DAT + classes = OVERWHELMED

[ddsDreamz]

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Hey SDN,

this is my first thread so i hope i'm doing this right. I have been trying to study for the DAT during the semester and it is starting to become overwhelming.

I can't seem to find the right balance of watching chad's videos for chem (with understanding AND retention) while trying to brush up on my math skills AND studying bio. Not to mention getting in enough PAT practice so i don't lose my groove. When i think i'm getting somewhere with a single subject, i review it/test myself and realize i forgot a lot of what i thought I learned (e.g. gen chem and math especially).

Does anybody that successful studied for the DAT during a full semester of classes have any advice for me?

My test day is in late May, the semester ends in Mid-may. (I would really like to keep this test day and just find an effective study method/schedule.)

my study materials are:
1) Chads DAT videos
2) crack the DAT (ace edition)
3) DAT Destroyer (2013)
4) DAT Math Destroyer
5) Cliff's AP bio (3rd edition)
6) Kaplan Course Material (Review notes, lesson book, flashcards, etc.)
7) Ferrali's Notes

in case it helps for advice, i got Bs and 1 A in my pre-req classes and I'm currently taking 2 core classes and 2 science classes. Thanks for any advice you can share with me!

 

[Blake1e]

The 1st time I took it I studied for it while taking a full course load. What happened? I had to do a retake.

If I were you I'd take DAT at the end of June and if you think you need more time end of July. Doing classes and DAT studying at the same time is a good way of doing bad in both.

Don't worry about not being in 1st batch. That doesn't really matter, as long it's not sent late you're fine. Getting a high GPA and DAT score are priority 1. Have everything submitted by late June and the latest by the 1st week of August.

 

[Daneosaurus]

Hey SDN,

this is my first thread so i hope i'm doing this right. I have been trying to study for the DAT during the semester and it is starting to become overwhelming.

I can't seem to find the right balance of watching chad's videos for chem (with understanding AND retention) while trying to brush up on my math skills AND studying bio. Not to mention getting in enough PAT practice so i don't lose my groove. When i think i'm getting somewhere with a single subject, i review it/test myself and realize i forgot a lot of what i thought I learned (e.g. gen chem and math especially).

Does anybody that successful studied for the DAT during a full semester of classes have any advice for me?

My test day is in late May, the semester ends in Mid-may. (I would really like to keep this test day and just find an effective study method/schedule.)

my study materials are:
1) Chads DAT videos
2) crack the DAT (ace edition)
3) DAT Destroyer (2013)
4) DAT Math Destroyer
5) Cliff's AP bio (3rd edition)
6) Kaplan Course Material (Review notes, lesson book, flashcards, etc.)
7) Ferrali's Notes

in case it helps for advice, i got Bs and 1 A in my pre-req classes and I'm currently taking 2 core classes and 2 science classes. Thanks for any advice you can share with me!

Just keep at it is the only thing I can recommend. If you do it for long enough, something will stick. You are not the first, nor the last person, to study DAT and take a full course load. I'm also doing it - 2 science courses, 2 core classes, and DAT study. I also work near full time and married with two kids - refuse to sacrifice my time with them unless it is absolutely necessary.

Also - make sure your are eating healthy, exercising, getting plenty of rest, and studying in segments, not all at once. Example: studying 40-45 mins, walk away for 10 - 15 mins. You NEED this break. It'll allow you to come back refreshed. During this time, get some water, STRETCH!!!, do not sit, relax.

Hope this helps.

 

[musician7]

make yourself a strict study schedule and goals for each day! for example.. monday: i will read chapter 5 in cliff's/Ferali's, watch 1 section of chad's, and do one math exam. tues: review math exam mistakes, read chapter 6 in cliff's, 1 PAT practice test.

once you go through all the material once, you could set yourself a goal of 40 destroyer bio questions a day, 30 gen chem, etc.

make sure to stick to it everyday if you are determined to keep the same test date!

 

[ddsDreamz]

make yourself a strict study schedule and goals for each day! for example.. monday: i will read chapter 5 in cliff's/Ferali's, watch 1 section of chad's, and do one math exam. tues: review math exam mistakes, read chapter 6 in cliff's, 1 PAT practice test.

once you go through all the material once, you could set yourself a goal of 40 destroyer bio questions a day, 30 gen chem, etc.

make sure to stick to it everyday if you are determined to keep the same test date!

Thanks so much for your help! I saw your DAT breakdown and am very impressed to say the least!! How long did u study total? (Even if it was just on and off)

 

[Dotoday]

You have some good materials. However, with full course load it will be dofficult for you to get to all of them. Why don't you do what you can during the semester in terms of DAT and focus on your classes? In May, after your finals, you can put all of your time into DAT and take in in August. You can still apply for the 2015 before deadline.

