Hi everyone,
It always helped me to read other breakdowns, although sometimes it was discouraging to see a lot of people getting high scores, while I was killing myself here to get even 20 on my practice tests. But I’m writing this for those who don’t get all 20 on their practice tests and those who are retaking DAT!
little background:
I am a senior applying this cycle with 3.8 GPA, 6 years of dental experience, paid research, over 500 hours of shadowing, over 100 hours of volunteering. I took the DAT for the first time in OCT 2021, and second time last week. I’ll explain my experience and the materials I used both times, and what I did differently this time to help me, hopefully it will help someone who is going through same thing I did.
First Time:
First time I studied for about 4 months, while worked part time, did research, and at towards the end my classes started. I only used Bootcamp, the explanations for each question in the practice tests for orgo, GC, and PAT, were very helpful. I don’t remember her name, but the girl who explained PAT questions in practice test and some of the question banks, was truly great, I wish Bootcamp used her to explain the whole PAT section!!!! Dr. Mike’s videos for GC were also very helpful but for Orgo I used Chad’s because I didn’t have a strong background. Although, I started watching Chad’s video very late in my studies, but they helped me to understand the reactions and the foundation better. I was very disappointed of my bio score, 16, because I was getting 20 and over towards the end. With each chapter having around 100 cards, It took me hour and half to finish only one chapter. But I tried to finish as much as I could and finished all the question banks and tests. Reading that others score on the DAT were 3-4 points higher than their practice test on Bootcamp, I took the test even though my practice tests were around 18-19, except for bio that was 20-21.
I studied long hours and spent my whole summer without any breaks except for work and research and I was very discouraged with my scores.
Test day:
As soon as I started the Bio section, I saw so many new terminologies that I’ve never heard or seen in any practice test before, and right there I knew I didn’t do well. The GC and Orgo were very similar, with some harder questions. But since I spent so much time on bio, I only had 15 mins left for Orgo. PAT was harder, especially the angle ranking, and keyhole. There were 5-6 questions with graphs in RC and I just had to mark and pass since I didn’t have enough time. QR questions were easier than Bootcamp.
Second Time:
What I learned from taking the test once is that you don’t need a long period of time to study, but DAT must be your only focus. It is like a full-time job and it’s very important that you commit to it. You must be very disciplined and treat it like a job and have a routine, wake up at a certain time, take your break at a certain time, and make sure to come back right after your break ends! NO long breaks, I know how hard it is to stay on schedule especially in summer when the weather is good and everyone is out having fun, while you need to stay in and study. But it WILL pay off.
Thinking about that I have to go through the same process especially when I worked so hard the first time was difficult. But I was determined and learned from my mistakes and this time I knew what to expect!!!
I used Booster since I heard from so many people that is the most representative, HAND DOWN the BEST program. They definitely need some improvement, but pros outweigh cons so I still 100% recommend it. The first time I didn’t use ANKI but after the test I started using it for my Anatomy lab and genetic class and it was very helpful!!! I got A for both classes.
I started on June 1st and started by taking practice tests right away without going through the review phase but after the second test I knew I must review the material since I forgot some subjects. For about 2-3 weeks I did review, I made a schedule to hit every subject for at least 2 hours daily and adjusted as needed for subjects that I felt like I need more time. I made ANKI for every question I got wrong or the new stuff in option choice and keep reviewing those. I also downloaded the Booster’s ANKI deck but only used it during break time or if I finished the cards I made. I started with 13 on QR on my practice test and with the help of ANKI and reviewing every question I started getting 18-19 and finally 20.
For Bio, I did the same thing, made Anki for every question I was getting wrong, also I was lucky booster offered Crash Course exactly one week before my exam. I was able to sign up only for one day, but even one day was very helpful!! I saw exactly word to word same questions from booster’s practice test, in my test! no joking!! GC on Booster it’s a little harder compared to Bootcamp and the actual test. The questions are not hard but the way the answer choices are, and you need to get to the final answer with SF and DP, make it more difficult and takes a lot of time and I kept running out of time. I don’t know what happened on the exam day that I got 20 on GC when my last practice score on Booster was 24 and I thought the actual test was easier than Booster. But I’m still happy with 20 😊
PAT was very similar to Booster. I committed one-hour first thing in the morning to do PAT. There were days that only did PAT for half an hour, but I made sure to practice every day.
And finally RC, English is not my first language and I’m a slow reader, I worked so hard for this section. I read 3-4 articles every single day!! It was so disappointing to see the 14 in my scores. I tried all the strategies recommended, and search and destroy was better than most for me but still couldn’t get the result I wanted. The lag during the test was so bad and didn’t help at all!
Last Advice:
Don’t let your anxiety overcome your ability, walk into the testing center with confidence and believe no matter what the result, you know that you have worked hard and done all you can. For me giving up was not an option, I told myself I would go through this again and again until I get good scores. I am going to apply this cycle and hope for the best. I know it may sound cliché but NEVER give up on your dream!! If dental school is truly your dream work hard and believe one day you will achieve it!!
