Experiencing the DAT

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Before I begin, these are the sources I used:
Cliffs AP Biology 3rd edition
Chads videos for organic chem/General chem
DAT Destroyer 2018 edition
DAT Bootcamp
Crack DAT (PAT section only)

Yesterday I had taken the DAT for the first time. I can now officially say, I’m going to need to retake it. So with my experiences studying for the DAT, I had started studying in the beginning of May. I took the exam in the morning which I really shouldn’t have done. It might’ve played a factor in my score but the earliest I’d take full length exams was 11am. So any way, I had been studying since May nearly every single day. I had gone through chads videos twice, went through DAT bootcamp full length exams once, and went through the destroyer 1 time around and 2 times for organic chemistry. I’m very disappointed in myself because I know I could’ve done better. My enemy was myself on exam day because I was having problems processing my thoughts. I felt when I first started the exam I was marking so many biology questions. With biology, when I first attempted to write out the hardy Weinberg equation, my marker went dry (NOTE THAT THEY GIVE YOU A PAIR OF BLACK SHARPIES AND 2 PAPERS). You can not erase anything and if you need a new paper, you must raise the paper and wave it so they can switch it for you. I had a problem with where I had to go through a total of 6 markers until I had a good set. I personally learned my lesson from that knowing I should bring my own sharpies next time around. Also, the writing with the sharpies was very thick, not sure if everyone experiences that, but I wasn’t used to writing big just for a single math problem. With that being said, I feel that DAT destroyer could’ve been the most beneficial from the questions I got on the exam. I stopped using the destroyer around a week and half before. DAT bootcamp really didn’t help me that much with the questions they asked so I wouldn’t recommend going through their exams more than twice. Also, I only went through half the QR questions in the destroyer and did about only 4 exams on QR. I’m not sure exactly how to approach studying for the DAT next summer. If anyone has been in the same position as me and did better, your advice would be really helpful, thank you.

DAT score:
Bio 17
QR 15
Gen chem 18
Orgo 19
PAT 18
RC 21
TS 18
AA 18
 
Before I begin, these are the sources I used:
Cliffs AP Biology 3rd edition
Chads videos for organic chem/General chem
DAT Destroyer 2018 edition
DAT Bootcamp
Crack DAT (PAT section only)

Yesterday I had taken the DAT for the first time. I can now officially say, I’m going to need to retake it. So with my experiences studying for the DAT, I had started studying in the beginning of May. I took the exam in the morning which I really shouldn’t have done. It might’ve played a factor in my score but the earliest I’d take full length exams was 11am. So any way, I had been studying since May nearly every single day. I had gone through chads videos twice, went through DAT bootcamp full length exams once, and went through the destroyer 1 time around and 2 times for organic chemistry. I’m very disappointed in myself because I know I could’ve done better. My enemy was myself on exam day because I was having problems processing my thoughts. I felt when I first started the exam I was marking so many biology questions. With biology, when I first attempted to write out the hardy Weinberg equation, my marker went dry (NOTE THAT THEY GIVE YOU A PAIR OF BLACK SHARPIES AND 2 PAPERS). You can not erase anything and if you need a new paper, you must raise the paper and wave it so they can switch it for you. I had a problem with where I had to go through a total of 6 markers until I had a good set. I personally learned my lesson from that knowing I should bring my own sharpies next time around. Also, the writing with the sharpies was very thick, not sure if everyone experiences that, but I wasn’t used to writing big just for a single math problem. With that being said, I feel that DAT destroyer could’ve been the most beneficial from the questions I got on the exam. I stopped using the destroyer around a week and half before. DAT bootcamp really didn’t help me that much with the questions they asked so I wouldn’t recommend going through their exams more than twice. Also, I only went through half the QR questions in the destroyer and did about only 4 exams on QR. I’m not sure exactly how to approach studying for the DAT next summer. If anyone has been in the same position as me and did better, your advice would be really helpful, thank you.

DAT score:
Bio 17
QR 15
Gen chem 18
Orgo 19
PAT 18
RC 21
TS 18
AA 18
Hey, I also took the DAT yesterday and here are my scores:

BIO 20

QR 18

Gen Chem 22

Orgo 23

PAT 22

TS 21

AA 21


I also used Cliff's AP Bio Notes, DAT Destroyer, DAT Bootcamp (what was free), Chad's gchem videos (free on YouTube), and CDP. I started studying in mid-June, and I did the following:

For Bio, I read Cliff's two to three times and did all the questions. Then, I moved onto Bootcamp notes and used Bozeman Science and Crash Course on YouTube as supplements. To test myself, I did the free Bootcamp test as well as other various free practice modules online (i.e. Qvault, Genius, 2007 DAT). Also, I went through Destroyer several times. Bio was fairly challenging, I definitely had to critically think on some of those questions, but I'm content with my score.

For chem, I just watched a few of Chad's videos on his YouTube channel, but I have a strong chemistry background. I went through Destroyer several times (much harder than the real test, but understanding the concepts really helped my score). I also used free practice tests online from the same resources listed.

For orgo, I just went through Destroyer multiple times and really used the roadmaps to my advantage. I supplemented this with free online resources to test myself. I also just took orgo last semester, so all the material was fresh in my mind.

For PAT, I used CDP and I also used the Bootcamp generators 15 minutes each day. I was able to whiz through that section, although I, unfortunately, had a few rock keyholes. TFE wasn't too bad (Bootcamp generators helped A LOT), as did the generator for hole punching. Pattern folding was hard on the real DAT, but Bootcamp's free test was good practice.

For RC, I'm not the best reader, I kinda just got lucky with that. I did some preparation, however. I read Scientific American Articles once a day for about a month, and I also read a novel that I was interested in.

For QR, I'm a little upset about my score as I am generally good at math. I went through Math Destroyer (all 11 tests) a few times. I also used Genius and Bootcamp. That was honestly a crap shoot on my test.

All in all, I was just constantly studying this summer, and if you really want a good score, I advise you go through Destroyer multiple times. It is painful, it is discouraging, but it is rewarding when you get a good score! Trust me, it is worth the anger and frustration!

I hope that helps, let me know if you have specific questions I can address! Best of luck, and remember, don't let this score define you. You can always improve with studying, and dental schools look at you holistically not just your numbers!
 
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