Do you think I shoul reschedule my DAT? I'm getting second thoughts

[toothhornet88]

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So I have been studying for 2 months and rescheduled my DAT once (From July 25 to August 11th. However as the date is approaching im freaking out 🙁 and still havent done Achiever or Topscore that I've bought! I'm really thinking of rescheduling it for the 17th! Do you think it's worth rescheduling and getting the extra practice in. Ive been averaging 20 on all CDR and CDM test and 22 on CDP but my general chem is lacking a little. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm currently sitting at Barnes and Noble doing practice problems from Princeton Review AP CHemistry book

 

[wired202808]

So I have been studying for 2 months and rescheduled my DAT once (From July 25 to August 11th. However as the date is approaching im freaking out 🙁 and still havent done Achiever or Topscore that I've bought! I'm really thinking of rescheduling it for the 17th! Do you think it's worth rescheduling and getting the extra practice in. Ive been averaging 20 on all CDR and CDM test and 22 on CDP but my general chem is lacking a little. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm currently sitting at Barnes and Noble doing practice problems from Princeton Review AP CHemistry book

the later in the cycle you take it the more risk you take in not getting in; thats a fact that a lot of people on here dont talk bout. topscore and achiever will not make or break your score. I say take Topscore and see how you do, if you're getting 19+ on the sciences than you are ready. 17 or below in GC and OC means you're not.

Take it when you're comfortable and ready, but if you take it in September you're chances of getting in are significantly less unless you get a 21 or 22 or a 20 if you have some 3.7 gpa. (because by that time most people already have interviews lined up)

so unless you are applying for 2013 or you're getting less than 17 on GC and OC in topscore, I say bite the bullet and take it.

 

[LetsGo2DSchool]

Hey bro, you mind as well if you think it will make a difference. As for timing in the app cycle, there's no difference between Aug. 11 and Aug. 17 but it can be the difference between a 22 and 20 score.

I'm in the same boat. My original date was end of July, then rescheduled to mid Aug and now rescheduled again to three-quarter Aug. which is my absolute cutoff -- it will be late after this point.

 

[crew09]

LetsGo2Dschool haven't you done destroyer like 12x lol im expecting a 27AA 😛

 

[Dew517]

27? I am expecting 30's across the sciences from LetsGo for 12+ runs through destroyer.

 

[njohns24]

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[wired202808]

Wired, I feel like what you're saying holds some truth. If you don't mind, evaluate my situation for a sec. I took topscore #1 and got.. bio 22, gc 16, oc 19. I realize gc is way too low. However, my reasoning is that I took it as an individual test, which only gave me 27min. to finish as opposed to an entire ts 90min section test where I would have room to spend extra time in gc and make it up in bio and oc. So, doing this I took ts#2 and got 19s accross the board. For ts#3, though, I got bio 19, gc 17, and oc 21. So...for some reason I went back down in gc. I know this is one of my weakest areas, but I thought I might be able to squeeze by. So what do you think..with adreniline on test day I'll be able to pick up the pace and get my scores up from topscore or is it unlikely seeing my trend in practice tests.
Also, I am going through all the topscore chemistry problems to make sure I know how to do ALL of them. Is there anything else anyone can suggest I do to get this section better? I did not get chads videos and I know destroyer very well..so well that I feel I don't benefit from the problems anymore (at least calculation ones) because I know how to do it solely based by the fact that my memory recognizes specific things about THOSE problems (ie where it is on the pg, what reagents, how set up all trigger things that make me know what to do)...yet if something is slightly off on a practice test it takes me a sec until I realize how to start attacking the problem.
Sorry for rambling...any help appreciated. Test in LESS THAN TWO DAYS

I feel your pain; if you have time buy chad's quizzes! they cost $20 and they have almost 300 problems for gen chem with AMAZING explanations! I always hear mixed reviews on g chem for destroyer (some people love it, but most are impartial) meanwhile Chad's quizzes are so good that I feel they alone can prepare you for the DAT. They ask a lot of good fundamental theory which helps you get all the basics down. Destroyer has a lot of hard calculation problems that will most likely NOT be on the real DAT because they are too time consuming.

Chad's quizzes would cost you $5 less than rescheduling, and they CAN boost your scores because they explain how it all works in simple terms. I feel like I learned a lot more from Chad's GC videos and problems than from Destroyer. Meanwhile for O Chem I felt that I learned a lot more from Destroyer and only benefited from Chad's handouts.

 

[njohns24]

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[wired202808]

So...If I literally ONLY HAVE TONIGHT to use them (I gotta work all day tomorrow) would you still advise? I know I should have gotten them earlier I just feel like it's so late in the game at this point...$20 for one night hah.
Do you think I have a chance of 18+ GC if I don't get them, with respect to my trend (oh and I got an 18 on 2007ADA GC)? Please be honest, because I want to be proactive here and to what's best, even if that means dropping $20 for a night of GC--I am NOT postponing this thing. I feel like I know the answer, and I'm destined for sub-18 GC...but maybe not?
Any other thoughts are welcomed!

its up to you. if you feel you need to review other sections i.e. Bio and OC and Math then you should diversify your time. If you only need to get GC up then I would take the quizzes and hope you learn enough.

