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How To Create The Perfect 8-Week Study Schedule For DAT

sDental Admission Test or DAT can be quite a stress. But with dedication and perseverance, it is not impossible to ace the test. On top of that, if you have a perfect study schedule, there’s no way you will not ace in DAT.

dentist at work

Cramped schedules have nothing to offer except for making you stressed and sleep-deprived. A simple and comprehensive study planner is all you need to prepare yourself fully to face the DAT.

Different students have different weak and strong suits. Hence, one routine will not work the same for everyone. Therefore, we aim to provide you with a basic and well-balanced schedule.

No matter what background you are from, this planner should suffice all your needs. If it doesn’t, do not hesitate to accommodate your needs and materials into the schedule.

TL;DR

  • A perfect study planner is a must-have to prepare yourself for the DAT.
  • Your study planner should focus on your weaknesses rather than the number of study materials.
  • The time frame for DAT preparation depends upon a student’s learning mechanism and habits.
  • Two months are sufficient if you have the right study schedule along with a perfect DAT prep tool.

Are 8 Weeks Enough for DAT Preparation?

Firstly, two months are sufficient to prepare yourself for the DAT. However, this might not work for every individual because every student has their own needs.

The timeframe you should set for preparing for DAT depends on how much time you can handle every study session.

Some students can effortlessly master any topic within 1 hour, and then some students will need 3-4 hours to grasp that topic. Some might require more than that.

Moreover, if a student with a fast reading pace forgets what they read, then they must start revising a few weeks or days before the test. So, during exams, the concepts are fresh in your mind.

On the other hand, a student with a sharp memory can start reading six months before the exam.

This is why the study schedule depends on the type of learner a student is. Moreover, the timeframe for DAT prep depends on how good you are at mastering topics.

If you want to go slowly, you should start DAT preparation six months before the exam. If you choose to study only two months before the exam, be ready for long study sessions.

Because you will also compete with the students who have studied 4-6 hours every day for a long time, hence, to compensate for that, you have to study more in your shorter timeframe.

You can surely prepare for DAT in two months and even nail it down. But it is not going to be easy.

The point is, the less timeframe you choose to prepare yourself, the more smartly you will have to prepare yourself.

How to Prepare Yourself for the DAT?

Before we present a routine, we would like to offer you some insights into preparing yourself for the DAT. You can always change the routine according to your needs. But some certain points will help you to achieve your goal.

Treat the preparatory phase like a full-time job

The study hours should be 40 hours per week. You can alter your daily schedule making sure you are reaching this 40-hour goal.

There will be lazy days when you will not feel like studying. Then again, there will be days when you will want to put in extra hours. Whatever it is, do not overdo or underdo it.

Multiple day-offs are the ultimate killers for your preparation. Keep a regular study habit. Try to follow the schedule closely. The plan will only be helpful if you are following it as much as you can.

Do not pile up your reading table with tons of studying materials

This is a common mistake most pre-dental make- piling up their table with many studying materials.

There is a common misconception among pre-dental that more study materials increase getting into a DAT school.

But the truth is, you need reliable study materials.

The quality of your study material is more important than the number of study materials you have. There are dozens of options on the internet. Do your research and pick up the right one. For example, you can choose PATCrusher. PATCrusher has helped 14000 students to crush the PAT section of the DAT.

With its unlimited questions along with detailed explanations, there’s no way you will go wrong.

Do not put all your efforts into one topic at once

While focusing on a single topic with a lot of effort is not a bad idea, it is not a smart idea either. Studying one subject for a long time can be tedious. Moreover, it prevents you from studying other topics. Consequently, you may forget those subjects.

It is necessary to put more effort into your weaknesses. But let’s not forget that DAT consists of different parts. Hence, you have to master all those along with turning your weak zones into strong ones.

One of the efficient tricks is to practice the actual test questions daily. Not only will you comprehend the DAT question, but it will also help you to skim through all subjects at once.

Your DAT study schedule must include practice tests and quizzes. The more practice tests you go through, the more prepared you are for these tests.

Because the answers you got wrong helps you to understand your failings and take action accordingly. If your study sessions cover half of your DAT Prep, the other half comes from the mistakes you make during mock tests.

You can choose PATCrusher to help you with this. The app will let you practice on the go. You will get a detailed score as well that will help you to analyze your preparation technique better.

Stay fit and healthy.

Long study sessions require you to sit on your chair for a long time. You might develop back pain, neck aches due to this.

Therefore, you should do some yoga and stretching exercises daily to keep yourself fit.

As much as studying is important to ace the DAT, being fit and healthy is also important. All your efforts will be futile if you fall sick right before the exam.

Components of The DAT

You will notice that PAT, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning occupy low study hours in our routine. That’s because they are not demanding study hours compared to the other subjects.

For instance, when it comes to PAT or the Perceptual Ability Test, you need experience solving the problems.

PATCrusher is a great tool for that. It ensures higher scores for all its users. If you go to the review section of our website, you will notice several students confidently recommending it.

Reading comprehension test depends upon the experience with reading material. Look out for some scientific articles and try to understand and analyze them. Mastering quantitative reasoning depends on your practice.

