What is the ABSOLUTE best way to prep for the DAT?

[jthomp26]

This question is asked a lot and the answers are always " well the Kaplan class is ___ but it's not worth the money," or "the DAT destroyer is the best bang for your buck." I'm fortunate in that I will have anything related to preparation covered, so my question is... What is the absolute best way to prepare for the DAT?

I've never seen anyone mention it, but how do you get into Chads actual physical lectures? Is the Kaplan class good preparation (forgetting the finances)?

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[mbvc28]

I heard DAT destroyer does wonders. I didn't purchase it due to costs, so I settled for cheaper study materials and still managed a 21 TS. The topics covered are basically the same in any study material you find, but DAT destroyer offers more practice problems to enforce your understanding of the concepts covered in the material. However, if you can understand the concepts behind the material from just the basic explanations, then you wouldn't need all the extra practice problems.

Same thing with Chad's videos. People say it's required, but I also did not purchase the videos. Most of the videos are free anyways.

 

[customx]

Chad's videos & Destroyer for both ochem and gchem
Cliff's AP Bio, KBB and Ferallis' notes for bio
Crack DAT PAT for PAT

For practice exams: DAT Qvault, DAT Bootcamp

 

[Slade S.]

Chad's videos & Destroyer for both ochem and gchem
Cliff's AP Bio, KBB and Ferallis' notes for bio
Crack DAT PAT for PAT

For practice exams: DAT Qvault, DAT Bootcamp

What would you suggest for reading? What are good practices for reading section of the exam?

 

[Toothshucker]

Chad's videos and destroyer for gen chem and ochem.

Cliff's AP Bio and Destroyer Bio questions - Don't use them as a test. Just do the questions and read through all the explanations of why every choice is either correct or incorrect.

The math section of destroyer and separate math destroyer book.

Crack DAT PAT.

Thought kaplan course was weak in every way. It's always nice to have extra questions/exams, but the prep class was often low level, low yield.

Read journal articles and a lot of magazines for the reading section.

24/23/21

 

[jthomp26]

So even if you disregard money in your decision... pmanning... you wouldn't take the Kapplan course?

 

[meishoudaole]

Thought kaplan course was weak in every way. It's always nice to have extra questions/exams, but the prep class was often low level, low yield.

 

[Toothshucker]

If you need help with general test taking strategies, PAT, reading, and math strategies... then maybe it can be useful in that way.

However, everyone learns differently, so maybe some people really need it. If someone has taken the DAT 2 times already and need to take it a third, I wouldn't hesitate in taking the course.

For me, it was a waste of time because: I already had my PAT strategy down, reading strategy down, knew bio very well. Chad's videos and destroyer were more than enough for me for gen chem/ochem.

 

[jthomp26]

Thought kaplan course was weak in every way. It's always nice to have extra questions/exams, but the prep class was often low level, low yield.

It was a rhetorical question meant to incite elaboration. I swear... the quality of medical students nowadays...

 

[jthomp26]

If you need help with general test taking strategies, PAT, reading, and math strategies... then maybe it can be useful in that way.

However, everyone learns differently, so maybe some people really need it. If someone has taken the DAT 2 times already and need to take it a third, I wouldn't hesitate in taking the course.

For me, it was a waste of time because: I already had my PAT strategy down, reading strategy down, knew bio very well. Chad's videos and destroyer were more than enough for me for gen chem/ochem.

That makes sense... thanks for the input!

 

[Illfavor]

The best prep you can do is using the search feature and reading some breakdowns.

 

[jthomp26]

I think that maybe the point of my question is sort of unclear? I searched through quite a few posts on this forum, and conservatively I would say that 90% of the breakdowns and answers to the question "what is the best way to prepare for the DAT?" have; at some point, the words "worth the money" included in the post.

What separates my question is pretty simple… I'm asking what the best way to prepare is without considering money. I realize that math destroyer is great… it's been said a thousand times.

I was seriously asking in my original post if anyone knows how to get into Chad's classroom. I realize it would be expensive if it's possible, but therein lies the point of my post. Without considering money what are the best ways you have heard of.

I'm looking at the one on one Kapplan instruction, but the general consensus on here seems to be that Kapplan sucks. But…again… with the exception of pmanning… all I've seen is "it's not worth the money."

I know what the best MATERIALS are I can search for that. I'm asking if anyone has heard of any other programs/classes/courses/seminars (etc. etc.) that produce results.

 

[ajhalls3]

Attending Chad's lectures are free, the trouble is he only tackles a couple topics a year and they wouldn't be convenient for someone actually trying to prepare. But if you live in AZ, he has regular "office hours" at a local coffee shop and you could attend the lectures he does have for the cost of travel.

