How I studied for the DAT

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Dr. SI

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Hey guys, I'm new to SDN but I just wanted to share my experience with the DAT.
I took the exam in the summer and did pretty well, not phenomenal but well.

My scores are:

PAT: 16
QR:18
RC:19
GC:23
OC:23
BIO: 21
Total Science: 22
AA:21

I studied for about 3 months using a few various books/programs.

For the PAT I used mainly CRACK the PAT but I also used Barrons. I think they were both great but I just didn't spend enough time on it.

For QR I definitely recommend using MATH DESTROYER, it has all the formulas you need to know and great example questions. I also did some practice tests from the ADA.

For RC I only used Kaplan, it had some good techniques and tips but the key here is practice, practice, practice. Just keep reading everything you can.

For the entire science section I recommend getting the DESTROYER book. I went through that book 3-4 times and it is gold. The bio section has so much useful info in it. Also the roadmaps in the OC section saved my life. No way I would have memorized all of those reactions. I also did the tests from ADA after i went through DESTROYER and I can tell that it paid off.

Overall I'm happy with my scores. I hope this helps anyone that is wondering how to study.
 
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Your scores are fine. Call the dental schools you are interested in about the PAT score. What's your GPA?
 
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Your scores look great. You did very well. Not so sure about the dental school. As Alexis said you might want to contact the dental school and ask them about your PAT score.
 
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Thanks, so far I've received 4 interviews. Nothing I can really do now about my PAT score. If asked, hopefully I'll be able to give a convincing reason as to why it was so low.

My science GPA is 3.5 and overall is 3.6
 
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Dr. SI said:
Hey guys, I'm new to SDN but I just wanted to share my experience with the DAT.
I took the exam in the summer and did pretty well, not phenomenal but well.

My scores are:

PAT: 16
QR:18
RC:19
GC:23
OC:23
BIO: 21
Total Science: 22
AA:21

I studied for about 3 months using a few various books/programs.

For the PAT I used mainly CRACK the PAT but I also used Barrons. I think they were both great but I just didn't spend enough time on it.

For QR I definitely recommend using MATH DESTROYER, it has all the formulas you need to know and great example questions. I also did some practice tests from the ADA.

For RC I only used Kaplan, it had some good techniques and tips but the key here is practice, practice, practice. Just keep reading everything you can.

For the entire science section I recommend getting the DESTROYER book. I went through that book 3-4 times and it is gold. The bio section has so much useful info in it. Also the roadmaps in the OC section saved my life. No way I would have memorized all of those reactions. I also did the tests from ADA after i went through DESTROYER and I can tell that it paid off.

Overall I'm happy with my scores. I hope this helps anyone that is wondering how to study.
Click to expand...




Can you please explain how you got tests from ADA? Thanks for sharing all that info.
 
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Dr. SI said:
Hey guys, I'm new to SDN but I just wanted to share my experience with the DAT.
I took the exam in the summer and did pretty well, not phenomenal but well.

My scores are:

PAT: 16
QR:18
RC:19
GC:23
OC:23
BIO: 21
Total Science: 22
AA:21

I studied for about 3 months using a few various books/programs.

For the PAT I used mainly CRACK the PAT but I also used Barrons. I think they were both great but I just didn't spend enough time on it.

For QR I definitely recommend using MATH DESTROYER, it has all the formulas you need to know and great example questions. I also did some practice tests from the ADA.

For RC I only used Kaplan, it had some good techniques and tips but the key here is practice, practice, practice. Just keep reading everything you can.

For the entire science section I recommend getting the DESTROYER book. I went through that book 3-4 times and it is gold. The bio section has so much useful info in it. Also the roadmaps in the OC section saved my life. No way I would have memorized all of those reactions. I also did the tests from ADA after i went through DESTROYER and I can tell that it paid off.

Overall I'm happy with my scores. I hope this helps anyone that is wondering how to study.
Click to expand...
What would you say is the extent we have to know plants and taxonomy? Feralis/Cliffs has a lot of details
 
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meeginvee said:
What would you say is the extent we have to know plants and taxonomy? Feralis/Cliffs has a lot of details
Click to expand...

There were quite a few questions on plants. The DAT DESTROYER covers everything you need to know about it. Just make sure you read the questions and ALL the choices and the answers in the back thouroghly.
 
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Dr. SI said:
There were quite a few questions on plants. The DAT DESTROYER covers everything you need to know about it. Just make sure you read the questions and ALL the choices and the answers in the back thouroghly.
Click to expand...
Ok thanks!
Also, how are people going through the Destroyer 4-5 times? It takes me 100 problems per day if I want to do them well and not just cram. Also, I was spending 2-3 weeks on each section (bio, chem, orgo, math) so I'd forget things from previous weeks. How did you organize your time so this didn't happen?

Thank you very much, if you could help me out, I'd really appreciate it! And congrats to you 🙂
 
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meeginvee said:
Ok thanks!
Also, how are people going through the Destroyer 4-5 times? It takes me 100 problems per day if I want to do them well and not just cram. Also, I was spending 2-3 weeks on each section (bio, chem, orgo, math) so I'd forget things from previous weeks. How did you organize your time so this didn't happen?.

Thank you very much, if you could help me out, I'd really appreciate it! And congrats to you 🙂.
Click to expand...

I only went through destroyer 2 times in depth, mostly due to only having 3 weeks to really prepare. I split ochem and chem into two parts, bio into three parts, and did one part a day. It would take 2-4 hours a day just for the problems (the gchem days were particularly bad) and then another 1-2 to look through the back and read through my answer was right or wrong. It's probably not possible if you're taking classes, but it definitely worked for me.
 
