how do you guys manage time studying for DAT while school?

[kies89]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am currently 4th year and i know this is late,

but i just started studying for DAT

my plan is to take a year rest probably interning or working before go to dental school.

It will be great if i can just focus on DAT after graduation..
but then i have to wait 2 years before going in to dental school.. 🙁


So my quesiton is.. how do you guys take 15units of classes
and study for DAT??
how do you manage your time?
it is so hard for me to just focus on both school works and DAT.


please help me!

 

[umchan]

It's a long grind, but know that if dentistry is something you really want (#1 goal), then you'll be motivated enough and have enough self-control to figure out how to put in the time. Cut back on your social life and really focus on prepping for the DATs along with school...it'll be worth it looking back when you're in dental school. Try to get your hands on as many practice tests as you can. I prepped for the Canadian DATs (I'm from Canada) primarily off of practice tests. You'll know from there which areas you'll need to review and study. I personally think there's no point doing practice tests unless you really review ALL the questions (including the multiple choice answers--e.g. understand why the other 4 options are wrong). That's something which worked for me. The first time I wrote the DATs, I read textbooks cover to cover, and thought I did pretty good (AA:21, PAT:21, Carving:26). I got waitlisted and never got an offer from the Canadian schools I applied to. Three years later and while doing research for my MSc, I had to rewrite the DATs because my first set of scores expired. I wasn't too happy about having to restudy but I'm glad I did. I prepped for 3 months and used practice tests as the foundation. My DAT scores improved across the board which I thought it wouldn't be possible. You can also study as much as you can fit in now during the rest of the school year, then really grind it after April and write the test by early June. You'll be able to apply for the next cycle and only take 1 year off.

 

[ushaseos]

I didn't do the DAT while in school, but I did it while working full time. While most people spend only 2 months (like DentalWorks' 6-8 week plan) I spent 3 months. Since school is like a full time job and then some, take even more time but plan well what you want to do. Figure out what materials you want to use and how you want to ration your time so as to not kill yourself.

If your school is as challenging as most, when your wave of midterms or final exams hits, you'd have to take a break from DAT and focus fully on your exams. Other times try to give classes and DAT same level of importance/priority.

Of course it is easy for someone like me to say this, but I feel if you plan properly and give yourself enough time, even with 1-4 hours of studying per day you can make great progress. For example, if from now until you graduate you finish most of your prep, you can study just a little after graduation and complete the DAT late May-ish and still apply this cycle.

 

[ChapelHillT]

#1 motivation, #2 discipline. The first time I took it I had 3 months in the summer with nothing else going on. I think I had the discipline but not quite the motivation to really put in the extra hour or two per day (I'd quit after 5-6 hours instead of doing the full 8). The second time around I was working around 33-35 hours/week, but had a good bit more motivation (being rejected will do that).

It can definitely be done, you just have to dig up the motivation. I am a strong believer that anyone can do well on the DAT, you just have to put in the time. For some it is less time than others, but almost anyone can make a great score. Most simply won't have the motivation/perseverance to make it happen <--I actually had a 'note' from a current dental student that essentially said just that, and every time i felt like quitting i read it and it pissed me off and made me want to do better.

Best of luck to you! It's a very tough process, but definitely doable!

 

[toothlove]

Hey! I did this last year. I actually studied winter break. And then I would study a couple hours every day out of the week during school weeks. Unless I had an exam coming up, I would focus on that instead. Weekends I would dedicate to DAT studying. THen I studied half the summer and took the DAT. I think that was sufficient time dedicated to studying!

 

[kies89]

hey toothlove

when did you take DAT?
because im doing what exactly you said..
ive been studying 5-8 hours at least during winter break and im planning to study everyday
unless i have exams coming up during school years.

But im planning to take DAT around april or may..
wouldnt studying half the summer and taking DAT after be to late??

 

[Demps]

You can sort of gather around to plan on how you are going to execute your game plan during winter break. If you feel you are ready then take it around the time when Spring semester begins in late January or first week of February.

As far as Spring semester goes, I'm not a fan of studying for DAT while you're a full-time student. If you can space your time for both, that will be great but I personally don't recommend it.

When the cycle begins have your application ready in full, (Official Transcript and LOE especially because these take weeks to be uploaded on AADSAS portal) everything except for your DAT score. Say you submitted your application in June as soon as the cycle begins, and then spend ~8 weeks to study for your DAT after your graduation in late May. That is still July. That is still early in the game to receive a plenty of pre-December interviews.

 

[kies89]

@Demps

thanks 🙂 i have one more quesiton.

When i have my Official Transcript and LOE (is it letter of recommendation?)
how do i get it ready? should i request from my university the official transcript, and have to have the actual transcript paper and receive letter of recommenation from professor and get in hands?

 

[eyeball87]

It's about all about your priorities. You have to consistent with studying for the DAT. i.e. set a daily schedule when you'll be studying and don't let ANYTHING distract you.

If you study 2-3 hours 5 days/week for 2-3 months that should be solid

You might have to give up on a night out on fridays, because you want to study saturday morning. Being hungover and studying is no fun. So what I mean is be consistent, and discipline yourself just like someone else said above.

 

[Demps]

@Demps

thanks 🙂 i have one more quesiton.

When i have my Official Transcript and LOE (is it letter of recommendation?)
how do i get it ready? should i request from my university the official transcript, and have to have the actual transcript paper and receive letter of recommenation from professor and get in hands?

I PMed you.

 

[invictusx]

I am currently 4th year and i know this is late,

but i just started studying for DAT

my plan is to take a year rest probably interning or working before go to dental school.

It will be great if i can just focus on DAT after graduation..
but then i have to wait 2 years before going in to dental school.. 🙁


So my quesiton is.. how do you guys take 15units of classes
and study for DAT??
how do you manage your time?
it is so hard for me to just focus on both school works and DAT.


please help me!

I took the DAT in January 2011 and I studied for biology a little bit during the summer to get a head start (which I thought was a good idea...). During the school year, I was taking 18 credits and did not even touch the DAT books. I basically studied for 3 and a half weeks and took the exam. I spent 15 hour days during for the exam.. every. single. day. It paid off. I think studying over a long stretch of time makes you forget a few things and then you'd have to re-study it all. If you're gonna study, make sure you're focused when you're studying otherwise it'd be futile.