8-Week DAT Study Schedule

Here’s our 8-week study schedule that can help you crush the DAT.

Week 1

week 1 DAT schedule

Week 2

week 2 DAT schedule

Week 3

week 3 DAT schedule

Week 4

week 4 DAT schedule

Week 5

week 5 DAT schedule

Week 6

week 6 DAT schedule

Week 7

week 7 DAT schedule

Week 8

week 8 DAT schedule

The DAT preparation schedule presented above is basic. If you follow it thoroughly, you will surely crack the DAT with a significant score.

The schedule does not focus on weak points or the number of study materials a student might have. Hence you can alter it on your own.

You get Sundays to chill out. After such a stressful and tedious schedule throughout the week, you should take a day off and socialize a bit.

This is the number of hours per subject depending on the schedule-

  • Biology – 88 hours
  • General chemistry – 88 hours
  • Perceptual Ability Test/ PAT – 78 hours
  • Quantitative Reasoning Test – 22 hours
  • Practice Test – 24 hours

DAT Study Schedule FAQ

How many times can you take the DAT?

You can sit for the DAT as many times as you want to attain a desirable score.

But if you exceed three times, you have to forward ADA a school-going proof or any dental progress-related evidence to take the test.

How long does it take for DAT scores to publish?

You will receive non-official preliminary results immediately after your DAT. But the score might change after standardization.

Hence you will be able to access the official results within a month of sitting for DAT.

Wrapping Up

Let no one lie to you- DAT isn’t easy. Nonetheless, it is not rocket science as well.

People have cracked the DAT before. Hence, don’t bother to worry that you will not be one of them. The 2-month study schedule presented in this article, combined with hard work is enough for you to ace the DAT.

Shine bright with persistence and dedication. Make your dream come true.

An efficient DAT study tool like PATCrusher will help you in this journey. Sign up for free today and make yourself prepared for the DAT battle.

8 Reasons Why You Should Become a Dentist

When it comes to health care professions, there are myriad options from physician to the technician. It is quite impossible to emphasize one over the other because every profession is critically important to ensure the well-being of health.

dentists with instruments
Image from Unsplash by Yusuf Belek

As a kid, we have the freedom to become whatever we wish to be in our dreams. We are carpenter one day, scientist the next day, and an actress the other day. As we grow up, we realize, the reality is far away from our dreams. Choosing your career path is a crucial time and it’s obvious to feel lost for a certain time.

However, if dentistry ever crossed your mind, we are here to help you. In this article, we are offering you eight reasons to chase your dreams and pursue a career in dentistry.

Table of Contents

8 Reasons To Consider A Career In Dentistry

1. Oral health is a priority

According to a survey, nearly two-thirds of individuals in the United States said their current health priority is their oral health. As a health-related priority, oral health was ranked higher than mental health, exercise, and diet.

oral health priority chart
Source: statista.com

If you’ve ever had a toothache, a cavity, or any other dental emergency, you know that finding a competent dentist is important not just for your health, but also for your comfort and confidence.

More and more people every year prefer a regular dental checkup just like any other routine checkup to avoid painful dental issues. The proactive and preventive approaches to deal with patients have made people more aware of the importance of oral health.

2. Putting back the smile on people’s face

Dentists have a notorious reputation for alleviating sufferings in exchange for discomfort and pain. Patients’ pain is not their goal rather a part of their work.

While dental pain is one of the most excruciating experiences to go through, dentists try to relieve patients’ suffering by treating problems.

Dental medicine has come a long way in the 21st century and works in many ways other than giving people relief from pain. We should indeed accept ourselves the way we are but at times our teeth get in a bad state due to our own habits.

Eating too much chocolate, not brushing our teeth properly, or not extracting out the tooth at the right time can become the reason why we start hesitating to smile more often.

But, dentists are no less than magicians. They have the solution for every unique problem and can put the smile back. So if you become a dentist, you can actually help people laugh confidently.

girl smiling confidently
Image from Unsplash by Matheus Ferrero

The role dentists play in a person’s makeover is by far one of the most satisfying aspects of dentistry. It’s a great feeling to go out with confidence, especially if they’ve been hiding their teeth for years.

An increasing number of an adult is seeking orthodontic treatment because they want to be all in smiles with no fear. So, do you not want to help them?

3. Dentistry is not just about teeth

Dentists’ work goes beyond giving people ease and fixing the teeth’ alignment. Imagine someone met with a car accident that deformed their facial bones. Who they’ll go to? A qualified oral surgeon.

Maxillofacial trauma can cause damage to soft tissue, bruises, and fractures and can break bones, jaw, or cheekbones. These injuries can lead to permanent facial disfigurement. So, it’s not just check-ups and fillings.

You will get to work on the most important part of the human body, the face. The oral and maxillofacial surgeons receive highly specialized training which prepares them to handle the challenges related to fractures and damages.

So you have a lot of options to explore if you find interest in other aspects of dentistry. As mentioned earlier you can opt for being an Orthodontists who are expertise in braces and other devices to straighten teeth.