 

[jthomp26]

Attending Chad's lectures are free, the trouble is he only tackles a couple topics a year and they wouldn't be convenient for someone actually trying to prepare. But if you live in AZ, he has regular "office hours" at a local coffee shop and you could attend the lectures he does have for the cost of travel.

Ahh ok… well I guess he doesn't need to spend too much time in the classroom with the videos. I'd definitely make the trip if he had some sort of week long thing.

Have you heard of anyone who's as effective as Chad that has something like that?

 

[Glimmer1991]

The money didn't really matter to me, but I thought the Destroyer was unhelpful... ESPECIALLY considering the huge price tag. It was just like adding insult to injury.

Check my breakdown. It's in the breakdown collection link in my signature.

 

[jthomp26]

The money didn't really matter to me, but I thought the Destroyer was unhelpful... ESPECIALLY considering the huge price tag. It was just like adding insult to injury.

Check my breakdown. It's in the breakdown collection link in my signature.

AWESOME post thank you! That should be a sticky (your DAT Breakdown link)

 

[Glimmer1991]

AWESOME post thank you! That should be a sticky (your DAT Breakdown link)

Thank you! I'm glad it helps!

Sadly, with this new forum update, it won't let me add new breakdowns to it. It says the post is too long! Ugh!!! This new update is killing me. It has also garbled some of the text from old posts. I wish I could go in and edit it... there have definitely been some deserving breakdowns lately!

 

[lwen5]

The absolute best way to study for DAT is the following:

- Feralis Biology Notes (do a forum search on here to find them)
- Cliffs AP Biology
- Chad's for ochem and gchen
-Princeton Review AP Chemistry
- Crack the DAT (10 test version)
- Achiever (use only PAT section; better than crack the dat)
- DAT Destroyer & Math Destroyer
- Reading comprehension you should be good at; if not, read the science section of news websites

-Also read people's breakdowns.

 

[Jokrino]

destroyer, campbells, kaplan reading, khan academy videos, and read the breakdowns.

 

[Jokrino]

also dat q vault and crack dat pat is good

 

[smileurdentist]

CHAD VIDEOS AND DESTROYER!!

 

[steiner2]

This question is asked a lot and the answers are always " well the Kaplan class is ___ but it's not worth the money," or "the DAT destroyer is the best bang for your buck." I'm fortunate in that I will have anything related to preparation covered, so my question is... What is the absolute best way to prepare for the DAT?

I've never seen anyone mention it, but how do you get into Chads actual physical lectures? Is the Kaplan class good preparation (forgetting the finances)?

Why don't you ask what ice cream flavor is the ABSOLUTE best flavor or which football team is the best in every category?

 

[bimmer]

1. Chad's
2. DAT / Math Destroyer
3. Crack DAT PAT
4. Achiever (to ruin your confidence, but help you in the long run)
5.QVault
6 DAT Bootcamp
7. Cliffs AP BioBook

If your wallet can handle it, do it all.

 

[Blake1e]

Check out my breakdown in my sig for list of materials. Best way to study is to grab those materials I listed and sit down in a chair in front of your desk for as many hours as you can everyday (with 1 or 2 days off a week) for 2 or 3 months. Thats pretty much how I did it, more info in sig.

 

[jthomp26]

Why don't you ask what ice cream flavor is the ABSOLUTE best flavor or which football team is the best in every category?

Because there's no correlation between those two questions and mine, so asking either of those questions wouldn't make any sense.

 

[Dotoday]

I agree with Bimmer. If you master the first 3, you are good. The rest will make you even better.

 

[steiner2]

Because there's no correlation between those two questions and mine, so asking either of those questions wouldn't make any sense.

Dude, this question is asked so often. It's obvious who is too lazy to read breakdowns. Why do you think people spend so much time writing breakdowns? To brag to us? Who do you think you should follow when people write comprehensive breakdowns from scores of 25+? There are so many people who ask this question, a simple search would have gotten you tons of answers. Also, if you can't see the correlation, I can't help you there friend. The best ice cream flavor is personal choice. What is best for one is not best for another. Some people get a 25+ on biology using Kaplan, many use Cliff's AP bio, others swear by Shaum's. And there is no correlation between a prep book and scores. There are associations but not a correlation. Using Cliff's AP bio does not equate to a 25+ score. There is an association because many students use it and get a 25+ but it's not a correlation. I am just saying, don't be lazy and ask something that is asked many times and the answers are there every time someone takes the time to write a break down. I actually read pages and pages of them and print those out in PDF and read them to compare.

 

[Illuminati33]

Money didn't matter when I was preparing and I still think Kaplan was a complete waste. The only thing I thought it was useful for was the QR section. I think the best stuff I used was Bootcamp and Chada