Just took the DAT and Advice for DAT taker

[p0l0bear01]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I just took the DAT and it is such a relief to be done with it for good. This is my second retake. I have to admit I am very happy with the scores. Can't complain about it. My advice to anyone taking the test is to study..study...study.. and get the right material. All together I was studying for about 3 months and then on the last month I kicked it in to high gear. Most of you are wandering what you need to do to get a high score and what material to get. First off let me say that my first time taking the test I received a low score.
First Time:
AA 19
TS 20
QR 19
GChem 18
OChem 23
Bio 18
Pat 16
RC 18

After the first time I took the test I realized that studying from the Kaplan book and ExamKraker was not enough. So he is a list of material that you will definitely need if you want to score well on the DAT, but of course it is up to your discretion if you believe me or not.

The materials you need are:
TopScore emulates the real DAT very well.
Dat Acheiver is great for the PAT. Do the PAT twice a day.
Kaplan, don't take the course just get the book. It gives you a stepping stone on what to study.
REA Biology, is an excellent source that I used for the Bio studying.
DAT Destroyer, general chemistry and organic,bio, great source.

Before getting the Dat Destroyer, I took another diagnostic and found out that I was not doing so well on the Gen Chem and Orgo section. So I then bought the DAT Destroyer. Even though other post were posting that it was not worth it. But I have to really disagree with those other post. DAT Destroyer was great for Gchem, Organic and also Bio section. The explanations were simple and straight to the point. It also has most questions that was on the DAT. Questions that I couln't find anywhere else. The Dat Destroyer gave me more confidence in the GCHEM and Organic. The other best thing about it was that I was able to call them anytime to ask any questions. Which I did several times. What other material does that as a service for a student. Your probably wondering what my second score is now right, well here it is.
RC 24
PAT 19
QR 18
BIO 22
GChem 29
Org 22
TS 23
AA 23

Now here are materials that you should not waste your money on. And please listen to me on this one too!!
KSFReview
DATSecret, which is being sold on ebay also.
ExamKracker, because it just isn't good for the DAT, for the MCAT yes.
AceTheDAT

So that is my two cents. Good luck with your studying and study..study.

 

[who knows...]

Congratulations! 😀 and thank you for the tips...I can't wait to be free too 🙁

 

[Djapprentice]

Congratulations! 😀 and thank you for the tips...I can't wait to be free too 🙁

To the OP, its funny, my friend Dean received pretty much the same scores, are you Dean, by any chance, lol.

 

[biocmp]

So he is a list of material that you will definitely need if you want to score well on the DAT, but of course it is up to your discretion if you believe me or not.

First, I'll choose not to believe you. Second, it's never good to make blanket statements like above. I am going to refer you to some posts with all the people who scored above a 20 on the DAT and not a single one of them used the DAT destroyer! I have to dig it up first. You shouldn't feed young pre-dents garbage about what they have to have! What they need to do, is study many hours, and keep doing practic exams from ADA and kaplan.

Great scores, I'm sure you will get into dental school, assuming you are well rounded. The best of luck to you.

 

[RockstarDMD]

What they need to do, is study many hours, and keep doing practic exams from ADA and kaplan.

Check out this guy advertising Kaplan.

 

[jkh1886]

Check out this guy advertising Kaplan.

You may want to read biocmp's quote more closely. he's referring to practice exams by kaplan, not their study material. It's a good idea to take kaplan practice exams, along with topscore and the others...

Romano-ites make it too easy to critique their arguments. Another Romano-ite said they were a part of a Romano-is-God underground cult in NY that looked to skin ignorant people alive. Geez.

 

[Indie]

You may want to read biocmp's quote more closely. he's referring to practice exams by kaplan, not their study material. It's a good idea to take kaplan practice exams, along with topscore and the others...

Romano-ites make it too easy to critique their arguments. Another Romano-ite said they were a part of a Romano-is-God underground cult in NY that looked to skin ignorant people alive. Geez.

I don't speak for any "Romano-ites" as you put it because im not in his classes, but like the OP I bought the Dat Destroyer too, and have found it to be a great source of info and practice, plus like the OP said, I have called Dr. Romano many many times to get further explanation on stuff I wasnt clear on. He's a cool guy and I will say this much, he's always explained the stuff i've had trouble with so he does stand behind his product. Also, like the OP, Ive taken the DAT once already and am taking it again in 2 weeks, i'll let you all know how I do..

 

[p0l0bear01]

I never said the Dat Destroyer is the only resource to use. That was one of many tools that I used to prepare for the DAT. The lists of resources are what I actually used and have true experience with it.

