ka.willix21
New Member
- Joined
- May 16, 2025
- Messages
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
Hi, everyone. I am a recent college graduate who took the DAT twice. I had a huge increase in my scores between attempts, which I attribute to switching to DAT Booster from to DAT Bootcamp. I want to share my experience with you all, so you have the easiest process when approaching the exam and your studying journey.
Scores:
QR - 520
RC - 500
Bio - 430
GC - 400
OC - 410
TS - 410
PAT: 410
AA- 450
Background:
Recent college alumni with a 3.50~ GPA.
Materials Used:
I didn’t follow a strict daily study schedule. Since I worked three days a week, setting daily goals just wasn’t realistic—some days I came home completely drained. Instead, I set broader goals every 3–4 days to finish content sections or question banks. That flexibility helped me stay on track without burning out. Quality over quantity! How well you study matters way more than how long you study. And I can’t emphasize this enough: PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY while studying! It’s one of the biggest distractions. If you need to, set a timer and take short phone breaks every 30 minutes, but disconnect during study sessions to truly absorb the material. Also, don’t forget to drink water and snack while you study. Your brain needs fuel to focus and retain information! Some days you'll get more done than others, and that’s completely normal. Be kind to yourself and trust the process.
January 2024 - May 2024: I was finishing up my junior year taking 14 credits of upper-level biology, working three days a week, completing shadowing hours, while still participating in extracurriculars in college. I also got pretty sick for over a month during the period I was studying. I spread myself way too thin and knew I wasn't ready to take the exam. I think studying for such an extended period of time made it difficult to score well because I was forgetting content that I learned in the earlier months of studying.
June 3, 2024: I was ashamed to admit I wasn’t ready for the exam, so I took the DAT anyway. Looking back, I wish I had postponed it. It is absolutely okay to reschedule your exam. Dental schools see all of your attempts, so it’s important to take the test when you’re truly prepared. This exam and the study materials are expensive, both financially and emotionally. Prioritize your mental health. You should take the DAT when you're emotionally, physically, and mentally ready. Success on this exam isn’t just about how much you’ve memorized—your overall well-being plays a huge role in how you perform.
Summer 2024 - December 2024: I didn’t look at any DAT material for six months after my first attempt. I was completely drained and couldn’t imagine going through the process again. Instead, I shifted my focus to graduating a semester early and raising my GPA as much as possible. I had realized that studying during the semester wasn’t effective for me the first time around, and I wanted to enjoy my last semester of college with my friends. It’s okay to take a break if things don’t go well the first time. I knew I wouldn’t be able to study seriously over the summer or during my final semester, so I chose to take a gap year and waited until after graduation to start studying again.
January 2025 - April 1, 2025: After graduating college in December, I started working as a dental assistant three days a week while also studying for the DAT. Even with a part-time schedule, I often felt like I wasn’t devoting enough time to studying—most of my weekends were spent catching up. When preparing for the DAT, accept that sacrifices will be necessary, especially socially. You might miss out on events or time with friends, but remember: this is temporary. You're investing in your future and setting yourself up for a strong application. I used DATBooster exclusively for my prep. I didn’t follow the 10-week study guide because I’m good at setting my own study goals. But if you struggle with procrastination or staying on track, I recommend following the guide as closely as possible. Above all, make studying your main priority. Try not to spread yourself too thin—balancing work, life, and studying is hard, and the more focused you are, the better your results will be.
2 weeks before my exam: I absolutely freaked out and almost postponed my exam. I decided that 5 days before my exam, I was going to take a full mock practice exam. If I did not score well, I was going to move the test. Luckily I scored exactly where I wanted to be. This boosted my confidence and I felt ready to sit for the exam on April 19.
Day before the exam: GET OUT OF THE HOUSE! See friends and family. Go shopping or go for a walk. Do not look at any material. If you don't know it by now, there is no point of stressing yourself out. Trust that you have already put in so much effort to best prepare yourself over the how many weeks.months you have been studying. I know this seems hard, but trust me in 24 hours it will all be over! Go to bed early!
Take one more deep breath, and then begin your exam with confidence.
Scores:
I created a Google Sheet to track concepts I found challenging and made flashcards for those topics—it really helped reinforce what I needed to focus on. Start studying for the PAT early! It’s one of those sections where practice truly makes a difference. There’s no shortcut—you just get better the more you work at it. I ended up scoring higher in every section than I did on DATBooster. While I think their practice exams are a great way to estimate your performance, take those scores with a grain of salt. The real exam can vary in difficulty, and sometimes it's just luck—you might score 50 points higher or 20 points lower than expected. When it comes to your academic average, every section counts. Prioritize your weakest areas, but don’t neglect the topics you feel confident in. Stay sharp on everything—you never know what will show up on test day.
