What up y'all! I've been stalking these forums like a peeping tom the past few months, skimming through breakdowns and posts like a mad man. The time has finally come to give my 2 cents on the DAT.
Background
I went to a state school in the NW where football reigns supreme
I am a biochem major and graduated after 5 years June '12. I am of African descent and had a wonderful opportunity to travel on a mission trip to East Africa where I was able to work side by side with med/dental students for 4 months, awesome experience! There I had a change of heart and found my love for dentistry. I came back in January and started looking for a job. It lasted all but 2 weeks lol. I didn't hear back from some places and I said f*#k it. I proceeded to dive into my studies. Mind you I was planning on taking the MCAT April '12 and took a 8-week university course (8 hrs every Sat=64 hrs total). Wasn't really helpful but they used the ExamKrackers' (EK) books which are an excellent foundation. The BIO (EKB) especially, if you want to go deeper in understanding vertebrate physiology, cellular biology, and genetics. The illustrations are wonderful and the chapter stand alone questions are helpful. ---But it is overkill for the DAT--- Princeton Review Cracking the MCAT (PR) provided even better explanations. Below my results is my breakdown.
The day before the DAT, I went through destroyer gc missed and conceptual q's, did the ochem roadmaps (whited out) and reactions, scsc7211's comprehensive bio notes. The day of, I did a CDP practice test to warm my brain up for the PAT. I ate 3 eggs for protein and cereal for carbs. I packed a cliff protein bar and starbucks doubleshot for the break. I seriously got lucky because the prometric center was a 5 min drive from my house. I listened to some trap music on my way there (Gucci Mane puts me in battle mode). I then casually walked in
and did a funny face for my picture
RESULTS
I was always looking for Topscore/Achiever results because I wanted to compare myself to others and how they did on the DAT, so here ya go:
CDP: 9, 22, 23, 8, 22, 21, 20, 22 (DNF 1 & 4)
Achiever 1 - | 2 - | 3 - TopScore: 1 -- | 2- | 3 --- REAL DAT:
AA:-------17--16--17---------------17(19)--19--19-----23 (98.7)
TS:--------18--17--17---------------16(19)--20--19-----24 (99.1)
Bio:--------19--18--17---------------20-------21--19-----24 (98.9)
GC:--------19--15--14---------------17-------17--18-----24 (97.7)
OC:--------15--15--19--------------*11(20)-20--18-----23 (94.4)
RC:---------17--15--15---------------20------19--20-----22 (84.4)
QR:---------17--19--18---------------19------19--20-----20 (94.0)
PAT:-------16--17--17----------------20------23--22---- 21 (87.9)
*Ran out of time and retook separately timed 25 min
My GPA is not stellar: 3.25 o, 3.15 sci (did great freshmen year, went down soph fall, and stayed stagnant after except my 5th year, dean's list). I was involved in some clubs, had two research/clinical internships, and one global internship. What are my chances? FULL honesty please. And what specific schools should I consider applying to?
Thanks in advance!
**BREAKDOWN**
Studying materials:
BIO:Cliffs AP, Barron's AP, PR, Kaplan Review Notes, Destroyer '13
I spent the better of 3 months studying for this section. Started with EKB and worked my way through each of the vertebrate sections taking a month lol. I was not seriously studying until March. I like to go out, socialize, and partake in fun extracurricular activities. Plus I was working (~18 hrs/wk) for a family friend. I used FlashCardExchange via iPad for all the physiology sections when going through EKB. Its a great idea for the MCAT but overkill for the DAT! Plus people already have flashcards listed on there. I went over Cliffs and Barrons once taking notes and completing their chapter quizzes. I bought the ones with the CD and did a couple of their exams. I finished every section of bio a couple weeks before the exam, roughing out the edges on subjects I wasn't clear on from missed q's on topscore & achiever. I KNOW studying plants and animal behavior is boring but you must make it fun! I went on nature walks to a forestry park in my neighborhood and applied what I learned about monocots/dicots, biomes, etc...I'm a hippie at heart 😛
GC/OC: CHAD's Videos, Destroyer '13, EKIC/EKOC
Chad is a straight thug. Everyone that doesn't want to read chemistry, which is a more visually intriguing subject, then pay the man. I paid him twice just cause I thought I would need to look over some things again before the exam but ended up being a waste. It seriously took me 6 weeks to get through the gen chem vids (I am easily distracted), but I did take really clean looking notes using a 4-colored pen 😎 Ochem vids took me 2 weeks when I started using FastPlay mode (wasn't available on my iPad but worked on my mac). Destroyer is great, went through it twice. Took me 2 months off and on (mostly off). On the 2nd round, I went through destroyer chem/ochem doing only the q's I missed making sure I got down the conceptual q's. I also uploaded the RoadMaps on my computer and whited out the reagents and products on different pages for practice, since I learn better when writing (sue me orgoman). I thought it was helpful. Baby Roadmaps is all you need though. The Organic Odyssey came with the package but did not get touched...it felt really lonely, sorry breh!
