DAT Study Material / Kaplan Course

Started by mjlake1
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mjlake1

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10+ Year Member
Has anyone taken the Kaplan course? Did you think it was worth it? Any other advise on study material? DAT Destroyer, Kaplan, Etc? Please only reply if you have actually used one of these products. I'm trying to eliminate "I heard this responses." Thanks.
 
Don't waste your money. Course was absolutely worthless IMO.
use the blue book, dat destroyer, topscore, etc.
That's what I did and I managed a 20AA 20TS
 
I think the Kaplan courses are dependent on the instructor. I've taken a kaplan GMAT and DAT course and the GMAT course was awesome but the DAT course was mediocre. Primarily because of the instructors. The kaplan DAT course has some good material and some great "tricks", but not worth the money. If you can find some of the material and tricks without taking the course that is the way to go.

I also used Achiever, Top Score and Crack the DAT PAT. All helped and I got in the 93rd percentile. I think what helped me the most was taking as many full length practice tests as possible and then researching the areas in which I struggled.

Also, for me it was pointless the read the passages in the Reading Comprehension section. Every time I did, I would score a 14 or 15 and run out of time. I starting just reading the question and then searching for the answer. With that method I got a 23.
 
I am selling all kaplan dat materials from dat course I took this past summer. PM me if interested. Thank you and good luck studying for the dat!
 
Kaplan course was not helpful to me! DAT destroyer and crack dat materials were the BESTTTT! but the big Kaplan blue book is helpful especially for bio
 
Thanks for the replies. Here is the game plan: Orgoman DAT Destroyer Supreme, Crack DAT PAT, and something additional for RC. I'll post again once I go through the material. :idea:
 
for the PAT hole punching, look on Youtube for the "tic tac toe" method. That will have you figuring out those hole punches in no time!

For ochem and genchem, buy and use Chad's videos ($30, ***********.com). Chad really covers everything relevant. Review with other sources if you need to.

For bio, study the Kaplan book and cliff's AP bio.
 
dantemac said:
for the PAT hole punching, look on Youtube for the "tic tac toe" method. That will have you figuring out those hole punches in no time!

For ochem and genchem, buy and use Chad's videos ($30, ***********.com). Chad really covers everything relevant. Review with other sources if you need to.

For bio, study the Kaplan book and cliff's AP bio.
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This is pretty good advice. I would add that the Kaplan method for counting blocks in the PAT is great. Use their method and you will never miss one.
 
I didnt know about DAT Achiever, DAT destroyer and Crack DAT PAT... until two weeks before the exam. I had only used Kaplan and its resources.
Although the class didn't help me much, the online material that was posted was helpful. Plus, you get to take it twice if you are not satisfied with the course. So I took it once in the summer ....but when I had time to go over the material in the winter, I retook the class so that I have access to the online materials.
I did well on my Bio/Chem 23/24 and 20 on my PAT (not so hot on Ochem and reading, but thats because I am not so good at those to begin with).
 
Kaplan does NOT GET ALL THE MATERIAL YOU NEED FOR THE DAT!!!



LET ME TELL YOU WHAT YOU REALLY GET FOR YOUR MONEY (over a thousand bucks):

-no longer have a study room for DAT (even though they have rows of computers usually empty) and will not allow you to study there (a new rule!)

-don't have room to sit in the classroom (pay a thousand bucks to sit on the floor where you can't see the board?)

-don't learn material that is ACTUALLY ON THE DAT

-have problems (like enrollment SOMEHOW FALLING THROUGH even after your credit card has been billed)

-receptionists are fairly rude almost always and answer no questions but give you the national hotline (where you are put through a touch-tone and put on hold for about 30 mins or so, then talk to a representative who can't help you for another 30 mins, then get put on hold for another 30 mins. During this time you could have learned all the elimination/substitution reactions


DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON KAPLAN!
 
Smartie4Life said:
Kaplan does NOT GET ALL THE MATERIAL YOU NEED FOR THE DAT!!!



LET ME TELL YOU WHAT YOU REALLY GET FOR YOUR MONEY (over a thousand bucks):

-no longer have a study room for DAT (even though they have rows of computers usually empty) and will not allow you to study there (a new rule!)

-don't have room to sit in the classroom (pay a thousand bucks to sit on the floor where you can't see the board?)

-don't learn material that is ACTUALLY ON THE DAT

-have problems (like enrollment SOMEHOW FALLING THROUGH even after your credit card has been billed)

-receptionists are fairly rude almost always and answer no questions but give you the national hotline (where you are put through a touch-tone and put on hold for about 30 mins or so, then talk to a representative who can't help you for another 30 mins, then get put on hold for another 30 mins. During this time you could have learned all the elimination/substitution reactions


DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON KAPLAN!
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This was clearly a personal experience. My experience couldn't have been further from the one above.
 
I wouldn't recommend Kaplan either.

1) I had a bad tutor, I knew way more than she did...it was ridiculous
2) The stuff they go over is extremely easy. Just read the book and you'll get way more out of it than what the classroom goes over.

I would recommend getting the kaplan review book (which is good, and much less than $1400). Read the entire thing front to back. Then use destroyer, and achiever...

The kaplan online course is useful, but certainly not worth $1200+
 
theres a DAT like study schedule on here somewhere. I saw it this one time...don't remember where its at..but someone goes through like an 8 week study program for you..it looked pretty effective. i dunno. lol
 
I only took Kaplan course.... no other bells and whistles. Did great, and felt very prepared. If you take Kaplan, be sure to take EVERY practice test and do every computer simulation you can.
 
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