DAT while taking classes?

[Longcatislong]

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If possible, should I avoid taking any academic classes while I study for the DAT? I'd like devote myself to studying for the DAT full time this fall, but I also need to take microbiology lab and general bio 1 lab in order to keep on track with my formal post bacc program. These two lab classes are the only ones I need to take. They amount to 3 units (4 hrs each, once a week). So, in total, I will spend 8 hours in class each week in addition to two hours of commuting each week. I don't imagine that these courses will have a heavy workload outside of lab time ( I hope not...), so perhaps I'll spend 1.5 hrs of time outside of class preparing each week.

Should this 3 unit load (or, added all up, 11.5 hrs a week of time devoted to class) be ok if I otherwise plan to devote the rest of my time to DAT studying? Or should I reconsider any outside commitments and just focus on DAT?

 

[asdfray]

The microbio lab is actually alot of work.. I probably wouldn't take that lab, while studying for your DAT. You have to go in randomly at days to check on cultures, and run all these tests, especially when you're given your unknown microbe ( have to provide a flowchart of how you did each test and why, blah blah blah..) Just my two cent.👍

 

[Longcatislong]

Thanks for your input. I can always hold off on microlab until next summer. However, I'm taking micro this summer, so I'll have definitely have to refresh my memory once that year goes by.

Will just Bio 1 lab be ok? I'm taking bio 1 lecture now, so I imagine the info will still be somewhat fresh in my head.

 

[Mr PS09]

I think you will be all right if you take micro in the fall. Just make sure you use your time wisely. I took micro bio with lab (and physics 2) while studying for the DAT and I didn't have any major issues. Just be aware that you will probably spend more than 2 hours preparing outside of class.

As for bio 1, it depends on the school. For me, there were two intro bio classes. One was about all about taxonomy and the other was about human biology. The taxonomy lab required a lot of time because there are so many phylums. The human bio lab was easy though.

 

[JonLee]

If possible, should I avoid taking any academic classes while I study for the DAT? I'd like devote myself to studying for the DAT full time this fall, but I also need to take microbiology lab and general bio 1 lab in order to keep on track with my formal post bacc program. These two lab classes are the only ones I need to take. They amount to 3 units (4 hrs each, once a week). So, in total, I will spend 8 hours in class each week in addition to two hours of commuting each week. I don't imagine that these courses will have a heavy workload outside of lab time ( I hope not...), so perhaps I'll spend 1.5 hrs of time outside of class preparing each week.

Should this 3 unit load (or, added all up, 11.5 hrs a week of time devoted to class) be ok if I otherwise plan to devote the rest of my time to DAT studying? Or should I reconsider any outside commitments and just focus on DAT?

This should be no problem imo if it takes about 11.5 hours a week. Like asdfray said, it seems like the micribio lab is a lot of work, but if 12 hrs/week is a conservative estimate of how much time you will spend, I think you should be just fine.

A lot of people study with a full load (15+ credit hours) of classes, jobs, etc.

So, I think you should have a comfortable amount of time to study for the DAT.

I recently took the DAT which was in the middle of the semester with a lot of classes. Not recommended. I totally wish I would have taken it over the summer where I had free time all day. Good luck!