As you can see from my post I never said not use Kaplan, I clearly said that i used it as a stepping stone.

You don't have to start bashing some one who is willing to share information on what helped him or her. If you have not used it then you can't say anything about me being wrong or right. This forum is to make suggestion and relay to aspiring dentist on what steps need to be taken to make it a reality.

Even if their did or did not use the Dat Destroyer and received high marks, I am very happy for them. Of all of the advice that has been posted, I have taken it as information and would never resort to badgering him/her.

I especially don't appreciate you being condescending,BIOCMP, when you said, "assuming you are well rounded" ,all I'm trying to do is to give advice that I believe is true. You don't know me and I don't know you so just leave it at that.

This whole site is about feeding each other information, that will help. I believe that I have done that and it is not garbage coming out of my mouth.


So have a little respect for people who are willing to share information.

 

[TeethRCool]

I never said the Dat Destroyer is the only resource to use. That was one of many tools that I used to prepare for the DAT. The lists of resources are what I actually used and have true experience with it.

As you can see from my post I never said not use Kaplan, I clearly said that i used it as a stepping stone.

You don't have to start bashing some one who is willing to share information on what helped him or her. If you have not used it then you can't say anything about me being wrong or right. This forum is to make suggestion and relay to aspiring dentist on what steps need to be taken to make it a reality.

Even if their did or did not use the Dat Destroyer and received high marks, I am very happy for them. Of all of the advice that has been posted, I have taken it as information and would never resort to badgering him/her.

I especially don't appreciate you being condescending,BIOCMP, when you said, "assuming you are well rounded" ,all I'm trying to do is to give advice that I believe is true. You don't know me and I don't know you so just leave it at that.

This whole site is about feeding each other information, that will help. I believe that I have done that and it is not garbage coming out of my mouth.


So have a little respect for people who are willing to share information.

👍

 

[soontobe2007]

I never said the Dat Destroyer is the only resource to use. That was one of many tools that I used to prepare for the DAT. The lists of resources are what I actually used and have true experience with it.

As you can see from my post I never said not use Kaplan, I clearly said that i used it as a stepping stone.

You don't have to start bashing some one who is willing to share information on what helped him or her. If you have not used it then you can't say anything about me being wrong or right. This forum is to make suggestion and relay to aspiring dentist on what steps need to be taken to make it a reality.

Even if their did or did not use the Dat Destroyer and received high marks, I am very happy for them. Of all of the advice that has been posted, I have taken it as information and would never resort to badgering him/her.

I especially don't appreciate you being condescending,BIOCMP, when you said, "assuming you are well rounded" ,all I'm trying to do is to give advice that I believe is true. You don't know me and I don't know you so just leave it at that.

This whole site is about feeding each other information, that will help. I believe that I have done that and it is not garbage coming out of my mouth.


So have a little respect for people who are willing to share information.

I completely agree with this statement. I have been reading the posts on this website for a while and it seems as if the slightest mention of anything positive about the DAT destroyer is taken as an advertisement. I am using the DAT destroyer right now as well, and just like Kaplan, like Achiever and top score, it is another way to practice. it's annoying to see people bashing on each other when people are sincerely trying to help. If someone doesn't want to use the DAT destroyer because they think it is too heavily advertised, then he/she does not have to use it. But it's wrong to bash on a product without even trying it first.. I also do not think that there is any one MAGICAL thing that guarantees high scores. I know as much as anyone else that scoring high on these tests and succeeding in life is highly correlated with the amount of work one puts in. But, like I said, the DAT destroyer is just another way to practice, practice, practice. That's all I have to say about that. People should stop being rude to others solely because they said they used DAT Destroyer and it was helpful!!

 

[biocmp]

Wow! I can't believe I'm accused of badgering! 😉 I am just a little tired of the brand new posters writing about the things you need for "superior" scores. Superior to what?

Not that new posters are ignorant. I am not saying it in the least. Sometimes I am just concerned about younger pre-dents who are really eating up every word on these forums. And why shouldn't they, with the scores being tossed around here, it is like an intellectual storage bank.

I especially don't appreciate you being condescending

In all honesty, I wasn't being condescending with a statement like that. I hope the best for you and assuming you have a good GPA, have done some shadowing, and a few extra-curriculars to your name, I think you have a good shot with that DAT score.

Really, you have to be in person to understand the tone with a statement like that, so be careful with assumptions, we all know what those do.

Check out this guy advertising Kaplan.

