- Joined
- Jul 5, 2015
- Messages
- 93
- Reaction score
- 118
Hello everyone 🙂 finally done and it feels so good. Let me know if you have any questions!
AA: 24
OC: 21
GC: 22
Bio: 23
TS: 22
RC: 23
QR: 30
PAT: 24
General Prep: so I know people here aren't huge on Kaplan but I didn't know that until I had already signed up. Anyway, I didn't want to waste my parents' money so I gave it my all. I did the in-person prep and I actually liked it because I normally don't have the discipline to study by myself, especially with a computer. The excessive practice I think, was what also really made me successful at using Kaplan. As far as other resources, I used DAT Bootcamp angle ranking, and took all their free tests.
Day before/day of: the day before the DAT I did zero studying. Wanted to calm my nerves so I just chilled, watched TV, played with my dogs, went shopping, had a me day.
The night of, I was very tempted to browse SDN. Don't do it. It will not help your nerves. Focus on you, not other people's scores.
The day of, I needed a confidence boost so I put on my reddest lipstick, combat boots, a leather jacket and a black dress. It sounds ridiculous but when I want to intimidate and kick butt on a test, I always dress the part.
Bio (23): I thought it would be horrible, but it wasn't nearly that hard. Lots of application questions and hypotheticals. However, you never know what you're gonna be hit with on this section, so do your best to study a wide breadth, but shallow depth. I averaged 15-19 on the Kaplan tests, 21 on DAT Bootcamp.
GC (22): Way fewer calculations than I expected. But getting the calculations down helped, as this section was very conceptual. I thought it was pretty fair, although there were a few questions that I personally thought belonged in the OC section. I averaged 17-21 on Kaplan tests, 20 on DAT Bootcamp.
OC (21): I spent far, far too much of my time memorizing reactions when I should have better utilized my time and energy with basic ideas. Ironically, my decision to take the DAT the summer after my sophomore year was centered around the idea that with OC fresh in my head, I'll do even better on it! Except it was my worst section. Why? Probably because I studied for DAT OChem the exact same way I studied for the college course. Memorization. Don't do it, kids. Averaged 17-26 on Kaplan, 21 on DAT Bootcamp.
RC (23): Usually I do better on this section but overall happy with my score. I noticed an abundance of detail question so even though I started off with the mapping method, I eventually gave up and just did search and destroy. I was really just too impatient with the section. Kaplan averages: 21-28, didn't do the Bootcamp because I'm lazy.
QR (30): I don't really know what to say besides if you know how to do this, you will pass with flying colors: mark and move on.
Seriously. Time is the biggest factor here. I had so many easy questions and because I finished them quickly, I was able to use my 20 extra minutes to be neurotic over the harder ones. (But here at SDN we're all neurotic right?) Averaged 15-21 on Kaplan (way hard, bad indicator) and 25 on DAT Bootcamp.
PAT (24): The angle ranking is a million times easier than Bootcamp generator. A few hard ones but mostly obvious answers. Fairly straightforward. Kaplan's TFE, cube counting and Keyhole were way harder than the actual. Their angle ranking and folding was too easy. Hole punching was about on par. Kaplan: 15-24 average. DAT Bootcamp: 20 (not including several failed attempts at the angle ranking generator). I kinda enjoyed this section because I realized I could start to flush out all of that science that was deadweight on my mind.
The guy working at the test center was a dental student so it was an overall chill experience. He got my anxiety and was very happy to reassure me that it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. And he was right. It never is as bad as it seems like it will be. If you know the material and stay confident in your preparation, you will destroy it. And this is coming from a girl whose middle name is neurotic. If I can do it anyone can.
Other info: I am 19, rising junior at my state school, have a 3.75 GPA and honestly no preference for admittance, I hope to go to dental school wherever I get in. My top choice is U of Michigan 🙂 Peace out future dentists!
AA: 24
OC: 21
GC: 22
Bio: 23
TS: 22
RC: 23
QR: 30
PAT: 24
General Prep: so I know people here aren't huge on Kaplan but I didn't know that until I had already signed up. Anyway, I didn't want to waste my parents' money so I gave it my all. I did the in-person prep and I actually liked it because I normally don't have the discipline to study by myself, especially with a computer. The excessive practice I think, was what also really made me successful at using Kaplan. As far as other resources, I used DAT Bootcamp angle ranking, and took all their free tests.
Day before/day of: the day before the DAT I did zero studying. Wanted to calm my nerves so I just chilled, watched TV, played with my dogs, went shopping, had a me day.
The night of, I was very tempted to browse SDN. Don't do it. It will not help your nerves. Focus on you, not other people's scores.
The day of, I needed a confidence boost so I put on my reddest lipstick, combat boots, a leather jacket and a black dress. It sounds ridiculous but when I want to intimidate and kick butt on a test, I always dress the part.
Bio (23): I thought it would be horrible, but it wasn't nearly that hard. Lots of application questions and hypotheticals. However, you never know what you're gonna be hit with on this section, so do your best to study a wide breadth, but shallow depth. I averaged 15-19 on the Kaplan tests, 21 on DAT Bootcamp.
GC (22): Way fewer calculations than I expected. But getting the calculations down helped, as this section was very conceptual. I thought it was pretty fair, although there were a few questions that I personally thought belonged in the OC section. I averaged 17-21 on Kaplan tests, 20 on DAT Bootcamp.
OC (21): I spent far, far too much of my time memorizing reactions when I should have better utilized my time and energy with basic ideas. Ironically, my decision to take the DAT the summer after my sophomore year was centered around the idea that with OC fresh in my head, I'll do even better on it! Except it was my worst section. Why? Probably because I studied for DAT OChem the exact same way I studied for the college course. Memorization. Don't do it, kids. Averaged 17-26 on Kaplan, 21 on DAT Bootcamp.
RC (23): Usually I do better on this section but overall happy with my score. I noticed an abundance of detail question so even though I started off with the mapping method, I eventually gave up and just did search and destroy. I was really just too impatient with the section. Kaplan averages: 21-28, didn't do the Bootcamp because I'm lazy.
QR (30): I don't really know what to say besides if you know how to do this, you will pass with flying colors: mark and move on.
Seriously. Time is the biggest factor here. I had so many easy questions and because I finished them quickly, I was able to use my 20 extra minutes to be neurotic over the harder ones. (But here at SDN we're all neurotic right?) Averaged 15-21 on Kaplan (way hard, bad indicator) and 25 on DAT Bootcamp.
PAT (24): The angle ranking is a million times easier than Bootcamp generator. A few hard ones but mostly obvious answers. Fairly straightforward. Kaplan's TFE, cube counting and Keyhole were way harder than the actual. Their angle ranking and folding was too easy. Hole punching was about on par. Kaplan: 15-24 average. DAT Bootcamp: 20 (not including several failed attempts at the angle ranking generator). I kinda enjoyed this section because I realized I could start to flush out all of that science that was deadweight on my mind.
The guy working at the test center was a dental student so it was an overall chill experience. He got my anxiety and was very happy to reassure me that it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. And he was right. It never is as bad as it seems like it will be. If you know the material and stay confident in your preparation, you will destroy it. And this is coming from a girl whose middle name is neurotic. If I can do it anyone can.
Other info: I am 19, rising junior at my state school, have a 3.75 GPA and honestly no preference for admittance, I hope to go to dental school wherever I get in. My top choice is U of Michigan 🙂 Peace out future dentists!
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, that makes you a legend! I pray students score above a 15, it's a very hated section of the DAT..
