How Jackson Used DAT Bootcamp to Make Test Day Feel Easy

While studying for the DAT, I used DAT Bootcamp as my main resource. I studied for the better part of 3 months while enrolled in school and working. That being said, I had to find time to study and be productive. I would study from 5am-8am, go about my classes and work, then study from around 5 pm-8 pm. This would give me a mean study time of about 5-6 hours a day and while this schedule is not ideal, it was only for a few months, so I just had to tough it out. It is far worth it when it is over, so just put in the work and stay disciplined.

Biology

I watched the videos and obtained more of a broader understanding of each subsection, and made sure to practice the question banks. There is a DAT Biology Bootcamp podcast on Spotify that I listen to while driving to get some extra help. My advice would be to get as much exposure to the questions as possible and circle back to past subsections while advancing through this section to stay on top of the info.

General Chemistry

This section was straightforward, and with enough practice problems and review of missed questions, a good score can be achieved. My advice, do all the questions possible and go over the explanations for why you got it right or wrong.

Organic Chemistry

‍This is my favorite subject, so I came in with a strong background. Otherwise, knowing reagents and the mechanisms for the reactions will help most. The section is pretty straightforward and will test your understanding of the why and how each reaction occurs. My advice would be to learn reagents, mechanisms, and the why and how each reaction occurs. It's mostly Organic II from my experience, so do practice problems and go over the reasons why you got it right or wrong.

Reading Comprehension

‍The results of this section are highly contingent upon the passages you get, the method by which you choose to attack each passage, and time management. Find which strategy works best for you. Mine was reading each passage in its entirety and highlighting factual information and tones I thought were relevant to the passage. Keep track of your time; you don't want to spend more than 20 minutes on a singular passage and question set, so you are stressed during the other passages.‍

Quantitative Reasoning

‍This was my worst section, and I can chalk that up to a lack of practice and prioritization. The information is not too difficult, but with practice every day and doing a lot of problems, you can do really well in this section. It can help bump that AA up.

Perceptual Ability

This section is just straight practice. Do some of each subsection every day, and eventually you will get the hang of it. At first, it can seem daunting, but after a lot of repetition, you will see the patterns. Just practice as much as you can.

Ultimately, Bootcamp tests and practice questions were somewhat more difficult than the actual exam. This rigorous preparation was very beneficial in making me feel comfortable during the exam and helping me gain confidence in my time management as well as the information learned. Best of luck to those beginning to study.