Good science classes to take before DAT?

[tayloreve]

Hi all! I'm wondering what upper level science courses will be most beneficial prior to taking the DAT. I currently have 2 quarters left (Winter & Spring) and then I will start studying for the DAT in the summer and take it that Fall. So far I have taken general bio classes (BIO 130, 132 with labs), Human anatomy & physiology I & II, gen. chem, and I'm currently in organic chemistry right now.

I plan on finishing organic chemistry this year.

Would it be helpful to take Genetics and Microbiology Winter & Spring quarter? I also planned on taking Statistics to help with QR.

Any input would be much appreciated! Already freaking out about the DAT and I don't take it for a year, LOL. That's what SDN does to you I guess..😀

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[hail2pitt]

Biochemistry was really helpful for me.

 

[berryberry]

honestly for me, classes didn't have much to do with doing well on DAT. I increased my DAT score significantly solely by studying for DAT, not from classes.
However, taking classes should help you prepare for dental school class loads.

 

[predent1011]

I would take the science courses that you find most interesting. The DAT can have questions from almost anywhere in the general bio/chem courses so having a more specific course will not fully prepare you. That being said, my favorite courses were genetics and molecular biology 🙂

 

[Mr. Thirsty]

That being said, my favorite courses were genetics and molecular biology 🙂

Yes I agree on the awesomeness of molecular biology! 👍. On a DAT note, Biochemistry is a must; because it literally links everything between gen./org. chem and biology. This brings you to have a better understanding of all of the concepts, more so then just the facts. DAT isn't all about the facts from what I hear. (I haven't taken it yet.)

 

[Demps]

Hi Taylor,

I think your knowledge from general BIO I + II (guess that is BIO 130 and 132 for your school) and reading over AP Cliffs should be sufficient for you as far as what DAT covers for bio section.

I took biochemistry I+II, immunology, animal development, principles of cellular signaling, genetics, microbiology, cancer biology, and cell biology for my upper division bios. Each helped a little bit to overall studying but all of them were beyond the scope of DAT. I don't think you need them to do well necessarily. Both genetics and microbiology covers a decent area that touches what is covered in DAT bio, so go for it if you have time for it 🙂

I really don't think statistic class will help you with QR. If you can find links to high school math state exams, do those. I recently started tutoring a 9th grade and I looked into the previous state exams... I wish I had done this earlier or even looked into it when I was studying for the DAT; it would have definitely been a good review before start attacking Math Destroyer problem sets.

And lastly, you gonna get 24+, so don't worry.

 

[FLOSS UR TEETH]

biochemistry
microbiology
cell bio
genetics
ecology
physiology
some sort of reproduction class that goes in depth w/ cell division and stuff
audit general bio again

inorganic chemistry
quantitative analysis

advanced organic chem

begin watching chads videos now and do problems in acs study guide, destroyer, exam krackers
that should cover most of it

 

[shinjury]

Biochemistry was really helpful for me.

agreed, biochem all the way...
it will take the major gen chem concepts, except you'll actually master it. Also you'll be extremely sharp on the Gen Chem DAT section after biochem. I took 2 semesters of it and it was a very good decision

 

[Double Bonded]

The morning of my DAT I skimmed my biochem notes & textbook just for kicks. I can honestly say, it helped a lot in getting my Bio score on the DAT.

 

[tayloreve]

Biochemistry was really helpful for me.

Ahhhh.

Do you think it will effect me that much if I don't take Biochem? I'd have to try and take it in the summer while studying for the DAT....if they even offer it then 😳!!

 

[Demps]

Ahhhh.

Do you think it will effect me that much if I don't take Biochem? I'd have to try and take it in the summer while studying for the DAT....if they even offer it then 😳!!

Honestly, no.

This was one of the reasons why I didn't recommend you taking biochemistry because of the time conflict. If you planned to take the DAT on the summer following the OCHEM-II, there is no way you will squeeze in biochemistry unless you take it over the summer. Does it help taking biochemistry? yes. Do you need it to score high on DAT bio? no.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[reely989]

Honestly, no.

This was one of the reasons why I didn't recommend you taking biochemistry because of the time conflict. If you planned to take the DAT on the summer following the OCHEM-II, there is no way you will squeeze in biochemistry unless you take it over the summer. Does it help taking biochemistry? yes. Do you need it to score high on DAT bio? no.

