July/August DAT takers

[BlackPearl7]

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Hey fellow 2012/2013 cycle applicants

For all of you taking it around the same time, how prepared do you feel?

Would rescheduling it even a few days make a difference? Or a week?

I just want to get it over with asap especially now that it's not considered early in the app cycle...and I've been studying daily (5-9 hours) for 5 weeks now

I have my DAT scheduled for July 31st in about a week and a half.....got 18-20 on CDP (1-4) and 15-16 AA in Achiever (1-2), sorta left the practice tests for the end (aka next week)

Went through the KBB and been doing the destroyer... you guys think I should reschedule the test? Dunno how much I can rely on the "almost guaranteed 3/4 point increase from the Achiever" 😕


Good luck to all

 

[finchy86]

I think it is normal to think about postponing the test date. I postponed the first time I took the DAT and wanted to postpone the second time I took the DAT but chose not to. It sounds to me that you have been studying a lot and postponing really doesn't seem like the answer. It may just be nerves but in the end you'll have to decide what is best.

 

[dentista1]

I took the DAT at the end of June. I studied for about 6.5 weeks. I felt like I wasn't ready and that I could study more, but I couldn't reschedule because I had an internship lined up for the summer. Overall, nearly everyone scores higher on their real exam than achiever because achiever's goal is to hit students with the hardest types of problems so that students will be prepared for them on test day. I STRUGGLED through achiever and I did much better on the real exam. Just use it as a tool to learn more not an accurate estimate of your score. Review the types of problems that you get wrong.

Personally I would not reschedule because
1) I'd probably always feel like I could study more and you have to strike a balance between studying long enough to learn the material and not studying too much that you begin forgetting
2) It is getting late in the application cycle and if you do end up with average scores, you will have a harder time standing out than if you had applied earlier when there were less applications being considered for interviews. I took my DAT the last week of June and it took 3 weeks for my scores to be posted to AADSAS so you have to consider the fact that you application may not be complete until 3 weeks after you take the DAT.

p.s. Some of the section on the PAT will be harder than crack DAT and some will be easier. In the end Crack DAT is a good estimate of your score so keep working on the program if you have more tests.

 

[dchoi]

only you know the answer to your question. i postponed my test just 2 weeks because I thought I needed that time to get everything together. Those last 2 weeks were basically spent on taking practice tests. After those 2 weeks, I just knew that studying wouldn't help me anymore and I was eager to take it.

 

[IFoundNemo]

Wow I wish I could feel "eager to take it"...I feel I keep fearing the DAT like the plague! Silly I know but I feel I have a lot riding on it. Best of luck guys!!

 

[BlackPearl7]

I'm with you Nemo, I started calling the momentous day "D-Day"

 

[Msmouth]

Taking mine August 31.

I think you have to trust your gut on this. Do you think 1 or 2 more weeks will bring your score up that much and if so, will your application be delayed that much more?
I know I'll be on the late side but I also know I've had major time constraints bestowed upon me. I finished Physics I early July and then we had a 1 week summer vacation. I did manage to put in 2-3 hours a day while on vaca. I got my PAT skills improved and I'm very slowly improving my math. If I had known math destroyer would be this challenging I would have started it during last semester. Now I'm struggling with geometry and speed! I met with a tutor once and plan to meet him again tomorrow for more help.
I have 6 weeks left and I feel the nerves and panic already. I work 1 day/week and have children. My husband has been very supportive and I don't take off weekends. I pray I get this right the first time!

 

[cluckyducky]

I'm with you Nemo, I started calling the momentous day "D-Day"

Hahaha I thought I was the only one to do that! "DDAY" is how I have it noted in all my calendars.

My retake is coming up on August 9... I hope that this doesn't put me too far behind. If I have everything ready to go and submitted (including secondaries) by the end of August, is that fine, or is it too late?

 

[BlackPearl7]

Hahaha I thought I was the only one to do that! "DDAY" is how I have it noted in all my calendars.

My retake is coming up on August 9... I hope that this doesn't put me too far behind. If I have everything ready to go and submitted (including secondaries) by the end of August, is that fine, or is it too late?

Lol nice. And no, just because you won't be early does not mean you will be late. Although my friend in dental school told me that applications received after August 1st will get the post Dec 1 interviews. All the overachievers on here who got their apps in the day after it came out are not representative of the applicant pool I believe