When should I take DAT?

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[Maygyver]

Hey, I studied for the DAT during my school year and I did well. I think the main issue is time management. As long as you recognize the amount of time you need to spend on everything, you should be fine. If I were you, I would schedule your DAT for that spring semester, and you can always push it back. I found that once I set a date, it became easier to get motivated. As far as study plans, I would study for everything simultaneously otherwise you might forget some material. What you could do, is buy Kaplan Blue Books and just look over it on winter break and understand the PAT rules and format of the test, so that when you start to study, you are 100% studying/reviewing. I think that studying while taking classes was kind of helpful because it put me in the mindset of studying rather than wasting time you could spend relaxing. Worst case scenario is you have to push it back (which I think you can do for free as long as you do it early enough.) What you can also do is start to look at some study plans and breakdowns and formulate an idea of how you will tackle it. What I usually did was get my class work done in between classes if I had time off and maybe before dinner, and then used the evening for DAT. I would suggest just reading Schaum's/Cliff's at night for an hour or so before bed (you could probably start reading that now if you want since repetition is key for Biology.) Also, as far as RC, I really didn't do anything, but maybe just start reading the news. RC is really dependent on how comfortable you are with reading and comprehension. Hopefully this helps, feel free to PM if you want more ideas.

 

[hoylematt]

Ideally the best time for you to take it would have been this last summer! I know that doesn't help you now but in reality you want to have your application submitted with complete DAT scores, letters of recommendation, Dentist shadowing, ect. ect. all ready to go by June 3rd. When there is a pool of 1,000 people all with competitive stats, the only thing that separates them for a lot of dental schools is the time that they applied. As they say, first come first served.

Unless you have insane DAT scores (22,23+) then you can apply in December and it wouldn't matter. Anyways my opinion if you can would be to get your DAT done in the first few months of the spring semester when the work is a little bit lighter, perhaps start right when Christmas break hits and push through all the way to your test date a few months into school. Scour these DAT forums for breakdowns that can teach you the proper way to study and the amount of time you need to put in. Anyway you look at it, you have a ton of work ahead of you and you will have to do some serious time management to get it all done by June 3rd.

Good luck!👍

 

[illinois2th]

So what Hoylematt was talking about was exactly what I did. I started a DAT class right after my classes ended, I studied for the DAT and went on a Mission trip to Costa Rica during my winter break. Then when school started again, I finished my class and took the DAT. I wanted to take it earlier, but I found a date that would work with my class exam schedule. I recommend that if you are going to take it in the spring semester, take it before your spring break, otherwise thats all you are going to do and that won't be any fun, but then again that would a great week to cram and then take the test.

 

[slm266]

I wouldnt take any classes spring term and would start studying now. I would really hit this holiday break hard and maintain solid focus. I know its hard, but it will pay off. I brought my destroyer and ACS ochem book with me to the Caribbean last christmas and worked on it on the beach and on the cruise boat while i got some sun.

Where are you in your chemistry studies? Done with ochem?

Assuming you're done with it, or will be taking OC2 in the winter, I would start gathering materials and studying now. I'd buy a destroyer, CRACK DAT PAT and possibly CRACK DAT MATH and start on those. I'd buy Cliffs AP Bio (5$ on amazon) and KBB like Maygyver said and have those finished before winter break, and would take a full length practice test before school starts to see where you're at.

I'd take classes in the winter, but maybe an easy load (12 credits) so you can at least have saturdays for DAT study and time to write your personal statement. Come april once class gets out, you can hit the DAT hard with no classes to worry. I wouldnt take any classes in the spring, b'c DAT study and application will be your full time job.Your classes should be planned around the DAT, not the DAT planned around your classes.

If you submit your aadsas in june RIGHT when it opens up, it still takes 4-6 weeks to be processed, right? DAT scores only like 2-3 weeks, so you can really wait until mid june to take the DAT and your scores will arrive right when your application reaches schools. So I'd plan on taking the DAT no later than June 14 and you may get a mailing date the beginning of july.

So you'll have april-june 14 to study hard, but will be studying all along really.

 

[bigbrightsmile]

Study over winter break and the rest of this semester. Take it in spring and retake in early July/Aug if you need to better your scores. Apply ASAP...the earliest date in June possible even if you are going to retake. Just let the schools you apply to know you will retake if your scores aren't high enough.

 

[yappy]

OP I'm planning to study over winter break then take a lighter spring semester (i'm on semesters not 1/4th) get out in may and hit it hard for a month to take it in june. I plan to go through chads over christmas break and revisit topics and take practices tests over the term. My goal is a 22!!! in june.... GL.

PS: Is 22 married with a 3.3-3.4 competitive?

 

[slm266]

PS: Is 22 married with a 3.3-3.4 competitive?

Edit: ha, nevermind

 

[yappy]

lol. I'm sorry. I meant those two scores together. A 3.3-3.4 gpa wtih a 22 DAT score. not marriage like husband wife, but those scores "together".