In the same way, you have the option to become a periodontist, endodontist, oral pathologist, or maxillofacial surgeon. So, there’s no way to think that choosing to study dentistry you’ll narrow down your career path. Rather, you’ll open up the door to a diversified field.

4. Be your own boss

If you’ve ever dreamed of being your own boss and want to work in medicine, dentistry provides a variety of flexible choices. When you graduate from dental school, you have a lot of options for where you want to work. You have the option of joining a practice or pursuing your business dreams and opening your own clinic.

Dentists can operate in either private clinics that serve persons with personal health insurance or go for public practices that are sponsored or subsidized. As the services are expensive, not all countries can include them in national health services.

It is important to have time for family while you make a comfortable living. Being a dentist you will have that. It is the kind of skill that no one can take away from you and you will always have work to do.

5. Balance the ratio of dentist to population

There were 61.04 dentists per 100,000 people in the United States in 2020. And about only one in five professionally active dentists reported that their practice, research, or administration area is an ADA recognized specialty.

So, you can already have the idea that how much the imbalanced ratio demands skilled dentists. Dentistry was named one of the best jobs in the U.S. News & World Report’s “100 Best Jobs” list for the eighth year in a row.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment growth will be 7.6%, resulting in 10,400 additional dental positions by 2028. The need for new dentists is rapidly increasing so you are going to have a promising career.

6. More interaction with people

A normal day in the life of a dentist is diverse and intriguing, as they deal with individuals of various ages, personalities, and cultures.

Dentists use the newest technology in diagnosing and treating patients, from computers to magnetic resonance imaging and more, so no two days are ever the same.

A dentist develops great interpersonal skills while working with different people. Whether it’s dealing with kids or adults, dentists have a wittier way to keep patients distracted as much as possible. Overall if you are a fun-loving person, you’ll be a good fit for it.

7. Contribute to the future of oral health care

Dentistry is frequently referred to be a form of art. It necessitates a level of skill and technique that is unique to the field. Dentistry is primarily concerned with preserving good oral health, but it also focuses on the capacity building of everyone practicing.

In addition to clinical practice, dentists may play an important role in shaping the future of oral health care by contributing to dental education and research. By establishing themselves as faculty members, dental educators have the potential to alter the dental school curriculum and the professional function of the dentist.

dental props
Image from Unsplash by Jonathan Borba

As a dental researcher, the dentist combines the latest technology with cutting-edge scientific discoveries. It improves the profession by identifying novel oral health phenomenon or finding solutions to a variety of oral health problems.

8. Earn a lucrative salary

Although you shouldn’t pursue it only for the money, a dental career pays well everywhere in the world, and you’ll be able to make a good living. Dentists in the United States earned an average salary of $158,000 per year, or approximately $76 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In comparison to other professions, your working hour will be less but you will earn an hourly wage two and a half times more than average.

Dental wages provide a pleasant standard of living for all over the world. Dentists earn substantially above-average incomes in most nations, and they may choose where they live and work in some situations.

Even though dentistry is one of the best-paid professions in many nations, some dentists opt to relocate to countries where incomes are even greater. Ireland, for example, pays a greater salary to dentists than the United Kingdom, and some UK-trained dentists opt to practice in Ireland.

Before preparing to move, prospective dentists who want to live and operate outside of their home country should research the language and license requirements of other countries.

Final Word

The reasons for wanting to be a dentist are as diverse as the people who want to be dentists, but one thing that all dentists have in common is a genuine desire to help people.

Looking for great resources to help you crush the PAT section? Get started with PATcrusher today!

The Importance of Manual Dexterity

What is Manual Dexterity?

According to workplacetesting.com, manual dexterity is one’s ability to execute controlled movement using hand-eye coordination under specific conditions. A person develops manual dexterity from early childhood by learning tasks such as writing, grasping and releasing objects, and assembling puzzles and construction toys. This ability can be further honed in adults who require advanced manual dexterity for their profession. Dentistry is one such profession where manual dexterity skills are highly valued. This article, therefore, highlights the importance of manual dexterity in a dentist’s career.

Why is Manual Dexterity necessary in our day to day life?

We are using our hands every day at every moment for a variety of reasons. Manual dexterity is what lets us use our hands at our commands to perform various tasks.

Manual dexterity is what allows us to perform our most mundane day-to-day tasks. It enables us to pick up a pen and use it to write a sentence. It allows us to hold our spoons so that we can feed ourselves. Without a certain level of manual dexterity, we would be I’m able to function normally in our daily lives.

Why is Manual Dexterity necessary in dentistry?

A doctor’s hands, in general, are known as “Healing Hands” because doctors- whether they are surgeons or dentists or physicians of any sort- use their hands to give high-quality treatment to their patients.

In order to perform dental procedures, a dentist must be able to work with precision on an extremely small scale. Additionally, superior hand-eye coordination is critical in ensuring the safety of patients and the integrity of the profession. Therefore it is safe to say dentistry is one such profession where the importance of manual dexterity is very high.

