Failed The Dat

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sivavajc

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What are your recommendations: I failed the DAT with a AA of 16! I used old Kaplan, DAT destroyer, and GRE prep. studied ~ 5hrs. per day for 2.5 months. I thought that I was really prepared. I already paid $500 and got my application in early. Have 3.5 GPA and AWESOME volunteering, two years of working with dental public health program with low income children.

The soonest I can re-take the DAT is Sept. but I feel like after this blow I can't even muster the self confidence to study again. AND... if I do study what can I do to get a better score??? Updated Kaplan online course??
 
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It's okay, doing your best is what really matters. Nothing is easy, and challenges drive us to do better next time. I would retake it again because I know that you can do better. I believe in you!
 
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im guessng one of your weakness was biology.....ive always thought that kaplan isnt good enough for bio.......i would really get schaum's to study for bio read over that a couple of times...go through destroyer a lot more if u didnt spend enough time on that source and make sure u know everything on the destroyer including all the options.....get top score and achiever do the same with that


i was on the same boat as u last year.....only took kaplan and i got 14 bio this time i got a 23 in bio.....my AA was 16 and TS was 17 and this time 19 AA and 21TS....one thing i regret not getting this time was crack dat PAT....get that too if that was a weak part of your dat......dont worry and dont give up IT IS POSSIBLE i thought it wasnt after my perfomance last year BUT IT IS......study hard i personally used schaums REALLY BORING but VERYY HELPFUL!!! I REALLY RECOMMEND GETTING THIS
 
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Dust yourself off and try againnn.

I also recommend Crack DAT PAT, DAT Achiever, TopScore, and Crack DAT MATH if you need to work on your math.

Yes, it is going to suck studying for this test all over again, but just think of how awesome it is going to be when you increase your score by 2 or 3 points in each section! If you want a real chance, you have no other chance to retake... Just try to stay motivated and hit those books.
 
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thanks for the references and encouragement! Do you think that taking it this Sept./Oct. is too late for this year. How do I make sure I am not instantly rejected?Any opinions on Kaplan online course. Is it a waste of $1200?
 
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Nah I wouldnt take a Kaplans online course for 1200$. Kaplans is too easy and it is a waste. Just go over all of your study sources again and focus on the areas that you were weak in. You probably know which individual parts of Gchem and orgo you were weak at. Go over them again and again until you understand them. If you know the destroyer inside and out and youve got the basics from kaplans or whatever then use schaumms or my favorite, Cliffs to strengthe your bio section. If you didnt do well on PAT the get Crack or something to help with that. Just use your experience on the DAT to help yourself do better the second time around.
 
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Im doing Kaplan course now....and unfortunately, its non-refundable, or else I would be getting my money back...HUGE waste of time.........Can't wait till its over........I heard Chads videos are really good! Look into that!
 
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I am on the same boat as you are. I was studying my ass off and i was 5 months pregnant. I studied for 2 months. I did all destroyer problems and i have Crack DAT all sections and i did them all!! after all this i ended up with AA 16! 👎

I was very discouraged and still i am. I have my new DAT test on 7/27 but i will be in my 9 month of pregnancy, or maybe by that date i will already have my baby! so i feel like all this time that i am studying now is going to waste. I am only studying so i will not regret anything when i look back at it.

My point is, I FEEL YOU! you can work this year and reaply next year. At least you will not have a baby to worry about like me!

Good luck. Let me know what you end up deciding
 
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Kaplan's course is a waste of money. If you have $1200 to burn through get the tried and tested materials like top score, achiever, q-vault, Crack DAT PAT/Reading. I did a paper version of the Kaplan Online course (back when they used to print their DAT test bank). It wasn't bad but didn't exactly prepare you well. It was merely a good starting point.

I am sorry to hear about your experience, but I am sure with the correct preparation and the right amount of determination you can completely reverse any damage done by this lower score.
 
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Definitely use chads for the chems. I heard they are also working on bio material. Try to limit your review material and master the one you do decide on. Do this by knowing why the wrong answers are wrong.

My sec time around I focused on chads, Acs, Barrons and cliffs for bio, and crack dat for reading and pat.

One last thing, the last two weeks of review CRAM all ur material from the beginning on. Roughly 10-12 hr days.

I improved in each category... Good luck.
 
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I dont know what kind of budget you are on but I used the Kaplan online resources and thought that it was very good for the sciences. It helped me score a 21 AA and 23 TS. CrackDAT Pat is also very indicative of the real PAT. Good luck and keep your head up!
 
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You can make it into Dental school this cycle, you just need to get a couple of points higher on your retake. In my opinion, it kind of sounds like you reviewed for a long time and knew the material, but maybe didn't practice taking enough tests. The thing that really worked the best for me was Datqvault. It has 10 science tests and I thought the 2 chemistry's were exactly like my real DAT and the biology and math were close as well. It helps with the timing to take a lot of practice tests. I would also watch all the Chad videos on Chemistry and take the quizes at the end to make sure you understand it. Crack the pat is amazing for the PAT and just do some readings to make sure you have whatever strategy you want to use down. Just do a lot of practice tests and youll be fine. Good luck!
 
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Your study time, your gpa, and your DAT don't mach up.

How did you study?
What is your major. If you are a lit major, trying to take the DAT I wouldn't be surprised if you got these scores.
Did you panic on the test?

If you are science major, then whats going on? A 3.5 should at be making around a 19 or above. Mayb 18 on a bad day.

What were your subcores. Was one section just really bad and brought down the others or was it all bad?

They're are a lot of study aids, but your gonna have to push yourself and likely change the way you study. 2 months of solid study should not lead to a 16.
 
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sivavajc said:
What are your recommendations: I failed the DAT with a AA of 16! I used old Kaplan, DAT destroyer, and GRE prep. studied ~ 5hrs. per day for 2.5 months. I thought that I was really prepared. I already paid $500 and got my application in early. Have 3.5 GPA and AWESOME volunteering, two years of working with dental public health program with low income children.

The soonest I can re-take the DAT is Sept. but I feel like after this blow I can't even muster the self confidence to study again. AND... if I do study what can I do to get a better score??? Updated Kaplan online course??
Click to expand...
Here is my recommended study materials:
Bio: AP Bio Cliffs (know that in and out & you're good to go), KBB (thought Kaplan is too general and broad), DAT Destroyer
GChem: Chad's Videos (make sure to do the quizzes too!), KBB (excellent source), DAT Destroyer
OChem: I used my college textbook because it went into more detail than needed, but it helped me because I barely got any synthesis questions on the DAT. It was more conceptual. DAT Destroyer
PAT: Crack DAT PAT (10 practice tests)
RC: I used Search and Destroy Method (very risky if you get stuck), Crack DAT Reading Comp
QR: KBB, DAT Destroyer, Math Destroyer

Practice tests: Achiever, Top Score
 
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