Haven't posted too much but I've read a lot of breakdowns and those really helped me. I figured the least I could do was post my experience...and hopefully it helps someone.
Bio - 18
Chem - 19
Ochem - 22
RC - 24
QR - 18
PAT - 19
TS - 20
AA - 20
Resources Used:
PAT - crack dat pat, kaplan course
Reading - crack dat reading, one Kaplan test
Bio - Kaplan course, cliffs
Gchem - my text book, Chads, Destroyer, Kaplan
Ochem - Chads, Destroyer,
QR - An SAT math book, Math Destroyer
Overall I felt the Kaplan course wasn't necessary. Not that it couldn't be a great resource to a lot of people, I just didn't think it was necessary for me. The tests were A LOT harder than anything I had on the DAT and all it did was depress me. The videos were too broad. The subject tests did have good explanations, but I didn't use any of their strategies.
Destroyer and Chads were awesome. The DAT was way easier than Destroyer, and, like everyone has already said, if you don't spend the 20 or 30 bucks per month on Chads videos, you're missing out. If I had to do one thing for the sciences, I would do Chad.
Top score tests were awesome. They made me feel prepared and confident, but at the same time, I definitely saw areas I could do better.
BIO -
I had forgotten a lot of Bio and physiology and really didn't have much time to study after I finished Ochem 2 this summer. I was extremely nervous about this. I read through the big thick Kaplan Blue book once, and Cliffs AP Bio once. I referred back to certain topics the last few days, but really had time to go through them only once. I totally regret this. My experience of the bio portion of the DAT was totally different than that of others that I've read and spoken with. In other words, I didn't get any random questions that I'd never heard of. Most of it seemed stuff I SHOULD know (whether I did or didn't.) I was surprised at how doable it felt when I got to the end. Based on my experience, if I had known KBB and Cliffs extremely well, I would've done way better. If I were to give advice, those 2 are the bomb.
GChem -
This was the hardest section of the DAT for me, and what I felt was my strongest area. There was just some random stuff that I wasn't ready for. It was doable though. Start out watching Chads videos. Do his quizzes. Then do destroyer as many times as you can and you should be fine.
Ochem - I just got out of summer Ochem 1 and 2 so I was pretty prepared. It was seriously so basic. If you want to get the most bang for your buck on the DAT (assuming you don't screw up the other sections), study Ochem and don't screw up Math. Those 2 things will get you a great score. If you go over Destroyer and learn reactions, you have a chance for a 30 every time you take the test.
Math -
This part was way weak for me. My goal was to do what I mentioned above...to not screw this section up. I read a couple breakdowns that said Destroyer was the best, so a week before the DAT, I went over 9 of the 10 destroyer tests. That helped me a lot. There was no way I could learn everything, so I threw a bunch of stuff out of my brain, and focused on some things that I felt were learnable. (Permuations, Combinations, a TINY bit of trig, Algebra, Distance problems, work problems, a few of the other types of word problems.) Anything other than that, I guessed. I didn't have time to learn Ellipse, Standard Deviation and all that other crap. Overall, it was very similar to Destroyer. I would agree. Know Math destroyer and you'll do good enough to "not screw it up."
PAT - I was VERY weak on PAT when I started. I got a 12 on the first test. I started by spending about 30 minutes a day on Angles, Cubes and Holes. I did that for about 2-3 weeks and felt really good about it. Then I did 4 or 5 tests the week before the DAT. This was enough to get me a 19. 19 is not like anybody is labeling me a genius, but my goal was again, to not screw anything up. I'll take my 19.
Reading -
This was my best section. I knew I had a chance to do well, and knew that this was going to be the difference between a below average, average or above average score. Like my buddy Primal Crux mentioned, I didn't get very long passages...but the questions weren't so cut and dry. I felt like I nailed 2 of the 3 passages. The third I was iffy on, but it turned out great.
Cum GPA - 3.18
Science GPA - 3.46
BCP - 3.89
I'm a non-traditional applicant, got my degree in Political Science 7 years ago, had a GPA of 3.1 when I graduated...but hadn't taken very many science classes.
I returned to school in the Fall of last year, and went through a crash course in the sciences. I took Bio 1 and Chem 1 1st semester. Bio 2, Chem 2 and physiology in the 2nd semester. Ochem 1 and Ochem 2 in the summer (that was insane) and then took the DAT two weeks after I finished Ochem. I was so nervous that I didn't have enough time to study...but it turned out okay.
These aren't the greatest scores in the world, but when I saw the score on the screen after I was done, I was taking it to the bank! I'm hopeful that it's enough to get me in at least somewhere.
I've never been so happy to be done with something. I think ever.
