study habits

[vixen]

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just wondering what people's study habits were when studying for the DAT? The first time I took it, I took Kaplan, so I used their library hardcore for a month, and the last two weeks I quit my parttime summer job, right before the DAT. Studying at home during the summer is a lot harder than it was during the school year...anyways, just wondering what your study habits were... I try to have workout time in between study sessions, and I plan my studying amount each week at a time...what about you guys? 🙂

 

[Beagle]

I usually work out after waking up in the morning. Then, I eat lunch and study either in the coffee shop or a library. I try to do 3-4 hours at one time without a break. Then I take a two hour break or so, and study 2 more hours.
I am reading the Kaplan book right now. I read the Barrons book occasionally just to refresh my memory ( I like how the writing in there is simple). I don't plan weeks, I just do what I can and move to the next chapter. Hopefully by the end of June, I will be done with all the sciences and PAT, and can just concentrate on old exams until my DATS in august...

 

[markymark]

Vixen and S. mutans,

maybe you should post your scores too, so that the people who are studying now can sort of guage how and how much they should study.

i took the kaplan course but did not start my actual studying until about a month before the test. during that month i utilized kaplan's testbank (which is very good and imo essential to getting a good score) and studied the big kaplan book. i did fairly well with an academic of 23 and no individual score below 20. one note of advice would be to look at many different sources for the PAT section. the kaplan material is a bit lacking in that respect.

 

[vixen]

I took Kaplan the first time (aug 2000) and got an 18, but I felt like there testbank for each section was great...this time I can't dish out the $$$ for Kaplan, so Im just using their book, eventually going to buy topscore and maybe the barron's book.

I'm worried, I really only started studying this week, and I plan on taking it in August, I just hope I have the right materials to study with. I was hoping to find some books/materials specifically for each section...

I feel like I'm comfortable enough in orgo to just review it (because its fresh in my head from this past year), whereas I need to really study my butt off in gen chem and quant. reasoning...anyways, I'm working part time right now, but I plan on quitting this job mid-July to then have full time to study...anyways, I hope I'm not running behind, this morning I just woke up w/a big reality check, then I need to start cracking...when I took the DAT in 2000, I studied hard to get that 18...now I should study even more, I just hope I find the right materials...

I can't spend the $$$ for Kaplan, and I really wish I could use their materials. Maybe they'll let me pay to just use their materials in their library?

Oh, my scores when I took them in 2000 were:

academic: 18
perception: 17
quant: 16
reading: 20
bio: 16
gen chem: 17
organic: 19
overall sci: 17

The first time I applied I had a 3.0 overall, 2.7 science, so I knew my gpa had a lot to do w/me not getting in (from a bad freshman and part of sophomore year)...so this past year I was a postbacc, took 6 science classes and my gpa from this past year was a 3.3. I hope w/the upward trend of my gpa, a *better DAT*, and better essay, I hope to get in 🙂

I need to improve math, gen chem and bio!

 

[vixen]

s.mutans,

if you don't mind me asking, did kaplan allow you to use their materials in their library, w/out taking their class, and if they did, do you mind telling me how much they charged you? Thanks 🙂

 

[vixen]

well forget that...the best thing kaplan can do, they said that they could give me 10% off the class, since I took it before (their class is $1000)...so that doesn't help too much 🙄 Plus, I took the class in 2000 in albany, NY, and now its 2002 and I'm in nyc. I think if I was still in albany, they'd be more likely to "cut me a deal".

If you guys had only two or three books to use to study for the DAT, which would you use? Besides the Kaplan Review book (which I already have). 🙂

 

[ItsGavinC]

The Kaplan book is all I would (and did!) use. Ideally you would have the time to study all of your textbooks and master each subject, and then remember everything you've learned. That simply isn't going to happen.

If you study the Kaplan book and get bored with it, then study it again. With the exception of perhaps a few Bio questions there just isn't going to be anything on the exam that isn't in the Kaplan book. The bio questions that aren't in the Kaplan book are things you'll probably know from taking college courses, and if not then you can certainly eliminate 1 or 2 answers and make an educated guess.

If you can ace the Kaplan book the you can ace the Kaplan book you can ace (21+) the DAT.

-G

 

[vixen]

thanks gavin 🙂 Helpful as always 🙂

 

[racemic01]

(Gavin, a quick note for you at the bootom)

I completely agree with Gavin. The fat Kaplan book is the way to go.

I studied off and on for a couple of months. I reviewed my organic and general chem books a bit. I doubt that helped me much. Then I took a week off work and went to the bookstore every morning and hit the Kaplan DAT book hard all day. Probably about 8 hrs/ day for a week. Took the DAT the following week and scored well. Over a 20 in everything.

That's interesting Gavin that you thought the bio section wasn't as good in Kaplan. I hadn't thought of that, but biology was my lowest score (albeit I still did well). I think it is still a fair review of bio. Probably couldn't have done better unless I read textbooks. Even then, I've never taken ecology or evolution classes, and I seem to recall a couple questions on each.

 

[waiting]

not to beat a dead horse to death here...but I, as well, used Nothing but the Kaplan text (well, except I did use my orgo text to brush up on sn1 vs. sn2, e1 & e2)...I read each of the science chapters over 5 times, did all of the subject tests in the training library, and did all of the exams, etc...if you can find the time to do that, you honestly won't need any other sources or materials (this madness got me a 25 acad.) Good Luck!

 

[sunwoongc]

Damn mark.....you've got some high DAT scores!! I will never look at you the same way at school Anyhow for me, I borrowed my ex's Kaplan materials....just reviewed the thick book for a week and took the test...got 20/20 avg. I have to agree with Mark....Kaplan's PAT sections are too easy compared to the real thing. Also make sure you take practice tests and learn to pace yourself...I didn't take a full practice test before taking the real thing and I had difficulty pacing myself on teh real thing. My ex took those tests 3 or 4 times over and over and over <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> but good luck all!!

steve

 

[vixen]

Ok, I guess I'll just use my Kaplan book and I'm gonna buy topscore cds soon for practice...although I really loved those kaplan subject tests!! err, I wish they would let me pay to use them 🙄 oh well, thanks for all your help everyone 😀

p.s. did anyone see tom cruise on letterman last night...they talked about his braces and teeth for awhile and I was so happy that our teeth were getting some attention! 😀 🙂