- Joined
- Apr 14, 2014
- Messages
- 10
- Reaction score
- 2
- Points
- 4,601
- Pre-Dental
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There have been so many helpful posts on SDN that allowed me to gain insight on the DAT and I am simply doing my part in trying to help any future test takers achieve their goals.
With that said, last night I had an extremely detailed post written out only to find out I had logged out of my facebook
and only a part of it was saved so instead I am writing a cliffnotes version and if you have any questions, feel free to msg me and Ill be more than glad to help! If your exam is coming up, just breathe! The DAT really isn't that bad.
Scores
PAT: 25
QR: 19 I used to tutor math....Oh the irony!
Reading: 20
Bio: 25
Chem: 22
Ochem: 20
TS: 22
AA:21
Study Materials:
Must haves: Chad's + Quizzes for Chem/Ochem, Cliffs AP Bio + Feralis' Notes...one-sided print out and get it bound because its not official unless its bound! (Use the blank side to condense your notes from Cliffs and add some of Feralis' Notes on to it, Destroyer + Math Destroyer (I honestly wouldn't spend more than 2-3 cycles on Destroyer #IdidChemFiveTimesandIStillDidn'tGeta30 and I only did 3 Math Destroyer Tests which was enough because after a while you get the point but I wish I had gone through Bootcamp's Math more than once)
Comparisons:
Chem & OChem: Bootcamp> Qvault (Scores are more accurate to the real exam and by reviewing their solutions you gain a better understanding of the material)
Bio: Bootcamp < Qvault (The sheer volume of questions and style were similar to the real exam IMO)
PAT: Bootcamp. (I'm not even going to put a greater than sign because Bootcamp is THAT awesome, especially for Keyholes. Make sure to understand why you got something wrong! The explanations are great.)
Reading: Bootcamp > Qvault (Bootcamp makes its harder to do search and destroy and during the actual exam it's slightly easier so its better to prepare using the more difficult source. Qvault is kinda easy.)
QR: Bootcamp > Qvault (I regret not doing more practice problems using BC. Qvault isn't as challenging)
Notes/Tips that may help:
My heart never pounded as hard as it did the seconds prior to the results of the exam and when I saw it a huge smile erupted on my face. I literally ran outta the center like Derek Fisher when he hit that .4 shot because I didn't want them to change their minds and say you got the wrong results! But when I got home I started beating myself up (not literally) for not doing as well in math and ochem. I just hope its enough to get into dental school.
Thank you for reading and I wish you luck on your DAT and the upcoming application cycle. Have a great summer and feel free to hit me up if you have any questions!
With that said, last night I had an extremely detailed post written out only to find out I had logged out of my facebook
and only a part of it was saved so instead I am writing a cliffnotes version and if you have any questions, feel free to msg me and Ill be more than glad to help! If your exam is coming up, just breathe! The DAT really isn't that bad.Scores
PAT: 25
QR: 19
I used to tutor math....Oh the irony! Reading: 20
Bio: 25
Chem: 22
Ochem: 20
TS: 22
AA:21
Study Materials:
Must haves: Chad's + Quizzes for Chem/Ochem, Cliffs AP Bio + Feralis' Notes...one-sided print out and get it bound because its not official unless its bound! (Use the blank side to condense your notes from Cliffs and add some of Feralis' Notes on to it, Destroyer + Math Destroyer (I honestly wouldn't spend more than 2-3 cycles on Destroyer #IdidChemFiveTimesandIStillDidn'tGeta30 and I only did 3 Math Destroyer Tests which was enough because after a while you get the point but I wish I had gone through Bootcamp's Math more than once)
Comparisons:
Chem & OChem: Bootcamp> Qvault (Scores are more accurate to the real exam and by reviewing their solutions you gain a better understanding of the material)
Bio: Bootcamp < Qvault (The sheer volume of questions and style were similar to the real exam IMO)
PAT: Bootcamp. (I'm not even going to put a greater than sign because Bootcamp is THAT awesome, especially for Keyholes. Make sure to understand why you got something wrong! The explanations are great.)
Reading: Bootcamp > Qvault (Bootcamp makes its harder to do search and destroy and during the actual exam it's slightly easier so its better to prepare using the more difficult source. Qvault is kinda easy.)
QR: Bootcamp > Qvault (I regret not doing more practice problems using BC. Qvault isn't as challenging)
Notes/Tips that may help:
- Don't spend more than 3 months studying. Stay focused and get through the 8 week study plan on BC and then spend like 2 weeks using BC/Qvault
- Do not cram days before your exam! It rhymes for a reason lol. If you feel like you're cramming then just postpone for 2 weeks and hone your skills. I was supposed to take the DAT two weeks ago but I decided it was best for me to postpone. Best decision ever! You and ONLY YOU will know if you're ready. But don't let nervousness misguide you into thinking you're not ready. If you put in the work and still feel nervous that's fine. This is something you really care about so its natural to feel that way but just look in the mirror and tell yourself, "I can do this!!!" Because you can.
- Minimize your reviewing the day before you exam. Try to relax. I just hit the gym and focused on how I will execute the day of. I don't know if it worked but at least I got some hypertrophy out of it which is crucial because its summer!!!! Gotta get swoll for the honeys ....kiddinggg
- Also, I didn't look or take any of my notes with me on the day of my exam because at that point you're already nervous so why make it worse by frantically looking up a term you think you forgot. Just relax and breathe. I got lucky and they played Jay-z and Kanye's "****** in Paris" on the radio and when Kanye was like, "You are now watchin' the throne, don't let me get in my zone x 3", I got pumped!!! It's all about your mindset!
- Timing is EVERYTHING. You want some time in the end of the sciences to review the marked questions on Bio. I felt as if I rushed through ochem and I guess it cost me there but it helped me in Bio. Also, for math, some of those questions I had to guess on in the end I knew how to do, I just didn't have time. If you can't do a problem in less than a minute, skip and come back to it at the end. That was my biggest fault and it will bug me forever.
My heart never pounded as hard as it did the seconds prior to the results of the exam and when I saw it a huge smile erupted on my face. I literally ran outta the center like Derek Fisher when he hit that .4 shot because I didn't want them to change their minds and say you got the wrong results! But when I got home I started beating myself up (not literally) for not doing as well in math and ochem. I just hope its enough to get into dental school.
Thank you for reading and I wish you luck on your DAT and the upcoming application cycle. Have a great summer and feel free to hit me up if you have any questions!