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meeginvee said:
Ok thanks!
Also, how are people going through the Destroyer 4-5 times? It takes me 100 problems per day if I want to do them well and not just cram. Also, I was spending 2-3 weeks on each section (bio, chem, orgo, math) so I'd forget things from previous weeks. How did you organize your time so this didn't happen?.

Thank you very much, if you could help me out, I'd really appreciate it! And congrats to you 🙂.
Click to expand...
When you say 100 problems a day, how long are you Spending per day? I spent about 10-11 hours a day studying. l broke it up doing 100 problems Of each section a day . Also I spent about 3 months Only studying for the DAT
 
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Dr. SI said:
When you say 100 problems a day, how long are you Spending per day? I spent about 10-11 hours a day studying. l broke it up doing 100 problems Of each section a day . Also I spent about 3 months Only studying for the DAT..
Click to expand...

I have spent quite a few months studying for this, since beginning of July because I started out if Kaplan and Chad's and bought Destroyer and Bootcamp later and got Feralis/Cliffs later too. I have been doing a few weeks per section in rounds so I forget things from previous subjects/not fresh in my head. I don't have time to review either but I have to incorporate review as well into my studying. I need help making a good schedule with the materials I have so that all the subjects are fresh in my head for test day as if I just studied them.

I think I spend 8 hours studying, I'm not sure how long it takes to do those 100 problems. After each problem I would go through the explanation and I have noted the ones I have had trouble with but I haven't gotten a chance to go through them. There is so much! especially if I combine Kaplan with Destroyer,Chads, Feralis,Cliffs,Bootcamp. There's this old version of Kaplan review notes that had problems I was doing, maybe I just shouldn't do those anymore since they are not in the new version? They were good problems though which is why I was trying to go through them all. Do you think 100 problems per day is appropriate?
 
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meeginvee said:
I have spent quite a few months studying for this, since beginning of July because I started out if Kaplan and Chad's and bought Destroyer and Bootcamp later and got Feralis/Cliffs later too. I have been doing a few weeks per section in rounds so I forget things from previous subjects/not fresh in my head. I don't have time to review either but I have to incorporate review as well into my studying. I need help making a good schedule with the materials I have so that all the subjects are fresh in my head for test day as if I just studied them.

I think I spend 8 hours studying, I'm not sure how long it takes to do those 100 problems. After each problem I would go through the explanation and I have noted the ones I have had trouble with but I haven't gotten a chance to go through them. There is so much! especially if I combine Kaplan with Destroyer,Chads, Feralis,Cliffs,Bootcamp. There's this old version of Kaplan review notes that had problems I was doing, maybe I just shouldn't do those anymore since they are not in the new version? They were good problems though which is why I was trying to go through them all. Do you think 100 problems per day is appropriate?..
Click to expand...
For the sciences I think you should stick to chads videos and destroyer. A few days before the exam you can do bootcamp practice tests.

When I was going through destroyer for both chems. I would do 20 problems in Gen chem then 30 in o chem. I would then read the solutions for them. Then I would read 50 bio questions with the solutions. Then go back to the same Gen chem and orgo questions. Whichever I wasn't able to answer perfectly I would mark but not focus on it. I would do the next 30 of each then bio. Repeat until I did about 100 Gen and o chem and 150 bio. Next day first I would go back to the ones I marked then do the same thing.

I know this seems like a lot of work but the repetition will help you remember. Don't focus too much on the problems you already 100% know.
 
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Dr. SI said:
For the sciences I think you should stick to chads videos and destroyer. A few days before the exam you can do bootcamp practice tests.

When I was going through destroyer for both chems. I would do 20 problems in Gen chem then 30 in o chem. I would then read the solutions for them. Then I would read 50 bio questions with the solutions. Then go back to the same Gen chem and orgo questions. Whichever I wasn't able to answer perfectly I would mark but not focus on it. I would do the next 30 of each then bio. Repeat until I did about 100 Gen and o chem and 150 bio. Next day first I would go back to the ones I marked then do the same thing.

I know this seems like a lot of work but the repetition will help you remember. Don't focus too much on the problems you already 100% know. ..
Click to expand...

congrats, and thanks for the break down. i'm currently studying for the DAT, but i graduated two years ago. how fresh was the science material in ur head before u started destroyer? should i review before destroyer, or will jumping right into destroyer teach me everything?
 
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deepspace said:

congrats, and thanks for the break down. i'm currently studying for the DAT, but i graduated two years ago. how fresh was the science material in ur head before u started destroyer? should i review before destroyer, or will jumping right into destroyer teach me everything?..
Click to expand...

I have been in the same position as you, and first it helped me at go through Kaplan materials and Chad's videos. It took me a lot of time to go through things initially as I did forget literally everything and I felt like I was learning organic from scratch. And Chad's quizzes are easier questions, but good if you just want to review the material. I bought Destroyer later on so that after my initial learning the material, I was able to do the problems instead of being clueless.
 
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meeginvee said:
I have been in the same position as you, and first it helped me at go through Kaplan materials and Chad's videos. It took me a lot of time to go through things initially as I did forget literally everything and I felt like I was learning organic from scratch. And Chad's quizzes are easier questions, but good if you just want to review the material. I bought Destroyer later on so that after my initial learning the material, I was able to do the problems instead of being clueless...
Click to expand...

thanks for the reply! i've been reviewing with chads. i just wanted to make sure i wasn't wasting time!
 
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