DAT DONE!!! AA 23. Breakdown and tips...

[shpkny3210]

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Scores:
BIO -28, GC-23, OC - 23, PAT - 21, RC- 20, QR- 21. TS-25, AA-23

A little bit about my background:
I doubled majored in college, graduated with degrees in public health and women' studies. I then went on to receive my MPH and worked in non-profit for a while before I decided to pursue dentistry.

So here is how I prepared for the DAT with about 3 1/2 months of studying. (Mid April - July)

Materials used: Chad's Videos, Feralis bio notes, O chem Odyssey, DAT Sterling books for BIO and Gen Chem, Crack DAT for QR, DAT Bootcamp and the DAT Destroyer/Math destroyer.

First month: Content review
I used Chad's videos for Gen Chem, O chem and QR. Printed out all the notes and did the quizzes. Whatever concept I didn't get, I either used google or youtube to get a better understanding.
For Bio, I watched Craig Savage and Bozmann science videos just so I could get exposure to bio before I started the bio notes from Feralis. When I finished the videos, I started reading the bio notes, made flashcards and again, used google or youtube to better understand certain concepts.

Second Month: Practice Questions
After I had finished my content review, I started doing practice questions. I honestly think that this is the best way to study, to get as much exposure to questions as possible. So the books that I used were O Chem Odyssey and DAT sterling BIO and Gen Chem. These books have over 1000 practice questions broken down by topics. This was great practice for me because not only was I able to understand the concepts better, I knew what my weaknesses were on what topics. So theses books helped alot.
Also, I started doing PAT via bootcamp and starting taking QR tests via CRACK DAT.

Third month: Crunch time!
After finishing the books and going over all the content review, I started on DAT destroyer and Bootcamp exams. DAT destroyer was great! I was able to get through the book with relative ease and overall thought it was a good exposure. The O Chem road maps were awesome! I did all 5 bootcamp tests in all subjects except QR. For QR, I did 8 Crack DAT exams, did the QR section of the Destroyer and also did about 4 Math destroyer exams.

Bootcamp scores:
Bio 22/23/21/23/22
GC 23/22/21/21/22
OC 21/22/20/21/22
PAT 19/21/20/22/23
RC 21/20/19/21/20

I didn't use the ADA exams. Instead, to simulate testing conditions, I opened up tabs on all sections of bootcamp for the test I was taking. For example, if I was taking test 1 on bootcamp, all sections would be opened so I could go from one section to the next, as I would do in the actual exam. This way I could have the timings down.

Actual Exam:
Bio - This section was ok but it had alot of conceptional questions. Not so much physio questions but definitely know taxonomy, cell/molecular bio and origins of life stuff.
Gen Chem - Again, more conceptional questions then calculations. A couple of lab questions. Overall not that bad.
O Chem- Overall, not that bad. O Chem Odyssey helped alot for this section.
PAT - On par with Bootcamp
RC - Used search and destroy
QR - On par with DAT destroyer section of QR

Overall I thought the exam was ok, some questions did throw me off but I think I was well prepared for the exam. It wasn't easy but I think if anyone has the drive and the motivation, then they can do it!

Lastly, I would like to thank orgomann22, feralis, and ari from bootcamp! Your resources were instrumental to me in achieving this score.

I am selling all of my books. I'll be making a separate thread for the materials but just wanted to let you guys know.

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[alexis2010]

Congratulations. Those are awesome scores. Thanks for tips on how to study.
For RC did search and destroy worked for all the passages you had?

 

[shpkny3210]

I unfortunately had really dense passages. Hence I ended up getting a 20. I actually used a modified version on search and destroy that user BYU4you came up with.
Here is the link: http://www.forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/my-rc-strategy-the-balanced-approach.1138782/

 

[DAT Destroyer]

Scores:
BIO -28, GC-23, OC - 23, PAT - 21, RC- 20, QR- 21. TS-25, AA-23

A little bit about my background:
I doubled majored in college, graduated with degrees in public health and women' studies. I then went on to receive my MPH and worked in non-profit for a while before I decided to pursue dentistry.

