Should I push back DAT?

[bchscrsrfgurl31]

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Can you guys give some advice on if I should push back my DAT from July 17 to possibly Aug 1st or maybe even Aug 17th?

I bought the online Kaplan DAT prep. The course was from April 9th and ended May 26th. I filled out all lesson book notes. I still need to complete the last organic 2 three hour lesson as well as pretty much all of the preview and review homework. I have only used Kaplan for studying as I am a poor grad student and Kaplan was bought previous to my grad admission in Fall 2013. I haven't studied the past 2 weeks due to being ill and I am afraid that my sickness may have set me back as I have a little less than 5 weeks of study time left. I plan on studying 8 hours a day Mon-Thurs and then 12 hours a day on Fri and Sat until test day, however I'm not sure if this is enough time and if I should push it back a couple of weeks to ensure a better score with more preparation. A 1st year dental student told me that pushing it back may result in not getting an interview during the first round in Sept, so I'm not sure what to do. My access to for the Kaplan class ends Aug 9th.

My Kaplan advisors told me to take a practice DAT test and my scores would probably tell me if I would be ready in 5 weeks or not. I'm assuming they will be close to my diagnostic (14 bio, 12 gchem, 11 ochem, 8 rc, 13 qr, 12 pat) making 12 pat and 13 academic avg.

If it matters, I am 23 and currently pursuing an MS in a biology field (advised my a dental school admissions counselor) and my GPA I will be applying with is a 3.547. My undergrad GPA was a 3.028. I will have a strong application otherwise with strong recs, 120+ shadowing hours, executive board for pre-dental honor society, dental mission trip, interesting extra currics, etc. I am aiming for a 20 DAT score, but obviously, higher is better.

I really want a first round interview, but I know that getting a good DAT score to get that interview is very important. Please let me know what you guys think! Thanks!

 

[customx]

If you want to get a 20+, you are more than likely going to need better resources than Kaplan.

You should borrow money or use a credit card to get the following: Chad's videos for GC, OC and his bio questions, Destroyer for a plethora of OC, GC, and Bio questions (but keep in mind you can sell this to other students to recoup some of the money spent), Crack DAT or Bootcamp for PAT and Math Destroyer for QR. This won't be cheap, but IMO Kaplan won't be enough to get the scores that you will need to be competitive.

 

[pilotdentist]

You cannot know where you are at with your knowledge until you take either Bootcamp/DATQVAULT/Topscore/2007/2009 practice tests and compare to the scores of others and what they got on the actual test. This will give you an accurate picture of what to expect. I got a 21 on the 2009 and got a 22 on the actual a few weeks later. It is representative. Do it in actual testing conditions.

 

[bchscrsrfgurl31]

Thanks!

 

[BrazilianRider]

If you want to get a 20+, you are more than likely going to need better resources than Kaplan.

You should borrow money or use a credit card to get the following: Chad's videos for GC, OC and his bio questions, Destroyer for a plethora of OC, GC, and Bio questions (but keep in mind you can sell this to other students to recoup some of the money spent), Crack DAT or Bootcamp for PAT and Math Destroyer for QR. This won't be cheap, but IMO Kaplan won't be enough to get the scores that you will need to be competitive.

Dude, don't rack up more debt just to buy these things. Find a way to raise up the money, and focus on finding a bargain.

Bootcamp, Qvault and others all have free first exams. I suggest doing the first Bootcamp test to see where you are. Bootcamp is $97 for five tests + PAT generators, so it's by far the best bang for your buck.

Join your college's ASDA or pre-ASDA Facebook group and ask if anyone is selling the Math/Normal Destroyer. People are finishing up their DATs over the summer, so most likely you will find someone. I know I sold them both at 50% retail price, so you can probably snag both for $150ish.

Lastly, if you can muster up another $50, buy Qvault Bio. This will give you 11 additional Bio tests with 40 questions each to cement your biology knowledge.