Dentistry is a profession that demands fantastic oral communication, keen attention to detail, excellent bedside manners, clear conception to solve problems, and, most importantly, excellent manual dexterity. This is because working in the limited space of a patient’s mouth requires a high degree of precision. Therefore, it is imperative that your manual dexterity is developed and doesn’t waver for you to be a competent and confident dentist who provides their patient with the best possible treatment.

How can you improve?

The dental admission test contains a section that has been designed to test this skill, mainly. Moreover, after the written exam and during the sit-in or on-campus interviews, the interviewers will be asking you more about your manual dexterity. So, yes, it is vital for you to improve your manual dexterity before you apply to dental school.

Here are a few ways you can do so-

  1. Drawing
  2. Painting
  3. Sculpting
  4. Wood carving
  5. Soap carving
  6. Sewing
  7. Cross-stitching
  8. Knitting
  9. Crocheting
  10. Learning to tie various knots
  11. Learning a musical instrument that requires extensive hand-eye coordination such as the piano or the violin.

Besides this, there are a few exercises that you can perform to help develop your manual dexterity and flexibility. these include the following-

  1. Squeeze a ball – grab a softball and hold it in your palm, squeezing it as hard as possible. Make sure not to hurt yourself and hold the position for three to five seconds. Repeat this exercise 10 to 12 times for each hand.
squeeze a ball
  1. Make a fist – make a gentle fist with your thumb wrapped across your fingers. Hold the position for a minute, then let go opening your fingers one by one and as wide as possible.
  2. The finger lifts – place one of your hands on a flat surface, pawn face down. Then lift one finger from that surface and hold the position for one or two seconds then lower that finger. Do this for each finger one after another and repeat for the other hand.
  3. Stretch your wrists– overworking your hands can lead to injury and wrist pain. To help with these, perform the wrist-extending stretches, as shown in the diagrams below. Perform each set at least four times per arm, holding each position for 15 to 30 seconds.
stretch wrists

However, I am here to provide you with some good news. According to this study, manual dexterity is not essential (but valued) in the selection of dental students. Students who could follow training significantly improved their manual ability. What this means is that as you practice dentistry, your manual dexterity will increase over the years with experience and practice. So even if your hand-eye coordination isn’t the best right now, don’t fret.

The importance of manual dexterity should be evident for you now. One thing to note is that, like with every skill, the only way you can improve and develop is through practice. So pick up that paintbrush and start painting, or pick up a new hobby such as knitting!

DAT Study Tips – The Guide to a Perfect 30

boy reading book sitting on chair

­­­Are you sitting for the Dental Admission Test (DAT) this year? Are you a little confused about how to prepare for it? Worry not, because this article discusses a few tips for studying for the DAT 2021.

Strategies for studying

DON’T CRAM! This is something I cannot emphasize enough. When you cram and pull all-nighters, you feel like you are retaining and learning a lot of information, but this is fleeting. Instead, you will find yourself forgetting vital information during a very crucial time in your exam. The only thing cramming successfully does is overload your brain and cause anxiety as you try to fit an entire course’s worth of studying into a night or two. When you are cramming, you become more concerned about finishing your syllabus and how much you are studying instead of what you are studying.

Therefore it is a good idea to learn your study materials by breaking it up into smaller portions. Try studying consistently, and regularly over a longer period of time.

Sit for mocks frequently. There are two main advantages of frequently taking mock tests. The first is the fact that you are automatically revising and touching up on material you have previously studied. The second being the fact that mocks are a great way to gauge your progress. Good performance in your mock tests is an indication that the studying strategies you are currently using is working and you can continue as is. However, if you are earning subpar results in your mocks, then it might be time to reevaluate your strategy and proceed accordingly. Mock tests also have a habit of exposing your weaknesses. So, use your mock test results as a bearing to figure out which sections require more focus and time.

Choosing a Study Plan

Your study plan has to be specially catered to meet your need. Everyone’s study plans differ from each other because it entirely depends on the person’s learning habits, situation, weaknesses, strengths, and routines.

Different people study and prepare for exams differently. While some may prefer self-study, others seek help from professionals and veterans who have already given the exam. If you are someone who prefers self-studying, enrolling in a test preparation course is a good idea. Test preparation courses have a positive and negative side. The positive side is that it creates the illusion of a class-like structure compelling you to study. A drawback of test preparation courses is that you will be stuck with their material for better or worse and they usually cost a pretty penny. Therefore, it is up to you do figure out which study plan best works for you.

An important tip in the list of tips for studying for the DAT 2021 is that you must choose your study plan wisely. A good example to a study plan is featured on DAT prep and will help you to get started.

Time management

Time management is key to acing the DAT. Time management is also crucial in successfully preparing for the DAT. Therefore, make a study schedule and then stick to it!

Prepare for the DAT like it is your full-time job. This means putting in at least 40 hours of study time each week. This adds up to about a total of 200 to 250 hours of study time, which should be more than enough to effectively prepare for the DAT.

6 to 8 weeks is the recommended prep time for the DAT. So, register for the test with this timeline in mind.

Study Efficiently

Create a schedule and stick to it.

Creating a good, functional study schedule is imperative for your preparation process. Here is an article on how to create a good study schedule.