So here is how I prepared for the DAT with about 3 1/2 months of studying. (Mid April - July)

Materials used: Chad's Videos, Feralis bio notes, O chem Odyssey, DAT Sterling books for BIO and Gen Chem, Crack DAT for QR, DAT Bootcamp and the DAT Destroyer/Math destroyer.

First month: Content review
I used Chad's videos for Gen Chem, O chem and QR. Printed out all the notes and did the quizzes. Whatever concept I didn't get, I either used google or youtube to get a better understanding.
For Bio, I watched Craig Savage and Bozmann science videos just so I could get exposure to bio before I started the bio notes from Feralis. When I finished the videos, I started reading the bio notes, made flashcards and again, used google or youtube to better understand certain concepts.

Second Month: Practice Questions
After I had finished my content review, I started doing practice questions. I honestly think that this is the best way to study, to get as much exposure to questions as possible. So the books that I used were O Chem Odyssey and DAT sterling BIO and Gen Chem. These books have over 1000 practice questions broken down by topics. This was great practice for me because not only was I able to understand the concepts better, I knew what my weaknesses were on what topics. So theses books helped alot.
Also, I started doing PAT via bootcamp and starting taking QR tests via CRACK DAT.

Third month: Crunch time!
After finishing the books and going over all the content review, I started on DAT destroyer and Bootcamp exams. DAT destroyer was great! I was able to get through the book with relative ease and overall thought it was a good exposure. The O Chem road maps were awesome! I did all 5 bootcamp tests in all subjects except QR. For QR, I did 8 Crack DAT exams, did the QR section of the Destroyer and also did about 4 Math destroyer exams.

Bootcamp scores:
Bio 22/23/21/23/22
GC 23/22/21/21/22
OC 21/22/20/21/22
PAT 19/21/20/22/23
RC 21/20/19/21/20

I didn't use the ADA exams. Instead, to simulate testing conditions, I opened up tabs on all sections of bootcamp for the test I was taking. For example, if I was taking test 1 on bootcamp, all sections would be opened so I could go from one section to the next, as I would do in the actual exam. This way I could have the timings down.

Actual Exam:
Bio - This section was ok but it had alot of conceptional questions. Not so much physio questions but definitely know taxonomy, cell/molecular bio and origins of life stuff.
Gen Chem - Again, more conceptional questions then calculations. A couple of lab questions. Overall not that bad.
O Chem- Overall, not that bad. O Chem Odyssey helped alot for this section.
PAT - On par with Bootcamp
RC - Used search and destroy
QR - On par with DAT destroyer section of QR

Overall I thought the exam was ok, some questions did throw me off but I think I was well prepared for the exam. It wasn't easy but I think if anyone has the drive and the motivation, then they can do it!

Lastly, I would like to thank orgomann22, feralis, and ari from bootcamp! Your resources were instrumental to me in achieving this score.

I am selling all of my books. I'll be making a separate thread for the materials but just wanted to let you guys know.

Thanks everyone!!!

Congratulations!!!

You Destroyed it the first time! Your science scores rock!You should get a lot of interviews and have no trouble getting accepted into dental school. Thank you for the detailed breakdown it will definitely help students that have yet to face the DAT Beast!

You had the motivation and put in the hard work that is needed to succeed!

Thank you for the shout out and good luck in your journey to becoming a dentist!

Take care..

Dr. Romano and Nancy

 

[Futuredentista62]

Congratulations!!

 

[MolarDentist]

You killed it. Congrats and thanks for the breakdown.

 

[matardug]

We literally had IDENTICAL scores in every subject haha. Nice job and congrats!! 🙂

 

[skyguy1]

Scores:
BIO -28, GC-23, OC - 23, PAT - 21, RC- 20, QR- 21. TS-25, AA-23

A little bit about my background:
I doubled majored in college, graduated with degrees in public health and women' studies. I then went on to receive my MPH and worked in non-profit for a while before I decided to pursue dentistry.

So here is how I prepared for the DAT with about 3 1/2 months of studying. (Mid April - July)

Materials used: Chad's Videos, Feralis bio notes, O chem Odyssey, DAT Sterling books for BIO and Gen Chem, Crack DAT for QR, DAT Bootcamp and the DAT Destroyer/Math destroyer.

