Study schedule this summer?

[NJDental]

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Need some advice on a good amount of hours per week to prepare for the DAT.
My date is 7/11/11 so I have roughly 9 weeks from today and I've started studying slowly but want to kick things in gear! I'll be working 40hrs a week so I was wondering if anyone thinks this is a good schedule or do I need to add more hours per week?

Sunday: 5pm - 11pm
Monday: 5pm 10pm
Tuesday: 5pm - 10pm
Wednesday: 5pm - 10pm
Thursday: 5pm - 10pm
Friday: take the day off
Saturday: 1pm - 6pm

Advice? Thanks so much!! PS I have a low GPA and this is my second time taking it (I bombed the first time).

 

[dentalWorks]

Need some advice on a good amount of hours per week to prepare for the DAT.
My date is 7/11/11 so I have roughly 9 weeks from today and I've started studying slowly but want to kick things in gear! I'll be working 40hrs a week so I was wondering if anyone thinks this is a good schedule or do I need to add more hours per week?

Sunday: 5pm - 11pm
Monday: 5pm 10pm
Tuesday: 5pm - 10pm
Wednesday: 5pm - 10pm
Thursday: 5pm - 10pm
Friday: take the day off
Saturday: 1pm - 6pm

Advice? Thanks so much!! PS I have a low GPA and this is my second time taking it (I bombed the first time).

Sunday: 5pm - 11pm -- 6 hrs
Monday: 5pm 10pm -- 5 hrs
Tuesday: 5pm - 10pm -- 5 hrs
Wednesday: 5pm - 10pm -- 5 hrs
Thursday: 5pm - 10pm -- 5 hrs
Friday: take the day off -- 0 hrs
Saturday: 1pm - 6pm -- 5 hrs

So working 40 hrs + 31 hrs studying = 71 hrs of ouch.... I dunno pal, sounds loaded..... The 70+ hrs aren't the problem, its the fact that your splitting your head into 2 different worlds (work vs DAT)..... Can you keep the two separate but be able to come back into either gear every day?

The studying plan is fine, but I'll be the first to admit, I personally wouldn't be able to hang with that plan for more than 2 weeks. All the best to you 👍

 

[invictusx]

Sunday: 5pm - 11pm -- 6 hrs
Monday: 5pm 10pm -- 5 hrs
Tuesday: 5pm - 10pm -- 5 hrs
Wednesday: 5pm - 10pm -- 5 hrs
Thursday: 5pm - 10pm -- 5 hrs
Friday: take the day off -- 0 hrs
Saturday: 1pm - 6pm -- 5 hrs

So working 40 hrs + 31 hrs studying = 71 hrs of ouch.... I dunno pal, sounds loaded..... The 70+ hrs aren't the problem, its the fact that your splitting your head into 2 different worlds (work vs DAT)..... Can you keep the two separate but be able to come back into either gear every day?

The studying plan is fine, but I'll be the first to admit, I personally wouldn't be able to hang with that plan for more than 2 weeks. All the best to you 👍

I agree with, dentalWorks. You should take some time off and focus on your DATs. Studying requires your mind to be clear of everything... otherwise you'll be thinking about work. You'll be burnt out and that's the worst that can happen.

 

[NJDental]

Thanks guys! I kind of thought this schedule seems a little rigorous, but then again I plan to be super busy and miserable while studying anyway haha 🙂 Luckily I have a really good boss so I can cut whatever hours I'd like, I just need a paycheck too 🙁

What would you change about the schedule? Taking another day completely off of work and replacing with studying? Or studying for longer hours?

Thanks again!

PS - in general, with the amount of hours (ignoring the work hrs) is 31hrs/week spaced apart in 6 days for about 9weeks straight until the exam a decent schedule?

 

[dentalWorks]

Thanks guys! I kind of thought this schedule seems a little rigorous, but then again I plan to be super busy and miserable while studying anyway haha 🙂 Luckily I have a really good boss so I can cut whatever hours I'd like, I just need a paycheck too 🙁

What would you change about the schedule? Taking another day completely off of work and replacing with studying? Or studying for longer hours?

Thanks again!

PS - in general, with the amount of hours (ignoring the work hrs) is 31hrs/week spaced apart in 6 days for about 9weeks straight until the exam a decent schedule?

Hard to answer this question without knowing your science background. If you recently took your pre-reqs, and many things are still fresh, you could get away with it.

If you took your pre-reqs long ago, and you don't remember much, it'll take longer to master the material.

Are you able to drop your work hours by 1/2? Work 20 hours a week and study 40+.... This will work well for the 9 weeks.

 

[peanutb123]

You need to prioritize what you need to do first.

1. That schedule seems very unrealistic. You will be so tired you wont be able to conc. no matter what you do. you will say tomorrow i will do a better job studying and it will be just like any other day.

2. by you working for 15-20 hrs per week over a 2 days period would result in a net loss of ~1800-2250$$ over the 9week period.

by you retaking and not getting the score you wanted will hurt your chances of getting into dental school. You need to show improvement other wise you will in big trouble taking it for the 3rd time.

Just work part time. if you decide to do too much at once you lose even more money.

ex. another retake:320 + applications $2k +again exam practice: $200 + when you realize its too late you will take more days off: another 2000 + one year lost income as a dentist 100k. so to sum it up. Prioritize. work less and study more for the next 2 months and it will pay off other wise you will be wasting another year.

