Nontraditional applicant study tips

[Cosine Orion]

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I have been out of school for a long time (BS biology 2002; MS biology 2007) and after nearly 10 years in pharma/biotech research I've decided to go for dentistry. I don't have much spare time to study for the DAT and at the pace I'm going will likely spend a year total preparing for it. I work full time, commute 10 hours a week, volunteer in my community and shadow when I can. During the school year I teach college biology 1 evening a week. I have an infant and a very supportive spouse. I have a lot on my plate but am very determined (encouragement only, please). 🙂 To maximize my study time I'm writing math/chem equations on my shower walls, listening to .wav files of myself reading paragraphs out of review books, doing practice problems during breaks at work, and I even review orbitals and quantum numbers in my head as I stare at my periodic table shower curtain. 😛

My question for you: What else can I be doing? Are there other ways to squeeze more studying into my days/nights? What other daily mindless activities can I take advantage of?

Also, are there any particular topics that would work well with the .wav recordings? So far I have cell respiration, photosynthesis, and some genetics. I would love suggestions.

 

[virajpatel]

What I would recommend is don't spread the studying out too much. A year for this exam is too much in my opinion. One, because you will started to get very frustrated no matter how determined you are. And two, because you will not be able to retain the information as well over a longer period of time. As much as I hate to say it. It is one of those exams that you should give yourself 4-5 month (maximum) for and constantly review material over and over. By that I mean keep review material from each subject everyday. That way it stays fresh in your head. Hope that helps.

 

[Cosine Orion]

Thanks for the advice. I feel like I don't have a whole lot of options on how long it takes though - I definitely don't want to take the test before I'm ready. If I take ochem2 this fall I will most likely put hardcore DAT studying on hold and resume in the spring. At that point I'm hoping things I've already studied a lot will feel like review and I can put in some serious hours for a couple/few months.

Ways to maximize my spare time or other advice are still appreciated...

 

[Illfavor]

ExamKrackers MCAT Audio Osmosis. I had 10 hours of commute during my prep, and this is actually very good for using that time.

 

[hope_to_match]

examkrackers mcat audio osmosis. I had 10 hours of commute during my prep, and this is actually very good for using that time.

+1

 

[Cosine Orion]

ExamKrackers MCAT Audio Osmosis. I had 10 hours of commute during my prep, and this is actually very good for using that time.

Thanks! I've read about quite a few errors in the CDs - did they hinder you in any way?

Their material covers bio/chem/ochem (and we get to skip physics) right?

 

[Glimmer1991]

You seem like a person who really has clear direction and motivation. Awesome!

However, I really do not recommend studying for that long. You have to know SO many little random facts for this test, and I fear that you will keep forgetting things. I am a very good test taker and had to struggle with this even over my 3-month study schedule; I had to review constantly to make sure it was all still there!

Is there any way you could even just put in one HARD month of studying and go for this test? I'm talking 8 hour days--treat it like a full-time job. I think you would find this much more fruitful in the end than trying to space things out. A year of studying sounds like a nightmare not only because it is so long, but also because it seems really inefficient. You seem like a very smart person who obviously is going to want to do their very best on this test. Condense your study time and knock your test out of the park!

Also, if you need any tips on what/how to study, check the links in my signature. They'll give you everything you could possibly need. Best of luck, and let me know if I can help!

Also, for your audio learning, here's something I recommend. It will be a bit time consuming, but record yourself reading the chapters out of Barron's AP biology and listen to them during your commute. I think that could help!

 

[Illfavor]

Thanks! I've read about quite a few errors in the CDs - did they hinder you in any way?

Their material covers bio/chem/ochem (and we get to skip physics) right?

There's a list of the errors on here somewhere. That didn't really hold me back. Plus, find me a resource without errors and ill show you an unread book.

Yessir, GC OC and BIO. They do a good job on Bio, actually trying to connect biological systems.

 

[Cosine Orion]

Thank you so much, Glimmer! I have looked at your breakdown a few times and found it very helpful. In fact, they are the reason I'm watching Chad's videos and if I remember right, you/your thread gave me the idea to record myself reading bio stuff. I really appreciate your encouragement and tips.

At the moment, I don't see how 8 hours/day is possible... unless I gave up sleeping and eating. I appreciate what everyone is conveying here but, short of starting a speed addiction or getting myself fired, I don't know how to find that many extra hours a day. I'm going to have to make it work somehow...

 

[Cosine Orion]

There's a list of the errors on here somewhere. That didn't really hold me back. Plus, find me a resource without errors and ill show you an unread book.

Yessir, GC OC and BIO. They do a good job on Bio, actually trying to connect biological systems.

Thanks! I did find the list of errors... there are a lot but you are right. I've already emailed lists to a couple companies, myself!

 

[Glimmer1991]

I know it is really hard to get everything in with a job. I still think you're dealing with diminishing returns when you space it out so much, though.

How about this. For the next month and a half, get in as much studying as you possibly can around all of your other commitments. Then, take two weeks of vacation. I'm sure that isn't exactly the BEST thing to do with your job, but your scores on this test will have a massive impact on your admission to DS. You haven't been in school for a long time, so this proves that you've still "got it." 🙂

Also, are you sure that all of your pre-reqs are still up-to-date?

EDIT--Misinformation!

