DAT Done 4/8/09 Tips and NEED ADVICE!!!

[bwdgator]

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My scores:
PAT: 20
QR: 17
RC: 24
Bio: 19
GC: 21
OC: 21
TS: 20
AA: 20

Tips
-Achiever is a waste of time
-CDP is awesome (I think its a little harder than the actual DAT)
-Cliffs AP Bio is awesome, but I felt some of questions on the test didnt come from it
-Destroyer is must
-Kaplan is enough for GC and OC
-Practice QR using CDM (I didnt and the result was a 17)

My Info
Now my gpa is 3.3 and a science gpa of 3.3. My E.C.'s are top notch (research currently writing a paper, 70+ volunteering, 100+ shadowing, comm service director in a organization, founding father of fraternity with a leadership role)

Now to my questions:
1. With my scores, gpa, and ec's do I have a shot?
2. Should I retake?
3. Do they take the best scores from both DAT tests or is it the most recent DAT they look at?

THanks for your help...let me know if you have any questions on how I studied!

 

[nhasifuture]

congrats!!! you're good to go. Just make sure to apply early.

 

[hellonurse]

you should be proud! awesome job!!! work on that GPA.

 

[doc3232]

I don't think you need to retake. gpa is a bit on low side but that's ok. Most schools will take most recent score. I think all see both. I think 1 school takes best from both tests you have taken.

 

[NyCzPeter]

GPA is a bit low but as for the Dee Ats, don't sweat your balls where they are not required to sweat. You're dee ats are fine, bust out a 4.0 the next couple of semesters and you're good to go.

 

[Tsrshorty]

what was your study schedule? did you study multiple subjects a day or just one subject for days at a time?

 

[nhasifuture]

Good job on ur RC score. Plz share ur methods for RC. thanks!

 

[bwdgator]

I am really worried about my gpa which is why i am considering taking it again in early july. My extracurriculars are awesome, apparently from what you all have said my DAT is good to go, but the only thing that is stopping me from getting into a school is my GPA. Does anyone think taking the DAT again in the first week of July too late?

Ive been getting some messages about my DAT so Im just going to clear it up here.

I have spent countless hours on this forum trying to figure out what are the best tools to use. Trust me most of the threads agree on these things to have listed below:

Kaplan White Book
AP Cliffs Biology
Destroyer
CDP
CDM
Topscore
Schaums Biology (If you are that hardcore)


RC: For this section the best method i think is to read the passage while you are going through the questions. I realized this during the second passage. The questions follow the passage. When you start each passage they give you a whole screen for the passage to read. When you click next the question appears with the text right below so as you read and you come upon info about the question just answer it right then. Using this method in the third passage I finished in just 12 minutes with time to spare.

Also I recommend getting 101 Verbal Passages for MCAT. THis is a great practice tool for getting a better understanding of what you are reading. I believe that the book is harder than the actual DAT.

QR: I am really really good in math, however, it didnt show. My biggest and only problem was time. Yes there were a couple I didnt know, but I ran out of time and had 7 problems left so I answered B for all of them. Use CDM, because it helps with timing. There werent too many complicated trig problems or geometry. Get use to doing word problems and definitely know basic algebra.

Bio: I thought I would do well on this, however, there were some questions about information i never read about in the Cliffs. If I do take the test again then I would use Schaums because it will give me more info. I only had one plant problem, but I had a lot of questions on ecology and classification ( which were my worse two subjects)...i just got unlucky for this part

GC and OC: For these two sections use kaplan white book and destroyer. Kaplan goes over the basics and Destroyer fills you in on the rest. Go over each section at least 3 times because there is always something you will miss. I thought I would do better, but if I did take it again I might use other sources to fill me in on my weak spots such as I am never good at determining which is a better acid or which is a better nucleophile.

PAT: Definitely use CDP for this part. Buy the 10 test package because practice makes perfect for this test.

Topscore: I found that topscore was the best DAT practice test out there. I felt that it was a little harder than the actual DAT. Achiever is a joke. It does not give you an actual representation of the test.

Final Notes: Repetition is the key for the DAT. Go over everything a couple of times. If you feel that your ready well then read everything again one more time. Try to pretend that your DAT is actually a week before the real test so that you can have a week of review. I studied for about 2 to 3 weeks total for 5 to 6 hours a day. I made flash cards and i stuck them all over my room (i tend to pace in my room for some odd reason). The reason why I stuck them on my wall is that I studied in my apartment and not at the library (I know to many people at the library lol)

I hope this helps...just use the materials i listed, go over them a couple times, and you are set.

btw can someone give me some insight about my problem i stated above in this message. I am in my spring junior year so basically my gpa is set in stone.

 

[peerless218]

My scores:
PAT: 20
QR: 17
RC: 24
Bio: 19
GC: 21
OC: 21
TS: 20
AA: 20

Tips
-Achiever is a waste of time
-CDP is awesome (I think its a little harder than the actual DAT)
-Cliffs AP Bio is awesome, but I felt some of questions on the test didnt come from it
-Destroyer is must
-Kaplan is enough for GC and OC
-Practice QR using CDM (I didnt and the result was a 17)

My Info
Now my gpa is 3.3 and a science gpa of 3.3. My E.C.'s are top notch (research currently writing a paper, 70+ volunteering, 100+ shadowing, comm service director in a organization, founding father of fraternity with a leadership role)

Now to my questions:
1. With my scores, gpa, and ec's do I have a shot?
2. Should I retake?
3. Do they take the best scores from both DAT tests or is it the most recent DAT they look at?

THanks for your help...let me know if you have any questions on how I studied!

Congrat man!! Don't worry about your DAT anymore!! You did grat!! Especially with your RC. Just apply early and nail those interviews

 

[Chesnok]

Based on SDN, QR is the least important DAT section; RC is important, your science is the same/set thruout. Good job. Now try to raise that GPA up to 3.5 (the more,the better 🙂) since you'll send your transcripts during academic update period that open in November, I guess.

 

[eldirty]

congrats ... good stuff ... i think you should be alright

 

[brightsmiles9]

Good job, and CONGRATSS! Apply early! Best of luck to you! 🙂

 

[Valigator00]

Based on SDN, QR is the least important DAT section; RC is important, your science is the same/set thruout. Good job. Now try to raise that GPA up to 3.5 (the more,the better 🙂) since you'll send your transcripts during academic update period that open in November, I guess.

I spoke with admissions director of University at Buffalo. He told me that QR is by far the least important section. However, some schools might see some importance in it

 

[doc3232]

I spoke with admissions director of University at Buffalo. He told me that QR is by far the least important section. However, some schools might see some importance in it

It really shows little correlation in future dental gpa and exams. A 17 isn't even low though...