 

[capnamerica]

I feel your pain brother. I'm actually in the same boat, and balancing coursework and the DAT hasn't been going too well. I don't want to jeopardize my grades or DAT score, but I don't want to end up applying too late either by having to defer the test date. My advice (which you should take with a gran of salt) is not to worry too much about retention at this point. You'll probably have to review the content in the weeks before the test, so for the time being, just make sure you're understanding the material as you go through it. Then, in the few weeks up to the exam, start committing stuff you don't recall to memory.

My $0.02, and I wish the best for us both!

Hey SDN,

this is my first thread so i hope i'm doing this right. I have been trying to study for the DAT during the semester and it is starting to become overwhelming.

I can't seem to find the right balance of watching chad's videos for chem (with understanding AND retention) while trying to brush up on my math skills AND studying bio. Not to mention getting in enough PAT practice so i don't lose my groove. When i think i'm getting somewhere with a single subject, i review it/test myself and realize i forgot a lot of what i thought I learned (e.g. gen chem and math especially).

Does anybody that successful studied for the DAT during a full semester of classes have any advice for me?

My test day is in late May, the semester ends in Mid-may. (I would really like to keep this test day and just find an effective study method/schedule.)

my study materials are:
1) Chads DAT videos
2) crack the DAT (ace edition)
3) DAT Destroyer (2013)
4) DAT Math Destroyer
5) Cliff's AP bio (3rd edition)
6) Kaplan Course Material (Review notes, lesson book, flashcards, etc.)
7) Ferrali's Notes

in case it helps for advice, i got Bs and 1 A in my pre-req classes and I'm currently taking 2 core classes and 2 science classes. Thanks for any advice you can share with me!

 

[Daneosaurus]

I feel your pain brother. I'm actually in the same boat, and balancing coursework and the DAT hasn't been going too well. I don't want to jeopardize my grades or DAT score, but I don't want to end up applying too late either by having to defer the test date. My advice (which you should take with a gran of salt) is not to worry too much about retention at this point. You'll probably have to review the content in the weeks before the test, so for the time being, just make sure you're understanding the material as you go through it. Then, in the few weeks up to the exam, start committing stuff you don't recall to memory.

My $0.02, and I wish the best for us both!

I like this. The three of us are in the same boat, and this is similar to my strategy. I'm really just doing broad content review during the semester, and I'll have 2 weeks before my DAT to do NOTHING but study for it (after exams). That's the crunch time. I figured I'm starting early, where I don't have to worry too extensively about it.

 

[LabCoatAndPearls]

I did the same thing you did while studying for my DAT. Last semester, I had 15 credits and a plethora of EC's and volunteering things going on at the same time. I stayed sane by following a regime like this one offered at DAT BootCamp: http://datbootcamp.com/Ari'sStudySchedule.pdf
I couldn't follow it perfectly because I didn't have enough hours in a day, but it was still very helpful to at least have a guideline! I also found it helpful to do little things for the DAT throughout the day. If I had 5 mins before a class, I would practice angle ranking for 5 minutes. If I had a 20 minute bus ride, I would read a couple science articles to help with RC.
When classes were over mid-December, I buckled down and started studying intensely for my DAT everyday. The only day I took a break was Christmas. Having around 3 weeks of no classes and just studying right before the DAT is the best possible scenario.
Just try not to get frustrated and stay focused! You'll be so happy when it's all over, I promise! =)

 

[ziggy1104]

Hey there,

I am in exactly the same situation as you right now. I'm taking DAT on May 10 and only have a solid 2 weeks between fall and summer to do nothing but study for the test, but until then, it's juggle 15 credits, DAT studying, and son and husband. It's hard, but I think the key is finding a groove that works for you. Create a do able schedule and stick to it!

For example, I go to school from 8-5 M-F. Mondays are the only days I'm in class until 5 though. The other days I'm out at 12:45 or 1:45. So I use the extra time to study for my classes ONLY. I don't touch DAT material.

Then I come home and spend quality time with the fam and eat dinner. After that, I lock myself in the office and study until 10:00-11:00, depending on the material I'm doing that particular night.

I have also created a study schedule that goes up until the day before my test that I follow religiously. Of course, if I feel I need to make adjustments as I go, I'll do that. My point is , don't just blindly study random stuff, you know? Have a plan and stick to it. That way you know how much time you have to spend with each material and you feel like your making headway. It's nice to mark the day as done when you finish!

Most importantly, take it day by day. That's good advice for myself bc it gets majorly overwhelming at times, but we'll get there!

Good luck!