It always helped me to read other breakdowns, although sometimes it was discouraging to see a lot of people getting high scores, while I was killing myself here to get even 20 on my practice tests. But I’m writing this for those who don’t get all 20 on their practice tests and those who are retaking DAT!
little background:
I am a senior applying this cycle with 3.8 GPA, 6 years of dental experience, paid research, over 500 hours of shadowing, over 100 hours of volunteering. I took the DAT for the first time in OCT 2021, and second time last week. I’ll explain my experience and the materials I used both times, and what I did differently this time to help me, hopefully it will help someone who is going through same thing I did.
First Time:
First time I studied for about 4 months, while worked part time, did research, and at towards the end my classes started. I only used Bootcamp, the explanations for each question in the practice tests for orgo, GC, and PAT, were very helpful. I don’t remember her name, but the girl who explained PAT questions in practice test and some of the question banks, was truly great, I wish Bootcamp used her to explain the whole PAT section!!!! Dr. Mike’s videos for GC were also very helpful but for Orgo I used Chad’s because I didn’t have a strong background. Although, I started watching Chad’s video very late in my studies, but they helped me to understand the reactions and the foundation better. I was very disappointed of my bio score, 16, because I was getting 20 and over towards the end. With each chapter having around 100 cards, It took me hour and half to finish only one chapter. But I tried to finish as much as I could and finished all the question banks and tests. Reading that others score on the DAT were 3-4 points higher than their practice test on Bootcamp, I took the test even though my practice tests were around 18-19, except for bio that was 20-21.
I studied long hours and spent my whole summer without any breaks except for work and research and I was very discouraged with my scores.
Test day:
As soon as I started the Bio section, I saw so many new terminologies that I’ve never heard or seen in any practice test before, and right there I knew I didn’t do well. The GC and Orgo were very similar, with some harder questions. But since I spent so much time on bio, I only had 15 mins left for Orgo. PAT was harder, especially the angle ranking, and keyhole. There were 5-6 questions with graphs in RC and I just had to mark and pass since I didn’t have enough time. QR questions were easier than Bootcamp.
Second Time:
What I learned from taking the test once is that you don’t need a long period of time to study, but DAT must be your only focus. It is like a full-time job and it’s very important that you commit to it. You must be very disciplined and treat it like a job and have a routine, wake up at a certain time, take your break at a certain time, and make sure to come back right after your break ends! NO long breaks, I know how hard it is to stay on schedule especially in summer when the weather is good and everyone is out having fun, while you need to stay in and study. But it WILL pay off.
Thinking about that I have to go through the same process especially when I worked so hard the first time was difficult. But I was determined and learned from my mistakes and this time I knew what to expect!!!
I used Booster since I heard from so many people that is the most representative, HAND DOWN the BEST program. They definitely need some improvement, but pros outweigh cons so I still 100% recommend it. The first time I didn’t use ANKI but after the test I started using it for my Anatomy lab and genetic class and it was very helpful!!! I got A for both classes.
I started on June 1st and started by taking practice tests right away without going through the review phase but after the second test I knew I must review the material since I forgot some subjects. For about 2-3 weeks I did review, I made a schedule to hit every subject for at least 2 hours daily and adjusted as needed for subjects that I felt like I need more time. I made ANKI for every question I got wrong or the new stuff in option choice and keep reviewing those. I also downloaded the Booster’s ANKI deck but only used it during break time or if I finished the cards I made. I started with 13 on QR on my practice test and with the help of ANKI and reviewing every question I started getting 18-19 and finally 20.
For Bio, I did the same thing, made Anki for every question I was getting wrong, also I was lucky booster offered Crash Course exactly one week before my exam. I was able to sign up only for one day, but even one day was very helpful!! I saw exactly word to word same questions from booster’s practice test, in my test! no joking!! GC on Booster it’s a little harder compared to Bootcamp and the actual test. The questions are not hard but the way the answer choices are, and you need to get to the final answer with SF and DP, make it more difficult and takes a lot of time and I kept running out of time. I don’t know what happened on the exam day that I got 20 on GC when my last practice score on Booster was 24 and I thought the actual test was easier than Booster. But I’m still happy with 20 😊
PAT was very similar to Booster. I committed one-hour first thing in the morning to do PAT. There were days that only did PAT for half an hour, but I made sure to practice every day.
And finally RC, English is not my first language and I’m a slow reader, I worked so hard for this section. I read 3-4 articles every single day!! It was so disappointing to see the 14 in my scores. I tried all the strategies recommended, and search and destroy was better than most for me but still couldn’t get the result I wanted. The lag during the test was so bad and didn’t help at all!
Last Advice:
Don’t let your anxiety overcome your ability, walk into the testing center with confidence and believe no matter what the result, you know that you have worked hard and done all you can. For me giving up was not an option, I told myself I would go through this again and again until I get good scores. I am going to apply this cycle and hope for the best. I know it may sound cliché but NEVER give up on your dream!! If dental school is truly your dream work hard and believe one day you will achieve it!!