Make a realistic plan take 5 days a week off for studying and work only 2. Since you seem like you just need paycheck for extra pocket change.

 

[tendram]

Just from personal experience: I was studying biology and gen chem this past semester (~7 hours worth of classes) while working about 30 hrs a week. It's doable but pretty stressful. There have been some days where I sit down to study and It would take me about 3 hours to get 4-5 pages done, just because I was worn out from everything else. I agree with what the others above are saying though: if you can take more time off, do so. It will make it a lot easier on you especially with the time frame you're working in. Good luck 👍

 

[casper22]

Agree with everyone that this schedule will be stressful but I would also like to say that if you stay on track, without feeling sorry for yourself for putting 70+ hours per week for so many weeks you can do this..

I personally work 40 hours week and study, but as everyone has mentioned there are days when you are exhausted and cant focus on what you study...but then I try make that up over the weekends.

Dont know what your weekends are like, but one thing I would recommend is instead on putting 5+ hours on weekday after a long day at work will be tough...instead change the weekend hours from 6+ to around 8-10 hours..

 

[p2vanlon]

Thanks guys! I kind of thought this schedule seems a little rigorous, but then again I plan to be super busy and miserable while studying anyway haha 🙂 Luckily I have a really good boss so I can cut whatever hours I'd like, I just need a paycheck too 🙁

What would you change about the schedule? Taking another day completely off of work and replacing with studying? Or studying for longer hours?

Thanks again!

PS - in general, with the amount of hours (ignoring the work hrs) is 31hrs/week spaced apart in 6 days for about 9weeks straight until the exam a decent schedule?

I have been on a relatively ridiculous study schedule myself for the past semester. I have 3 weeks until my DAT. I will tell you how it worked out on the 24th. I just finished a semester where I worked full time as a salesman for a building materials company, 4.0'd BIO 2 and CHEM 1, Tested out of CHEM 2 after self studying this semester, Studied around 6 hours a day for the DAT in one form or another.

I have lost about 15 pounds (195 - 180 now), my wife is ready to pull her hair out because I have not been doing anything around the house, I have my letters of recommendation all set up finally and up until 5 weeks ago I was shadowing for about 10 hours a week.


Too strenuous should be something only you determine for yourself in my opinion. I would rather leave it ALL on the field then hold back and possibly fail. Start out with your plan and see how realistic it is would be my advice.

Hang in there. If it's hard it only means that it's important.

 

[ccm5166]

Need some advice on a good amount of hours per week to prepare for the DAT.
My date is 7/11/11 so I have roughly 9 weeks from today and I've started studying slowly but want to kick things in gear! I'll be working 40hrs a week so I was wondering if anyone thinks this is a good schedule or do I need to add more hours per week?

Sunday: 5pm - 11pm
Monday: 5pm 10pm
Tuesday: 5pm - 10pm
Wednesday: 5pm - 10pm
Thursday: 5pm - 10pm
Friday: take the day off
Saturday: 1pm - 6pm

Advice? Thanks so much!! PS I have a low GPA and this is my second time taking it (I bombed the first time).

I have a very similar schedule 🙁 working over 40hours a week... My best advice is to study before you go to work because it's very hard to concentrate after work when you are tired...I have been doing the same thing studying over 6 hours everyday ( 2hours before work, 1 hours during lunch break, about 4 hours after work) but i am taking off from work like 3 weeks right before my test... Good luck!!

 

[NJDental]

Thanks everyone for the feedback!! I think I will definitely not do the ~40hours a week like I was thinking so I can really focus on the DAT since this is basically my only shot...I want to kill the exam!

I'm still going to work but I'll just cut down the hours...I'm not sure if I could get myself up that early to study before work...I have to leave my house around 7:15a...I'm good at studying at night so I plan on just going right to the library after work for a solid amount of hours.

Originally I was thinking of only doing a few hours on the weekends so I can relax a little bit but I guess I should step up my game and do 10hr days on the weekends. Its definitely possible since thats what I do right now for my masters (8-12hrs a day).

Thanks again!! And p2vanlon let me know how you make out!! and GOOD LUCK!!

.

Make a realistic plan take 5 days a week off for studying and work only 2. Since you seem like you just need paycheck for extra pocket change.

lol I have no idea where this came from but no I need to have some sort of paycheck so I can send out my application, pay all the fees, and pay for school...👍

 

[wired202808]

Thanks everyone for the feedback!! I think I will definitely not do the ~40hours a week like I was thinking so I can really focus on the DAT since this is basically my only shot...I want to kill the exam!

I'm still going to work but I'll just cut down the hours...I'm not sure if I could get myself up that early to study before work...I have to leave my house around 7:15a...I'm good at studying at night so I plan on just going right to the library after work for a solid amount of hours.

Originally I was thinking of only doing a few hours on the weekends so I can relax a little bit but I guess I should step up my game and do 10hr days on the weekends. Its definitely possible since thats what I do right now for my masters (8-12hrs a day).

Thanks again!! And p2vanlon let me know how you make out!! and GOOD LUCK!!




lol I have no idea where this came from but no I need to have some sort of paycheck so I can send out my application, pay all the fees, and pay for school...👍

njdental, i think you should evaluate your situation as you get closer to the exam date, if you feel you're not ready or you dont do well on the 2009 sample dat then you should probably post-pone. theres no need to take the exam and voluntarily bomb it. it will cost you twice as much to retake vs. postponing if you have to. (theres no shame in that.)