DAT in 2 weeks -- Reschedule or go for it??

[nicole2]

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Hello,

I have been studying for DAT for about 3 weeks now. My original plan was to study a lot over the winter break, but I ended up just studying about 12 days of my winter break (~12 hrs each day) and I'm still studying pretty hard every day.

I have scheduled my DAT for Friday, February 2nd, and am wondering if I should push it back.
The bad part is, if I push it back, then I have three mid terms coming up the following two weeks, which will prevent me from studying for DAT.

Within the first two weeks, I have finished watching Mike's OC and GC videos, and have gone through Cliff's AP bio once.

I am working on Destroyers now; I have completed 5 tests in Math Destroyer, and some questions on DAT destroyer. I am also going over Feralis bio notes. My plan is to go over every single questions on Destroyer by this weekend along with practice tests each day (Sat and Sun) And Yes, I'm going to study 12 hrs on Saturday and Sunday.

Then, I will have about 11 days left until the test.
For the remaining 11 days, my plan is to go over Destroyer for the second time and take one Practice Test on DAT Boot Camp everyday until the test day. I am also planning to do 2007 and/or 2009 test.

How does this sound?

I am currently getting
~18-20 in OC and GC on Bootcamp practices
~30/40 on Math Destroyer (timed)
~18 in RC on Bootcamp
~18 in PAT on Bootcamp
and my weakest part is Biology, which I am only getting ~15 on Bootcamp.

Do you think my plan looks okay..? I know it's crammed and stressful.. but I feel like if I don't take it in two weeks, then I will be so busy with school work.
I have low gpa, so I need to get high DAT score.
I am aiming for 23+.

 

[zToothinator]

When does your test eligibility expire? My initial reaction is to postpone it. To cram all of destroyer and Bootcamp into your head over the next 11 days is probably going to be extremely tiring physically and mentally. To do both of them well, you'll need to go over everything solution and learn all of the concepts each test on. Right now, it seems that your AA is around an 18. To move it up 5 points within 2 weeks would be pretty impressive. So you've got a couple options in my opinion

1. Study as much as you possibly can and see a couple days before February 2 how you score on the practice tests. If you consistently score around 21+, then I think you're good. If not, postpone or skip it and re-apply.
2. Take the DAT and then retake it come May/June if needed. However, most committees supposedly like to see you only take it once and seeing that at this point you don't feel ready, I wouldn't go this path if I were taking it

 

[nicole2]

When does your test eligibility expire? My initial reaction is to postpone it. To cram all of destroyer and Bootcamp into your head over the next 11 days is probably going to be extremely tiring physically and mentally. To do both of them well, you'll need to go over everything solution and learn all of the concepts each test on. Right now, it seems that your AA is around an 18. To move it up 5 points within 2 weeks would be pretty impressive. So you've got a couple options in my opinion

1. Study as much as you possibly can and see a couple days before February 2 how you score on the practice tests. If you consistently score around 21+, then I think you're good. If not, postpone or skip it and re-apply.
2. Take the DAT and then retake it come May/June if needed. However, most committees supposedly like to see you only take it once and seeing that at this point you don't feel ready, I wouldn't go this path if I were taking it

Hey thanks for the comment. My eligibility is until June. Since postponing 6 days before is $60 and becomes $100 from then, I will see where I stand one week from now. Until then, I'm going to try really hard.

 

[zToothinator]

Hey thanks for the comment. My eligibility is until June. Since postponing 6 days before is $60 and becomes $100 from then, I will see where I stand one week from now. Until then, I'm going to try really hard.

Sounds like a plan! If not, postponing to June would be my play because then you'll have all of May to study without worrying about school.

 

[nicole2]

Sounds like a plan! If not, postponing to June would be my play because then you'll have all of May to study without worrying about school.

I also thought of that too. But I heard that it's better to submit an application with a DAT score in it. Is that true? Also, I don't want to be keep thinking about DAT when I can be writing a personal statement. If I do happen to postpone the test, it will probably by two or three weeks I assume.. I would have to see how it goes for the next 7 days I guess!

 

[I-hate-alginate]

Since you have a low gpa and you need a 23+, I recommend you to postpone the exam and focus on it in the summer. You don't want to take it now and do bad and then retake in the summer (spend another 400). Financially it's bad for you and it wouldn't look that good on your app.

 

[KKUO]

this is the question you have to be honest to yourself. you know yourself the best. I'm telling you this because 3 weeks can be either a big difference or no difference all depend on what kind of learner you are. you really want to take this test ONCE and get it over with. I personally had to take it twice because i did not do well on the first time and it sucked. If I were you, i would take the 2009 test and see what you get. 2009 test in my opinio is slightly easier to the real one but the scores are pretty accurate.

 

[zToothinator]

I also thought of that too. But I heard that it's better to submit an application with a DAT score in it. Is that true? Also, I don't want to be keep thinking about DAT when I can be writing a personal statement. If I do happen to postpone the test, it will probably by two or three weeks I assume.. I would have to see how it goes for the next 7 days I guess!

It is better because they won't even look at your application until you have DAT scores. But if you submit it with bad scores, they may toss your application before you even get your retake scores submitted.

 

[deleted903013]

Personally, I'd post pone it. My bootcamp scores were almost exactly what I got on the actual test. In fact, my PAT, Bio, gchem, and rc were exactly my averages. If you're getting a 15 on bio for BC I don't think you're ready. Moreover, I was scoring about 17's on Bio initially and it took me well over a month of studying to reliably score a 23+ on it. Best of luck!

 

[rockflag_n_eagle]

I'll tell you i had similar Boot camp scores around that time in my studying and got a 23 on my DAT. My scores fluctuated a little some higher some lower. But the last practice test I took two days before my exam on Bootcamp I scored : 17/19/20 18 20/19 (bio/gchem/ochem - PAT - rc/qr) then on the real DAT i scored 21/22/30 - 21 - 22/21

I think you should be perfectly fine. Don't let the scores stress you out whats most important is you are comfy with your pacing and strategy. If you feel sloppy taking a full-length test then post-pone it. If you're just making simple mistakes, then correct them for test day!

best of luck!

 

[nicole2]

I'll tell you i had similar Boot camp scores around that time in my studying and got a 23 on my DAT. My scores fluctuated a little some higher some lower. But the last practice test I took two days before my exam on Bootcamp I scored : 17/19/20 18 20/19 (bio/gchem/ochem - PAT - rc/qr) then on the real DAT i scored 21/22/30 - 21 - 22/21

I think you should be perfectly fine. Don't let the scores stress you out whats most important is you are comfy with your pacing and strategy. If you feel sloppy taking a full-length test then post-pone it. If you're just making simple mistakes, then correct them for test day!

best of luck!

I took it and got a 20. Will retake.