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This isn't really a break down. It's more of a how not to do the DAT.
Two weeks ago I realized I wasn't going to be ready in time for the DAT. A typical study day for me was going to the library, watching two Chad's gen chem videos, taking the quiz and calling it a day thinking I was being productive. After reading a 3 week study schedule here on SDN... reality hit me. I was only half way done with my gen chem review and my DAT was in two weeks. I was screwed. I made a plan. I told myself within one week I would finish reviewing everything. Week two would consist of constant practice tests and everything would be alright. I basically moved into the library. I finished the Chad's gen chem review and moved on to Orgo. When I got home I would stay up until 4am watching Chad's QR review and reading Cliff's 3rd Ed biology. Within the end of the week my review was done.
At the start of week two I was confident. After a week of grinding at the library I knew I was going to kick some DAT Bootcamp butt! Right?
Bootcamp Test Scores (12/2/15)
BIO: 17
GC: 18
ORGO: 16
RC: 19
PAT: 18
It was painful putting in so much work and still failing. It was then I realized that DAT’s difficulty lies in the volume of information, not complexity. With less than a week before D-day, I had to consider the opportunity cost of every hour. An hour spent answering questions on a practice test was an hour lost that could have been used in attaining material. I knew that if I only had a little more time I could get the score I wanted. I furious with myself for the situation I was in.
This past Sunday, I took another practice test.
Bootcamp Test Scores (12/6/15)
BIO:18
GC:17
ORG: 18
RC:21
PAT:18
QR:16
Feeling hopeless, I went on SDN and asked for some advice to see if there was an off chance that someone could help me. I was given the correct advice. Postpone. Unfortunately that wasn’t an option for me. I could only keep moving forward. With two days until the DAT, many people advised me to stop and relax. I asked myself what I could possibly do in two days to improve my score. I decided that as long as I had time, I would do whatever necessary to succeed. I did 20 DAT Destroyer problems, analyzed my areas of weakness then reviewed that section until I felt confident I wouldn’t make the same mistakes. I switched subjects and repeated over and over again. Over the course of two days I read Feralis notes. Whenever I felt overwhelmed or tired, I reminded myself—I agreed to do whatever necessary. I checked to see If I was making any progress.
Bootcamp Test (12/8/15)
BIO-23 Orgo-20
The night before D-day, I wasn’t able to sleep. At 4AM I was desperate to get at least 2 hours of sleep. In a moment of brilliance, I ran to the kitchen and chugged a bottle of wine and slammed two shots of Jack Daniels. Whatever necessary I told myself. It worked. I woke up at 7AM, dizzy, and disoriented. The alcohol at 9PM would have been perfect, at 4AM a mistake. I planned to review my notes prior to walking into the test center but the nausea and headache stopped me. I took an aspirin in a futile attempt to hold off the accumulated effects of sleep deprivation, stress, and alcohol. I said a prayer and walked in to take my test.
=DAT=
PAT: 19
QR: 18
RC: 22
BIO: 23
GC: 19
ORG: 20
TS: 20
AA: 20
I honestly don’t know how to feel about this score. I was able to improve my score over a short period of time, but I know I can do better. Right now, I plan on contacting some admissions offices to see if they think I should retake.
Only Materials needed for DAT:
DAT Bootcamp: 10/10
Chad’s Videos: 10/10
DAT Destroyer: 10/10
Cliffs 3rd Ed Biology 9/10
Feralis Notes 10/10
Two weeks ago I realized I wasn't going to be ready in time for the DAT. A typical study day for me was going to the library, watching two Chad's gen chem videos, taking the quiz and calling it a day thinking I was being productive. After reading a 3 week study schedule here on SDN... reality hit me. I was only half way done with my gen chem review and my DAT was in two weeks. I was screwed. I made a plan. I told myself within one week I would finish reviewing everything. Week two would consist of constant practice tests and everything would be alright. I basically moved into the library. I finished the Chad's gen chem review and moved on to Orgo. When I got home I would stay up until 4am watching Chad's QR review and reading Cliff's 3rd Ed biology. Within the end of the week my review was done.
At the start of week two I was confident. After a week of grinding at the library I knew I was going to kick some DAT Bootcamp butt! Right?
Bootcamp Test Scores (12/2/15)
BIO: 17
GC: 18
ORGO: 16
RC: 19
PAT: 18
It was painful putting in so much work and still failing. It was then I realized that DAT’s difficulty lies in the volume of information, not complexity. With less than a week before D-day, I had to consider the opportunity cost of every hour. An hour spent answering questions on a practice test was an hour lost that could have been used in attaining material. I knew that if I only had a little more time I could get the score I wanted. I furious with myself for the situation I was in.
This past Sunday, I took another practice test.
Bootcamp Test Scores (12/6/15)
BIO:18
GC:17
ORG: 18
RC:21
PAT:18
QR:16
Feeling hopeless, I went on SDN and asked for some advice to see if there was an off chance that someone could help me. I was given the correct advice. Postpone. Unfortunately that wasn’t an option for me. I could only keep moving forward. With two days until the DAT, many people advised me to stop and relax. I asked myself what I could possibly do in two days to improve my score. I decided that as long as I had time, I would do whatever necessary to succeed. I did 20 DAT Destroyer problems, analyzed my areas of weakness then reviewed that section until I felt confident I wouldn’t make the same mistakes. I switched subjects and repeated over and over again. Over the course of two days I read Feralis notes. Whenever I felt overwhelmed or tired, I reminded myself—I agreed to do whatever necessary. I checked to see If I was making any progress.
Bootcamp Test (12/8/15)
BIO-23 Orgo-20
The night before D-day, I wasn’t able to sleep. At 4AM I was desperate to get at least 2 hours of sleep. In a moment of brilliance, I ran to the kitchen and chugged a bottle of wine and slammed two shots of Jack Daniels. Whatever necessary I told myself. It worked. I woke up at 7AM, dizzy, and disoriented. The alcohol at 9PM would have been perfect, at 4AM a mistake. I planned to review my notes prior to walking into the test center but the nausea and headache stopped me. I took an aspirin in a futile attempt to hold off the accumulated effects of sleep deprivation, stress, and alcohol. I said a prayer and walked in to take my test.
=DAT=
PAT: 19
QR: 18
RC: 22
BIO: 23
GC: 19
ORG: 20
TS: 20
AA: 20
I honestly don’t know how to feel about this score. I was able to improve my score over a short period of time, but I know I can do better. Right now, I plan on contacting some admissions offices to see if they think I should retake.
Only Materials needed for DAT:
DAT Bootcamp: 10/10
Chad’s Videos: 10/10
DAT Destroyer: 10/10
Cliffs 3rd Ed Biology 9/10
Feralis Notes 10/10
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Physics and fun in the same sentence? *Shudders*
