DAT taken 8/22

[sugarsting]

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Hi,

I've been reading the board for the last few weeks as I prepared to take the DAT yesterday. I'd like to give some advice and get some.

Scores:
PAT 20
QR 21
RC 22
Bio 20
GC 19
OC 22
TS 20
AA 21

I studied with Kaplan, Cliff's, Barron's, and Achiever. I also took the ADA practice test.

My thoughts: The chem and ochem were very conceptual. Not a lot of calculations for GC. OC was very fair. Some of the stuff in GC was really random, so it's hard to know how to prepare. Overall I had the hardest time with RC, which was much harder on the actual test than any of the practices I did. A lot more general questions than specific context ones which worked against the search and destroy method which is probably still the best way to get the most points in that section. Two of the passages were just like Achiever, but one was a bit abstract so it was hard to answer even the context questions. QR had less word problems than I expected, definitely similar to Achiever. PAT was better than I expected. The first 2 parts, aperture passing and projections were much easier than achiever, especially projections (TFE) were WAY easier than achiever, more like Kaplan. Angles were hard, like Achiever. Kaplan's Angles are too easy. The ADA practice science was way too easy.

I definitely recommend Achiever for the science study...but the point is you need to get the underlying concepts to all the questions in order to really do well, so really understanding why you got a practice question wrong is really important. PAT, in my opinion, you either have it or you don't.

About me:
I have 3.86 cum GPA and ~3.5 Science GPA. I'm not applying until next cycle. I feel like these scores are right on the line between retaking and not. I have my heart set on Nova. Do you think I need to retake?

 

[doc3232]

Hi,

I've been reading the board for the last few weeks as I prepared to take the DAT yesterday. I'd like to give some advice and get some.

Scores:
PAT 20
QR 21
RC 22
Bio 20
GC 19
OC 22
TS 20
AA 21

I studied with Kaplan, Cliff's, Barron's, and Achiever. I also took the ADA practice test.

My thoughts: The chem and ochem were very conceptual. Not a lot of calculations for GC. OC was very fair. Some of the stuff in GC was really random, so it's hard to know how to prepare. Overall I had the hardest time with RC, which was much harder on the actual test than any of the practices I did. A lot more general questions than specific context ones which worked against the search and destroy method which is probably still the best way to get the most points in that section. Two of the passages were just like Achiever, but one was a bit abstract so it was hard to answer even the context questions. QR had less word problems than I expected, definitely similar to Achiever. PAT was better than I expected. The first 2 parts, aperture passing and projections were much easier than achiever, especially projections (TFE) were WAY easier than achiever, more like Kaplan. Angles were hard, like Achiever. Kaplan's Angles are too easy. The ADA practice science was way too easy.

I definitely recommend Achiever for the science study...but the point is you need to get the underlying concepts to all the questions in order to really do well, so really understanding why you got a practice question wrong is really important. PAT, in my opinion, you either have it or you don't.

About me:
I have 3.86 cum GPA and ~3.5 Science GPA. I'm not applying until next cycle. I feel like these scores are right on the line between retaking and not. I have my heart set on Nova. Do you think I need to retake?

You cum gpa is a 3.86 and your science gpa is a 3.5...why the huge difference? Are you a science major?
When you say Barrons, do you mean AP Bio Barrons?

Lastly, Nove has a 19 average DAT. You have a 21 with nothing below a 19...your PAT is also good. Do not retake...
good luck

 

[Doctor PJ]

good job. Are you from Florida?

 

[Mamona]

I think your scores are pretty good for Nova and your gpa is perfect!!!!

 

[sugarsting]

You cum gpa is a 3.86 and your science gpa is a 3.5...why the huge difference? Are you a science major?
When you say Barrons, do you mean AP Bio Barrons?

Lastly, Nove has a 19 average DAT. You have a 21 with nothing below a 19...your PAT is also good. Do not retake...
good luck

Honestly I'm guessing about my science GPA because I'm not sure how to calculate it but I probably have a B+/A- average in general bio, general chem, organic, and physics. If math is included then it is higher. Also I've taken some non-science-major-science courses and I don't know if those count.

