When to take DAT?

[Haruko]

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Hi.
I just joined this forums, I found this place yesterday! (lucky me! woot!) ^^

I read through this forum and I have a quick question.
One of my friend who happnens to be pre-dent major is talking his DAT this year and he is only a junior in college. I read the list of regulations of taking DAT and they didn't say anything about having a BA/BS in order to be qualified to take the exam.

So I am sort of worried because while my friend is ready to take the exam, I am not and I am also a junior.

When do you recommend for people to take DAT?

 

[hockeydentist]

Most people take it the summer of the junior year, usaully becuase they have either finished all the prereqs for dental school, chem, orgo, biology, just makes sense to take it while all those classes are fresh on your mind.

I believe the best time to take the DAT is duirng the summer, you can study and study for 3 months, and if you don't do as well you have plenty time to take it again. there is a 3 month waiting period after you take the exam. Like 90 days untill you can take the DAT again.

look at the ADA.org website

Hd

 

[cool fillings]

I took the DAT the summer after my sophomore year. It was really early to take it, but it felt great knowing my scores well before deciding to apply...it certainly helped me decide which schools to apply to. I don't know if you're a very busy student (an athlete, holding down a job, tons of extracurriculars, taking a bunch of extra credits), but if you aren't going to be that busy during your spring semester, I'd suggest studying for it then and then taking it at the beginning of the summer, around late May/early June so you can have the scores to help you decide where to apply. Plus, if you don't do well, you can retake at the end of the summer.

Just my 0.02

 

[msf41]

I'm a senior this year and I took the DAT this summer (july 10). I wish I could have been a little earlier. My suggestions for doing well on the DAT:

1) buy the Kaplan DAT study guide w/CD-ROM practice DAT
2) buy TOPSCORE (it's another CD that simulates the computerized DAT)
3) study the two above materials for 8 weeks or so (I studied about 200 hours)

I tell you this becaue (like others have mentioned) YOU MUST MAKE TIME IN YOUR SCHEDULE to prepare for this test. I tried to squeeze in studying for the DAT last fall, but I was working and carrying a full class load, so it's no suprise that I didn't get much accomplished. Spring came and I really needed to study, but again school and work, so no DAT preparation. Summer came and I was down to the wire. I had to drop summer classes, quit my job, and get serious.

I studied for 8 weeks (>200 hours) and did alright. Good luck!