For an extra $300, you should have enough materials to ace the DAT. If you want even MORE help, buy a 3 month subscription to Chad's videos for $80... If you can, find someone to split the price with, but you can't both watch videos at the same time.

Good luck dude, let me know if you need anything.

 

[customx]

The resources I mentioned can all be had for less than $300. $120 for a used copy of destroyer + math destroyer, $30 for one month of Chad's, and $90 for Bootcamp. I don't think $240 is all that much

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[bchscrsrfgurl31]

Okay, sounds good! Do you have any advice for pushing back the DAT or do you think I can use all the materials and digest them in 5 weeks time?

Dude, don't rack up more debt just to buy these things. Find a way to raise up the money, and focus on finding a bargain.

Bootcamp, Qvault and others all have free first exams. I suggest doing the first Bootcamp test to see where you are. Bootcamp is $97 for five tests + PAT generators, so it's by far the best bang for your buck.

Join your college's ASDA or pre-ASDA Facebook group and ask if anyone is selling the Math/Normal Destroyer. People are finishing up their DATs over the summer, so most likely you will find someone. I know I sold them both at 50% retail price, so you can probably snag both for $150ish.

Lastly, if you can muster up another $50, buy Qvault Bio. This will give you 11 additional Bio tests with 40 questions each to cement your biology knowledge.

For an extra $300, you should have enough materials to ace the DAT. If you want even MORE help, buy a 3 month subscription to Chad's videos for $80... If you can, find someone to split the price with, but you can't both watch videos at the same time.

Good luck dude, let me know if you need anything.

 

[bchscrsrfgurl31]

$240 isn't bad at all. I will try to find used for sure. Do you think I can use all the materials in 5 weeks time?

The resources I mentioned can all be had for less than $300. $120 for a used copy of destroyer + math destroyer, $30 for one month of Chad's, and $90 for Bootcamp. I don't think $240 is all that much

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$240 isn't bad at all.

 

[customx]

Yes, but you should be prepared to put in 6-10 hours a day

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[BrazilianRider]

The resources I mentioned can all be had for less than $300. $120 for a used copy of destroyer + math destroyer, $30 for one month of Chad's, and $90 for Bootcamp. I don't think $240 is all that much

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What he said. Also, I dunno why I told you to buy Chad's for three months considering your exam is in a month...

 

[bchscrsrfgurl31]

You cannot know where you are at with your knowledge until you take either Bootcamp/DATQVAULT/Topscore/2007/2009 practice tests and compare to the scores of others and what they got on the actual test. This will give you an accurate picture of what to expect. I got a 21 on the 2009 and got a 22 on the actual a few weeks later. It is representative. Do it in actual testing conditions.

I took a practice test (from Kaplan) last week and received the following:
14 AA, 18 PAT
Breakdown:
Biology: 11
Gen Chem: 12
Organic Chem: 9
Reading Comp: 19
Quant Reasoning: 19
PAT: 18

I ended up pushing the exam back 2 weeks. How should I go about studying with these results? I bought Bootcamp and have Kaplan. Clearly, I need the most study time in science.

 

[ZPederson11]

Buy chad

 

[pilotdentist]

Watch Chad on repeat and do all his quizzes until it is 2d nature. This is far more important than bootcamp/kaplan. Chad's is the basics and thats mostly what the DAT tests and it looks like you need help with it.

 

[wildzodiac]

I second on Chad's videos.

For biology, use Cliff's and Ferali's Notes as a supplement.

The next few weeks will be hell for you. Time to go hard.

 

[emminent]

Do not study KAPLAN AT ALL... Get Chad + feralis notes (downloadable via bootcamp website/google). study those two hard and do your bootcamp and if you can squeeze in dat destroyers.

P.S. I got Kaplan and it wasn't worth it at all... I learned so much more from Feralis/Chad's videos. Currently doing Destroyers and CDP then I'm heading on to bootcamp. goodluck

 

[NewBee12]

With those scores I seriously think you should push your test even more. Invest. Some money and buy the resources mentioned above. Trying to save a few $$$ will cost you even more !!!!
Good luck