Ending Advice:
Imposter syndrome is real—don’t compare yourself to others. Avoid Facebook groups or score posts if they stress you out. Focus on your path and protect your energy. The journey to becoming a dentist is long and challenging, but you can do it. Mental health is just as important as studying. Take time for the things and people you love, as your support system matters more than you think. When studying, shift your mindset from “Why do I need to know this?” to “How will this help me become a better healthcare provider?” This exam tests more than knowledge; It tests your mental strength, just like dental school and your career will. It’s okay if you need to take the exam twice. If you truly want to be a dentist, you will get there. Don’t stress about the timeline; enjoy the journey. Sometimes the time between exams, or even a gap year, opens up unexpected opportunities. Remember: it’s a privilege to pursue a dental career. Own that privilege and keep your mindset strong.
Scores:
QR - 520
RC - 500
Bio - 430
GC - 400
OC - 410
TS - 410
PAT: 410
AA- 450
Background:
Recent college alumni with a 3.50~ GPA.
Materials Used:
- DAT Booster - I genuinely cannot recommend DATBooster over any other study material that is available. First of all, it is the cheapest resource. There are explanation videos for almost every practice question, and the Biology section and Organic Chemistry section was just entirely revamped with precise and specific content videos. I had questions word for word in my Biology section on test day. The Biology condensed notes are fantastic! There are so many questions for every topic. Try to expose yourself to as much material as possible. Use all of the practice exams before your exam, as these are the most similar to what you will see on test day. My actual test scores were all higher than what I got on my practice exams.
I didn’t follow a strict daily study schedule. Since I worked three days a week, setting daily goals just wasn’t realistic—some days I came home completely drained. Instead, I set broader goals every 3–4 days to finish content sections or question banks. That flexibility helped me stay on track without burning out. Quality over quantity! How well you study matters way more than how long you study. And I can’t emphasize this enough: PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY while studying! It’s one of the biggest distractions. If you need to, set a timer and take short phone breaks every 30 minutes, but disconnect during study sessions to truly absorb the material. Also, don’t forget to drink water and snack while you study. Your brain needs fuel to focus and retain information! Some days you'll get more done than others, and that’s completely normal. Be kind to yourself and trust the process.
January 2024 - May 2024: I was finishing up my junior year taking 14 credits of upper-level biology, working three days a week, completing shadowing hours, while still participating in extracurriculars in college. I also got pretty sick for over a month during the period I was studying. I spread myself way too thin and knew I wasn't ready to take the exam. I think studying for such an extended period of time made it difficult to score well because I was forgetting content that I learned in the earlier months of studying.
June 3, 2024: I was ashamed to admit I wasn’t ready for the exam, so I took the DAT anyway. Looking back, I wish I had postponed it. It is absolutely okay to reschedule your exam. Dental schools see all of your attempts, so it’s important to take the test when you’re truly prepared. This exam and the study materials are expensive, both financially and emotionally. Prioritize your mental health. You should take the DAT when you're emotionally, physically, and mentally ready. Success on this exam isn’t just about how much you’ve memorized—your overall well-being plays a huge role in how you perform.
Summer 2024 - December 2024: I didn’t look at any DAT material for six months after my first attempt. I was completely drained and couldn’t imagine going through the process again. Instead, I shifted my focus to graduating a semester early and raising my GPA as much as possible. I had realized that studying during the semester wasn’t effective for me the first time around, and I wanted to enjoy my last semester of college with my friends. It’s okay to take a break if things don’t go well the first time. I knew I wouldn’t be able to study seriously over the summer or during my final semester, so I chose to take a gap year and waited until after graduation to start studying again.
January 2025 - April 1, 2025: After graduating college in December, I started working as a dental assistant three days a week while also studying for the DAT. Even with a part-time schedule, I often felt like I wasn’t devoting enough time to studying—most of my weekends were spent catching up. When preparing for the DAT, accept that sacrifices will be necessary, especially socially. You might miss out on events or time with friends, but remember: this is temporary. You're investing in your future and setting yourself up for a strong application. I used DATBooster exclusively for my prep. I didn’t follow the 10-week study guide because I’m good at setting my own study goals. But if you struggle with procrastination or staying on track, I recommend following the guide as closely as possible. Above all, make studying your main priority. Try not to spread yourself too thin—balancing work, life, and studying is hard, and the more focused you are, the better your results will be.
2 weeks before my exam: I absolutely freaked out and almost postponed my exam. I decided that 5 days before my exam, I was going to take a full mock practice exam. If I did not score well, I was going to move the test. Luckily I scored exactly where I wanted to be. This boosted my confidence and I felt ready to sit for the exam on April 19.
Day before the exam: GET OUT OF THE HOUSE! See friends and family. Go shopping or go for a walk. Do not look at any material. If you don't know it by now, there is no point of stressing yourself out. Trust that you have already put in so much effort to best prepare yourself over the how many weeks.months you have been studying. I know this seems hard, but trust me in 24 hours it will all be over! Go to bed early!
