Should I take MCAT prep for DAT?

[briansle]

I was wondering this because I hear dat classes offered by Kaplan is just memorization, and I really only remember things if I understand the meaning behind them. Therefore, would it be a good idea to take on the full MCAT PREP by Princeton. Its classes like 5 times a week for like 4 hours. Time and money is not an issue for me, I just want to the best preparation I can get for the DAT. I just assume that prepping for the MCAT would make the DAT look real easy. I also know that the DAT has extra sections not in the MCAT, and I will prep for those accordingly.
So will MCAT prep be worth it and better?

 

[Pre-Dent-David]

Those courses are a waste of money imo.

 

[busupshot83]

i agree, i took an lsat class and paid 2000. in the end, i would have been better off studying by myself. then again, i cant speak of ALL of these types of tests, just my experience.

 

[primerz]

you nca get examkrackers for gen and orgo chem. However, bio on the dat is diff that bio on mcat.

 

[PERFECT3435]

i don't know why you hear this more and more. i think that the KAPLAN DAT book is more than adequate for what you need.


everything that you need for the DAT is there and i really doubt that you need more than that. just make that 1000 page KAPLAN DAT book your bible and you'll do fine.

good luck

 

[primerz]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/sho...&perpage=20&highlight=stats 2004&pagenumber=5

if you want scores that resemble his, take his advice. If you want a 20+, take mine.

 

[PERFECT3435]

Originally posted by primerz
you nca get examkrackers for gen and orgo chem. However, bio on the dat is diff that bio on mcat.

you don't have to have examcrackers or this and thats to get 20+'s.


i just studied my DAT kaplan book and practiced a lot on top score and my scores were 19 G chem, 21 bio, 25 ochem, 19 AA.



whats wrong with those scores?

 

[primerz]

nothing is wrong with them, don't get me wrong. I am just saying that if someone needs a 20+ for admissions, then I would recommend them studying from something more than one source. I highly recommend EK, that is all I am saying.

 

[The Musketeer]

Originally posted by briansle
I was wondering this because I hear dat classes offered by Kaplan is just memorization, and I really only remember things if I understand the meaning behind them. Therefore, would it be a good idea to take on the full MCAT PREP by Princeton. Its classes like 5 times a week for like 4 hours. Time and money is not an issue for me, I just want to the best preparation I can get for the DAT. I just assume that prepping for the MCAT would make the DAT look real easy. I also know that the DAT has extra sections not in the MCAT, and I will prep for those accordingly.
So will MCAT prep be worth it and better?

Don't waste your time and money. There are A LOT of sections that are different between the two examinations. Firstly, the format and style of questions of the MCAT reading comp is very different from the DAT's (mainly, MCAT asks you about the underlying meaning of the passage, author's expression and intentions, whereas DAT's is just mostly simple 'look in the passage for the answer' type. MCAT also covers physics, writing samples that are not covered in DAT, and DAT has organic chem, PAT, and math that are absent from MCAT. I think the overlap material between DAT and MCAT is at most 20%, and I don't think it is worth it to pay over $1500 to take the MCAT prep for this 20%. I suggest that you instead use this money to buy DAT study guides and study properly!

That's my $1 (Cdn) - equivalent to 2 cents (U.S)

 

[Red823]

If you are planning to take both the MCAT and the DAT then I say go for the prep course. The MCAT questions on bio, o-chem, and g-chem are way different from the DAT. In my opinion, the MCAT questions are not just what you know in your studying or background but also a little bit of logic. In MCAT, most questions except a few, are based on passages while the DAT are all free-standing questions. If you can do bio, o-chem, and g-chem questions in MCAT well you will have no prb on the DAT.

In my opinion, prep courses are a waste of time. If anything, they are only good for providing you extra test questions and other resources. As for studying goes, it all will depend on you and how much effort you are willing to put in.

I know others may feel different and it depends on how comfortable you are with the subjects on the DAT in your classes in college, but for me studying off the DAT Comprehensive Review Book from Kaplan was sufficient. Though i highly recommend you spend more time with the PAT section. Don't let it pass you by for it can come back and bite you in the behind (unless of course you are gifted with that sort of thing and there is nothing to worry about )

Hope that helps...

--Red

 

[Comet208]

I fully agree with all those avised you against taking MCAT classes to study for DAT. I registered for DAT with Kaplan but since they didnt have a DAT class, they let me sit through their MCAT classes. what a waste of time it was. I ended up to virtually study all the subjects on my own since the materials and method of questioning is different. Despite what they tell you, MCAT is neither an appropriate nor adequate way of preparing for the DAT.

Comet

 

[PERFECT3435]

Red, you are right on the $$.


seriously, i don't think it matters where you get your info to study, but how you study. for all i know, KAPLAN class was not what helped me REALLY prepare for the DAT except for the PAT sections. what did help the most was the fact that they had a ton of material and test on their system to practice on.

you can study and study every book, but you won't get much out of it unless you figure out whats the best way for you to really learn the material.

i say practice makes better and for that, KAPLAN DAT is sufficient enough.

 

[briansle]

Thanks for the advice guys. I suppose all of you guys are right. I didn't know there was that much of a difference between the DAT and MCAT. I thought that the science sections would be the same and that the MCAT prep would make me even more prepared for those sections and train me to work faster.

But, if the format the questions aren't even alike, then I might as well stick with the Kaplan DAT course

 

[toothache]

take the oat prep, it's just like the dat

 

[The Musketeer]

Originally posted by toothache
take the oat prep, it's just like the dat

except there is the Physics section, and no PAT (oh, there is also that stupid Pretest section). I guess there is about 80% overlap between OAT and DAT.

 

[sxr71]

I wouldn't recommend an MCAT course, but if you want extra preparation, then the Exam Krackers 1001 questions books will have you in near perfect shape to ace the DAT. I would still take a practice test first to see how much you need. Sometimes you don't need much at all, and sometimes you might need more prep. Take one as a diag, and then take one after reviewing Kaplan blue book throughly. If you're still not happy, then bring out the heavy artillery.

 

[Comet208]

Originally posted by briansle
I thought that the science sections would be the same and that the MCAT prep would make me even more prepared for those sections and train me to work faster.

Thats what the Kaplan people tell you.. what a lie!