If I can help anybody in any way at all, let me know!
Bio - 18
Chem - 19
Ochem - 22
RC - 24
QR - 18
PAT - 19
TS - 20
AA - 20
Resources Used:
PAT - crack dat pat, kaplan course
Reading - crack dat reading, one Kaplan test
Bio - Kaplan course, cliffs
Gchem - my text book, Chads, Destroyer, Kaplan
Ochem - Chads, Destroyer,
QR - An SAT math book, Math Destroyer
Overall I felt the Kaplan course wasn't necessary. Not that it couldn't be a great resource to a lot of people, I just didn't think it was necessary for me. The tests were A LOT harder than anything I had on the DAT and all it did was depress me. The videos were too broad. The subject tests did have good explanations, but I didn't use any of their strategies.
Destroyer and Chads were awesome. The DAT was way easier than Destroyer, and, like everyone has already said, if you don't spend the 20 or 30 bucks per month on Chads videos, you're missing out. If I had to do one thing for the sciences, I would do Chad.
Top score tests were awesome. They made me feel prepared and confident, but at the same time, I definitely saw areas I could do better.
BIO -
I had forgotten a lot of Bio and physiology and really didn't have much time to study after I finished Ochem 2 this summer. I was extremely nervous about this. I read through the big thick Kaplan Blue book once, and Cliffs AP Bio once. I referred back to certain topics the last few days, but really had time to go through them only once. I totally regret this. My experience of the bio portion of the DAT was totally different than that of others that I've read and spoken with. In other words, I didn't get any random questions that I'd never heard of. Most of it seemed stuff I SHOULD know (whether I did or didn't.) I was surprised at how doable it felt when I got to the end. Based on my experience, if I had known KBB and Cliffs extremely well, I would've done way better. If I were to give advice, those 2 are the bomb.
GChem -
This was the hardest section of the DAT for me, and what I felt was my strongest area. There was just some random stuff that I wasn't ready for. It was doable though. Start out watching Chads videos. Do his quizzes. Then do destroyer as many times as you can and you should be fine.
Ochem - I just got out of summer Ochem 1 and 2 so I was pretty prepared. It was seriously so basic. If you want to get the most bang for your buck on the DAT (assuming you don't screw up the other sections), study Ochem and don't screw up Math. Those 2 things will get you a great score. If you go over Destroyer and learn reactions, you have a chance for a 30 every time you take the test.
Math -
This part was way weak for me. My goal was to do what I mentioned above...to not screw this section up. I read a couple breakdowns that said Destroyer was the best, so a week before the DAT, I went over 9 of the 10 destroyer tests. That helped me a lot. There was no way I could learn everything, so I threw a bunch of stuff out of my brain, and focused on some things that I felt were learnable. (Permuations, Combinations, a TINY bit of trig, Algebra, Distance problems, work problems, a few of the other types of word problems.) Anything other than that, I guessed. I didn't have time to learn Ellipse, Standard Deviation and all that other crap. Overall, it was very similar to Destroyer. I would agree. Know Math destroyer and you'll do good enough to "not screw it up."
PAT - I was VERY weak on PAT when I started. I got a 12 on the first test. I started by spending about 30 minutes a day on Angles, Cubes and Holes. I did that for about 2-3 weeks and felt really good about it. Then I did 4 or 5 tests the week before the DAT. This was enough to get me a 19. 19 is not like anybody is labeling me a genius, but my goal was again, to not screw anything up. I'll take my 19.
Reading -
This was my best section. I knew I had a chance to do well, and knew that this was going to be the difference between a below average, average or above average score. Like my buddy Primal Crux mentioned, I didn't get very long passages...but the questions weren't so cut and dry. I felt like I nailed 2 of the 3 passages. The third I was iffy on, but it turned out great.
Cum GPA - 3.18
Science GPA - 3.46
BCP - 3.89
I'm a non-traditional applicant, got my degree in Political Science 7 years ago, had a GPA of 3.1 when I graduated...but hadn't taken very many science classes.
I returned to school in the Fall of last year, and went through a crash course in the sciences. I took Bio 1 and Chem 1 1st semester. Bio 2, Chem 2 and physiology in the 2nd semester. Ochem 1 and Ochem 2 in the summer (that was insane) and then took the DAT two weeks after I finished Ochem. I was so nervous that I didn't have enough time to study...but it turned out okay.
These aren't the greatest scores in the world, but when I saw the score on the screen after I was done, I was taking it to the bank! I'm hopeful that it's enough to get me in at least somewhere.
I've never been so happy to be done with something. I think ever.
If I can help anybody in any way at all, let me know!