The human attention span is notoriously short and as mentioned before, cramming is never a good idea. Therefore when creating your DAT study schedule, try breaking up the syllabus into little portions and span your entire prep schedule over the course of a couple of weeks (roughly 6-8 weeks).

The recommended total preparation time is about 200-250 hours, which means you should roughly 36 to 40 hours a week. Putting in 3 to 4 hours of study time a day is optimal. Further break down these 3 to 4 hours of daily study time into shorter study sessions, each lasting for about 40-50 minutes. Really focus on what you are studying during the study session. You can download apps such as Forest and Focus to make sure you aren’t distracted by notifications popping up on your phone.

Take a 10-15 minute long break after each study session. These breaks are equally important because they help rejuvenate your brain allowing you to retain information better. Avoid looking at social media during your breaks. Instead, go on walks and get some fresh air. Stretch your legs and rest your eyes for a bit, you will feel a lot better.

Make sure that your breaks are no longer than 15 minutes at a time. Taking frequents breaks that last longer than 15 minutes threatens your concentration and can destroy your study flow. However, if you do want to take breaks that are longer than 15 minutes, try fitting in about 2 or 3 study sessions (each lasting for about 40-50 minutes) beforehand.

Environment

The environment you study plays an important role in how well you study and prepare for your exam. Make sure you have a dedicated study corner that is comfortable and is equipped with proper lighting (this is to avoid eye strain). But, avoid studying on your bed, because while you should be comfortable in your study space, you shouldn’t fall asleep.

Some students prefer studying in a quiet, secluded place like home, while others prefer a coffee shop or even the library. Go wherever you feel most comfortable and be in whatever environment that makes you the most productive.

Sometimes a change of scenery goes a long way. So, don’t be afraid to change up your study spot every once in a while and amp up your productivity.

Study Material

Use diverse material to prepare for the DAT.

Make interactive notes that summarize the content covered in various sections of the DAT syllabus. You can create flashcards to remember small facts easily.

Some students prefer studying alone, while others study better in groups. In case you prefer the latter, go ahead and connect with other pre-dental students who are also going to be sitting for the DAT very soon and create study groups to study with them.

Study out loud, sit for mocks, discuss with your friends. Do whatever you feel is best for you. Try and allocate more time to the sections you are weak at.

In the end, always remember that consistency is key. So, practice, practice then practice some more. I hope these tips for studying for the DAT 2021 will come in handy when you implement them in real life. Prepare with dedication and patience and you will find yourself acing the DAT with flying colors.

Post-baccalaureate Programs

a girl with books and bag
Photographer: Element5 Digital | Source: Unsplash

What is a Post-baccalaureate Program?

A post-baccalaureate program or post-bacc is a program you participate in after you have completed your undergraduate studies. Simply put, a post-baccalaureate program is a transition program between your undergraduate education and graduate school. Students sign up for this program with various goals, including but not limited to, completing a second BA/BS degree, attaining a graduate certificate, or completing prerequisite courses for medical or dental school.

Some post-baccalaureate programs can provide degrees and certificates, while others can be non-degree-granting. It usually takes about a year or two to complete a post-baccalaureate program.

Do you need a post-baccalaureate program?

Post-baccalaureate programs in health sciences are designed to bring students who graduated with a non-science degree up to speed, or strengthen their academic credentials or fulfill prerequisites for dental or medical school.

There is a variety of post-baccalaureate programs available for you to choose from. Each program varies in length, in contents, and while some of the programs offer a certificate or degree, others do not. Therefore which program you choose will broadly depend on the following-

  1. Financial situation
  2. Academic Record
  3. Your target school

Here are a few generic questions you can ask yourself in order to figure out whether you should be enrolling for a post-baccalaureate program or not.

Are you a science major or not?

Being a science major is not a prerequisite for applying to dental school. However, there are a couple of science-related specifications that you must fulfill. Therefore, if you are not a science major, then enrolling for a post-baccalaureate program can be a good way for you to meet your insufficient prerequisites.

Do you want to enhance your academic record?

Are you a science major who already meets all the prerequisites, and seemingly don’t have a reason to enroll in such a program? Think again. Having a post-baccalaureate degree can give you a competitive advantage and amp up your dental school application.

Dental schools are always on the lookout for students who have showcased their willingness to work and learn dentistry. They will, therefore, especially appreciate the fact that you have done some extra work, despite already being eligible to apply. This will make you stand out as an applicant.

Are you a socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged student who needs a little boost?

As mentioned above, post-baccalaureate programs can cover a variety of topics and subjects. This can range from background science courses to academic enhancement classes to test prep classes. Often, schools conducting and offering such programs have guaranteed seats for the students who meet specific requirements.

At some schools, students accepted into the program do not pay tuition, and in some cases, they must be selected by the school rather than apply for a spot.

The benefits of a post-baccalaureate program

We have already discussed the many reasons why you, as a student, may want to apply and sign up for a post-baccalaureate program. Here are a few other benefits that post-baccalaureate programs can offer to you before attending medical or dental school-

#1 Advising for pre-med and pre-dental prep

During post-baccalaureate programs, you are paired with an advisor who specializes in pre-med or pre-dental. This advisor will help you throughout your application process and keep your individual needs in mind while advising. This helps kickstart your activities for professional school.

