Should I start preparing for the DAT?

[MichaelWestin]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hey guys! So, as I stated in my previous first post, I haven't taken any of my sciences yet (I got hooked on SDN early). I have a friend who works at a bookstore and can get me 40% off some new stuff, so I was thinking about getting the Kaplan DAT book.

I have been doing some independant learning in bio this summer (online lectures), and I've noticed according to the forums that the Kaplan book is good for bio. I just wanted to get an idea of the structure of the questions on the DAT, as well as to start preparing for it. Is it way too early? I'll probably take it in 2 years.


Thanks for any input!

 

[Bruinlove]

Is it way too early? I'll probably take it in 2 years.

Yes, it's tooooo early for you to start now. If you haven't taken any science class, you will have hard time understanding concepts.
First take the prerequisites and when you are done with O.chem, study for about 1~3 months.

 

[MichaelWestin]

What about for the non-science related parts of the exam? RC? PAT?

 

[Bruinlove]

It's all about speed reading for RC. You may want to read newspapers and magazines like Time every day from now on. Increase your reading speed!

And you won't need to study much for PAT. Either you are good at it, or you aren't too good at it. If latter is the case, just buy a program like Crack DAT PAT when you begin studying for other section.

 

[DrReo]

Hey guys! So, as I stated in my previous first post, I haven't taken any of my sciences yet (I got hooked on SDN early). I have a friend who works at a bookstore and can get me 40% off some new stuff, so I was thinking about getting the Kaplan DAT book.

I have been doing some independant learning in bio this summer (online lectures), and I've noticed according to the forums that the Kaplan book is good for bio. I just wanted to get an idea of the structure of the questions on the DAT, as well as to start preparing for it. Is it way too early? I'll probably take it in 2 years.


Thanks for any input!

You're just a lil' neophyte. No one wants to study 700+ days before an exam. Stay away from the pot and dominate your classes. After that, and several years, dominate the DAT. Learn from others and take it early.

Enjoy your summer, buddy 👍

 

[Hugh Mannity]

Do not burn yourself out with the DAT before you even take the pre-req's. Taking those classes (bio, chems) is studying itself. As for nonscience, just keep fresh with math and you could look at PAT stuff, but not to the point of actually doing it once a week or even once a month. I am a slow reader and speed reading is not necessary for the RC. You just need to be able to skim to find keywords, remember where general topics are located in the passage, and understand english. You should focus on EC's and your classes for now though.

 

[doc3232]

too early, start preparing 6 months before you take it if you feel like you won't have time.

 

[War Eagle]

The best way to prepare for the DAT is to learn the material in your classes. Don't just cram for tests. Take the time to learn and apply the material. If you do that, when you study for the DAT, you'll only need to study to remember details. You won't be caught up trying to understand concepts, because you will have already mastered them.

 

[mshUofI]

First off, you shouldn't waist your time on a site like this until you near actually taking the DAT. I'd agree with the previous post in that the best way to prepare for the DAT is to achieve proficiency in the subject material which can only be achieved by doing well in your classes first! The downfall of most students is that they think they can check out some book and it'll provide them with all the study material they need to do well on the DAT. The best way you can prepare for the DAT is to focus on doing well on your classes now, then when the time comes two years from now study for the DAT. If you spend your time doing well now, it will be a review then. Anyway, studying for any of the sections now will be almost useless since you haven't learned any of the science material yet and you'll forget what you reviewed now by the time you take the DAT anyway. You must be one of the insecure geek wan-a-bee's so STOP it!