Just my 2 cents.

I actually found Biochem to be of zero use on the DAT. Maybe the way my curriculum was set up was just bad, but ours was geared HEAVILY toward the chemistry side of it with reaction mechanisms and memorizing pathways. It was nice for glycolysis, but I found it way more detailed than needed.

Honestly, if you can squeeze in Microbiology and Genetics, I'd say go for it. I know that both of those classes helped me a lot. I never had to study an ounce of genetics for the test, which was extremely helpful. Beyond that, classes can be helpful, but I think it is more beneficial to just go ahead and get the test out of the way right after Orgo II.

 

[93geo]

restudy your notes form anatomy and physiology.

 

[Dusk]

I honestly think you'll be totally fine with just Cliff's for bio... lol.
But Biochem did help me, just because i didn't have to memorize all the intricacies of DNA rep and all that jazz. BUT again, totally not needed. Just relax, and Cliff's, datqvault, destroyer, practice tests etc will serve you very well.

 

[MrAvicii]

for bio:

Bio 1 & 2, AP 1 & 2, Micro and Biochem. Should probably be enough. If you have time take Genetics but I dunno if this will matter that much.

I got a 19 in Bio after being out of Bio for a year, its really how well you can study it in a short period of time. If I had done Micro and Biochem, I probably would have gotten a 21 (my estimation.)

 

[sunshineandlove]

General Bio, Micro, Genetics (if you have time), and Physiology are good for the Bio section, and of course you'll need Gen Chem and Orgo. I didn't take Biochem before my test and I ended up getting a 25 in Bio. So if you are short on time, I would focus on other courses. Physiology saved me on the Bio section, so if possible I would take it the semester before the DAT. In my opinion, notes from your physiology class supplemented with Cliff's AP Bio Book should prepare you enough to get at least a 19.

 

[BizzyV]

If I had to say anything it would be physiology and/or anatomy. Maybe genetics. I don't think biochem helped me much. Immunology helped me on mine but it was one question, I woudn't say its worth taking a whole class in hopes that it would help you!

Really, what I would say is take fewer hours and allow yourself to study over a greater period of time. That way you can learn, and rehash, and rehash, and practice, and rehash some more... until on test day you are automatic.

 

[WKhan]

Biochem, genetics, microbiology, Human physiology for sure!!

I took a Human genetics class and it focused on genetic disorders. That helped reinforce a lot concepts from genetics and had some random detail that I found on several of my practice tests and also in my reading passages.

Ecology would have been helpful too. I hadn't taken it though.

I'd only taken intro bio 1 and 2, Biochem, genetics, microbio, human phys, and human genetics before my DAT, and studied from the Kaplan DAT and Cliffs AP bio book and felt that there was nothing on the biology section that I didn't know. Anything that I was confused about was because while studying for the biology section, I did not bother to pay attention to that specific topic.

 

[ddslove789]

Hi all! I'm wondering what upper level science courses will be most beneficial prior to taking the DAT. I currently have 2 quarters left (Winter & Spring) and then I will start studying for the DAT in the summer and take it that Fall. So far I have taken general bio classes (BIO 130, 132 with labs), Human anatomy & physiology I & II, gen. chem, and I'm currently in organic chemistry right now.

I plan on finishing organic chemistry this year.

Would it be helpful to take Genetics and Microbiology Winter & Spring quarter? I also planned on taking Statistics to help with QR.

Any input would be much appreciated! Already freaking out about the DAT and I don't take it for a year, LOL. That's what SDN does to you I guess..😀

In my experience with the DAT (I took it twice), genetics and cell biology were pretty prevalent in the bio section. Micro wasn't really on either of my exams, but it's a good class to take because most schools either require it or highly recommend it. With regards to stats, both of my exams only had <b>very</b> basic statistics and probability problems, so if that's your only reason for taking statistics, you may not necessarily need it. I didn't take biochem before my exams (and still haven't taken it, actually... starting it this quarter) and I didn't feel like I was lacking in any way on the natural science section. I can see how it could possibly help connect the dots a little better, but it's not a class that you absolutely need to take to do well on the DAT. Hope this helps, PM me if you have other questions. Good luck 🙂