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Hello everyone,
I have been using this site for over a year now, but this is my first thread--figured i should give back for all the information that i took 🙂 Before i get into details of the DAT changes and my breakdown, allow me to say a few words about myself. I currently have a Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry, with a sGPA of 3.24 and a cGPA of 3.42. I was heavily involved during my undergrad career, my resume is over three pages long--yet, my GPA is not on the competitive side where i could comfortably say that i'll get in.
I first took the DAT July of 2014 with the following scores:
18 AA
17 TS
24 PAT
Although, i killed the PAT section, my science and AA were not high enough to get me in last cycle due to my GPA. I spoke to three Dental School Advisors and all three agreed that a 16 on GC does not look well--so i retook the DAT again today with the following results:
AA 21
TS 22
PAT 20
Let's begin with the changes i noticed from last year to today.
BIO: There are more problems that require you to apply your knowledge. However, a good chunk of it was still as simple as memorizing terms or ones that a term is giving and asks for the explanation. I would say overall, 5-7 of the questions required much thought. Something you would see in an upper course exam.
GC & OC : Very similar to last year.
PAT: Definitely harder. As you can see, my PAT score dropped four points. I'll get into the details of what i used for each section to prepare last year vs this time around.
RC: Hate this section, same thing.
QR: Harder... expect some basic statistics problems on there.
These are the changes that i was able to see and recall. When you think about it, it's very minimal and doesn't make any old studying guide obsolete. For example, if you have the 2013 DAT Destroyer, you'll still be exposed to many great questions that you will see. However, the newer edition will introduce you to more problems that consider such changes.
Resources used:
Biology
2014: Kaplan (4/10) Crack the DAT Science (3/10) Probably one of the worst mistakes i made was to use Kaplan. It is relatively easier to other books, and i think that is why i chose to stick with this than tackle DAT Destroyer.
2015: Cliffs Bio (8/10). DAT Destroyer (11/10). These two are a must. I first read Cliffs, studied it, and then went onto doing DAT Destroyer.
A note about the Destroyer. I purchased the 2014 edition last year to use with Kaplan. The book was so difficult that i literally threw it across the room and sold it after my the exam--biggest mistake ever. I bought the book again this year and did the whole thing twice--i can easily say, that if this book didn't exist, my science score wouldn't improve much. If you're purchasing new, then go for the 2015 edition can get it directly from Nancy. The newer edition has many more questions, and this is the edition that includes some tougher problems for the DAT changes.
DAT Bootcamp BIO: (8/10). The exams were good, but i wish there were more questions. Explanations were great. My estimated score was on point for this section.
Note for Ferallis Notes: I didn't get the chance to use these notes as i made my own. When i compared the two, they were very similar. However, his is very detailed and is excellent if it has been a few years since your last bio class. I just think taking your own notes is a major plus to understanding the material--that's where you start understanding how to apply versus just memorizing what you read.
General Chemistry & Organic Chemistry
2014: Kaplan (3/10). Chad's Videos (9/10) Again, Kaplan it made the material seem too easy. Chad is King for those of us who need to go over the basics again. Yet, it is not enough to conquer the DAT. Hence, my low score.
2015: Chad's videos. DAT Destroyer. DAT Bootcamp. I got the basics down by watching Chad again, then applied the knowledge to harder problems in the Destroyer and Bootcamp. My actual scores were two points higher than Bootcamp predicted.
PAT
2014: Crack the PAT. Great software.... in 2014. I highly doubt it can hold up to the competition with the questions i saw today.
2015: DAT Bootcamp PAT. Honestly, the best representation of the PAT section. Bootcamp is much harder, but it prepares you better. When i would take these exams i asked myself why Bootcamp is so much harder... now i know why. I either got lucky last year (maybe the system felt sorry after my TS) or they've made it harder.
RC
2014: Kaplan.
2015: Dat bootcamp.
Hate this section, hence shouldn't give advice on it.
QR
2014: Kaplan. Crack the DAT (7/10)
2015: Math Destroyer (10/10). You will not see a question on the QR section that Math Destroyer does not cover. Some questions were exactly the same! Do not skip this book for the math!
_________________________________________________________________________
Hope this helps guys. I really felt bad last year with my score but was hopeful that my resume would help me out--it didn't. The DAT is not simple, as i thought it was last year. Because of this mistake, i fell one year behind my education. Although i used my time wisely by becoming a dental assistant and getting into the field, i rather be starting dental school in a few months then holding the suction and making temporary crowns for another year.
Give yourself time. As Dr. Romano stated, doing well on the DAT takes patience and hard work.
Good luck and if you have any questions please ask. I've been researching and studying for the retake on and off for almost ten months.
