Studying for DAT schedule

[aymanh]

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Hello,

I plan to study for the DAT this fall through my fall semester in undergrad. I was wondering if anyone has tips or experience on what study schedule works best for this type of situation, I plan on starting in September and taking the DAT beginning of January. My winter break is December 11- jan 14 so I will have a full 4 weeks without school towards the end of my studying.
I just want to make sure I balance both school and dat studying together and would like to hear others tips or opinions. (Including maybe how many hours per day and if taking a break one day a week is fine.) Thank you

 

[Bigjt1420]

You won't be able to do my schedule because you are a lot busier than I was when I was studying, but what I did was:

- 3 Months straight of studying Monday - Saturday for about 5 hours a day
- Did DAT Bootcamp and the practice tests
- Chad's Videos for Chemistry/Orgo (MUST DO!!!!)
- Last 3 weeks I did just purely practice tests to get a feel for the timing/speed

I know you wont be able to spend the time I did on it, but I highly recommend Chad's Videos and doing practice tests. Also DAT Bootcamp worked well for me for the Reading Comprehension section. For that section, I learned you are just looking for keywords or phrases and not actually reading the passage. After I finished the test, I didn't even remember a single passage because the time flies by and it's just too quick.

My scores (old DAT grading system): PAT - 19, QR - 21, RC - 28, Bio - 19, General Chem - 26, Orgo - 24; AA - 24
(Emphasized Reading Comprehension, General Chem, Orgo because those are things I mentioned in my post and did very well in)

 

[DAT Destroyer]

Hi there!
Great question, and I’m glad you’re planning ahead balancing the DAT with a busy semester takes strategy, but it’s absolutely doable (and having that full winter break at the end is a huge bonus).


Here are a few tips from working with hundreds of students in your exact situation:


1. Consistency > Intensity
During the semester, aim for 1–3 hours a day, 5–6 days a week, and don’t stress if some days are lighter when school is busy. Even short, focused sessions add up!


2. Use Your Winter Break Wisely
Those 4 weeks are golden. Plan to ramp up your hours this is when you can do full-length practice, review tough concepts, and work through all the challenging questions you may have flagged during the fall.


3. “One Day Off” Is Healthy
Yes, taking one full day off a week is not just okay it’s smart! It keeps you fresh and prevents burnout.


4. Mix of Resources
It’s great to see resources like Bootcamp and Chad’s Videos mentioned—those are helpful for concept review. I always recommend combining content review (like those, or Princeton Review, or Kaplan) with challenge-based practice questions that’s where books like DAT Destroyer can really help. The goal is to find your weak spots before test day so you can turn them into strengths.


By the way, if you or anyone else needs extra help with Biology, we also offer a Free Bio Review PDF—just message me and I’m happy to share it, no purchase necessary.


5. Track Progress, Not Perfection
Make a calendar for your classes and DAT goals. Tweak your plan as you go—if you miss a session, don’t stress, just keep moving forward.


Sample Weekly Schedule During School:

• Weekdays: 1–2 hours/day focused on one subject area or set of practice questions
• Weekends: 3–4 hours of review or a longer timed practice set
• Winter Break: 4–6 hours/day (with breaks!), including full-length practice tests and review

If you need a more detailed, personalized schedule or want to talk through study strategies, just let me know—I’m always happy to help! Wishing you the best with both your classes and DAT prep.


Nancy
Orgoman / DAT Destroyer