An 18 on topscore will probably ensure an 18 on the real thing, but an 18 in ADA 2007 isnt that good because the real exam is tougher than the 2007 version. Its a very very tough call. You have to decide what makes the most sense for you, but remember if you're getting 19+ on Bio, OC and Math, can you improve that overnight? Probably not; because you're making silly or random mistakes. Meanwhile, if you're making fundamental mistakes in GC than I would rather cram it and try to pull out some 19 or 20 on it.

If you bomb the test because of GC you might regret it, but its a choice you have to be comfortable with and that you have to make! i.e. no blaming wired later! LOL

 

[njohns24]

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[Cofo]

Reschedule. Definitely. I was supposed to take it TODAY....but I rescheduled mine for August 19th. I wanted to go over a few more things because I want to KNOW I am going to get 20+ scores. I want to feel confident when I take it. If you don't do so hot on the 11th...you're gonna be kicking your self in the ass because then you won't be able to take it for 3 months and severely risk getting in this cycle. Just make sure your application is in by middle of August, and that you take it no later than August 20th.
Now...go study. Go over mistakes in your practice exams. This will give you tons of confidence.

 

[LetsGo2DSchool]

LetsGo2Dschool haven't you done destroyer like 12x lol im expecting a 27AA 😛

Yeah, I have lol and will probably do it a couple more times. But I still need to do a lot more other stuff--this is war and I need to know for sure that I will score well.

 

[toothhornet88]

Reschedule. Definitely. I was supposed to take it TODAY....but I rescheduled mine for August 19th. I wanted to go over a few more things because I want to KNOW I am going to get 20+ scores. I want to feel confident when I take it. If you don't do so hot on the 11th...you're gonna be kicking your self in the ass because then you won't be able to take it for 3 months and severely risk getting in this cycle. Just make sure your application is in by middle of August, and that you take it no later than August 20th.
Now...go study. Go over mistakes in your practice exams. This will give you tons of confidence.

Thanks man thats EXACTLY what I will do! I dont want to risk it. By the way I submitted my AADSAS app in last week of July. The only problem is that my GPAs are not that good. My overall is around 3.49 and my science is a 3.0 ( since my horrible 2nd semester back in 2007 I've averaged a 3.7 science GPA) so hopefully they'll see the uppward trend

 

[toothhornet88]

Yeah, I have lol and will probably do it a couple more times. But I still need to do a lot more other stuff--this is war and I need to know for sure that I will score well.

lol just go to barnes and nobles from 9am-10pm and use ALL of their Study aids that include Biology and Chemistry

 

[glo1984]

Yeah, I have lol and will probably do it a couple more times. But I still need to do a lot more other stuff--this is war and I need to know for sure that I will score well.

Good man. 😎

 

[hazel25]

im taking mine on monday..and im scoring still 18, 17 17 on bio gc and ochem..18 and 19s on the cdp..i dont know if i should postpone my test for another week atleast to get more practice in?!?

 

[Ghostface17]

im taking mine on monday..and im scoring still 18, 17 17 on bio gc and ochem..18 and 19s on the cdp..i dont know if i should postpone my test for another week atleast to get more practice in?!?

I'm in the same boat. Exam is next Wed and I took Topscore 1 yesterday and scored 17 17 18 on the sciences (bio, gc, ochem). I made a lot of dumb mistakes on gc and ochem where once I saw the answer I was thinkin "ugh I know this!" also I'm assuming nerves played a part since I was simulating the test day experience. Unsure whether to reschedule or just take it! ahhh...advice needed!

 

[LetsGo2DSchool]

I'm in the same boat. Exam is next Wed and I took Topscore 1 yesterday and scored 17 17 18 on the sciences (bio, gc, ochem). I made a lot of dumb mistakes on gc and ochem where once I saw the answer I was thinkin "ugh I know this!" also I'm assuming nerves played a part since I was simulating the test day experience. Unsure whether to reschedule or just take it! ahhh...advice needed!

You should be alright. Sounds like you would've scored a point higher in each if not for the silly mistakes. People usually score two points higher on the actual vs. Topscore. So you're on pace for a 20+.

 

[predentlove]

Do you have to wait 6 months before you can sign up to take the DATs again?

 

[LetsGo2DSchool]

Do you have to wait 6 months before you can sign up to take the DATs again?

3 months

 

[predentlove]

REALLY?? yyayyy.. that's good to hear!! okay... thanks so much 🙂

 

[Ghostface17]

You should be alright. Sounds like you would've scored a point higher in each if not for the silly mistakes. People usually score two points higher on the actual vs. Topscore. So you're on pace for a 20+.

Thanks for the advice. Haven't been on these boards for too long but is it pretty common that people score 2 points higher than their topscore results? jw..