Need input on schedule

[jimmpannzee]

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Hey guys! So in my last thread nobody replied 🙁 I was hoping more feedback from the incredible SDN!
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=969517

So I made my own schedule! It's called the 3 WEEK EXPRESS (Attached word doc), tell me what you think! I plan on studying 10-12 hours a day, yippy lol I'm still in the process of finalizing the schedule, but I would really appreciate your input! I feel that if I have something solid to work on everyday I wouldn't panic as much throughout the week haha!
WEEK 1: EXPOSURE TO MATERIAL (Cover info from Cliff's, Chad's, KBB)
WEEK 2: EXPERIENCE THROUGH PRACTICE (Practice Destroyer, QVault, CDP,CDR and apply it to practice tests)
WEEK 3: EXCEL THROUGH IMPROVEMENT (Repeat Destroyer, continue taking practice tests to build endurance and strategy)
TEST DAY: EXECUTE THE DAT

Practice test bundles: (3) Topscore (Bio, GC, OC, QR) + Achiever (PAT, RC); I don't have a lot of time so I combined the best of both worlds to stimulate the DAT as close as possible. Saved the ADA 2007 for last as a confidence booster. I can only take about 4 practice tests in my schedule. My main focus and strategy is to get a solid foundation in the Science and Math. PAT I will practice as much as I can with CDP. As for RC I feel it is more luck based not to mention I suck at reading, but I will do CDR.

I'm still debating on a few things:
Should I go over Destroyer Bio twice? GC and OC Destroyer can easily go over twice, but Biology has 453 questions! Is it worth it going over it twice or ease my load going over it once? 75 Bio Destroyer in a day seems like a lot :\
Is the KBB 7th Edition test worth going through?
Effectiveness of QVault GC/OC? I would like to go through the 10 tests for each section or should I drop QVault GC/OC in place of rewatching CHAD a second time?
Any other tips or comments on my schedule?
Thanks!

 

[Msmouth]

Let us know if you get to accomplish all you have planned. It took me a long time to get through everything....no way I could get through all you are doing in 3 weeks. Not to mention the full length exams you need 1/2 day just to do it and then hours to go over your mistakes. Why 3 weeks? Best of luck!

 

[Glimmer1991]

With only 3 weeks, I think you are much better off going over entire concepts than wasting your time with isolated questions in practice exams. This is just my opinion, though, and I know it isn't a very popular one! I never did a practice test, and I studied for 3 months. I also thought KBB was worthless. Use Cliff's AP and Barron's AP.
Also, as far as endurance is concerned, you've sat through the SAT and ACT. The test is long, sure, but I doubt that will be a factor that will affect your performance. If anything, I think some people start feeling dejected by the end (myself included!) because they feel like they didn't do so well on previous sections, not because the time is wearing them down.
If I were you, I'd spend my three weeks continually going over Chad, Cliff's AP, Barron's AP, and Crack the PAT. The questions you'll find in all of these sources (at the end of the chapters in the bio books and at the ends of the videos for Chad) should serve you well. It worked for me. 🙂

 

[jimmpannzee]

Msmouth: I know it will be gruesome, but I will try my best to persevere! I only have 3 weeks in winter break to study. I would like to spend the remaining 5 days of the break with my family and celebrate my sister's birthday 🙂 A 5 hour practice test out of a 10-12 hour day doesn't seem too bad, that leaves me with 5 hours to go over my mistakes and extra time to study more haha!

Glimmer1991: It's hard to argue with a perfect 30 TS score! But I'd feel quite lost of "where I stood" before taking the DAT without some sort of practice test so I'm at least keeping the Topscore/Achiever. Maybe disregard taking the KBB practice test.
I'm looking into Barron's AP Bio and considering doing Chad's twice if I have enough time, thanks for the tip! A couple of questions though:
-Do I need to cover the Lab section of Cliffs or Barrons?
-I know I should do the EOC's problems found after each chapter, but should I also attempt the 100 Question AP Biology practice exam found at the end of of Cliffs/Barrons or should Destroyer be enough? (I'm not studying for a 5 on the AP haha!)

 

[Glimmer1991]

I just did the ones at the ends of the chapters in cliffs and Barron's. If I found I didn't know something, I'd go back and immediately restudy that part in the chapter. I didn't do any of the tests at the end. However, I think that if you like doing practice problems, they are a MUCH better representation of the material on the DAT than the Destroyer. With such a short schedule, you're going for efficiency, and destroyer just isn't efficient. It's much harder than the real deal.
Also, I don't think the chapters on the lab stuff I necessary. I skimmed them, though, but they didn't come in handy! 🙂
You should DEFINITELY watch Chad twice. He is all you need for the chem!

 

[jimmpannzee]

I went ahead and bought Barron's from Amazon 🙂 My god I hate reading, but I hope reading 100 pages of Bio everyday helps in my RC too haha!
I decided to just skip KBB's Bio section as I feel 2 AP Biology book would cover more than enough ground than wasting my time with KBB; however, I've read some of your posts recommending KBB's eye/ear/brain/hormone sections (I think Chapter 6 and 7 - Endocrinology/Nervous system)? Are there any other sections in KBB that you think are particularly useful?
I also added a second round of review Chad's quizzes. I don't think I can rewatch all 27 hours in my time frame so I'll redo quizzes and only repeat videos that I have trouble on. The same thing with Bio review - I will repeat EOC questions and restudy parts in the chapters I don't fully understand.
Thank you for your help thus far Glimmer1991, I really appreciate it! 🙂

 

[Glimmer1991]

Did you know you can watch Chad on 1.5x speed? It makes everything a lot shorter! Maybe you could just watch his videos on the tricker stuff twice. He is such a wonderful resource.
The endocrinology/hormone stuff is actually pretty dang important for the test. It is covered in the AP sources, but the KBB was maybe a bit more comprehensive. I'd look over that chapter in all three of the books. Also, I don't think the brain/ear/nose/eye stuff is too important for the DAT, but just maybe skim that chapter really fast and notice any key words. I looked at those chapters before I took my test but never really learned them, and well, it didn't hurt me too much. 🙂 All of the stuff about the brain was especially overwhelming, and KBB went too far in-depth about it! Also, that's another good tip--if something seems really in-depth, just make sure you get the gist of it and move on. The DAT doesn't test for a deep understanding; I found it just wanted to make sure you know a little bit about everything.