- Day of Exam
- Don’t review notes the morning of your exam. Go in with a clear, rested mind.
- Eat a healthy breakfast. Avoid overloading on caffeine or drinking too much water.
- Use the bathroom before checking in at the testing center to avoid any discomfort during the exam.
- Wear a light long sleeve shirt—you'll be using paper and marker, and long sleeves can help you erase more easily.
- Remove all jewelry at home to speed up the security process.
- Check your markers once you’re assigned a seat to ensure they’re working properly.
- Arrive at least 45 minutes early. This gives you time to sit in your car, relax, and not feel rushed by traffic or unexpected delays.
Take one more deep breath, and then begin your exam with confidence.
Scores:
- Bio (430): On exam day, my bio questions were super straightforward and easier than the practice exams I saw on Booster. Use all of the question banks and try to retain as much content as you can from the BIO Condsensed review sheets. When the video says something is high yield, expect to see it on your exam. When taking practice exams, you will see topics that consistently appear. I highly recommend making mnemonics to help you memorize things. Also, make flashcards! Carry them with you during the day just to keep information fresh and increase active recall.
- GC (400): The Gen Chem section was very calculation heavy rather than conceptual. I think the General Chemistry section was definitely harder on test day in comparison to the practice exams. Doing as many practice questions as possible will increase your confidence and ability to answer these questions efficiently. I definitely designated the most time in the Survey of Natural Science Section to Gen Chem.
- OC (410): Orgo was always my weakest section. Booster truly makes the information digestible and as simple as possible. Do not be discouraged if you did poorly in this class in undergrad. Practice and exposure to as many practice questions as possible made this section bearable. Do not memorize every reaction, but try to notice trends when doing question banks and practice exams. Do not give up!
- PAT (410): PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! There is no way to improve your section for this score except practicing. I avoided this section until about a month before my exam. I know I could have performed better if I devoted more time to it. I also highly recommend taking practice PAT exams on a desktop computer before you take your actual DAT. I know personally I am always hunched over my laptop and keep my face very close to the screen. You can't really do that on exam day, so just try and practice with conditions most similar to what you will experience on exam day. Also, practice with a detachable mouse, unlike a laptop mouse, as you will have a real mouse on exam day.
- RC (500): I used the search and destroy method. There is no need to understand the entire reading. Make sure you highlight where you find your answers. And carefully read the questions before answering. Answer questions about the author's tone last. Focus on questions that ask about facts first. Also highlight numbers including percentages and years, as if you highlight them as you find them, if you get a question it will be easy to find the highlighted number. I personally have always been a strong reader, so I wasn't too worried about this section. If you struggle here though, take practice RC exams alone and try to increase your stamina.
- QR (520): Most of the problems were algebra. Make sure you know exponent rules! I had about 15 minutes left when I completed all the questions. You will be exhausted at this point and want to just submit it, but take a deep breath and PUSH through it! Go back and redo the questions that you flagged first. Then, start at question one and redo as many questions as you can. Do not look back at the old way you solved it on the dry erase sheet. Solve the question again and see if you got the same answer you picked the first time around. If you didn't, solve the question AGAIN. You can never be too careful in math. Be sure to check the signs in every answer as most of the choices are very similar. Also, if I couldn't think of how to solve a question, use the answer choices to your advantage. Plug in the choices and hopefully this leads you to get to the answer. I always skipped questions that asked about the first and second statements being true or false as they usually were wordy and answered these last.
I created a Google Sheet to track concepts I found challenging and made flashcards for those topics—it really helped reinforce what I needed to focus on. Start studying for the PAT early! It’s one of those sections where practice truly makes a difference. There’s no shortcut—you just get better the more you work at it. I ended up scoring higher in every section than I did on DATBooster. While I think their practice exams are a great way to estimate your performance, take those scores with a grain of salt. The real exam can vary in difficulty, and sometimes it's just luck—you might score 50 points higher or 20 points lower than expected. When it comes to your academic average, every section counts. Prioritize your weakest areas, but don’t neglect the topics you feel confident in. Stay sharp on everything—you never know what will show up on test day.
Ending Advice:
Imposter syndrome is real—don’t compare yourself to others. Avoid Facebook groups or score posts if they stress you out. Focus on your path and protect your energy. The journey to becoming a dentist is long and challenging, but you can do it. Mental health is just as important as studying. Take time for the things and people you love, as your support system matters more than you think. When studying, shift your mindset from “Why do I need to know this?” to “How will this help me become a better healthcare provider?” This exam tests more than knowledge; It tests your mental strength, just like dental school and your career will. It’s okay if you need to take the exam twice. If you truly want to be a dentist, you will get there. Don’t stress about the timeline; enjoy the journey. Sometimes the time between exams, or even a gap year, opens up unexpected opportunities. Remember: it’s a privilege to pursue a dental career. Own that privilege and keep your mindset strong.
