DAT vs MCAT

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I am planning to write my MCAT this fall for the first time. Someone told me that the prep material for MCAT and DAT are very similar to each other. Keeping that in mind i think that if i plan to study for MCAT then why don't i go for DAT too in the same try. I was just wondering if you could give me a word on this matter and tell me if there is something that is not common to both of the test and any other piece of advice. Thanks

 

[Selso2109]

I think you should pick one profession and stick with it.

 

[LGamble]

I have studied for both tests. the MCAT is much much much more difficult. Really... you do not need more than a couple weeks to study for the DAT if you are solid on the MCAT. The only real difference is that the DAT has no physics, but instead has a PAT section which tests your ability to understand 3 dimensional objects. Its actually a bit more complicated than than... but hard to describe. In addition it has a math section that any high school sophmore should be able to do. Also, the DAT Bio section for some ludicrous reason may include ecology questions... why you would ever have to know the difference between a decidous forest and a tundra is beyond me.

 

[flampard]

ive taken both of the test and i scored alot better in mcat than the DAT. DAT is alot more difficult than it used to be. there are alot of question about cloning and lots of other new subjects and the test covers ecology and everything that is about biology. eventhough the math looks easy but its alot more difficult when it comes to examination and the real thing because they are all trick questions and people all get a low score on that. anyways if u have studied for one of them, u can put an extra effort for the other one.

 

[thethethe]

did u get a 25 on the mcat and a 19 on the dat?

 

[jswizdent]

First and most importantly why would you want to take both exams, do yo want to be a dentist or a physician. Seriously make up your mind, do some shadowing find out which one fits you best. As far as the exams are concerned they are nothing alike. The mcat is a reading based exam, where most of the answers are found in the passages provided. On the dat the it is straight knowledge for the most part. The mcat has bio,gen chem, organic, physics, and a reading section. It also has a writing section but it is not a big deal no studying required for that. The dat has bio, orgo, gen chem, reading math, and perceptual ability. the bio on the dat is broad with ecology, evolution and plant stuff. So it really depends on your test taking style. Just to let you know if you take both and apply to both this will be looked down upon by your peers and interviewers. This is something that is also asked on the application when you apply to medical or dental school. Oh by the way why the heck would you want to take both exams, their expensive, time consuming and stressfull.

 

[lnsip9reg]

hey, if the OP can take both tests, i don't see why he shouldn't. it's up to him 😛

also, it's quite possible that he doesn't know which profession he really wants to do, as there is enough overlap b/n them to make them both attractive.

to the OP, _think_ really hard about med school and residency, that's ultimately what turned me off.

and some food for thought: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/19/fashion/19beauty.html

 

[WDeagle]

I took both tests as i was pre-dental and switched to pre-med after getting into dental school. To me the two tests are very very different, i think trying to study for both will hurt you on both tests. The sciences on the DAT are pretty much just memorization while the sciences on the MCAT are more application. The MCAT verbal tests your understanding of the passage while the DAT reading comp. seems to test how fast you can read since the majority of the answers can be found directly in the passage. I wouldnt recommend studying for them both at the same time.

 

[Neutrophilomfs]

Dude, its cool. I just took the DAT a week ago and am planning on taking the MCAT this summer. I am accepted into dental school but I'm still thinking about medicine. I wanted to take the MCAT since I've already studied a buttload for the DAT and all the subjects are still fresh. I just want to keep my options open until I decide for sure. I don't see anything wrong with doing that if you aren't for sure.

 

[dentaldentist]

Dude, its cool. I just took the DAT a week ago and am planning on taking the MCAT this summer. I am accepted into dental school but I'm still thinking about medicine. I wanted to take the MCAT since I've already studied a buttload for the DAT and all the subjects are still fresh. I just want to keep my options open until I decide for sure. I don't see anything wrong with doing that if you aren't for sure.

Wait, I'm calling BS on this one. How did you just take the DAT a week ago and already be accepted into Dental School?

Anyway, the tests do cover similar material, but they are very different. I think overall, most people will agree the MCAT is the harder test overall, but the DAT isn't easy and just because you are ready for the MCAT does not necessarily mean you will be ready for the DAT. The DAT biology section covers more material than the MCAT and there is also math and perceptual ability sections on the DAT that are not on the MCAT. The DAT also does not have physics. If you are going to take both, I would say focus on studying for one and take the test, and then give your self a good four to eight weeks of study time to prepare for the other test to fully prepare for the differences.

In the mean time, if you are considering both professions, make sure you get out there and do some shadowing in both professions and talk to some people to figure out which profession will suit you best. Good luck.

 

[Neutrophilomfs]

I got into the Reserved Admissions Program at UMKC class of 2013. I interviewed and got accepted 7 months before I took the DAT. I needed to get a 19 and keep a 3.6 science GPA or above to keep my acceptance. The program guarantees your spot after you complete undergrad, so no, its not BS.

 

[Gioia87]

Hey guys,

i dont think its wrong to take both the DAT and MCAT, but i think that might be a disadvantage when applying to either. but as far as im concerned i took the mcat last year and got a 23 😱. so yeah im not that proud of it, but wanting to be a physician was a childhood dream, so it took me a while to go back and reconsider other options. i just took the dat yesterday, and i got a a 19 (AA 19, TS 21, and PAT 18). thats not great either.. i thought to myself i could get accepted in dental school (after all not everyone get what they cherish the most in life), but now im totally confused. im planning on retaking the mcat this summer again ...guys do u think i have a chance in either one???? 🙁

thank u