DAT Frustration

[jmustelier]

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So a little background on me. I'm pretty much as non-traditional as a student can get. I initially applied to dental school in 2005 got an interview but no acceptance. I went out and tried to make my application stronger. I worked at a Periodontal office as an assistant and was able to see some amazing surgeries (my personal favorite was a sinus lift). While I was at the perio office I was recruited by the CDC to work as a research chemist (not something you can pass up, right?) I was at the CDC for three years then decided I really wanted to get back to dental. I wanted to boost my GPA so I entered a local dental hygiene program. I graduated the hygiene program at the top of my class and was certified as an RDH in 2013. Shortly after I graduated I had a baby boy and I was asked to teach in the DH program as a Clinical Instructor. I'm also starting a Masters program in the Fall.

I decided to reapply to dental schools in the 2015 cycle. Initially I wanted to take my DAT in May so I could be in the first batch that went out (I don't consider myself one of the stronger candidates). I quickly realized that there was no way for me to study and watch the baby simultaneously. I ended up enrolling him in daycare so I could really focus. Since the end of May I've been cramming with Chad's Videos and doing practice problems out of DAT destroyer. I've really started to do well in Gen Chem (missing about 5-7 out of every 30) but Orgo is really beating me down. This is so frustrating to me because when I initially took the DAT I got a 21 on this section, now I'm lucky if I get a 15. I do well on Chad's quizzes but destroyer and odyssey kill me.

Today I finally bit the bullet and decided to go ahead and schedule my DAT for Aug 11th. I'm hoping everything will start to click soon. I'm studying about 6 hours a day (M-F) and I really feel like it isn't enough. I'm going to try to take the 2007 DAT and see how I score on it.

Sorry for the long post I just needed to vent. I'm really hoping that dental schools will be more interested in me this time around. I definitely feel that I've become a better candidate.

Any recommendations, words of wisdom? Thanks guys!

 

[Dental786]

You have a very interesting background. I think you should definitely take the leap of faith. You do seem like an interesting applicant. You have many other obligations in your life, so I think you should try your best and have faith that in the end, everything will turn out just fine! (and if it doesn't then it's not the end... ) You have to be optimistic! Good luck! You still have time!

 

[pacers765]

Don't let the orgo in destroyer get you down. I got 60% right my first time through, then I did a DAT bootcamp practice test and could not believe how much easier it was. Like I missed 5 out of 30. Everyone says this and it is pretty true, destroyer is overkill.

 

[AlvaDentistry]

I can see dentistry is something that you really want. If you really want it you will get in. You have time to study before your exam, don't freak out, and enjoy the baby too. I would accept you, and I am sure they will accept you too this time.

As far as preparing for it goes, read the breakdowns, I read people saying that Chad is enough. I am pretty sure you will get all you need to know from organic before your test date.

 

[tooth knockn]

So a little background on me. I'm pretty much as non-traditional as a student can get. I initially applied to dental school in 2005 got an interview but no acceptance. I went out and tried to make my application stronger. I worked at a Periodontal office as an assistant and was able to see some amazing surgeries (my personal favorite was a sinus lift). While I was at the perio office I was recruited by the CDC to work as a research chemist (not something you can pass up, right?) I was at the CDC for three years then decided I really wanted to get back to dental. I wanted to boost my GPA so I entered a local dental hygiene program. I graduated the hygiene program at the top of my class and was certified as an RDH in 2013. Shortly after I graduated I had a baby boy and I was asked to teach in the DH program as a Clinical Instructor. I'm also starting a Masters program in the Fall.

I decided to reapply to dental schools in the 2015 cycle. Initially I wanted to take my DAT in May so I could be in the first batch that went out (I don't consider myself one of the stronger candidates). I quickly realized that there was no way for me to study and watch the baby simultaneously. I ended up enrolling him in daycare so I could really focus. Since the end of May I've been cramming with Chad's Videos and doing practice problems out of DAT destroyer. I've really started to do well in Gen Chem (missing about 5-7 out of every 30) but Orgo is really beating me down. This is so frustrating to me because when I initially took the DAT I got a 21 on this section, now I'm lucky if I get a 15. I do well on Chad's quizzes but destroyer and odyssey kill me.

Today I finally bit the bullet and decided to go ahead and schedule my DAT for Aug 11th. I'm hoping everything will start to click soon. I'm studying about 6 hours a day (M-F) and I really feel like it isn't enough. I'm going to try to take the 2007 DAT and see how I score on it.

Sorry for the long post I just needed to vent. I'm really hoping that dental schools will be more interested in me this time around. I definitely feel that I've become a better candidate.

Any recommendations, words of wisdom? Thanks guys!

OP, you got the dental experiences required, obviously.

Your GPA is unknown, I assume based on being on top of your class, maybe 3.6+GPA.

Your previous DAT Is useless.

If you score at least 17-19 overall on the dat, you have a chance, due to your unique experience.

If you score more than 20 then you can just sit back and relax, and wait for your invitation.

You already know, study as much as you can, and don't change your test dat unless necessary.

Words of wisdom take it easy and perform nice cleanings for patients.

 

[gilgamesh85]

I improved my Ochem score from 17 to 25 using the same materials you're using, but I also watched videos from here. This guy is amazing, and I'm surprised I haven't seen anything about his videos on here before...best of all it's free! Take good notes while watching them, take screenshots, and use Bootcamp. Ochem had always been my worst subject, but I thought it was the easiest on the real DAT I took a couple of weeks ago.

 

[dhk2131]

Hey,

I consider myself pretty strong in the sciences, but honestly the first time I went through destroyer I was lucky to get 1/5 questions right (I couldn't do more than 5 at a time because I knew I probably got most of them wrong anyway so there was no point in doing 30 and then reading 30 answers lol).

You still have a bit of time, so I would definitely advise you to go through bootcamp and Chad's quizzes thoroughly. Destroyer isn't something that you have to memorize per se, but it is something you have to internalize. Try your best to learn from it and take what you learn and apply it to easier questions. As everyone on here says, destroyer isn't meant to gauge how prepared you are for the DAT; it is simply a learning tool. Every question you get wrong in destroyer you will not get wrong again if you learn from your mistake and overkill repetition for specific types of problems you realize you have trouble on (whether its aldol condensation, EAS, E1/E2/SN1/SN2, alkene rxns, carbonyls etc.).

I would highly advise that you keep pushing forward despite feeling panicked for time. You will NEVER feel like there is enough time, but there really is enough time to get the job done if you optimize your time. Practice and repetition is key. Don't just do questions you get wrong once, do them again and again and again.. and again. No one likes getting questions wrong since it's so comforting getting questions of topics you are proficient in correct. Comfort yourself in the fact that you will never know EVERYTHING completely, but you just need to know enough to score well.

Have confidence in yourself. The test is 51% confidence, 49% knowledge.

 

[jmustelier]

Thank you everyone! I really needed some input, I was feeling overwhelmed yesterday. 😵

 

[Dotoday]

Do not worry so much about the first run through the Destroyer. Many people get brought down with it. Go through it another time and make sure you understand exactly why you got something wrong. You will be good after.