#2 Adaptable Timetable

As a graduate student, you might already have a job and not be able to dedicate your full time to earning a post-bacc degree. Don’t you worry because post-baccalaureate offers both part-time and full-time programs! The full-time programs are usually eight months long, while the part-time ones last for about a year.

#3 You can volunteer and gain clinical research experience

A few post-baccalaureate programs have volunteer experience as a part of their curriculum. This can really help you build up your clinical or research experience, which in turn will significantly strengthen your medical or dental application.

#4 Medical or dental school linkage

The post-baccalaureate programs for medical or dental school are usually offered and run by dental and medical schools themselves. These schools often have agreements with the students participating in the post-bacc programs. The agreement includes a conditional admission into the medical or dental school based upon your performance. Some schools offer this as a guarantee while for others this is simply implied. In general, however, if you complete a post-bacc program from a certain affiliated dental or medical school you can become very familiar with the culture of the school and build relationships with faculty members, potentially giving you a competitive advantage over the other applicants who are applying to the same institution.

#5 MCAT and DAT Prep

Post-baccalaureate programs are a great way to not only improve your academic records and fill out any academic gaps but also for MCAT or DAT prep. Sometimes, such programs come with built-in DAT prep and MCAT prep classes. Other times, the contents and topics covered in these programs go a long way into preparing you for these exams.

How much does this program cost?

Post-baccalaureate programs can end up costing you a pretty penny. Most post-bacc programs cost anywhere between $20,000 to $40,000. A few schools offer financial aid, but you mostly will have to rely on student loans. Moreover, many post-baccalaureate programs don’t even qualify for federal financial aid. So be very wary and conduct thorough research before applying for grants or just signing up for any post-baccalaureate program.

Things to consider before deciding

Post-baccalaureate programs have a wide variety, so you need to focus on why you want to do the programs, how much are you willing to spend on it and what you expect to learn and achieve from the program.

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to figure out which program, if any at all, is suitable for you.

Does your academic record need enhancing?

If you are someone who already has all the prerequisite classes covered and has a good score in all of them, you don’t really consider a post- bacc to enhance your academic rapport. However, if your previous results weren’t up to par, these programs are an excellent opportunity to learn and improve. However, a post-bacc program is not the only way to improve. Speaking to your university’s learning center could also result in test- prep solutions for you.

What is better?- A certificate program or a master’s degree?

The amount of time taken to complete a post-baccalaureate program and a master’s degree is roughly the same. So, this raises the question- which one is more beneficial? A master’s program would be more beneficial for students who were science majors in college and now are looking to improving their academic records. A post-baccalaureate program would be more beneficial for a non-science major who is missing the necessary science background and basics required for both medical and dental school.

Can you afford the program?

As mentioned before, a post-baccalaureate program can be pretty expensive, with little or no financial aid available. Therefore, you must choose a program that is cost-effective and fits within your budget. Loans are usually the only form of financial assistance available, so make sure to conduct thorough research before applying to any of the programs.

How much time can you dedicate to the program?

One of the benefits mentioned above of post-baccalaureate programs is the fact that some programs offer full-time and part-time classes. So you can really pick and choose, depending on your needs.

Post-bacc programs are usually 1 to 2 years long.

Does the program offer am advisor?

Having an advisor can be a huge help. They can individually guide you and help with your career and application.

Do you learn better in large classes or smaller classes?

Some students find it challenging to communicate in classes occupied by a large number of students. While post-bacc class sizes are generally small, this is something a student should consider before signing up for the program.

You can find a suitable postbaccalaureate program from the database of postbaccalaureate programs.

Remember that you know your needs best, so conduct appropriate research to find programs that suit you best. A post-baccalaureate degree will strengthen your dental school application. But, it is imperative that you find the right program, so that is well worth the time, money, and effort.

DAT PAT Pattern Folding Strategy Guide for 2022 [Updated]

The Pattern folding on the Perceptual Ability Test is key for the best score performance. These type of questions usually are pretty straight forward and while they might seem intimidating at first, we will show you exactly why you should not fear them. In fact, the best thing that you can do is to practice and follow a good solving strategy.

Below you’ll find a brief introduction to pattern folding on the DAT.

Introduction to Pattern Folding

For this section of the Perceptual Ability Test, you will see a flat unfolded pattern. You are required to mentally manipulate it and fold it into a 3D figure. Your task is to find which of the answer choices given is the correct one for the particular figure. The image below presents an example of this.

Pattern folding
PAT Pattern Folding on PATCrusher

Remember that there will only be one correct answer to each question. In the example above the solid lines of the figure represent where it will be folded. Make sure to keep that in mind when selecting an answer choice.

The best way to solve these questions is to find a unique shape in the answer choices. Then see if it appears in the flat folded object. You can easily eliminate answer choices and be left with the correct option. It takes time to understand and get better at finding and picking the right shape to test with the question. Although, with practice as with every other section, pattern folding can become an easy section on test day.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you have noticed that pattern folding in the PAT is pretty straight forward and you know that you should focus your efforts on doing as much practice as you can. This can be accomplished with the help of a great service for preparation like PATCrusher. With it, you can get tips, strategies and examples for the pattern folding section of the Perceptual Ability Test in the DAT.

