Please critique my DAT study plan.

[busupshot83]

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I plan on taking the DAT in May 2007. The materials I intended on using to study are the Kaplan Blue Book, the DAT Destroyer, and Top Score practice DATs.

Listed below is my study plan... any comments/suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

January 2007
Convert material in Kaplan Blue Book into note cards.

February 2007
Study note cards.

March 2007
Do all DAT Destroyer problems.

April 2007
Take Top Score practice DATs.

May 2007
Take DAT.

 

[danhook]

If I were you I would use a little different strategy, Using your resources individually could be damaging to your testing. I would suggest reading, absorbing, and making note cards of the Kaplan material during a month or two on weekdays then on the weekends work through the DAT destroyer materials. then use the other months to maintain yourself in all the resources. I highly recommend using the flash cards from kaplan. When I did that I brought my score up significantly. I guess the take home pointer from me would be to use all of your materials while you are studying not just one at a time... ...But what do I know I am just a dental student.

 

[danhook]

I also just noticed you are sunshine state resident... ...I go to UFCD so if you need anything let me know.

 

[busupshot83]

If I were you I would use a little different strategy, Using your resources individually could be damaging to your testing. I would suggest reading, absorbing, and making note cards of the Kaplan material during a month or two on weekdays then on the weekends work through the DAT destroyer materials. then use the other months to maintain yourself in all the resources. I highly recommend using the flash cards from kaplan. When I did that I brought my score up significantly. I guess the take home pointer from me would be to use all of your materials while you are studying not just one at a time... ...But what do I know I am just a dental student.

Thanks for the input Dan, I'll keep your words of wisdom in mind. Any other suggestions?

 

[djeffreyt]

too frontloaded.

It will be difficult, even if you have no school or job, to go through the entire DAT book in one month AND convert it to notecards. Making the notecards slows the whole process down. You should make more time to do it so you don't overload early. That is my only suggestions

 

[busupshot83]

too frontloaded.

It will be difficult, even if you have no school or job, to go through the entire DAT book in one month AND convert it to notecards. Making the notecards slows the whole process down. You should make more time to do it so you don't overload early. That is my only suggestions

In order to convert the Kaplan book into note cards in one month, I would have to convert 15-16 pages each day. Do you still think that would be overkill?

 

[djeffreyt]

really? I thought the book was longer than that. Well, do whatever you feel is best...maybe I read slow...I felt like I did 40 pages a day for a month to get through the book. THough...I didn't do it everyday cause I worked a lot.

 

[busupshot83]

really? I thought the book was longer than that. Well, do whatever you feel is best...maybe I read slow...I felt like I did 40 pages a day for a month to get through the book. THough...I didn't do it everyday cause I worked a lot.

Yeah, I just calculated the pages that I would want to review:

Biology (176 pages)
Chemistry (128 pages)
Organic Chemistry (151 pages)
Perceptual (8 pages)
Math (70 pages)
+
___________________________
533 total pages

533 pages / 35 days (Jan. 1 to first week of Feb.) = 15.23 pages/day

Wow, 40 pages a day. That would be overkill!

 

[busupshot83]

Any more comments on my plan?

 

[speedy3816]

can someone provide some insight on the pros/cons of the Kaplan pre-made flashcards vs. personal flashcards...???

I'm not sure that I trust my study skills that much 🙁

 

[busupshot83]

can someone provide some insight on the pros/cons of the Kaplan pre-made flashcards vs. personal flashcards...???

I'm not sure that I trust my study skills that much 🙁

While you create personal flashcards, you are passively studying. I've never seen the pre-made Kaplan cards, so I can't comment on those.

 

[cocokeala]

dont waste time making note cards. you say you are spending 2 months on kaplan book and notecards. you should find someone with old kaplan notecards because in my personal experience 2 months is a long time to be spending just on kaplan. kaplan is a base and if you take the class alone it will be over in less than 2 months. i took about 2mo to study for the DAT but it was intense every day. i suppose you have school or something because your study plan is really long... owell that was my only advice for you...that converting the book into notecards seems to be a waste of time but idk if you are concernted about that

 

[busupshot83]

dont waste time making note cards. you say you are spending 2 months on kaplan book and notecards. you should find someone with old kaplan notecards because in my personal experience 2 months is a long time to be spending just on kaplan. kaplan is a base and if you take the class alone it will be over in less than 2 months. i took about 2mo to study for the DAT but it was intense every day. i suppose you have school or something because your study plan is really long... owell that was my only advice for you...that converting the book into notecards seems to be a waste of time but idk if you are concernted about that

Anyone else think converting the Kaplan Book into notecards is a waste?

 

[RHONDAROBINSON]

I think writing your own personal note cards will reinforce what you are learning. I think it will help your long term memory. You are seeing it and writing it. I know that normally when I write something down I remember more so. Then again, you have to do what is best for you. What will help you to retain this bulk of information.


rr