Please Help A n00b Out....

[476515678234896]

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I plan on taking the DAT in my 4 week winter vacation and I'm starting to look at study materials now. I'm taking my year of bio over this summer and next fall but besides that, I've finished gchem and ochem.

I think that I would get the best score with the structure and help of a prep course but I can't find any classes. Are there courses offered in 2-3 week sessions?

I'm not really clear on where to begin because by the time that I'm done with my Bio series I'll be taking the DAT soon after. Should I start studying for GC, OC, RC, QR right now?

Any help would be appreciated on what steps I need to take from now to when I take the DAT.

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Edit: Here are some questions (I'll add more later instead of making new threads).

1) Are there materials where you can have Question-Answer-explanation? workbooks?

2) When should I register?

3) Is it okay to take the DAT right after (like 3 weeks) after I finish my bio series?

4) Is it a good idea to take the DAT in late December/early January?

5) Everyone says to not waste my time with private tutors and classes but I think the structure would help me more than doing it solo. Which are generally known to have the best reputation? where can i find them in my area?

6) I have around 25-30 weeks until I take the DAT, what would you do to get the best score if you had that kind of time?

7) Would it be better to take it during Spring 11 instead of Winter 10? that way I would give myself some more time to study Bio and not have my studying clash with Finals for Fall 10.

 

[dentalWorks]

I plan on taking the DAT in my 4 week winter vacation and I'm starting to look at study materials now. I'm taking my year of bio over this summer and next fall but besides that, I've finished gchem and ochem.

I think that I would get the best score with the structure and help of a prep course but I can't find any classes. Are there courses offered in 2-3 week sessions?

I'm not really clear on where to begin because by the time that I'm done with my Bio series I'll be taking the DAT soon after. Should I start studying for GC, OC, RC, QR right now?

Any help would be appreciated on what steps I need to take from now to when I take the DAT.

4 week winter break? You mean your taking your DAT in december?

The easiest section to study for is the Math and Organic chemistry. From today till the week you take the test, spend about 30-45 minutes on math and another 30-45 minutes memorizing orgo reactions EVERY DAY (not every other day, not whenever you feel like it, do it EVERY DAY without the weekend days). By time test time comes, your going have these 2 sections learned COLD.

 

[476515678234896]

After I read your post and some other posts on this forum I started on Orgo from a Kaplan DAT book I bought when I was super amped freshmen year 😛. But it seems to just be reiterating concepts that I learned from my past year in orgo with several tests at the end, there don't seem to be any practice questions or examples. Are there any resources that have answer - explanation (not an exam)? any workbooks I can buy?

 

[476515678234896]

added questions on the original post

 

[dentalWorks]

answers = blue

1) Are there materials where you can have Question-Answer-explanation? workbooks?
DAT and MATH destroyers are perfect here.... Cliff's ap biology has end of chapter questions and answers, I thought those are good.

Also if you get your hands on the Kaplan white book (not the blue book), basically the white book is the one you get when you sign up for the kaplan class, its basically the same as the blue book EXCEPT the white has end of chapter questions and answers (which I thought were GREAT especially for the general chem section).... I got my white book off of amazon, it was 2008 version

2) When should I register?
Register for the test now? I wouldn't, I'd register 4-5 weeks away

3) Is it okay to take the DAT right after (like 3 weeks) after I finish my bio series?
Why would you think this is an advantage? The biology section of the DAT has questions / topics that are usually not too covered in the basic 100-level biologies.... I am referring to basic biochemistry, basic physiology, basic anatomy, basic microbiology, and basic genetics.

4) Is it a good idea to take the DAT in late December/early January?
Anytime you take it before June (of the year you apply) is IMO a great time... so short answer = yes

5) Everyone says to not waste my time with private tutors and classes but I think the structure would help me more than doing it solo. Which are generally known to have the best reputation? where can i find them in my area?
I know Kaplan runs courses NATION WIDE, but there is also Princeton review. I just recently found out they too have DAT courses. Call them up and see if they have any classes in your area. As far as which one is better, I don't know.... I don't believe in paying $1500 for a test that I HAVE TO STUDY for it anyways...... they aren't going to study the material for you and hammer it in your head, they are just going to tell you what to study and when to study it...... shooo I can do that by myself and save the $1500

6) I have around 25-30 weeks until I take the DAT, what would you do to get the best score if you had that kind of time?
Destroy, I mean DESTROY the Organic and math sections. These 2 sections (especially the orgo) are the easiest to master if you spent a great deal of time with them. Memorize those orgo reactions and get alot of practice doing math problems and you will LITERALLY destroy those 2 . Thats going to bring up your AA huge

7) Would it be better to take it during Spring 11 instead of Winter 10? that way I would give myself some more time to study Bio and not have my studying clash with Finals for Fall 10.
I can't answer that, thats your call

 

[thanksd]

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[476515678234896]

wow....dentalworks, that was amazing. Exactly what I was looking for and i saw your sticky, very helpful.



Thank you! (and for all your work on this forum...)