By Barron's I mean Barron's DAT book, literally titled "How to prepare for the dat". I don't know if I mentioned this in my first post but they have some good tips for PAT, and it's a really cheap book, like 16 dollars.

Thank you for the encouragement about my scores! I also have a connection, a dentist I've been shadowing for 6 months (which will be 1.5 years when I apply) who is a family friend who is associated with the school, and that never hurts. 🙂

Thank you!! PJ and Mamona. And yes, I am from Florida. From Broward..been down in Miami too long for undergrad. Can't wait to go back! 😀

 

[cherr1pop]

Since you're applying next cycle, just work on bringing the science GPA up.
Your scores look REALLY solid... VERY consistent throughout. definitely no need for retake.

P.S. Math is included in the science gpa. they have another gpa called 'bcp (bio chem phys)' but i believe the cumulative science gpa does include math.

 

[doc3232]

Since you're applying next cycle, just work on bringing the science GPA up.
Your scores look REALLY solid... VERY consistent throughout. definitely no need for retake.

P.S. Math is included in the science gpa. they have another gpa called 'bcp (bio chem phys)' but i believe the cumulative science gpa does include math.

Ya, that's true.

 

[happyana]

i thought they didn't for dental school

 

[sugarsting]

thank you guys so much for the encouragement! I really feel good about my scores now, and I'm excited for the first day of class tomorrow to work on my science GPA and get cracking on my personal statement. 🙂

 

[yakuza]

Hi,

I've been reading the board for the last few weeks as I prepared to take the DAT yesterday. I'd like to give some advice and get some.

Scores:
PAT 20
QR 21
RC 22
Bio 20
GC 19
OC 22
TS 20
AA 21

I studied with Kaplan, Cliff's, Barron's, and Achiever. I also took the ADA practice test.

My thoughts: The chem and ochem were very conceptual. Not a lot of calculations for GC. OC was very fair. Some of the stuff in GC was really random, so it's hard to know how to prepare. Overall I had the hardest time with RC, which was much harder on the actual test than any of the practices I did. A lot more general questions than specific context ones which worked against the search and destroy method which is probably still the best way to get the most points in that section. Two of the passages were just like Achiever, but one was a bit abstract so it was hard to answer even the context questions. QR had less word problems than I expected, definitely similar to Achiever. PAT was better than I expected. The first 2 parts, aperture passing and projections were much easier than achiever, especially projections (TFE) were WAY easier than achiever, more like Kaplan. Angles were hard, like Achiever. Kaplan's Angles are too easy. The ADA practice science was way too easy.

I definitely recommend Achiever for the science study...but the point is you need to get the underlying concepts to all the questions in order to really do well, so really understanding why you got a practice question wrong is really important. PAT, in my opinion, you either have it or you don't.

About me:
I have 3.86 cum GPA and ~3.5 Science GPA. I'm not applying until next cycle. I feel like these scores are right on the line between retaking and not. I have my heart set on Nova. Do you think I need to retake?

How would you compare ADA sample test to the real gchem and orgo?

 

[docgen]

Since you're applying next cycle, just work on bringing the science GPA up.
Your scores look REALLY solid... VERY consistent throughout. definitely no need for retake.

P.S. Math is included in the science gpa. they have another gpa called 'bcp (bio chem phys)' but i believe the cumulative science gpa does include math.

do you know if this is precalculus math or calculus?
and can i ask one more question, dental schools consider cumulative science gpa more important than bcp or it's the other way around? thanks

 

[sugarsting]

How would you compare ADA sample test to the real gchem and orgo?

Well, unfortunately ADA is way easier than the real thing. I'm pretty sure I got a 28 on GC and 30 on OC....and you see how I did on the real exam. The ADA questions are way more straightforward than the test. The real test is like maybe 60% ADA type questions, really straightforward and 40% harder, more convoluted questions for the chemistry. The ADA practice test is a good starting point to see if you get the basic concepts, and then go into more detail from there, but the scores are a bad reflection of the real DAT.