 

[Cosine Orion]

I know it is really hard to get everything in with a job. I still think you're dealing with diminishing returns when you space it out so much, though.

How about this. For the next month and a half, get in as much studying as you possibly can around all of your other commitments. Then, take two weeks of vacation. I'm sure that isn't exactly the BEST thing to do with your job, but your scores on this test will have a massive impact on your admission to DS. You haven't been in school for a long time, so this proves that you've still "got it." 🙂

Also, are you sure that all of your pre-reqs are still up-to-date? Some (if not most) schools say that they can't be any older than 5 years.

That sounds like a good plan. Taking a week or so off work has crossed my mind before; I think that's my best bet.

I wondered that about my old course work - I have looked at 15-20 schools I'm interested in and none of them mention expiration dates on prerequisites. This is based on their website info and the official guide. Do I need to dig deeper to find out?

 

[hunterx2]

I wondered that about my old course work - I have looked at 15-20 schools I'm interested in and none of them mention expiration dates on prerequisites. This is based on their website info and the official guide. Do I need to dig deeper to find out?

I am in my mid 20's and also NT like you. Most of my pre-reqs are out of date, but after extensive research I found only one school that has an expiration date on old courses, but I don't even remember the name of that school. Just visit their web sites and look under requirements if you want to verify.

I was also working while studying for the DAT and yeah I agree with the above that 1 yr is way too long. You'll be forgetting stuff you reviewed before and end up studying again and again, and you might just lose your sanity. Fortunately, the chemistry sections are very reasonable and do not require as much study as bio (which I assume you don't need to prep for since you're teaching it).

 

[Msmouth]

Check out chad's videos for starters if no one has previously mentioned it.
Good luck!

 

[Cosine Orion]

I am in my mid 20's and also NT like you. Most of my pre-reqs are out of date, but after extensive research I found only one school that has an expiration date on old courses, but I don't even remember the name of that school. Just visit their web sites and look under requirements if you want to verify.

I was also working while studying for the DAT and yeah I agree with the above that 1 yr is way too long. You'll be forgetting stuff you reviewed before and end up studying again and again, and you might just lose your sanity. Fortunately, the chemistry sections are very reasonable and do not require as much study as bio (which I assume you don't need to prep for since you're teaching it).

Yep, that's where I've been looking. It makes me wonder where most of these schools are that have a 5 year limit on prereqs.

I will be taking y'alls advice and doing some serious studying for a couple months before I take the exam. For now, some light-paced review is working for me/my time constraints. I feel my brain cells waking up!

Glad to see another nt... I feel like an outlier all the time! 😳

 

[Cosine Orion]

Check out chad's videos for starters if no one has previously mentioned it.
Good luck!

Already half-way thru his gen chem - they are great.

Thanks!! 🙂

 

[Glimmer1991]

Oh! Sorry for totally spreading misinformation about the time limit on prereqs! 🙂

 

[Cosine Orion]

Oh! Sorry for totally spreading misinformation about the time limit on prereqs! 🙂

Is it misinformation? I'm still not sure! 5 years does sound short, though. Since the prereqs are 200-level courses, anyone with a master's would be heading back to campus to take them again if they took a year off. A 10 year time limit would make more sense... and then, yes, I'd be in trouble. I'll call a couple of my top choices just to make sure.

 

[dsoz]

If you TEACH college biology one night a week, then you should have a pretty good grasp on the biology concepts. There is no better way to learn than to be able to teach it to another.

It sounds like your life is even more full than my last two years as a pre-med! I don't have any more advice for you other than what has already been said.

Good luck.
dsoz

 

[Cosine Orion]

If you TEACH college biology one night a week, then you should have a pretty good grasp on the biology concepts. There is no better way to learn than to be able to teach it to another.

It sounds like your life is even more full than my last two years as a pre-med! I don't have any more advice for you other than what has already been said.

Good luck.
dsoz

Thanks dsoz! I am so fortunate for the opportunity to teach - it has been very advantageous and rewarding.

Good luck to you, too.

 

[Cosine Orion]

Is it misinformation? I'm still not sure! 5 years does sound short, though. Since the prereqs are 200-level courses, anyone with a master's would be heading back to campus to take them again if they took a year off. A 10 year time limit would make more sense... and then, yes, I'd be in trouble. I'll call a couple of my top choices just to make sure.

Well, here's one response regarding expiring prereqs:

"None of your transcripts will expire, and we will accept your prerequisites assuming you have completed the requirements with a letter grade of “C” or better."

 

[hunterx2]

also I doubt anybody is going to care about when you took your pre-reqs if you ace that section of the DAT. If you took chemistry 10 years ago but got a 22 on that section, it looks a lot better than somebody taking it last year and getting an 18.

don't worry about being NT lots of ppl are changing their careers, and I'm sure that schools will understand that. If you did well in school and you ace your DAT's I'm sure you'll be fine.

 

[Cosine Orion]

also I doubt anybody is going to care about when you took your pre-reqs if you ace that section of the DAT. If you took chemistry 10 years ago but got a 22 on that section, it looks a lot better than somebody taking it last year and getting an 18.

don't worry about being NT lots of ppl are changing their careers, and I'm sure that schools will understand that. If you did well in school and you ace your DAT's I'm sure you'll be fine.

Good point and all the more motivation to study my arse off.

Thanks for the encouraging words!