Too early to take the DAT?

[dontwakeme]

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I'm about to start the second semester of my sophomore year and will have completed the following courses: General Chemistry, Biology, Organic Chemistry and a Calc 1-3. I am considering taking the DAT at the end of this summer, as I believe that most of the material will be fresh in my mind. My question is, whether or not I should delay the DAT until I have a few upper-level sciences under my belt or just go ahead and take it at the end of this summer having only completed the pre-reqs.

 

[teethgirl]

Go ahead and take the DAT!

That was the advice that was given to me during my sophomore year and I am so grateful I took the DAT then! I took Kaplan in the spring, studied for a month once finals were over and took the test on June 1st.

The only potential downside to that is DAT scores are only good for three years, so if I had not gotten into dental school on my first try, I would have had to retake the DAT.

Luckily, I got into my top two schools this cycle on my first try 🙂

You will be very happy once your senioritis starts kicking in halfway through your junior year that all you have to focus on is your classes and not DAT studying.

 

[Shunwei]

I'm about to start the second semester of my sophomore year and will have completed the following courses: General Chemistry, Biology, Organic Chemistry and a Calc 1-3. I am considering taking the DAT at the end of this summer, as I believe that most of the material will be fresh in my mind. My question is, whether or not I should delay the DAT until I have a few upper-level sciences under my belt or just go ahead and take it at the end of this summer having only completed the pre-reqs.

Actually, I'd advise the opposite from the poster above. Wait until you finish biochemistry at least, and I would also try and see if you can take some of the other upper-level classes, like immuno, endo, and evolution. These classes are technically not required for the DAT, but exposure to them, as well as having more knowledge, is better than rushing to take the DAT.

 

[Dentalishus]

Actually, I'd advise the opposite from the poster above. Wait until you finish biochemistry at least, and I would also try and see if you can take some of the other upper-level classes, like immuno, endo, and evolution. These classes are technically not required for the DAT, but exposure to them, as well as having more knowledge, is better than rushing to take the DAT.

I agree!

 

[harjay]

Here is the 3rd option of three 😛
Take some practice tests and see how well you do. If you think you've covered most of the material or know enough that you just need to read a review book, then go for it. If worse comes to worse, you can retake it next year.

If you feel like you are totally lost in the practice tests and some in depth upper div classes might help, then obviously you should wait it out 🙂

If you're just doing poor in one area, you could spend some side time studying for that one area and then take it.

 

[SuperDuper]

You have my vote 😎😀😉

Here is the 3rd option of three 😛
Take some practice tests and see how well you do. If you think you've covered most of the material or know enough that you just need to read a review book, then go for it. If worse comes to worse, you can retake it next year.

If you feel like you are totally lost in the practice tests and some in depth upper div classes might help, then obviously you should wait it out 🙂

If you're just doing poor in one area, you could spend some side time studying for that one area and then take it.

 

[Regmata]

Wing it...everything will be just fine

 

[hattrack04]

I took it at the end of my sophomore year as well (Aug. 23).....I did it for the same reason, everything was fresh in my head. I took animal phys. during my spring term, then I studied for it during the summer term and took it in Augest......I am so glad that I made that decision.....when I was applying, I didn't have to also worry about the DAT

 

[Talisa3636]

Im also a soph entering my second semester and I was wondering the same thing! I think that I will take course over the summer at my college (Howard) and try the test in next fall. First ill do a load of practice tests to make sure that ill be ready for it. My Junior year is going to be sooooo busy; i good score in the beginning could help me have more time to work on other things

 

[nolese]

I would suggest TAKING it. If you have the necessary courses (Chem and Bio mostly) then the longer you wait the harder it will be to study for the DAT when you do decide it's time to take it. If you do take it now though be sure to study well for it, put the same effort and time into preparing as you would if this were you're only shot to get it. But at the same time, you'd have the option of retaking the next year if necessary. And if you don't, having the DAT out of the way will make application year 10x easier.

 

[UNR.Grad]

I would take it too, I took it with only those classes. Just get a study guide to help guide you, put hours into studying, and you'll do fine

 

[wigglytooth]

Here is the 3rd option of three 😛
Take some practice tests and see how well you do. If you think you've covered most of the material or know enough that you just need to read a review book, then go for it. If worse comes to worse, you can retake it next year.

If you feel like you are totally lost in the practice tests and some in depth upper div classes might help, then obviously you should wait it out 🙂

If you're just doing poor in one area, you could spend some side time studying for that one area and then take it.

Good advice. I personally took it in August after my sophomore year and it really took a load off when I applied in the spring. I had intro bio (5 on AP + bio II), gen chem, organic, and an intro course on cell bio/biochem before I took the exam. If you look at the practice and everything looks completely foreign, then you maybe should wait, though. However, if you're the type who can learn out of books, then maybe go for it. Kind of vague, but like most things in the process, it depends on what you're ready for before taking action.

 

[Talisa3636]

Wiggly tooth, your DAT exam scores look great (i looked on pre-dents)! What type of extracurriculars did you do to boost your chances? It looks like ill have your GPA when its time for me to apply.

 

[SlimD235]

take physio and you'll be fine.

 

[Talisa3636]

It sorta bothers me that my school dosent have or anatomy/physiology or histology in its biology department... ill have to go to a consortium school to do it 🙁

 

[wigglytooth]

Wiggly tooth, your DAT exam scores look great (i looked on pre-dents)! What type of extracurriculars did you do to boost your chances? It looks like ill have your GPA when its time for me to apply.

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