I have been using this site for over a year now, but this is my first thread--figured i should give back for all the information that i took 🙂 Before i get into details of the DAT changes and my breakdown, allow me to say a few words about myself. I currently have a Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry, with a sGPA of 3.24 and a cGPA of 3.42. I was heavily involved during my undergrad career, my resume is over three pages long--yet, my GPA is not on the competitive side where i could comfortably say that i'll get in.
I first took the DAT July of 2014 with the following scores:
18 AA
17 TS
24 PAT
Although, i killed the PAT section, my science and AA were not high enough to get me in last cycle due to my GPA. I spoke to three Dental School Advisors and all three agreed that a 16 on GC does not look well--so i retook the DAT again today with the following results:
AA 21
TS 22
PAT 20
Let's begin with the changes i noticed from last year to today.
BIO: There are more problems that require you to apply your knowledge. However, a good chunk of it was still as simple as memorizing terms or ones that a term is giving and asks for the explanation. I would say overall, 5-7 of the questions required much thought. Something you would see in an upper course exam.
GC & OC : Very similar to last year.
PAT: Definitely harder. As you can see, my PAT score dropped four points. I'll get into the details of what i used for each section to prepare last year vs this time around.
RC: Hate this section, same thing.
QR: Harder... expect some basic statistics problems on there.
These are the changes that i was able to see and recall. When you think about it, it's very minimal and doesn't make any old studying guide obsolete. For example, if you have the 2013 DAT Destroyer, you'll still be exposed to many great questions that you will see. However, the newer edition will introduce you to more problems that consider such changes.
Resources used:
Biology
2014: Kaplan (4/10) Crack the DAT Science (3/10) Probably one of the worst mistakes i made was to use Kaplan. It is relatively easier to other books, and i think that is why i chose to stick with this than tackle DAT Destroyer.
2015: Cliffs Bio (8/10). DAT Destroyer (11/10). These two are a must. I first read Cliffs, studied it, and then went onto doing DAT Destroyer.
A note about the Destroyer. I purchased the 2014 edition last year to use with Kaplan. The book was so difficult that i literally threw it across the room and sold it after my the exam--biggest mistake ever. I bought the book again this year and did the whole thing twice--i can easily say, that if this book didn't exist, my science score wouldn't improve much. If you're purchasing new, then go for the 2015 edition can get it directly from Nancy. The newer edition has many more questions, and this is the edition that includes some tougher problems for the DAT changes.
DAT Bootcamp BIO: (8/10). The exams were good, but i wish there were more questions. Explanations were great. My estimated score was on point for this section.
Note for Ferallis Notes: I didn't get the chance to use these notes as i made my own. When i compared the two, they were very similar. However, his is very detailed and is excellent if it has been a few years since your last bio class. I just think taking your own notes is a major plus to understanding the material--that's where you start understanding how to apply versus just memorizing what you read.
General Chemistry & Organic Chemistry
2014: Kaplan (3/10). Chad's Videos (9/10) Again, Kaplan it made the material seem too easy. Chad is King for those of us who need to go over the basics again. Yet, it is not enough to conquer the DAT. Hence, my low score.
2015: Chad's videos. DAT Destroyer. DAT Bootcamp. I got the basics down by watching Chad again, then applied the knowledge to harder problems in the Destroyer and Bootcamp. My actual scores were two points higher than Bootcamp predicted.
PAT
2014: Crack the PAT. Great software.... in 2014. I highly doubt it can hold up to the competition with the questions i saw today.
2015: DAT Bootcamp PAT. Honestly, the best representation of the PAT section. Bootcamp is much harder, but it prepares you better. When i would take these exams i asked myself why Bootcamp is so much harder... now i know why. I either got lucky last year (maybe the system felt sorry after my TS) or they've made it harder.
RC
2014: Kaplan.
2015: Dat bootcamp.
Hate this section, hence shouldn't give advice on it.
QR
2014: Kaplan. Crack the DAT (7/10)
2015: Math Destroyer (10/10). You will not see a question on the QR section that Math Destroyer does not cover. Some questions were exactly the same! Do not skip this book for the math!
_________________________________________________________________________
Hope this helps guys. I really felt bad last year with my score but was hopeful that my resume would help me out--it didn't. The DAT is not simple, as i thought it was last year. Because of this mistake, i fell one year behind my education. Although i used my time wisely by becoming a dental assistant and getting into the field, i rather be starting dental school in a few months then holding the suction and making temporary crowns for another year.
Give yourself time. As Dr. Romano stated, doing well on the DAT takes patience and hard work.
Good luck and if you have any questions please ask. I've been researching and studying for the retake on and off for almost ten months.
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