Help/support needed......

[OwossoT]

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I honestly don't like forums like this. I am a very motivated, self-starter with most things in my life. I am a 31 year old, happily married, father of two young girls. I have a BS in biology and an extensive entrepreneurial, management and business background. I have always wanted to take the plunge and commit to dental school. Professionally, my very supportive wife is at a place right now that I can make this commitment and our family can sustain.

Three years ago, when I went back to school to finish up my BS, I did take the DAT and apply to school seeing what would happen. After being rejected, I followed up with advising appointments at the two dental schools in my state, Michigan and UDM. Both schools liked me as a student and all my life experience, but I wasn't competitive with my 18AA, 19PAT scores.

So this time around I am trying to go about studying for the DAT the right way. I don't feel the Kaplan course did enough for me last time. I am trying to follow the DAT Boot Camp schedule using Chad's videos, Cilff's AP Bio, Destroyer and Boot Camp.

I started strong, but have fallen behind and had to adjust my schedule many times. I am realistic about not being about to do the 10 week schedule in 10 weeks.....I was just finishing and selling a few house flips, our family moved, I have a 16 month old and a newborn, I am stay-at-home dad a few days a week, etc. However with the adjustments and Thanksgiving, the wheels have fallen off my studies and I am trying to get reengaged and excited about killing the DAT again. I feel I am a great candidate, but I am just missing that competitive DAT score to go along.

So what I am looking for is a few words of encouragement from the "Studying for the DAT" community to help me power through. I have never backed down to a challenge and am not about to stop this mission now! Thank you all in advance🙂

 

[Dr. Dan]

Wow I couldn't imagine having a family and studying for the DAT concurrently... my fiance and I were planning on waiting until I got in before that! All I can say is to try and compartmentalize. When you finish with your vast amount of responsibilities, take 5, do something relaxing and imagine how exciting its going to be to attend dental school. You got this, keep going!! Also, keep us updated, we'll help you out however we can.

 

[kobe4evr]

all of the materials you've listed are gold and will definitely grant you huge success. Just keep on moving along a structured and holistic study plan and youll be in dental school soon enough.

More power to you for dealing with this all while raising a family, good luck man

 

[w4nt2baDDS]

I honestly don't like forums like this.

So what I am looking for is a few words of encouragement from the "Studying for the DAT" community to help me power through.

Okay..

Relax and take the holidays off. Focus on your family and prepare to block out the first three+ months of 2016 for hardcore DAT studying. As long as you take the DAT by mid/late May you will be able to still submit your application early and be within the 1st or 2nd batches sent out to dental schools. I don't have little ones to take care of but I studied for the DAT for 5 months Jan-May while working full time and was able to crush it. I made the DAT my New Year's resolution -- no joke. I'll be heading back to my alma mater for dental school, UCLA. You can do it!

 

[OwossoT]

Maybe a better way to start my post off would have been to say that using a forum like this is new for me and in the past I wouldn't have used one for support. In general I had a sense, mostly incorrect, that these forums are full of people either bragging or freaking out, which I try to keep out of my life. I am greatful for the support and positive words from you and others. I am feeling much better this week and am working hard to reduce outside interference and log some serious hours of Chad

 

[omarski]

Ya, I see this forum as more of a place where people care a lot more than usual. We all ended up here because we like any edge we can get, and constant information being presented on this board does that.
As everyone here suggested, thorough notes on Chad's videos and make sure to have a solid foundation of all the organic/general chemistry concepts he presents. Once that is achieved tackle the DAT destoryer and learn from it. Then use bootcamp to see what your base is, and how much you improve.
This is coming from someone who's taking the test a month from today, but that's the routine I'm following and I'm feeling more prepped everyday!
DAT destoryer should show you your weaknesses on particular topics, and for those topics either rewatch Chad's segment for that topic or use your notes.
You got this man! The more work you put in, the more you'll get out !