RC: Achiever, Topscore
Started preparing with Achiever on Cinco De Mayo while drinking some 1800 to keep it festive. Didn't work too well once I got to the reading section lol. Topscore was better for reading but it is a little harder than the real DAT...way easier than achiever. IDK what to say though, I didn't really care for this subject. I don't consider myself the best reader. Personally I always skim through yahoo articles (which are written for degenerates but I can't help it). I also read scientific publications on my free time so I don't lose my biochem knowledge. However, the DAT was not that bad. Don't stress and have a strategy! I used a mix of Kaplan, VicViper, and SnD. Went through the first 2 paragraphs and then read all the question stems (usually found 1 or 2 q's relating to the first 2 paragraphs at the very end...tricky mofos!). I then wrote keywords for every subject as they popped up and went through my questions answering them all using SnD. I always took longer on my 1st essay during practice and on the real exam and sped up at the end (I work better against the clock).
PAT: CDP
Fabulous software. Every section is right on except for cube counting, hole punching, and angles. I did well on aperture passing, TFE, and pattern folding. However, my speed and accuracy took a while to get down for hole punching and cube counting. Topscore and Achiever are slightly cool. During the DAT, I casually went through the questions, clicking back to make sure I didn't get any mixed up. DON'T DO THAT! Work quickly because the clock is against you, I got piano'd on q88 and probably missed a few more PF q's because I was rushing.
QR: Match Destroyer '13, Chad's Vids
Started doing the practice tests like 2 months before my DAT. I always timed myself but took an hour and 20 mins to finish the first 5 tests 😱 I miraculously got down to 50 on the 6th and casually took the rest. I started doing half tests (20 q's) every morning 3 days before my exam. Chad's vids are great for permutations and probabilities. Personally, I would just print Chad's outlines and write down template problems of all math subjects, using 1-2 examples for each. I did this during college and it gives you a concise format of how to attack each question. I didn't do this for the DAT due to laziness but ended up doing alright. I marked every question I couldn't solve quickly, making sure to hit all the easy algebra ones and then went back through the marked guessing on nearly half of them
Shout out to all the major posters on SdN. Don't want to list names, you know who you are (100+)
Background
I went to a state school in the NW where football reigns supreme
I am a biochem major and graduated after 5 years June '12. I am of African descent and had a wonderful opportunity to travel on a mission trip to East Africa where I was able to work side by side with med/dental students for 4 months, awesome experience! There I had a change of heart and found my love for dentistry. I came back in January and started looking for a job. It lasted all but 2 weeks lol. I didn't hear back from some places and I said f*#k it. I proceeded to dive into my studies. Mind you I was planning on taking the MCAT April '12 and took a 8-week university course (8 hrs every Sat=64 hrs total). Wasn't really helpful but they used the ExamKrackers' (EK) books which are an excellent foundation. The BIO (EKB) especially, if you want to go deeper in understanding vertebrate physiology, cellular biology, and genetics. The illustrations are wonderful and the chapter stand alone questions are helpful. ---But it is overkill for the DAT--- Princeton Review Cracking the MCAT (PR) provided even better explanations. Below my results is my breakdown. The day before the DAT, I went through destroyer gc missed and conceptual q's, did the ochem roadmaps (whited out) and reactions, scsc7211's comprehensive bio notes. The day of, I did a CDP practice test to warm my brain up for the PAT. I ate 3 eggs for protein and cereal for carbs. I packed a cliff protein bar and starbucks doubleshot for the break. I seriously got lucky because the prometric center was a 5 min drive from my house. I listened to some trap music on my way there (Gucci Mane puts me in battle mode). I then casually walked in
and did a funny face for my picture RESULTS
I was always looking for Topscore/Achiever results because I wanted to compare myself to others and how they did on the DAT, so here ya go:
CDP: 9, 22, 23, 8, 22, 21, 20, 22 (DNF 1 & 4)
Achiever 1 - | 2 - | 3 - TopScore: 1 -- | 2- | 3 --- REAL DAT:
AA:-------17--16--17---------------17(19)--19--19-----23 (98.7)
TS:--------18--17--17---------------16(19)--20--19-----24 (99.1)
Bio:--------19--18--17---------------20-------21--19-----24 (98.9)
GC:--------19--15--14---------------17-------17--18-----24 (97.7)
OC:--------15--15--19--------------*11(20)-20--18-----23 (94.4)
RC:---------17--15--15---------------20------19--20-----22 (84.4)
QR:---------17--19--18---------------19------19--20-----20 (94.0)
PAT:-------16--17--17----------------20------23--22---- 21 (87.9)
*Ran out of time and retook separately timed 25 min
My GPA is not stellar: 3.25 o, 3.15 sci (did great freshmen year, went down soph fall, and stayed stagnant after except my 5th year, dean's list). I was involved in some clubs, had two research/clinical internships, and one global internship. What are my chances? FULL honesty please. And what specific schools should I consider applying to?
