DAT Retake 7-9-08

[aggiepredent]

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So I have perused this forum over the last year or so but this is my first time posting. I just retook the DAT and here are my scores:

Last Year:

AA:18
TS:17
RC:22
QR:17
BIO:16👎
OC:18
GC:18
PA:25

Most recent (7-9-09)

AA:19
TS:19
RC:21
QR:19
BIO:18
OC:19
GC:18
PA:21

Overall, the test was closer to Topscore than any of the other resources I used (Kaplan white and lesson book, Destroyer, Acheiver and TS). Bio was very random with super specific questions. I wasn't "frapped", but still had a few more tone questions than expected in the RC. GC was straightforward, but I had quite a few solving problems, not just setting up the equation. OC was also straightforward, with simple reactions and concepts and I actually thought I did much better than the score I received.

I graduated from UC Davis with a 3.1 overall and a 3.0 sgpa with a huge upward trend after freshman year. This is my 3rd time applying (applied VERY late my Jr year) and I will be starting a post-bac in the fall. I would appreciate any feedback as to whether these scores are competitive with my current GPA for this upcoming cycle. Thanks in advance for any input/criticism!

 

[aggiepredent]

I submitted my app May 19 and it was mailed out June 9 along with my letters of rec etc. Have great ECs (started a fraternity, lots of dental experience, involved with many campus activities and tutored ESL students at a local High school). I applied to a total of 17 schools. Again, thanks in advances for feedback!

 

[NuckingFutz]

Nice improvement!

How much did you study for each of the sections? How long did you study?

Thanks!

 

[sl2obel2ts]

nice scores. when did u graduate from ucd? what major?

 

[aggiepredent]

I studied for about 2 months, 1 month hardcore. I went through Kaplan twice as well as Destroyer twice and took all the TS and Acheiver tests a week before.

Bio: I feel how you did in your undergrad classes determines how well you did in this section due to how specific the questions were worded. Kaplan is a good base, Destroyer/Acheiver/TS give u great examples, but it about 80% of what I studied was not on there.

GC and OC: Kaplan gives you a great base as well, but Destroyer was a huge plus, and I wish I utilized it more by either going through it more thoroughly (I kinda rushed through it).

QR:Time is crucial here. I def ran out of time the previous test and made a point to work quickly this time. The questions are not difficult, but can be time consuming with unit conversions and word problems. I used Acheiver/TS mainly to work on timing

RC: Search and destroy. I love to read casually, so this method works very efficiently for me.

PA: Def my strongest section, kinda disappointed that it dropped from a 25 to a 21, but am still satisfied overall. I thought I did muchhhhhh better, but maybe my version was a bit easier and I had to miss less to get a higher score. Crack the PAT is def the closest in terms of difficulty, although I was scoring 24-25 on Crack/TS and 21 on all three Achievers. Go figure.


I officially graduated in the Fall of 07 with a B.S. in Genetics

 

[rippinitez]

Do you mind posting your Acheiver and Topscore test scores?

 

[TeamGuo]

nice improvements! It definitely shows that you worked hard for your retake. Good job.

 

[sl2obel2ts]

hopefully all of us get in somewhere this cycle. btw, I went to ucd too! for 2 years though class of 07 here. biomed E

 

[billythekid]

Solid Scores. How did your Achiever scores compare?

 

[aggiepredent]

Acheiver 1, 2, 3

AA:19, 19, 19
TS:17, 16, 16
RC:22, 22, 25
QR:19, 22, 20
BIO:17, 16, 15
OC:17, 16, 17
GC:17, 15, 16
PA:21, 21, 21

Topscore 1, 2, 3

AA:21, 22, 22
TS:19, 22, 22
RC:25, 21, 22
QR:23, 23, 23
BIO:19, 26, 21
OC:18. 21, 25
GC:18, 20, 21
PA:25, 23, 25

I felt the type of questions on the real thing were similar to Topscore in terms of format, but Topscore was definitely much easier.

Do you guys think I have a shot at schools like NYU, Tufts, BU, Nova, Pitt...I applied to all the Cali schools as well.