageable as long as you organize your time well and look through some SDN DAT stories [like mine! hah].
PAT:: 21
I used CrackthePAT and DATachiever as my study tools, nothing else. The DATachiever was EXTREMELY hard, and i would recommend taking it only after becoming acquainted with the PAT section with CrackthePAT. However, i do think DATachiever has its merits; the section is so hard [along with every other section] that it trains you to not freak out when the real DAT is up. anyways, the CrackthePAT was very similar to the real PAT. i would say the keyholes and TFE were a bit trickier. the pattern folding and hole punching was much easier compared to the tests that i had taken on CrackthePAT. i took over 8 tests for CrackthePAT; i would recommend starting PAT studying a month or more in advance; the mind/brain must get familiar with the types of questions, and it took a while before i was able to raise my score (started 13-16 and started getting 20-22 2-3 weeks later). i took a test every other day and checked over the test and thoroughly went over the answers and figured out how to solve each problem in the off days. probably spent 2-3 hours at MOST on PAT a day.
QR:: 24
i used mathdestroyer and datdestroyer to study for this section. i honestly think that's all you need, because the questions provide you with almost all the possible kind of questions that the real DAT will throw at you. i recommend getting comfortable with taking the test and answering the questions before worrying about the time constraint. the time constraint is the hardest part i struggled with. i would say the equations/formulas that the mathdestroyer gives in the first few pages can help with 75% of the questions. Definitely work on taking the test in 45 minutes when you feel comfortable answering the questions.
RC:: 22
i suck at reading pretty badly. i used crackthedat reading and DATachiever for my studies. i really didn't know how to improve, and i tried S&D and didn't like it. I just spend 10 minutes reading the passage while jotting notes down and answering the questions. I finished the section a minute early; i don't really have much advice to give on this section, i feel very lucky and blessed to have gotten a 22, lol.
Biology:: 25
i think i studied my hardest for this section. I definitely wanted to leave an impression to admissions if possible because i love biology and also i personally believe it is the most important section on the DAT. I used a intro to bio textbook [LIFE] for reference, but mainly used Schaum's, Cliff's AP bio, and Alan's notes. I literally read through Schaums and Cliffs twice through very thoroughly and taking down notes. Afterwards, i used the datdestroyer bio and took the questions over. i started off getting around 30-40% of the questions wrong. i noted the questions i got wrong or even did not fully understand. i looked at each multiple choice question and even the topics that the question was asking to see if i understood the topic like the back of my hand. I used Alan's notes and expanded it myself with all of the topics that i was having trouble with. I ended up taking the datdestroyer bio questions over 4-6 times to get acquainted with all of the topics and etc. I also used the free datqvault questions, but i didn't feel they were as good. Oh, i also looked at all of the questions at the end of each chapter in schaums and cliffs, but theyre a bit easier. its a good start before taking the datdestroyer questions.
Gen Chem:: 23
I'm a little disappointed that i got a 23 on this section, because i really felt that i could have gotten a 30. CHAD'S VIDEOS will literally SAVE your life in this section. All you need to do is watch it and take notes during and voila, you can guarentee a 18 at the minimum. But on a serious, the section was definitely very manageable. Chad's videos will help you become familiar with the Gen Chem that the DAT tests you on; i would recommend taking the questions on Chad's videos before the datdestroyer questions, because those questions are killer... but if you're able to understand and do well on the destroyer chem questions, you're in very very good shape.
Organic Chem: 21
i'm also a little disappointed in getting a 21, but i'm also a little relieved. i find orgo very intimidating and i was struggling a lot with the topic, even with chad's videos. I only used Chad's videos for my studies as well [referencing wiki or a textbook sometimes for more clarification] and it helped TONS obviously, but i felt very intimidated with the section throughout my whole studies.
** for chem and orgo, i would recommend getting familiar with the polyatomic ions; there are some questions that give the name and not the molecular formula, so it definitely helps to know the polyatomic ions to get the charge, etc.
I am in the process of applying to all schools; im also a little worried about my gpa being a little under average [3.21 BCP and 3.22 oGPA]. i hope the above average DAT score will definitely get me some interviews;
i didn't go into too much detail about my studying routine or anything, but if any of you guys are interested, PM me. i had originally written half of this before i accidentally closed the window, so... that sucked.
Overall, i felt that the DAT was a great challenge and a rite of passage for all aspiring dentists. Good luck to any of you guys taking the DATs in the near future.
