I retook the DAT.
1st DAT: 8-30-99
Academic Average: 17
Perceptual Ability: 24
Quantitative Reasoning: 18
Reading Comprehesion: 19
Biology: 16
General Chemistry: 16
Organic Chemistry: 18
Total Science: 17
Notes: didn't apply to AADSAS because my cumulative GPA sucked! I would've applied IF I had at least a 3.2 cumulative or so, but I didn't. I used the Kaplan course ($900) and attended some lectures and Kaplan Center materials.
2nd DAT: 1-02-02
(roughly 2.5 years later, I had more upper division and graduate level science courses and a heck lot more enthusiasm)
Academic Average: 20 (+3)
Perceptual Ability: 23 (-1)
Quantitative Reasoning: 17 (-1)
Reading Comprehesion: 23 (+4)
Biology: 22 (+6)
General Chemistry: 18 (+2)
Organic Chemistry: 21 (+3)
Total Science: 20 (+3)
Notes: as you can see, I went up in every section of the exam except for PAT and Quant, both (-1) from the first DAT. What I did different for the second time is simply never spend a second in the Kaplan Center for one, and second, I knew I had pressure on me to do well if I wanted get in a dental school. If my scores would've decreased from my first DAT, then it would have been diasterous!
I simply read that Kaplan DAT review book over and over for like 5 times. Memorized every page, front and back. Used the TopScore CD and did practice tests over and over. Know why the wrong answers were incorrect on every question (you really know your stuff by doing this). I should also note that I never spend a second on studying the PAT and Reading sections because I knew that I could well without studying in these sections. I focused mainly on the Biology, Chem, and Organic sections.
I felt really good during the whole exam and I didn't even take that 15-minute break! All it is IS study hard and put in your time in that Kaplan DAT review book. That was the nucleus of my DAT studies.
Good luck to everyone in upcoming DATs.