Need major dat advice!

[wired202808]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hey guys so I hate to raise the red flag but I need some advice here, I'm studying for the DAT (1st attempt) for about a month and a half now. I've gone through Chad's videos and the Destroyer (1X) GC and OC only. I've gone through 5 Math Destroyer Tests and 5 CDP tests. I'm not happy where I am currently on GC and OC and I need to improve. Plus I need to dedicate time to Bio, I read Cliffs and KBB for Bio once, but need to review that too. The issue is that I'm taking Orgo II now so I haven't covered all the stuff, plus I've calculated that I will use up roughly 15 days for misc. school work and family stuff.

I wanted to take the exam on June 5th, do you feel I can do so and get a good score? I am currently studying throughout the entire day as I am only taking Orgo 2 (don't ask, I had an issue with work.) So that gets me anywhere from 6 to 8 hours a day of studying (breaks and stuff.) If today is April 10th, then with the 15 days of misc. stuff, I'm roughly working as if today was April 25th and I would take the exam in nearly 5 weeks. Again is this achievable to get a 20 or 21?

In addition I wanted to ask if TopScore or the 2009 Sample ADA Test are my best chances of "predicting my score." I feel that if I am not ready by end of May, I would reschedule my test for mid-June to end of June, is this advisable as well? Because I want to apply as early as possible and be on the first few batches to increase my odds of getting in, as my GPA should be a nearly 3.4 with a 3.4 science GPA.

Please let me know your thoughts, Thanks everyone!

 

[NguyenDDS]

Hey guys so I hate to raise the red flag but I need some advice here, I'm studying for the DAT (1st attempt) for about a month and a half now. I've gone through Chad's videos and the Destroyer (1X) GC and OC only. I've gone through 5 Math Destroyer Tests and 5 CDP tests. I'm not happy where I am currently on GC and OC and I need to improve. Plus I need to dedicate time to Bio, I read Cliffs and KBB for Bio once, but need to review that too. The issue is that I'm taking Orgo II now so I haven't covered all the stuff, plus I've calculated that I will use up roughly 15 days for misc. school work and family stuff.

I wanted to take the exam on June 5th, do you feel I can do so and get a good score? I am currently studying throughout the entire day as I am only taking Orgo 2 (don't ask, I had an issue with work.) So that gets me anywhere from 6 to 8 hours a day of studying (breaks and stuff.) If today is April 10th, then with the 15 days of misc. stuff, I'm roughly working as if today was April 25th and I would take the exam in nearly 5 weeks. Again is this achievable to get a 20 or 21?

In addition I wanted to ask if TopScore or the 2009 Sample ADA Test are my best chances of "predicting my score." I feel that if I am not ready by end of May, I would reschedule my test for mid-June to end of June, is this advisable as well? Because I want to apply as early as possible and be on the first few batches to increase my odds of getting in, as my GPA should be a nearly 3.4 with a 3.4 science GPA.

Please let me know your thoughts, Thanks everyone!

I haven't taken the DAT myself yet, so I can only give you advice that people gave me. I've been told numerous time to "don't rush things." I, too, want to get my applications in ASAP due to my low GPA... however, a poor DAT score from lack of readiness and rushing is a regretful mistake, and is much worse than applying later in the cycle with a great DAT score. No one wants to wait 3 months later to retake either and pay that fee. Just take it when you are ready, but try to get as much done with the time you have. I believe the last day to reschedule is 2 days before your scheduled time, so do the best you can 👍

 

[dentalWorks]

Hey guys so I hate to raise the red flag but I need some advice here, I'm studying for the DAT (1st attempt) for about a month and a half now. I've gone through Chad's videos and the Destroyer (1X) GC and OC only. I've gone through 5 Math Destroyer Tests and 5 CDP tests. I'm not happy where I am currently on GC and OC and I need to improve. Plus I need to dedicate time to Bio, I read Cliffs and KBB for Bio once, but need to review that too. The issue is that I'm taking Orgo II now so I haven't covered all the stuff, plus I've calculated that I will use up roughly 15 days for misc. school work and family stuff.