First month: Content review
I used Chad's videos for Gen Chem, O chem and QR. Printed out all the notes and did the quizzes. Whatever concept I didn't get, I either used google or youtube to get a better understanding.
For Bio, I watched Craig Savage and Bozmann science videos just so I could get exposure to bio before I started the bio notes from Feralis. When I finished the videos, I started reading the bio notes, made flashcards and again, used google or youtube to better understand certain concepts.

Second Month: Practice Questions
After I had finished my content review, I started doing practice questions. I honestly think that this is the best way to study, to get as much exposure to questions as possible. So the books that I used were O Chem Odyssey and DAT sterling BIO and Gen Chem. These books have over 1000 practice questions broken down by topics. This was great practice for me because not only was I able to understand the concepts better, I knew what my weaknesses were on what topics. So theses books helped alot.
Also, I started doing PAT via bootcamp and starting taking QR tests via CRACK DAT.

Third month: Crunch time!
After finishing the books and going over all the content review, I started on DAT destroyer and Bootcamp exams. DAT destroyer was great! I was able to get through the book with relative ease and overall thought it was a good exposure. The O Chem road maps were awesome! I did all 5 bootcamp tests in all subjects except QR. For QR, I did 8 Crack DAT exams, did the QR section of the Destroyer and also did about 4 Math destroyer exams.

Bootcamp scores:
Bio 22/23/21/23/22
GC 23/22/21/21/22
OC 21/22/20/21/22
PAT 19/21/20/22/23
RC 21/20/19/21/20

I didn't use the ADA exams. Instead, to simulate testing conditions, I opened up tabs on all sections of bootcamp for the test I was taking. For example, if I was taking test 1 on bootcamp, all sections would be opened so I could go from one section to the next, as I would do in the actual exam. This way I could have the timings down.

Actual Exam:
Bio - This section was ok but it had alot of conceptional questions. Not so much physio questions but definitely know taxonomy, cell/molecular bio and origins of life stuff.
Gen Chem - Again, more conceptional questions then calculations. A couple of lab questions. Overall not that bad.
O Chem- Overall, not that bad. O Chem Odyssey helped alot for this section.
PAT - On par with Bootcamp
RC - Used search and destroy
QR - On par with DAT destroyer section of QR

Overall I thought the exam was ok, some questions did throw me off but I think I was well prepared for the exam. It wasn't easy but I think if anyone has the drive and the motivation, then they can do it!

Lastly, I would like to thank orgomann22, feralis, and ari from bootcamp! Your resources were instrumental to me in achieving this score.

I am selling all of my books. I'll be making a separate thread for the materials but just wanted to let you guys know.

Thanks everyone!!!

do you recommend those sterling books?

 

[SyracuseOrange92]

Really good scores esp. that 28 in the biology

 

[BYU4you]

I unfortunately had really dense passages. Hence I ended up getting a 20. I actually used a modified version on search and destroy that user BYU4you came up with.
Here is the link: http://www.forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/my-rc-strategy-the-balanced-approach.1138782/

I'm glad my strategy helped even if a little bit. The DAT is so crazy that they change and certain sections are harder on someone else's test you know?

You killed it! Great scores, every section!

 

[shpkny3210]

Thanks everyone so much!!!
All that hard work finally paid off

matardug: I just your breakdown and wow.... we do have the same scores! Lol, what a coincidence. I would say a happy coincidence

BYU4you: the DAT was crazy...I really thought my RC section was extremely difficult and I am used to reading scientific journals...so thanks again for the strategy.

skyguy1: As for the sterling books, there were alot of questions to practice. I would recommend it only if you have the time. I used them because it had been a while since I had taken science courses so I wanted to get exposed to as many questions as I could. Also, that's how I learn so it may help for some, it may be overkill for others. But if u know that you are weak in lets just say thermodynamics or the endocrine system, these books literally had like over 50 questions dedicated to those specific topics. So it all depends on how week or strong your bio and gen chem is.