Thanks in advance!
**BREAKDOWN**
Studying materials:
BIO:Cliffs AP, Barron's AP, PR, Kaplan Review Notes, Destroyer '13
I spent the better of 3 months studying for this section. Started with EKB and worked my way through each of the vertebrate sections taking a month lol. I was not seriously studying until March. I like to go out, socialize, and partake in fun extracurricular activities. Plus I was working (~18 hrs/wk) for a family friend. I used FlashCardExchange via iPad for all the physiology sections when going through EKB. Its a great idea for the MCAT but overkill for the DAT! Plus people already have flashcards listed on there. I went over Cliffs and Barrons once taking notes and completing their chapter quizzes. I bought the ones with the CD and did a couple of their exams. I finished every section of bio a couple weeks before the exam, roughing out the edges on subjects I wasn't clear on from missed q's on topscore & achiever. I KNOW studying plants and animal behavior is boring but you must make it fun! I went on nature walks to a forestry park in my neighborhood and applied what I learned about monocots/dicots, biomes, etc...I'm a hippie at heart 😛
GC/OC: CHAD's Videos, Destroyer '13, EKIC/EKOC
Chad is a straight thug. Everyone that doesn't want to read chemistry, which is a more visually intriguing subject, then pay the man. I paid him twice just cause I thought I would need to look over some things again before the exam but ended up being a waste. It seriously took me 6 weeks to get through the gen chem vids (I am easily distracted), but I did take really clean looking notes using a 4-colored pen 😎 Ochem vids took me 2 weeks when I started using FastPlay mode (wasn't available on my iPad but worked on my mac). Destroyer is great, went through it twice. Took me 2 months off and on (mostly off). On the 2nd round, I went through destroyer chem/ochem doing only the q's I missed making sure I got down the conceptual q's. I also uploaded the RoadMaps on my computer and whited out the reagents and products on different pages for practice, since I learn better when writing (sue me orgoman). I thought it was helpful. Baby Roadmaps is all you need though. The Organic Odyssey came with the package but did not get touched...it felt really lonely, sorry breh!
RC: Achiever, Topscore
Started preparing with Achiever on Cinco De Mayo while drinking some 1800 to keep it festive. Didn't work too well once I got to the reading section lol. Topscore was better for reading but it is a little harder than the real DAT...way easier than achiever. IDK what to say though, I didn't really care for this subject. I don't consider myself the best reader. Personally I always skim through yahoo articles (which are written for degenerates but I can't help it). I also read scientific publications on my free time so I don't lose my biochem knowledge. However, the DAT was not that bad. Don't stress and have a strategy! I used a mix of Kaplan, VicViper, and SnD. Went through the first 2 paragraphs and then read all the question stems (usually found 1 or 2 q's relating to the first 2 paragraphs at the very end...tricky mofos!). I then wrote keywords for every subject as they popped up and went through my questions answering them all using SnD. I always took longer on my 1st essay during practice and on the real exam and sped up at the end (I work better against the clock).
PAT: CDP
Fabulous software. Every section is right on except for cube counting, hole punching, and angles. I did well on aperture passing, TFE, and pattern folding. However, my speed and accuracy took a while to get down for hole punching and cube counting. Topscore and Achiever are slightly cool. During the DAT, I casually went through the questions, clicking back to make sure I didn't get any mixed up. DON'T DO THAT! Work quickly because the clock is against you, I got piano'd on q88 and probably missed a few more PF q's because I was rushing.
QR: Match Destroyer '13, Chad's Vids
Started doing the practice tests like 2 months before my DAT. I always timed myself but took an hour and 20 mins to finish the first 5 tests 😱 I miraculously got down to 50 on the 6th and casually took the rest. I started doing half tests (20 q's) every morning 3 days before my exam. Chad's vids are great for permutations and probabilities. Personally, I would just print Chad's outlines and write down template problems of all math subjects, using 1-2 examples for each. I did this during college and it gives you a concise format of how to attack each question. I didn't do this for the DAT due to laziness but ended up doing alright. I marked every question I couldn't solve quickly, making sure to hit all the easy algebra ones and then went back through the marked guessing on nearly half of them
Shout out to all the major posters on SdN. Don't want to list names, you know who you are (100+)
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