Studying for DAT While Taking 18 Credits...

[FutureDentist17]

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I am a junior in college and will be taking the DAT in late May/early June. I am applying for a summer academic enrichment dental program which runs from May 22-July 3 and will be applying for dental school in June. My question is, is it completely impossible to take 18 credits, be involved in extra curricular activities and study for the DAT over a period of 15 weeks? I am taking a business course which I thought would be interesting, but could always drop it and just take 15 credits if needed. Has anyone studied for the DAT while taking classes before...if so was it a success?

 

[missdiana]

I took 19 credits and a leader of school club (~30 people) and shadowing/volunteering at local dental school for 11 hours per week and all of my classes are 300 level bio, and chemistry last semester and I didn't get to be prepare to take DAT this winter

WHY?

Don't aim to study for full semester.

because you can't focus on school and DAT studying at the same time.
I was doing really well with DAT then my school grade were going bad
so I had to take care of school then my DAT studying wasn't going anywhere

I planned to take DAT in Jan. but I couldn't because I wasn't ready

This semester, I am taking 19 credits AGAIN
still a leader of school club I am in, shadowing/volunteering 9 hours/week
all 300 level bio and chem and taking research paper writing class.

SO here is what I came up with

It is beginning of semester and things are not crazy YET
so, I am studying for DAT now and take DAT in 4 weeks.

A lot of DAT break down said it only took them 4-5 weeks to prepared and go through most of practice test and take the test and still go to above 20

so, right now, think your first midterm as failed. (or 70-80)
and focus on DAT.
Ace DAT
then take care of your school work again.


From my experience, trying to study for DAT and 18 credits were impossible BECAUSE you will get little quizzes and tests every week after first midterm (mostly, all the classes take the first midterm in similar time...after that, it is all what prof. wants to do)

Even with 15 credits
I think it will be hard since you will be distracted by school work and DAT and eventually you have to let go of one of thing.


that was my experience and hope this helped you.

 

[hl4jn]

I'd say put off studying for the DAT until you can really focus on it. I tried to study last semester with upper level biology and chemistry classes plus 10+ hours of research/week, another lab, math course, and at least 6 hours of volunteering every week ~ totally didn't work out. Even with 15 credits, school does take up a lot of time - adding DAT studying is like adding a 4 credit higher level science class onto your schedule - definitely take that into mind. I know that if I tried to add on DAT studying to what I was already doing last semester (which was like study from 8am to 2am everyday), I would've failed my classes.

 

[Longcatislong]

I wouldn't do it if i were you. There's no way you can devote yourself 100% to all these commitments. You'll certainly be spreading yourself too thin and either your grades will suffer or your DAT scores will.

 

[LaughingGas]

You want to devote 100% of yourself. You REALLY don't want to take this test more than once (5 hours?).