DAT Study Tips to Score a perfect 30

DAT study tips

Studying for an important exam is an intimidating process. The preparation process for the Dental Admission Test (DAT) is even more so. We usually have to learn a lot of things in a very limited amount of time. Accomplishing this can sometimes be very chaotic. So, to help you along, here are DAT study tips to score a perfect 30. Dont Forget to Sign up for DATPrep to get access to free Practice exams and help with studying for the DAT.

#1 Study like it’s your full-time job

Your main and only focus should be your preparation for the DAT. Design your study schedule depending on how much time you have left till the actual exam and how late you started preparing. Generally, it is suggested that you should put in 40 hours of study time a week to prepare for it successfully.

But keep in mind not to overwork yourself. Consistency is key. Study every day to maintain a steady flow and to ensure that you do not forget whatever you have studied in the past.

Take occasional breaks so that you can feel rejuvenated. One day per week as a break is ideally suggested.

#2 Be wary of distractions

This may sound very obvious, but the biggest hurdle to your exam preparations is your notoriously short attention span. Therefore, be wary of potential distraction. Keep your phone locked away during your study sessions. Download apps such as Forest, Focus, etc. that help increase focus by locking away distracting sites on your phone. Study in a quiet secluded place away from the commotion of other people such as family, friends, neighbors, or roommates. You may give your family, friends, and roommates copies of your study schedule and ask them not to bother you within that time.

Studying can be a mentally taxing process, so as time goes by, these distractions become even more tempting as escape routes. The instant you lose focus due to one of these distractions, you also lose the time it takes to return to the level of concentration you just had.

Therefore, stay away from potential distractions and study with single-minded focus.

#3 Change study locations

Sitting at your desk for hours and staring at study materials can quickly become monotonous. So, change up your study location. Go to the library or find a quiet corner in a coffee shop. Many studies suggest that the change of location can amp up our productivity.

Moreover, you will not be alone in the actual exam hall, so studying in public places such as libraries and coffee shops will help you learn how to ignore others and continue your work unbothered.

#4 Sit for Mock exams

Go all the way with your prep. Try and recreate the exam conditions as closely as possible, sit for mock exams, and make sure to time yourself.

Giving practice tests in a library or a computer café is, therefore, a good idea. Turn off your music, television, and phone. However, the DAT is a very long exam, so keep that in mind if you do sit for a practice test in a public place. You should closely recreate exam conditions to give yourself enough time to adjust to them. Study at the same time of day as your official test, especially on the same day of the week. This will help you acclimatize to the idea of giving the test at that time of the day.

These were a few mentionable DAT study tips to score a perfect 30. However, remember that the most important thing is to practice because practice makes permanent.

DAT – PERCEPTUAL ABILITY (PAT)

The perceptual ability test or PAT for short is one of the four main sections of the Dental Admission Test. This test is for gauging your visual acuity. The perceptual ability section is further divided into six subsections. You will not be allowed to use any form of measuring instruments, such as a scale or a pencil or even your own fingers, during the examination. Therefore to help you along, we will be breaking down each of the six subsections and provide you with little tips and tricks that you can use to ace the DAT- Perceptual Ability (PAT) test.

Syllabus/ format for DAT- Perceptual Ability (PAT)

The DAT- Perceptual Ability (PAT) contains 90 questions in total. It is further divided into six subsections each containing 15 questions. These include the following-

  1. Apertures (Keyholes): You will be shown a 3D object along with the outline of 5 different apertures. Your job is to determine which aperture the 3D object will fit through. You are allowed to turn and flip the object in any direction you desire before you move it through the aperture. Once it has entered the aperture, the object cannot be turned, flipped or twisted. The object will smoothly move through the aperture because the outline of the aperture and the external shape of the object is the same. However, the drawings are drawn to scale. Therefore, a certain aperture might be the perfect fit for the 3D object, only smaller. On the other hand, because you will not be allowed to take any form of measuring instruments into the exam hall, any difference in size will be prominent enough to be detected by the human eye. There will be no irregularities in the part of the shape not visible in the picture.
apertures 448c2272985339c23021a786f7a8a2a6 800
  1. View Recognition (Top/Front/End): You will be given pictures of various objects from various viewing angles such as the top, front, and side view. The pictures provided will be without perspective which means that the points on the viewed surface are viewed along parallel lines of vision. You will usually be given two views of an object and will have to figure out the missing view from the given options. Dashed lines represent the hidden lines.
topfrontend e6644a94f96c181325b19bf56f2b0d6e 800
  1. Angle Discrimination (Angle Ranking): You must arrange the given angles in ascending order, i.e. smallest to largest.
angle discrimination
  1. Paper Folding (Hole Punches): A flat piece of square paper is folded once or multiple times with a hole punched through it. Your job is to unfold the paper and identify the position of the punched hole in the original paper. The solid lines on the diagram represent the folds of the paper. Remember, the paper was never twisted or turned and it always remains within the edges of the original square.
paper folding (hole punches)
  1. Cube Counting: Various figures are created by attaching a number of cubes of the same size together. All outer sides of the cube, except the bottom part, are painted. Your job is to figure out how many cubes have how many of their sides painted.
cube counting
  1. 3D Form Development (Pattern Folding): A flat, 2D pattern of a 3D object will be given. The flat pattern can be folded to form the 3D object. You will have to correctly choose the 3D object that will be formed from the given flat pattern.
3D form development (pattern folding)

Understanding what each part represents can be a little difficult. Therefore, refer to the given pictures to get a clearer understanding of the six subsets of The DAT- Perceptual Ability Test (PAT).

