Please critique my custom DAT study schedule, I'm lost

[DB1989]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hello,

I started off on the popular 8 week plan that has been posted on here, but I came to realizations that I cannot make myself concentrate on studying 4 different subjects for 8 hours a day plus. I have also decided to substitute the KBB ochem and chem with Chad's videos. I am going to be a sophomore starting September 21, and would LOVE to take the DAT the weekend before that and just forget about it.

I have three main concerns about my schedule?

1. Are Chad's videos worthy of being substituted for the KBB chem sections?

2. Is it bad if I concentrate on subjects in blocks rather than do all every single day?

3. Lastly, Because Ill finish the chem sections so early and there is some time after that before I take the actual DAT I could potentially forget the chem material? Or will doing the Destroyer help me remember it and reinforce it?


Any input on this would be much appreciated

 

[sfoksn]

Seems like a nice schedule, as long as you follow it 🙂

One question, which university do you attend? If you happen to attend one of many competitive universities, you shouldn't have any problem studying the right way.

 

[DB1989]

Im not sure why I said sophomore, I meant junior. I go to Ohio State, Im not sure whether thats considered competitive or not, but other than finals week every quarter Ive never had to study 8 hours a day during school, especially every day of the week for 4 out of the 8 weeks for the study plan that I tried before this one. And although I usually got through the material with a great understanding of it in much less than eight hours, I would just feel guilty that I wasnt using the suggested time. So with that in regard, I tried to space it out a bit.

 

[LuckMC11]

im pretty sure u dont need 1 day for 1 video of chad lol, u can go thru a lot more tahn 1 video a day

 

[DB1989]

Haha yeah I meant like a whole section of either organic chemistry or general chemistry videos, and a section is usually made up of like 5 or 6 separate videos I think.

 

[Veloce]

I was originally planning to take the DAT one year go about this time. Now I'm finally taking it this weekend, and there's a lot of things I wish I had done differently.

I tend to work best under pressure. Before I was lucky to get 4 hours a day. As soon as I signed up, I could do 12 hour days with no problem.

I recommend signing up for the DAT now.

Also I don't recommend doing anything else while you study. Even taking one class was frustrating because all I wanted to do was study.

Also, atleast for me, Studying is like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in it. If you space it out too much, you may forget things. Atleast I do. I say, set aside a month +- depending on where you are at, and sign up for the test.

 

[mprs]

I have also decided to substitute the KBB ochem and chem with Chad's videos.

.
.
.

1. Are Chad's videos worthy of being substituted for the KBB chem sections?

.
.
.

3. Lastly, Because Ill finish the chem sections so early and there is some time after that before I take the actual DAT I could potentially forget the chem material? Or will doing the Destroyer help me remember it and reinforce it?


Any input on this would be much appreciated

I studied Ochem almost exclusively from Chad. All the big picture ideas, and how things work. Also, pretty much memorized every compound he mentioned. He is very good. However, I'd still use KBB as a glorified reaction list. Chad is only human and can only cover so many reagents. While he mentions many important ones, there are a few that are good test candidates that he does not mention (along with 239590285 other ones that you are expected to know, but probably won't be tested on). This is for Ochem btw, I'm not sure about Gchem. But if his quality is consistent, then you can probably do the same with Gchem.

... I'm not sure about the "replacing" part. I would use KBB in conjunction. For example, go over a chad video, then skim over the corresponding chapter and see if you can relate the two. Seeing it from 2 sources is a pretty good way to learn/memorize stuff.

As for your last point, I ran into a similar problem. The only difference being I didn't actually "study" gchem (I had a decent chem background, and I studied it for my MCAT). All I did was skim KBB once a week. I'd cover random parts of the page to test my self. If anything, I'd just make sure I'm seeing it with my eyes to keep it fresh.

Btw, have you considered using Anki? Seems that could possibly help your memory.

 

[DB1989]

I studied Ochem almost exclusively from Chad. All the big picture ideas, and how things work. Also, pretty much memorized every compound he mentioned. He is very good. However, I'd still use KBB as a glorified reaction list. Chad is only human and can only cover so many reagents. While he mentions many important ones, there are a few that are good test candidates that he does not mention (along with 239590285 other ones that you are expected to know, but probably won't be tested on). This is for Ochem btw, I'm not sure about Gchem. But if his quality is consistent, then you can probably do the same with Gchem.

... I'm not sure about the "replacing" part. I would use KBB in conjunction. For example, go over a chad video, then skim over the corresponding chapter and see if you can relate the two. Seeing it from 2 sources is a pretty good way to learn/memorize stuff.

As for your last point, I ran into a similar problem. The only difference being I didn't actually "study" gchem (I had a decent chem background, and I studied it for my MCAT). All I did was skim KBB once a week. I'd cover random parts of the page to test my self. If anything, I'd just make sure I'm seeing it with my eyes to keep it fresh.

Btw, have you considered using Anki? Seems that could possibly help your memory.

I have considered Anki, but I really dont want to spend hours making the flashcards when I could be using that time to study. On the other hand, during ochem in school Ive used the following website and am starting to use it once again to study for the DAT now.

http://legacyweb.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/flashcards/

 

[mprs]

Never seen that site before, looks pretty awesome :O Does it only have practice problems, or does it have a list of reagents as well? I'm not sure how it will do as an "exclusive" source though. I still think you need some form of theoretical review as well. I'm not really sure how well you know your stuff so that plays a factor as well.

Regarding the anki, I would probably raise the argument that the actual process of making the cards is as important to the study process as reviewing them. Regardless, if you aren't comfortable with it, then obviously now is not the time to experiment lol.