dat low scores

[shresthashrestha]

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I just took my DAT and got disappointing scores
BIO/ GC/ OCHEM/ PAT/ QR/ RC
17/22/22/19/17/17
TS: 20
AA: 19

GPA: 3.8 Science GPA: 3.6

I will definitely need to retake. Any suggestions on how I can work on getting better BIO, QR and RC scores. I just am a slow reader so I couldn't finish my RC on time I am a very slow reader, QR I ran out of time as well and BIO the questions were very random.

 

[yoh95]

I just took my DAT and got disappointing scores
BIO/ GC/ OCHEM/ PAT/ QR/ RC
17/22/22/19/17/17
TS: 20
AA: 19

GPA: 3.8 Science GPA: 3.6

I will definitely need to retake. Any suggestions on how I can work on getting better BIO, QR and RC scores. I just am a slow reader so I couldn't finish my RC on time I am a very slow reader, QR I ran out of time as well and BIO the questions were very random.

Bio random as in you've never seen those type of questions? How did you prepare for them?

 

[FeralisExtremum]

I just took my DAT and got disappointing scores
BIO/ GC/ OCHEM/ PAT/ QR/ RC
17/22/22/19/17/17
TS: 20
AA: 19

GPA: 3.8 Science GPA: 3.6

I will definitely need to retake. Any suggestions on how I can work on getting better BIO, QR and RC scores. I just am a slow reader so I couldn't finish my RC on time I am a very slow reader, QR I ran out of time as well and BIO the questions were very random.

How did you prepare when you studied? What resources did you use?

 

[shresthashrestha]

Bio section I don't know if I was nervous but I rushed through it because I thought I would run our of time. And ya there were some questions I had never seen before. I used Chad's videos for gen chem, DAT bootcamp- Mike's videos or ochem, Cliff's notes and youtube for bio, DAT bootcamp for QR, RC and PAT.

 

[FeralisExtremum]

Bio section I don't know if I was nervous but I rushed through it because I thought I would run our of time. And ya there were some questions I had never seen before. I used Chad's videos for gen chem, DAT bootcamp- Mike's videos or ochem, Cliff's notes and youtube for bio, DAT bootcamp for QR, RC and PAT.

For RC and QR it sounds like additional daily practice would definitely help. For RC I would use Scientific American articles to increase your reading speed, and QR is also very much about speed and practice so try to use a resource with additional problems for daily work on top of BC's tests (e.g. Math Destroyer).

For Bio, I would try to use a more comprehensive resource than just Cliff's and Youtube if you really ran into things you had never seen before - but chances are more likely that you forgot material you had covered before. I would really suggest using notes on biology to compress the amount of material to memorize and make it more manageable.

With that said, a retake is not necessarily needed for you. Your GPA is pretty good, your TS is in line with the average of accepted students, and your AA is only a little below. But the bio and RC scores being below 18 will hurt your chances of admission at some places, so weigh that into your decision to retake or not.

 

[Qazzz]

For RC and QR it sounds like additional daily practice would definitely help. For RC I would use Scientific American articles to increase your reading speed, and QR is also very much about speed and practice so try to use a resource with additional problems for daily work on top of BC's tests (e.g. Math Destroyer).

For Bio, I would try to use a more comprehensive resource than just Cliff's and Youtube if you really ran into things you had never seen before - but chances are more likely that you forgot material you had covered before. I would really suggest using notes on biology to compress the amount of material to memorize and make it more manageable.

With that said, a retake is not necessarily needed for you. Your GPA is pretty good, your TS is in line with the average of accepted students, and your AA is only a little below. But the bio and RC scores being below 18 will hurt your chances of admission at some places, so weigh that into your decision to retake or not.

When reading scientific america what do you recommend one should do to improve themselves? Should I just read it as fast as possible? Should I try to recall what I read after I was done while reading as fast as possible? Maybe summarize each chapter as I read through it?

 

[DAT Destroyer]

Bio section I don't know if I was nervous but I rushed through it because I thought I would run our of time. And ya there were some questions I had never seen before. I used Chad's videos for gen chem, DAT bootcamp- Mike's videos or ochem, Cliff's notes and youtube for bio, DAT bootcamp for QR, RC and PAT.

You did not use Destroyer? I don't see it listed..

 

[FeralisExtremum]

When reading scientific america what do you recommend one should do to improve themselves? Should I just read it as fast as possible? Should I try to recall what I read after I was done while reading as fast as possible? Maybe summarize each chapter as I read through it?

You want to read it as quickly as you can while still being able to understand every sentence (as opposed to reading it over so quickly you don't absorb anything). The idea is to improve your meaningful retention speed.

 

[DAT Destroyer]

When reading scientific america what do you recommend one should do to improve themselves? Should I just read it as fast as possible? Should I try to recall what I read after I was done while reading as fast as possible? Maybe summarize each chapter as I read through it?

When are you taking your DAT?

 

[shresthashrestha]

Thanks! with that being said how long do yall think i should wait before retaking it? I am scared that I am gonna forget all this information if I wait too long...

And yes I did use DAT destroyer and Math destroyer but I didn't use math destroyer that much I thought real DAT would be easier in comparison.

 

[artist2022]

Thanks! with that being said how long do yall think i should wait before retaking it? I am scared that I am gonna forget all this information if I wait too long...

And yes I did use DAT destroyer and Math destroyer but I didn't use math destroyer that much I thought real DAT would be easier in comparison.

Well unfortunately, if you did take it yesterday, the earliest you can take it is three months from now, which would put you in Oct...so you'll probably have to apply next cycle....

 

[Qazzz]

When are you taking your DAT?

Hopefully next year, due to financial circumstances I wasn't able to afford all the recommended resources and so I am planning on taking advantage of everything that I can do free for now until I can save up and afford it the next summer. Hopefully that way I can feel much more confident when I do get the chance to take it with all my resources available.

 

[shresthashrestha]

Well unfortunately, if you did take it yesterday, the earliest you can take it is three months from now, which would put you in Oct...so you'll probably have to apply next cycle....

I wasn't planning to apply this cycle I am currently a junior so I was planning to apply next cycle but just wanted to get DAT out of the way.... do you think it's better to take it december or like next summer

 

[artist2022]

I wasn't planning to apply this cycle I am currently a junior so I was planning to apply next cycle but just wanted to get DAT out of the way.... do you think it's better to take it december or like next summer

Honestly, if you're going to apply next cycle, then take it before June 1st, 2018. That way when the app opens next year for entrance in fall 2019, you can submit your app on day 1 and be super early.
Did you take all your pre-reqs before taking the DAT? ie: Bio 1 & 2, GC 1 & 2, OC 1 & 2, math

 

[shresthashrestha]

Honestly, if you're going to apply next cycle, then take it before June 1st, 2018. That way when the app opens next year for entrance in fall 2019, you can submit your app on day 1 and be super early.
Did you take all your pre-reqs before taking the DAT? ie: Bio 1 & 2, GC 1 & 2, OC 1 & 2, math

Yes I did take all my pre-reqs before taking DAT but not much bio I feel like I should have taken genetics

 

[artist2022]

Yes I did take all my pre-reqs before taking DAT but not much bio I feel like I should have taken genetics

Yeah try to take more upper division courses, like genetics, anatomy & physiology, etc. Maybe even a botany class to tackle any random plant questions you might get. Then take the DAT maybe like next April/May, after you've taken all those classes and apply June 1st. Good luck! 🙂