Rockstar, please tell everyone on here that kaplan is bad! Or please tell me that you did not use a single kaplan material for your DAT. Or better yet, please tell all the students studying for the DAT right now that they can do it without kaplan, and that kaplan over the years has proved nothing except that they want your money and give you nothing in return!

Of course I'm going to tell students to use the kaplan exams and Dat Achiever exams and exams for the ADA.

Notice rockstar didn't mention me advertising the ADA in the same breath? I wonder why not? Probably because he is reaching just a little bit. 🙂

How many times do I have to say, I am not bashing Dr. Romano or the material. If I would see some more objective posts about the material, like the OP intended before he made the critical mistake of saying "superior" scores, I won't touch them. Not a single one. I do think more practice helps, and that is exactly what the DAT destroyer is. Practice. And people say it has good explanations for all of the questions.

 

[Clover]

How many times do I have to say, I am not bashing Dr. Romano or the material. If I would see some more objective posts about the material, like the OP intended before he made the critical mistake of saying "superior" scores, I won't touch them.

It doesn't get more objective than standardized test scores.

To the OP, it's superior. It's his post. It's his grades and it's his definition of superior.

But 20's are 20's, or rather 29's are 29's. You can't argue that.

So my question to you is, why are you picking a fight? 😕

 

[lifeisgood]

You may want to read biocmp's quote more closely. he's referring to practice exams by kaplan, not their study material. It's a good idea to take kaplan practice exams, along with topscore and the others...

Romano-ites make it too easy to critique their arguments. Another Romano-ite said they were a part of a Romano-is-God underground cult in NY that looked to skin ignorant people alive. Geez.

I don't have DAT Destroyer but I e-mailed Dr. Romano this morning around 2 am inquiring about the product. He called me this morning around 9 and spent around 10 mins on the phone explaining it and his philosophies behind studying for the DAT. He actually seems like a really sincere person who believes in the product (as he should because he developed it). He didn't try to push the product on me in any way, in fact he said he thought it probably wasn't in my best interest to purchase it this late since I am taking the test in 11 days. Anyway, my point is maybe all the antagonists should give it a rest.

 

[biocmp]

Ok, I am officially stopping the DAT destroyer "bashing". I will leave the posts alone. I am going to pick up a copy soon (hopefully used) and give you my feeling on it.

I'm looking back over my posts and I guess I was a little 🙂 rough with my reactions. Really great job to the OP on the scores. I am even going to call Dr. Romano and talk to him before making the purchase.

I'll move on to try and be informative with my posts from now on.

Good luck to all on the DAT

* TO Clover, you are right. I have been a little cranky lately because of my schedule and I let it be felt on here. I am retracting my orginal position and instead I am going to objectively review the DAT destroyer, along with all of the other materials I have already purchased. BTW, great scores on the DAT.

 

[lifeisgood]

Ok, I am officially stopping the DAT destroyer "bashing". I will leave the posts alone. I am going to pick up a copy soon (hopefully used) and give you my feeling on it.

I'm looking back over my posts and I guess I was a little 🙂 rough with my reactions. Really great job to the OP on the scores. I am even going to call Dr. Romano and talk to him before making the purchase.

I'll move on to try and be informative with my posts from now on.

Good luck to all on the DAT

* TO Clover, you are right. I have been a little cranky lately because of my schedule and I let it be felt on here. I am retracting my orginal position and instead I am going to objectively review the DAT destroyer, along with all of the other materials I have already purchased. BTW, great scores on the DAT.

FYI, Dr. Romano told me he was leaving this morning for a week (vacation or something). He will be back next week. He also said that people who get the destroyer have full acces to call him up and ask him any questions you might have. He will even tell you which questions on it have been on recent exams as told to him by other students. Anyway, good luck.

 

[RT0223]

Are your DAT Destroyer books for sale?

 

[lifeisgood]

Are your DAT Destroyer books for sale?

If you are referring to me, I don't even get them until tomorrow. Taking my test on the 30th.

 

[biocmp]

Is that REA biology builder?

 

[p0l0bear01]

BIOCMP, yes it is the REA Biology. It covers everything on the DAT and is less condense then Campbell. Also, the pylum section is covered very well. When you first start using the book it might seem confusing but you will get use to it. Make sure to do all of the questions after the chapters.
Kaplan as we all know is not enough to get above a 20 on the real DAT.
Hope that helps.

 

[p0l0bear01]

If you have any questions or need help don`t hesitate to contact me. I will be glad to help you out and give any info that can be helpful. Hope to see some of you in dental school.

Good Luck!!

 

[smnop]

i'm also using dat destroyer and a lot of other books also and it's okay so far..but i guess i won't know until i take the exam... 😳