Taking DAT with NO o-chem

[titan3035]

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Okay this is a stupid question for obvious reasons but i have somewhat of a dilemma that i need to figure out.

I am solid in the applicable sciences for the DAT, A's in all (Bio I, II - chem I, II,) but i am considering moving to an area that perfers in state applicants for exceptance. I want residency to better my chances. (GPA 3.1 science 3.3) In doing so, i would have to completely learn O-chem from kaplan (ya right) so rwhat do you guys think, how far can the O-chem section drop your DAT score.

and Yes, i have thought of every posible senerio to be able to take O-chem and still move but it just does not work out. It's either move and wing O-chem or stay, take ochem and not get residency to a school that i prefer but highly favors in-staters.

Thanks everyone

 

[omaralt]

hey, i didnt really understand what your talking about? because u still have to take o-chem eventually, cuz its a requirement i believe for every dental school. and the kaplan class doesnt go into too much detail. its a quick overview , ur not going to be able to comprehend and understand too well by just taking the kaplan course. good luck

omar

 

[titan3035]

I know ochem is required. I will be taking it before matriculation.

 

[titan3035]

Hmmm omaralt you got me thinking, i guess i could be wrong but can't i apply and be accepted with a couple pre-reqs left before the starting date? (i already have a Bachelors degree) my plan was to hopefully get accepted and then while waiting, take the other classes.

 

[dprice121]

O-chem on the DAT is not that difficult--however, the subject in general can be very difficult, especially if trying to learn it on your own.

It is very important to do well in ALL the science portions of the DAT.

Schools may overlook ONE low score, but just make sure that's the only one.

Doing poorly on the O-chem section will definitely bring down your Total Science Score, which isn't a good idea. But if you have no other option, just make sure you do well on every other section, and if needs be, explain the low O-chem score during your interviews.

Other than the Kaplan book, you may want to buy an actual O-chem textbook and read through that as much as possible before taking the exam. OR sign up for a summer class somewhere or find an online class and take the DAT a little bit later. I took the DAT in the middle of August and didn't have trouble getting interviews or acceptances.

Okay this is a stupid question for obvious reasons but i have somewhat of a dilemma that i need to figure out.

I am solid in the applicable sciences for the DAT, A's in all (Bio I, II - chem I, II,) but i am considering moving to an area that perfers in state applicants for exceptance. I want residency to better my chances. (GPA 3.1 science 3.3) In doing so, i would have to completely learn O-chem from kaplan (ya right) so rwhat do you guys think, how far can the O-chem section drop your DAT score.

and Yes, i have thought of every posible senerio to be able to take O-chem and still move but it just does not work out. It's either move and wing O-chem or stay, take ochem and not get residency to a school that i prefer but highly favors in-staters.

Thanks everyone

 

[dprice121]

Yes, you can definitely apply and be accepted before taking a couple of the pre-reqs. You will just need to complete them before matriculating.

Hmmm omaralt you got me thinking, i guess i could be wrong but can't i apply and be accepted with a couple pre-reqs left before the starting date? (i already have a Bachelors degree) my plan was to hopefully get accepted and then while waiting, take the other classes.

 

[Mithridates]

I would've found taking the DAT without O-chem really tough. I personally wouldn't recommend it if you can avoid doing that, unless you're a really good self-learner. Learning NMR and all that crap will be really hard alone. Give yourself a lot of time, and practice as many questions as you can! Most of the organic questions are thinking questions - taking general ideas and applying them to different situations. You could have the entire Kaplan organic chemistry section memorized and still do crappy on the actual test I think. Good Luck.

 

[Biogirl361]

i would not consider taking the dat with no o-chem. that is 30% of the science section that you will almost definitly do poorly on if you try to do it just off of learning it yourself. if you are good at learning things yourself and you really want to take the dat without it i guess go ahead but in my opinion there is no way i would do it if i was you.

 

[Thaxil]

Don't do it!!!!! Unless you intend on retaking the DAT.

 

[ItsGavinC]

I had a buddy who did this and got a 14 on that section.

I'd advise you at least take the first semester of O-Chem. 90%+ of the stuff on the DAT is from that semester anyway.

OChem isn't exactly something you could make educated guesses on (like physiology, for instance).

 

[Calculus1]

Yeah, I know a guy that got a 19 on his DAT without having taken the Ochem, but his other scores were stellar. He got in, but I wouldn't chance it like he did, because I'm not that bright. Ochem is one of those classes that some schools even weigh heavier because of the amount of studying required to master it(I'm probably going to hear about how it's not weighted any more than anything else and blah blah blah, but I know of two schools that do for sure UTSA and Baylor CD). Anyway, good luck w/ your decision!

 

[titan3035]

Thanks everyone, your comments are appriciated. I hope i make the right choice.

 

[Dr. Steve Brule]

i would strongly suggest u take ochem..i mean it's been 2 years since i took it but a lot of it has stayed with me..i couldn't imagine having to learn it on my own though

along the lines of of the class..i got a D second semester but then retook it during summer and got an A..how do u think schools will look at that? any chance they'll just disregard the D (hehe i wish)? or do u think they'll just avg them together? i don't know sometimes i just think im fooling myself considering all the Cs i got in upper level classes..but i gotta give it a shot