I wanted to take the exam on June 5th, do you feel I can do so and get a good score? I am currently studying throughout the entire day as I am only taking Orgo 2 (don't ask, I had an issue with work.) So that gets me anywhere from 6 to 8 hours a day of studying (breaks and stuff.) If today is April 10th, then with the 15 days of misc. stuff, I'm roughly working as if today was April 25th and I would take the exam in nearly 5 weeks. Again is this achievable to get a 20 or 21?

In addition I wanted to ask if TopScore or the 2009 Sample ADA Test are my best chances of "predicting my score." I feel that if I am not ready by end of May, I would reschedule my test for mid-June to end of June, is this advisable as well? Because I want to apply as early as possible and be on the first few batches to increase my odds of getting in, as my GPA should be a nearly 3.4 with a 3.4 science GPA.

Please let me know your thoughts, Thanks everyone!

well... Your basically done with 50%+ (give/take) of your GC / OC / QR / and PAT preparation.... I think your in great shape. Assuming school finishes up by early May, you have from then to June 5th to study hard and go through more destroyer problems (both books: DAT and MATH).

Even if you end up wasting 2 weeks in May (family and friends), its not the end of the world.... if worst comes, push the DAT date till June 15th ~ although I don't think you'll need to do this.

3.4 / 3.4 / 20AA+ has a nice ring to it.

all the best

 

[wired202808]

Thanks dentalworks, the problem is that our school ends on May 24th 🙁 so the 15 days im losing is all around from now until then. And i wanted to take summer classes which start May 31st, so now I'm not sure if I can do all of that. but either way getting the DAT over with and received a good score is the #1 concern.

In addition, do you believe TopScore and the 2009 Sample ADA Test will be the best predictors of my score? I just want some way of knowing whether my score is up to par before I take the exam.

 

[dentalWorks]

Thanks dentalworks, the problem is that our school ends on May 24th 🙁 so the 15 days im losing is all around from now until then. And i wanted to take summer classes which start May 31st, so now I'm not sure if I can do all of that. but either way getting the DAT over with and received a good score is the #1 concern.

In addition, do you believe TopScore and the 2009 Sample ADA Test will be the best predictors of my score? I just want some way of knowing whether my score is up to par before I take the exam.

Personally, I say forget it for the summer courses. From may 24th till June 5th, focus on 100% on DAT.... remember, when May 24th roles around, your gonna have most your preparation complete, your just going to use those 2-3 weeks focusing on re-reading cliffs ap, maybe going over Destroyer books 1 more time.

As far as topscore and 2009 sample DAT goes, I can't answer that, I didn't take take either test to score myself. From what I have seen from these forms, whatever you score on topscore is usually lower than what you'll get on the real DAT (this is especially true for the folks who have prepared hard ~ like you have). Some folks around say that the 2009 sample DAT is the closest thing to what you'll get on the real DAT, I wouldn't know.

I'll tell you something tho, back in 2009 (around the time I took my dat)... there was a person who came here and said one of his RC passages WAS EXACTLY THE SAME as one of the 2009 sample RC passages hahah... same passage, same questions, same everything.... What a lucky guy right?

 

[wired202808]

Wow thats nuts! I think you're idea makes sense and it was something I was also considering, give the fact that summer classes are the hyper version of a regular semester AND I will still need time to study for the DAT (even if its one more week.) I might as well not take any classes during June, wrap up the application process and the exam and then just take more classes during the second semester.

Thanks your help dentalworks.

 

[mprs]

Not sure about your school, but my Orgo I covered most of the DAT stuff. You "will" need to know some reagents and stuff from orgo II (common reagents like NH3), but you won't need to go into the heavy heavy stuff. I think you do need to be able to identify the upper-level reactions, but not really any theory or what not.

I don't think Top Score or the sample DAT are accurate for predicting your scores. It can give you over confidence, or under confidence, or keeps you the same. You should just look at it as extra practice. I went in to my exam getting 14s - 18s in my practice tests. The actual thing wasn't easier, but it was different and I ended up with 21AA (my results are posted in my sig I think, haven't been on here for a while). I believe it is important to do these practice tests, but don't buy too much into them. Unless you are struggling with easy questions, I would just consider them as they are, practice.

Just my thoughts/opinions (which could totally be off/wrong!)