DAT DONE [Sept 25, 2010]

[tahjo0211]

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After months of trolling this forum and worrying about the DAT, I thought I'd finally chip in my two cents now that I have taken the DAT. My scores are the following:

perceptual ability : 22 (93.8 percentile)
quantitative reasoning: 24 (99.4)
reading comprehension: 20 (78.5)
biology: 21 (95.5)
general chemistry: 22 (95.2)
organic chemistry: 21 (89.7)
total science: 22 (98.3)
academic average: 22 (98.9)

I basically spent my 2010 summer reading over the Kaplan blue book. I found multiple errors/typos/etc in the book so I lost faith in it and studied it half-heartedly with a rather incredulous attitude. (This isn't to say that i didn't study HARD) I referred back to my school textbooks (I go to UofT [Canada]) if I came across "less-than-convincing" material. Plus, given that I am in my 4yr (biochem & nutritional science) I have taken enough courses to recall certain things on the spot.

I did not study much for QR and RC. My RC score clearly reflects my lack of study time. The QR section I really must give credit to the endless hours of accelerated math tutoring that I have always had throughout elementary school and high school...

Anyways, I'd like to give thanks to the members of this forum for sharing dental school related information and offering foresights as well as insights for schmucks like myself.

 

[jliiive]

Congratulations! Do you mind providing a breakdown?

 

[tahjo0211]

Breakdown of my study methods? I never really did shut myself in the library and waste away for 10 hrs/day... Since I did have the whole summer, I basically read through about 4 chapters of the kaplan book each day and took notes. Whatever I did not know, I just constantly thought about the new stuff I learned (or w/e required memorizing) throughout my day. Esp., w/ org chm, I just chem rxns through my head throughout the day while watching tv or whenever my mind was free.
The DAT study material is relatively simple + the questions that they ask you are quite general (compared to univ. courses). However, the sheer load of the material is quite intimidating. Forgive my didactic douchebag tone but I approached studying for the DAT in a way similar to raising a concrete skyscraper. I made sure that I really retained w/e I studied the day before prior to studying new material. i.e. I read over my notes for chapters 1-4 before studying 5-8. Then, when i studied Ch 9-12, I read over notes from 1-8...

I think I should stop here because I don't think I really have any poignant tips. 😳 All in all, just spend time refinining your "scientific knowledge" and fill in empty the gaps.

 

[jliiive]

I was actually wondering about what you thought about each section of the DAT, but your study technique was nice to know too!