Need advice on Preparation

[Eri3]

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The first time I took the DAT, I didn't know about SDN and took it with only preparing with a Kaplan course.

To say that I underestimated the DAT would be an understatement. On top of attending the required 3 hr weekly classes I studied for 10 days about 5 hrs a day. But I did take 5 full length practice DATs and several timed section practice exams.

These are my scores: 18 AA/ 18 PAT/ 18 TS; 19 Bio, 19 OC 16 GC, 17 QR and 21 RC.

Although I did not adequately prepare, on my PAT practice I was receiving good scores ave: 21+ because I was getting all of my angle ranking, hole punching and cube counting right.

However on the real test, the angle ranking was much more difficult. And on hole punching I saw folds I had never seen before.
I also had some trouble with key holes and TFE. So basically the whole thing except pattern folding and cube counting.

So I've been told to buy Crack The DAT to help with my weak areas but on several breakdowns I saw numerous people recommend DAT Qvault.
I can only buy one due to financial reasons, which one and why?

In order to improve my scores on the Sciences I was recommended to use Chad's videos and DAT destroyer.
I thought the natural sciences sections was pretty straight forward except the GC section.
My greatest weakness comes from my terrible skills in calculating w/o a calculator and also deciphering which formula should I use in the solutions section. Also, I need to learn how to efficiently balance equations.
Are Chad's videos and Destroyer enough for what I need to improve?

On Bio, I got a few weird questions about photosynthesis that I had never seen before but since I'm a Bio major I should be ok in this section, I just need some refreshment in Human Anatomy and genetics. I am buying AP cliff notes and using Chads videos. Also some DAT destroyer.
Do I need to use anything else?

On OC I thought it was pretty straight forward, my biggest weakness is in remembering the different types of isomers. Also, on the real DAT the nomenclature questions were much more trickier bc they asked to name a product from a given rxn.
I think Chad's videos and destroyer should be enough for this section.

On QR my biggest weaknesses were in the probability section, rate section and the geometry section ( I could not remember the Tan sec sin cos and all of that stuff.) I also had some trouble translating word problems like john is 5 times older than jane and blah blah blah.
I plan on taking a more in depth look at my kaplan class and I also plan on using Destroyer.
Do you recommend any other sources?

Finally, my higher RC score may have been a fluke because I got very lucky and got passages that I really liked and had previous knowledge about. After all, English is my second language and I've learned to read much slower than the average person. However, I think kaplan's strategy is very good, I just need to become more efficient at it. What do you recommend for this section?



I would like to re-take the DAT in about 8 weeks. I am planning on following Dentalworks "8 week program" but instead of KBB i plan on using my Kaplan course and review notes book.

Other than E-Bay and craig's list, are there any other places where I can get Math & sciences destroyer for a cheap price?

I apologize for the long post and thank you in advance for your opinion.

 

[asne0407]

Did you apply last year?

 

[Eri3]

Did you apply last year?

No first time applicant

 

[asne0407]

So did you already submit your application because if your not taking it for 8 more weeks its gonna be pretty late?

 

[hope_to_match]

So did you already submit your application because if your not taking it for 8 more weeks its gonna be pretty late?

i am planning to apply this year but after I take my test (end of August)

 

[asne0407]

Ok so that said I would use DAT destroyer for the sciences...it really helped me and topscore for the sciences was good practice after going over everything in DAT destroyer.

 

[Eri3]

So did you already submit your application because if your not taking it for 8 more weeks its gonna be pretty late?

I was advised to submit from my dentist who has been an ADCOMS member.

I'm applying to UNC, ECU (NC resident), Maryland, Louisville and VCU. I have already submitted my supplemental apps for UNC and ECU. I've also been contacted from Louisville and they have all the information they need. I guess they don't have a supplemental app.

The only thing I'm worried about is that the schools will just put my application aside and won't re-look at it when I submit my new scores since it won't be until mid September (pretty late in the cycle)

 

[asne0407]

And wouldn't 8 weeks be like mid september?? Then it takes about a week or two for your DAT scores to upload...so that may be late september-early october...I would submit now and say that your retaking the DAT so that you may get an interview pending your new DAT scores...that way they have reviewed your app and know who you are already.

 

[asne0407]

What did they say about applying with your current scores? what is your GPA?

 

[Eri3]

So did you already submit your application because if your not taking it for 8 more weeks its gonna be pretty late?

What did they say about applying with your current scores? what is your GPA?

I haven't heard anything about my scores, but my gpa based on AADSAS is sci. 3.93 and non sci 4.0

 

[Eri3]

Have you taken the DAT? If so what should I use for my PAT and GC practice. Theses are the two sections im most worried about

 

[asne0407]

Well your GPAs are GREAT! If I were you I would call each school and see which scenario would give you greater chances...applying early with your current scores and GPA or applying late with your new scores (hopefully better)...Also check and see what they think about DAT cutoffs

 

[asne0407]

Ya I took the DAT I got a 19 on the PAT and I used crack the DAT/PAT and that really helped me. For the sciences I mostly used topscore and destroyer. I feel I could have done better with the sciences if I had more time to go over destroyer because it has SO much info but I took the DAT the week after finals and I got GC:18 and OC:19

 

[Eri3]

Ya I took the DAT I got a 19 on the PAT and I used crack the DAT/PAT and that really helped me. For the sciences I mostly used topscore and destroyer. I feel I could have done better with the sciences if I had more time to go over destroyer because it has SO much info but I took the DAT the week after finals and I got GC:18 and OC:19

Yea I haven't really gotten a clear answer on cut offs. But the schools that I already listed have already received my current scores and AADSAS so I can't really take that back. I am just going to focus on getting better scores and hope for the best.

I am contemplating on whether to by CPAT or Qvault. I had a lot of trouble with the angle ranking and hole punching on the real DAT and I've read conflicting reviews about CPAT.

 

[asne0407]

I didn't try Qvault so I can't really say but I feel that crack the PAT had more than enough practice. I felt that Hole punching was easier on the DAT and angle ranking was harder on the DAT

 

[Eri3]

Well your GPAs are GREAT! If I were you I would call each school and see which scenario would give you greater chances...applying early with your current scores and GPA or applying late with your new scores (hopefully better)...Also check and see what they think about DAT cutoffs

I didn't try Qvault so I can't really say but I feel that crack the PAT had more than enough practice. I felt that Hole punching was easier on the DAT and angle ranking was harder on the DAT

Thanks for the help and suggestions.