Study Material Recommendation

[johnstylzes]

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Hey Everyone! I'm planning on taking the DAT during the summer, probably near the end of July. I don't intend on taking the Kaplan course due to financial reasons, so I just wanted to know what "study-on-your-own" aids experienced DATers recommend. I already did a search on the popular aids and got the Topscore, Barron Pat, etc.

What I have so far: Kaplan Big "Blue" book 3rd Edition, Topscore, and Princeton Review MCAT books (2 HUGE books, do you suggest using them as my main science aid or just focus on the Kaplan Big Book??).

Anyone with experiences with: Dat Achiever, AcetheDAT, and Dat Processor?
I might pick up 1 or 2 of the above subscriptions after hearing back from my fellow SDNers. I realize that the computer/online-based programs offer full length exams (i.e. Topscore, Dat Achiever), but what would be the best replacement for questions and mini-test that are given to Kaplan Course (i.e. q bank, online kaplan exams).

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[rescuer]

Everyone seems to treasure Kaplan's review notes, courses... but beware of their employees posting untrue stories about their guide(s). I've spoken to several Kaplan's instructors for MCAT/DAT, and none of them have taken the standardized test(s) themselves. Kaplan is just a giant prep center interested in making money out of many inexperienced candidates year after year. Their many non-updated stuff and prolonged study schedules are simply bringing desperate students to no where. Kaplan students who do well in their DAT have done so mainly out of their own calibers and not the miracle recipes gained from the classes.

The following inexpensive guides, together with your textbooks/lecture notes should well prepare you for the big day in about 5 intensive weeks:

TopScore: Still good with their sciences and maths, but never count on the PAT section. Reading passages are also 20-30% shorter than the actual test

AcetheDAT: Essentially good on the PAT except for poorly worded questions on rest of the other sections.

DAT Achiever: Considered one of the best buys in view of the detailed soultions offered. Their 3D animated models are truly amazing.

Barron: They have all basic stuffs featured which will be good for beginners if you have time for it.

Kaplan: Just the blue book will do. And again, like TopScore, do not count on their PAT. It's way too simple compared to the real one.

 

[Dr. Rose]

All are great recomendations. However, I would also suggest the Examkrackers 1001 question series. I thought the book in OChem was right on the money for similarity to what was on the actual exam. Well worth the $20 I spent (I was also on a budget) buying it used from the for sale forum.

 

[BrightSmile]

I also used examkrackers 1001 OChem questions. Great book! It really helped me to get a fantastic score on the OChem section.

 

[iminnow]

Everyone seems to treasure Kaplan's review notes, courses... but beware of their employees posting untrue stories about their guide(s). I've spoken to several Kaplan's instructors for MCAT/DAT, and none of them have taken the standardized test(s) themselves. Kaplan is just a giant prep center interested in making money out of many inexperienced candidates year after year. Their many non-updated stuff and prolonged study schedules are simply bringing desperate students to no where. Kaplan students who do well in their DAT have done so mainly out of their own calibers and not the miracle recipes gained from the classes.

The following inexpensive guides, together with your textbooks/lecture notes should well prepare you for the big day in about 5 intensive weeks:

TopScore: Still good with their sciences and maths, but never count on the PAT section. Reading passages are also 20-30% shorter than the actual test

AcetheDAT: Essentially good on the PAT except for poorly worded questions on rest of the other sections.

DAT Achiever: Considered one of the best buys in view of the detailed soultions offered. Their 3D animated models are truly amazing.

Barron: They have all basic stuffs featured which will be good for beginners if you have time for it.

Kaplan: Just the blue book will do. And again, like TopScore, do not count on their PAT. It's way too simple compared to the real one.

Come on Rescuer! What do you work for DAT Achiever? Are you the ONE student who wrote these questions? Nearly all of your 10 posts center around this brand new product material and dis'n the others. What I notice is early non-biased posts on SDN already identify DAT Achiever (formally "TopAchiever") as a copy of the TopScore CD when it was known as "TopAchiever" just a few months ago. Does Topscore know about you? Have you taken Kaplan's stuff like all the eBay'ers do?


Yes, I work for Kaplan. Yes I am a dental student. Yes I scored in the 90+++ percentile. I, like some of my other Kaplan folks, do a nice job at helping predental students do better on the DAT. I spend lots of time in "the center" helping students understand sciences and the PAT. All "our" DAT content is written well and is current stuff. I have contributed to the editorial staff and content review for the DAT. It is a tuitor system and comprehensive study center. That's why it costs so much

When I got into dental school last year, I went to Kaplan, showed them my DAT scores and science transcripts and asked if I could earn a little extra money on the weekends working and teaching in the center. It's that simple. May be there are some Kaplan instructors that are not the greatest, but that's why you should investigate the course a little and find out who is teaching and available in the center. Kaplan is a big company with lots of resources, unlike YOUR ONE MAN COMPANY.

And by the way, our CD has 3D rotations also. Plus you get a pretty good review book of the sciences with your retail "Blue Book" purchase of $65 at Amazon.com (used for $30 bucks). Yes this Blue Book is the same as I give out in the course. Your "DAT Achiever: Considered one of the best buys" doesn't give you this!

 

[nhangan]

I've bought 3 kaplan books, the sad thing is..they're different editions but wayyy not updated! all their questions are the same from 2000, might as well buy the 2000 edition grrr so mad I went and bought eh new edition, what a waste of money!

 

[Typo]

Everyone seems to treasure Kaplan's review notes, courses... but beware of their employees posting untrue stories about their guide(s). I've spoken to several Kaplan's instructors for MCAT/DAT, and none of them have taken the standardized test(s) themselves. Kaplan is just a giant prep center interested in making money out of many inexperienced candidates year after year. Their many non-updated stuff and prolonged study schedules are simply bringing desperate students to no where. Kaplan students who do well in their DAT have done so mainly out of their own calibers and not the miracle recipes gained from the classes.

Have you actually taken the course? It would amaze me that you can deliver such a scathing rebuke if you have never actually taken the course and seen what it can do. How can you possibly pigeonhole Kaplan's students as "desperate students" being brought to "no where"? I've personally seen many, many people get a leg up with Kaplan's course.

Back on topic:

Johnstylez, definitely use the big Kaplan book. The Bio section is a little lacking in taxonomy, and the PAT sections are too easy, but for everything else it's probably the best bang for your buck.

TopScore Pro is another product I'd check out - it's relatively cheap, and has explanations to all the answers. The PAT section is too easy on it as well, however.

Check out the Barron's book if you can, mainly for the PAT section. The book is absolutely rife with errors, and it seemed like the Bio section went into a little too much detail. Make sure you double check any answers given in the book. The PAT section seemed to be reasonably close to the actual DAT, even though the angles still aren't quite jagged enough.

I'm not familiar with the other products and don't have an agenda to push, so I can't really comment on them.

Good luck!

Edit: After checking out some of Rescuer's posts, you might want to be wary of "DAT Achiever." Every post is basically DAT Achiever marketing.

 

[organichemistry]

the reason kaplan changes the edition is probably to try to force students into buying a new copy rather than a used copy. a used 3rd edition won't sound nearly as good when a 4th edition is out... if the students don't know the questions are the same.

 

[nhangan]

rescuer,
please help, where do i buy the dat achiever? thanks

 

[rescuer]

rescuer,
please help, where do i buy the dat achiever? thanks

You may visit the following site and download a DEMO version from there before deciding to pay for it or not:

www.3tquest.com

Good support and friendly conversation with the test author if you encounter any problems. Try it out yourself... 🙂