PAT: 21
QR: 24
RC: 22
Bio: 25
Gen Chem: 23
Orgo: 21
TS: 23
AA: 23 (98.7%)
i attended a very big private university for my undergrad, and i ended up graduating with a 3.05 gpa with a 2.86 sgpa. i am currently in a masters program. i studied for the test during the school semester and i believe that the DAT is definitely manageable as long as you organize your time well and look through some SDN DAT stories [like mine! hah].
PAT:: 21
I used CrackthePAT and DATachiever as my study tools, nothing else. The DATachiever was EXTREMELY hard, and i would recommend taking it only after becoming acquainted with the PAT section with CrackthePAT. However, i do think DATachiever has its merits; the section is so hard [along with every other section] that it trains you to not freak out when the real DAT is up. anyways, the CrackthePAT was very similar to the real PAT. i would say the keyholes and TFE were a bit trickier. the pattern folding and hole punching was much easier compared to the tests that i had taken on CrackthePAT. i took over 8 tests for CrackthePAT; i would recommend starting PAT studying a month or more in advance; the mind/brain must get familiar with the types of questions, and it took a while before i was able to raise my score (started 13-16 and started getting 20-22 2-3 weeks later). i took a test every other day and checked over the test and thoroughly went over the answers and figured out how to solve each problem in the off days. probably spent 2-3 hours at MOST on PAT a day.
QR:: 24
i used mathdestroyer and datdestroyer to study for this section. i honestly think that's all you need, because the questions provide you with almost all the possible kind of questions that the real DAT will throw at you. i recommend getting comfortable with taking the test and answering the questions before worrying about the time constraint. the time constraint is the hardest part i struggled with. i would say the equations/formulas that the mathdestroyer gives in the first few pages can help with 75% of the questions. Definitely work on taking the test in 45 minutes when you feel comfortable answering the questions.
RC:: 22
i suck at reading pretty badly. i used crackthedat reading and DATachiever for my studies. i really didn't know how to improve, and i tried S&D and didn't like it. I just spend 10 minutes reading the passage while jotting notes down and answering the questions. I finished the section a minute early; i don't really have much advice to give on this section, i feel very lucky and blessed to have gotten a 22, lol.
Biology:: 25
i think i studied my hardest for this section. I definitely wanted to leave an impression to admissions if possible because i love biology and also i personally believe it is the most important section on the DAT. I used a intro to bio textbook [LIFE] for reference, but mainly used Schaum's, Cliff's AP bio, and Alan's notes. I literally read through Schaums and Cliffs twice through very thoroughly and taking down notes. Afterwards, i used the datdestroyer bio and took the questions over. i started off getting around 30-40% of the questions wrong. i noted the questions i got wrong or even did not fully understand. i looked at each multiple choice question and even the topics that the question was asking to see if i understood the topic like the back of my hand. I used Alan's notes and expanded it myself with all of the topics that i was having trouble with. I ended up taking the datdestroyer bio questions over 4-6 times to get acquainted with all of the topics and etc. I also used the free datqvault questions, but i didn't feel they were as good. Oh, i also looked at all of the questions at the end of each chapter in schaums and cliffs, but theyre a bit easier. its a good start before taking the datdestroyer questions.
Gen Chem:: 23
I'm a little disappointed that i got a 23 on this section, because i really felt that i could have gotten a 30. CHAD'S VIDEOS will literally SAVE your life in this section. All you need to do is watch it and take notes during and voila, you can guarentee a 18 at the minimum. But on a serious, the section was definitely very manageable. Chad's videos will help you become familiar with the Gen Chem that the DAT tests you on; i would recommend taking the questions on Chad's videos before the datdestroyer questions, because those questions are killer... but if you're able to understand and do well on the destroyer chem questions, you're in very very good shape.
Organic Chem: 21
i'm also a little disappointed in getting a 21, but i'm also a little relieved. i find orgo very intimidating and i was struggling a lot with the topic, even with chad's videos. I only used Chad's videos for my studies as well [referencing wiki or a textbook sometimes for more clarification] and it helped TONS obviously, but i felt very intimidated with the section throughout my whole studies.
** for chem and orgo, i would recommend getting familiar with the polyatomic ions; there are some questions that give the name and not the molecular formula, so it definitely helps to know the polyatomic ions to get the charge, etc.
I am in the process of applying to all schools; im also a little worried about my gpa being a little under average [3.21 BCP and 3.22 oGPA]. i hope the above average DAT score will definitely get me some interviews;
i didn't go into too much detail about my studying routine or anything, but if any of you guys are interested, PM me. i had originally written half of this before i accidentally closed the window, so... that sucked.
Overall, i felt that the DAT was a great challenge and a rite of passage for all aspiring dentists. Good luck to any of you guys taking the DATs in the near future.
