Should I take the DAT this summer?

[MowgliR]

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I am a 2nd year Biochemistry major and I am planning on taking the DAT August 2010. I do not know if the course I have taken in undergrad are enough.

I have taken:
-Gen Chem
-Pre-Calc
-Calc 1

Fall 2009:
-Calc 2
-Ochem now
-Gen Bio now

Spring 2010:
-Ochem
-Gen Bio
-Integ. Math and Science for Teachers


Materials I'm interested in purchasing:
-CDP (already have)
-TopScore
-Achiever
-DAT & Math Destroyer
-Cliff's AP Biology
-Gen Bio Textbook - Campbell (already have) - taking this year
-Gen Chem Textbook - McMurry (already have)
-OChem Textbook - Bruice (already have) - taking this year
-ACS Gen Chem & OChem
-Kaplan Course (In-Person)

Originally I thought taking Gen Bio a little later will help me remember the material since im planning on taking it this summer, but I hear you need a little more than just gen bio. Is Gen Bio enough? Or should I take the test the same summer in which im applying?

 

[alanan84]

Upper level bio classes help but not enough to delay it another year imo. I would take it next summer.

 

[GOLF]

yeh take it fresh outta orgo - i took it after my sophomore year and i had just had a year of orgo - being hella fresh outta orgo really helps when youre studying for the DAT.

 

[doc3232]

Lots of trade-offs really.
The upper division classes help a bit, but you forget the lower ones.

One important thing is that you get "smarter" in a year's time.

 

[pauly11235]

Hey, I would deff recommend purchasing the destroyer for both math and the DAT Destroyer. I did not really go crazy with science classes in undergrad but I did do well on my Total science score on my DAT because I memorized each problem in the book.

 

[MowgliR]

bump

 

[bhind]

Summer 2010 would be a good time imo. I wish I would have done mine sooner. Upper division bio classes are great but not necessary for the DAT. Just get the core sciences Bio, Chem, OChem and you are good. Seems as you will be finishing OCHEM before summer starts which is perfect. Ochem on the DAT is really easy compared to a difficult undergrad course.

 

[uclaDDS101]

Taking the DAT right after you finish ochem, helps a lot. I finished my last ochem in summer school, and took my DAT a month later. Thus, I didn't even have to study for it. Aside from general bio (i.e., ecology, molecular biology, genetics, etc.), I think that biochem helped me a lot. Also, since I decided to take the DAT after my second year, it hadn't been too long since I took gen chem. That's a big pro, in my opinion.

 

[ZzZzSleepyhead]

I also took mine after my second year, fresh out of finishing the gen bio and ochem series. I thought it helped alot for ochem especially. Not so much for bio b/c I crammed my way through bio😛.

I'd say go for it! It'll make your 3rd year much less stressful.

 

[allstardentist]

yeah take it as early as you can. most questions in the science section dont really require in depth knowledge. and also, just in case you don't do as well as you wanted to, you have some time to think about retaking it.