I am all excited for the class of 2003,who is preparing for the DAT as of now , and those of you who are is there an alternative course to Kaplan.
DAT study
- Thread starter AJ Jilani
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There use to be the Princeton Review, but they are no longer "developing" that course. I took the Kaplan course and found the lectures a complete waste of time. The problems that they give you in their library are ok, but are much longer in format then what the actual DAT tests. I found that if I had to do it over again, I would use the Kaplan "red book" that is readily available at most books stores or online (amazon.com, bn.com or kaptest.com). For the math section there is an excellent book made by ARCO and is titled "MATH for smart test takers", run a search on amazon.com. Also get the software from Scholarware, it is the same format as the actual DAT, but a wee bit harder. Standard deviants sells videos in every subject, and gives a decent foundation. Hope it helps!!
I am studying for DAT by taking KAPLAN course. Do you think it should be enough for the exam as far as contents. My schedule test date is in May, but i have difficulties focusing on study. Any advices??? Should I focus on one subject and go on to another? Best regards.
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Aivy,
Kaplan Science Review book (that thick one) has all the info you'll need to know for the DAT! If you know that book from front to back, you'll be prepped for the exam.
What was effective for me was that I studied in sections according to subjects. I would read and study the entire section of Biology, all 20 some chapters, once and then go on to Chemistry or Organic Chem and do the same thing. After that, I would do that whole routine all over again and read and study Biology again, Chemistry again, and then Organic Chem! Repetition, repetition, repetition, and repetition. SOAK all that info in and regergitate on the exam date.
I didn't find interexchange studying between subjects helpful or retentive at all. This is what I did for my first DAT and only got a 17!
Try what works best for you! 😎
Kaplan Science Review book (that thick one) has all the info you'll need to know for the DAT! If you know that book from front to back, you'll be prepped for the exam.
What was effective for me was that I studied in sections according to subjects. I would read and study the entire section of Biology, all 20 some chapters, once and then go on to Chemistry or Organic Chem and do the same thing. After that, I would do that whole routine all over again and read and study Biology again, Chemistry again, and then Organic Chem! Repetition, repetition, repetition, and repetition. SOAK all that info in and regergitate on the exam date.
I didn't find interexchange studying between subjects helpful or retentive at all. This is what I did for my first DAT and only got a 17!
Try what works best for you! 😎
I have started studing for the DAT in prep for May exam date, and I am experienceing similar diffulties as you. DAT tests you on alot of basic science stuff and reviewing all can be a pain. But I guess it is the only way adn there are no options you just have to study with a focused mind. May be Andy can provide some input in to this. Thanks
Yeah, I think I am gonna focus on one subject, then go on to others. What a pain! See, I get depress when I don't see improvements on scores. That's how i got distracted. Dental school is tough. I am also getting to know myself better,..(you know the routine...hihihi) so I can finish up my personal statement. Anyway, best regards to everyone.
question:
I took the dat in august of 2000 (got an 18/17) and took kaplan's video course then. I still have the review book, the book that went w/the video and the cd.
I'm taking it this summer, but don't want to pay $1000 to take Kaplan again, so what do you guys suggest? So far I'm planning on using the books I have and maybe buying some topscore cd's or something? Are there any cheap books or materials that have practice questions/quizzes for different sections?
Thanks guys
go dentists, go dentists...go go go dentists
I took the dat in august of 2000 (got an 18/17) and took kaplan's video course then. I still have the review book, the book that went w/the video and the cd.
I'm taking it this summer, but don't want to pay $1000 to take Kaplan again, so what do you guys suggest? So far I'm planning on using the books I have and maybe buying some topscore cd's or something? Are there any cheap books or materials that have practice questions/quizzes for different sections?
Thanks guys
go dentists, go dentists...go go go dentists
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2001
- Messages
- 3,339
- Reaction score
- 31
- Points
- 4,601
- Location
- Longitude 80.0W Latitude 40.44N
- Non-Student
AJ,
Studying the DAT can be daunting! When I re-took the DAT back in January 2002, I started to study for it in October 2001 religously. You are absolutely correct, to learn the basic science materials, there's nothing you can do but read it and review it. There are no short cuts. For me, reading Kaplan's Science Review book page-to-page, chapter-to-chapter really prepped me for the exam.
At the same time, I knew that I had to do well (20s) on the DAT to be competitive in the applicant pool and have dental schools looking at me seriously. Result, I buried my head in that Kaplan book and eliminated my social lifestyle and read and read and read!
Another helpful hint, everytime I review a chapter, I would jot down on a separate sheet of paper of all the important terms, names, reactions, enzymes, or information that I find it crucial. By the end of my review, I had one page of notes for every chapter in Biology, Chem., and Organic Chem. I found that writing things out really helped me retain information, plus, I can use these "one page" summaries for quicker studies.
Key here is read, read, read and study, study, study. Memorize and regergitate.
😎
Studying the DAT can be daunting! When I re-took the DAT back in January 2002, I started to study for it in October 2001 religously. You are absolutely correct, to learn the basic science materials, there's nothing you can do but read it and review it. There are no short cuts. For me, reading Kaplan's Science Review book page-to-page, chapter-to-chapter really prepped me for the exam.
At the same time, I knew that I had to do well (20s) on the DAT to be competitive in the applicant pool and have dental schools looking at me seriously. Result, I buried my head in that Kaplan book and eliminated my social lifestyle and read and read and read!
Another helpful hint, everytime I review a chapter, I would jot down on a separate sheet of paper of all the important terms, names, reactions, enzymes, or information that I find it crucial. By the end of my review, I had one page of notes for every chapter in Biology, Chem., and Organic Chem. I found that writing things out really helped me retain information, plus, I can use these "one page" summaries for quicker studies.
Key here is read, read, read and study, study, study. Memorize and regergitate.
😎
