- Joined
- Jul 12, 2009
- Messages
- 10
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- Pre-Dental
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Ok - here goes. First of all I would like to thank all the other members of sdn (excluding those who did not respond to my private messages). Your input has proven very helpful and it was a great resource for valuable information.
Scores:
Bio 24 (98.7)
G Chem 23 (95.0)
O Chem 26 (98.1)
Pat 17 (47.4)
Reading 19 (59.7)
QR 16 (53.2) 🙁
TS 24 (99.3)
AA 22 (96.4)
Breakdown:
Bio - like everyone says very straight forward. I wouldn't say quite as random as others have said. It certainly covered a wide range of topics but very superficially.
I used Destroyer, Cliffs AP, and my text (I think its Purves, Sadava, and Hills - it's a great book but more detail than necassary.)
Basically I read through cliffs as I went through the destroyer. The cliffs gave me the info and destroyer tested me on what I knew. I can't stress this enough - simply reading through cliffs will not necessarily guarantee you a great grade. You must go through questions! This is why the destroyer is so important - it will test you on a wide range of topics.
G Chem - This section has the most potential to be the killer. This is not how the DAT is designed, however. At least that was the case with my exam. The questions were very straight forward with very few curveballs. The calculations that you actually had to make were very basic. It would be wise to practice how to manipulate formulas without necassarily having to calculate them.
I mainly used my college textbook with my notes from college. I don't remember which book but a chem book is a chem book. I also went through the destroyer several times. As was the case with bio, and orgo for that matter, this is where i solidified my knowledge. Simply understanding the material is not enough - plow through those questions as much as you can. The questions were similar in format to the destroyer, probably even easier. But going through the book will toughen you up and it will be worth it.
O Chem - What can I say - this class killed me in college. I worked insanely hard to understand it. I took the ACS final in May so I studied orgo thoroughly before actually studying for the DAT. If you can get through ACS, btw, this will be like learning how to count. That's an understatement.
I think I read through my textbook over ten times (Loudon) in total. I went through all the destroyer questions after I went through ACS. A friend of mine recommended ACS. Let me mention that if your test is anything like mine - then that is a complete waste of time. The destroyer is more than enough. I am actually surprised I got a question wrong.
In recap for the sciences: I would say the questions are for the most part very superficial but are more interested in concepts than if you memorized useless facts. I have seen a lot of people write that. Realize that it's the truth. I would say that the single most important tool for science is the destroyer. This is not enough though. Make use out of your textbooks as a reference. You should also try the test that are out there - achiever, topscore etc. This will give you a good simulation of the test. Do NOT stress about your scores though. They weren't even in the same ballpark for me!! Forget the scores just take them to see what it's like.
O yea - take the ADA exam online! Everyone says that its too easy. That is such garbage - it is the exact same thing. This test most closely resembled my science scores and the questions are the same idea. Take it!
RC - I got aspirin, cell comm, piano. I actually thought that aspirin was not that easy. Cell communication wasn't too bad. I used s and d for the first two. Then I saw piano. I read enough comments on here to realize not to use s and d. So I read the passage thoroughly and mapped it according to the kaplan method. It kind of helped. What really helped was mcat 101 passages - great practice for comprehension not s and d, which is what you need for this passage. Also, I play guitar and have played piano. This was very helpful, not gonna lie.
Pat - Whatever - I am annoyed. I did all ten CDP. Got like 18-21. The TFE was impossible - I couldn't answer one question. Enough said.TFE. Maybe try achiever - that should be easier.
Math - Don't really know why I bombed. I was prepared. I did like 17 CDM. Started with a 16 like a month and a half ago and lately was getting 20 and 21. I also did the Math destroyer. Although I am not in the best shape to give advice on this section - I would highly recommend those two sources. Many of my questions were the same type as found in CDM and in Math destroyer.
Good Luck to all!!
Scores:
Bio 24 (98.7)
G Chem 23 (95.0)
O Chem 26 (98.1)
Pat 17 (47.4)
Reading 19 (59.7)
QR 16 (53.2) 🙁
TS 24 (99.3)
AA 22 (96.4)
Breakdown:
Bio - like everyone says very straight forward. I wouldn't say quite as random as others have said. It certainly covered a wide range of topics but very superficially.
I used Destroyer, Cliffs AP, and my text (I think its Purves, Sadava, and Hills - it's a great book but more detail than necassary.)
Basically I read through cliffs as I went through the destroyer. The cliffs gave me the info and destroyer tested me on what I knew. I can't stress this enough - simply reading through cliffs will not necessarily guarantee you a great grade. You must go through questions! This is why the destroyer is so important - it will test you on a wide range of topics.
G Chem - This section has the most potential to be the killer. This is not how the DAT is designed, however. At least that was the case with my exam. The questions were very straight forward with very few curveballs. The calculations that you actually had to make were very basic. It would be wise to practice how to manipulate formulas without necassarily having to calculate them.
I mainly used my college textbook with my notes from college. I don't remember which book but a chem book is a chem book. I also went through the destroyer several times. As was the case with bio, and orgo for that matter, this is where i solidified my knowledge. Simply understanding the material is not enough - plow through those questions as much as you can. The questions were similar in format to the destroyer, probably even easier. But going through the book will toughen you up and it will be worth it.
O Chem - What can I say - this class killed me in college. I worked insanely hard to understand it. I took the ACS final in May so I studied orgo thoroughly before actually studying for the DAT. If you can get through ACS, btw, this will be like learning how to count. That's an understatement.
I think I read through my textbook over ten times (Loudon) in total. I went through all the destroyer questions after I went through ACS. A friend of mine recommended ACS. Let me mention that if your test is anything like mine - then that is a complete waste of time. The destroyer is more than enough. I am actually surprised I got a question wrong.
In recap for the sciences: I would say the questions are for the most part very superficial but are more interested in concepts than if you memorized useless facts. I have seen a lot of people write that. Realize that it's the truth. I would say that the single most important tool for science is the destroyer. This is not enough though. Make use out of your textbooks as a reference. You should also try the test that are out there - achiever, topscore etc. This will give you a good simulation of the test. Do NOT stress about your scores though. They weren't even in the same ballpark for me!! Forget the scores just take them to see what it's like.
O yea - take the ADA exam online! Everyone says that its too easy. That is such garbage - it is the exact same thing. This test most closely resembled my science scores and the questions are the same idea. Take it!
RC - I got aspirin, cell comm, piano. I actually thought that aspirin was not that easy. Cell communication wasn't too bad. I used s and d for the first two. Then I saw piano. I read enough comments on here to realize not to use s and d. So I read the passage thoroughly and mapped it according to the kaplan method. It kind of helped. What really helped was mcat 101 passages - great practice for comprehension not s and d, which is what you need for this passage. Also, I play guitar and have played piano. This was very helpful, not gonna lie.
Pat - Whatever - I am annoyed. I did all ten CDP. Got like 18-21. The TFE was impossible - I couldn't answer one question. Enough said.TFE. Maybe try achiever - that should be easier.
Math - Don't really know why I bombed. I was prepared. I did like 17 CDM. Started with a 16 like a month and a half ago and lately was getting 20 and 21. I also did the Math destroyer. Although I am not in the best shape to give advice on this section - I would highly recommend those two sources. Many of my questions were the same type as found in CDM and in Math destroyer.
Good Luck to all!!
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