Tips and tricks to ace DAT- Perceptual Ability (PAT)

Here are some tricks you can employ in various sections to answer them correctly and quickly. But keep in mind, what works for someone else doesn’t necessarily have to work for you. So try out various methods to see what works best for you.

Apertures

This is, perhaps, the hardest part of the PAT. There is no ingenious shortcut to this. Simply look at the picture and try to envision what the object would look like from the top and bottom and other angles. Practice over and over again to increase your expertise in imagining 3D objects.

View Recognition (Top/Front/End)

There are a couple of different approaches to this. Starting with-

Line counting method

This was once a tried and tested method of approaching the view recognition part of the PAT. However, the DAT exam has evolved over the years and now this subset includes questions that cannot be solved using the line counting method. Therefore it is recommended that you don’t solely rely on this method. Here is how the line counting method works-

  • Look at each view -the top, front, or end- that is given in the question and then count the number of lines that are present in that view.
  • Match each given answer choice to the number of lines you have counted and eliminate the answers that do not match. And by the process of elimination, you will be able to come to the correct answer.

Top/ front/ end method

It is a method where you work backward. Instead of visualizing what the top view of the given 3D object looks like try visualizing the given options as 3D objects. Then from your visualized objects figure out which one most closely resembles the objects given in the question. The corresponding option with that visualized object is your answer.

Angle Discrimination

Laptop Method

This is a rather deductive method where the accuracy of your answer depends On your visual perceptual ability. For this method simply imagine each of the given diagrams as a laptop being viewed from the side. The base of the laptop is the baseline and it is fixed whereas the screen moves to represent different angles. Then ask yourself which laptop would be the easiest to close? Of course, it would be the one whose screen is closest to the baseline or the base of the laptop therefore this would have the smallest angle.

Laser Method

laser method

This method can be especially handy when you are trying to differentiate between two angles that don’t look all that different. Simply count the horizontal or vertical line as the fixed baseline. The laser or the line created by the laser begins at the point where the baseline ends and the angular line begins as shown in the diagram above (the red line represents the laser line). Then simply extend the existing line at the same angle i.e. cast a laser from that point to see which line is steeper to differentiate the two angles.

Circle Method

circle method

This method can be used to determine which angle is smaller between two very similar looking angles. Mentally draw a circle around the innermost part of the angle, and then quickly look back and forth between the two circles and the two angles and you should be able to determine which one is smaller. Refer to the picture given above if you have any confusion.

Looking at the diagrams from a distance

Another way you can figure out which angle is the largest and which one is the smallest is by sitting back from your computer screen and examining the diagrams from a distance. This method can be especially helpful for those who are using the laser method. Because it allows you to sit back and observe the extended lines from a distance.

Paper folding (Hole Punches)

The idea is to fold your piece of paper according to the dotted lines given in the diagram and then mark in X on the paper where the hole is punched in the diagram. Then unfold the paper one step at a time each time marking where the X where the hole is supposed to be. Then match the pattern of X’s drawn by you on the paper with the given options.

Cube counting

Cube counting is probably the easiest subset with the simplest measuring method. As mentioned above only the outdoor exposed sides of the cubes are painted. Therefore on the given diagram mark the number of exposed sides for each cube. This is also the number of the colored side for that cube. Here is a picture so that you can understand better.

cube counting

Just Draw a table that looks like the following –

table with numbers and symbols

The numbers in the column represent the numbers of the colored sides on the diagram. Then tally the number of sides colored for each representative number. Be wary of the hidden cubes. If you are careful and count vigilantly and correctly you will be able to ace this subset without breaking a sweat.

3D form or pattern development

This subset can be a little tricky at times. Therefore, here are three different methods of approaching the questions in this subset.

Side counting method

This method may be applicable to some problems but might not work for others. The idea is to find the largest shape within the pattern and then count the number of sides of that shape. Then compare the number with the given options. Even if you are unable to find the correct answer in the first try you will be able to eliminate the majority of the wrong answers.

Shape Matching Method

Find the largest shape in the given pattern and then compare it with the largest shape of each of the given answer options. Again you might not be able to determine the correct answer in one go but you will be able to eliminate some of the wrong choices.

Color matching method

This method is similar to the previous one. The only difference is that you compare the shaded part of the flat design with the shaded part on the answer options. If all the shaded parts correctly correspond with the shaded parts on the given options then you have your answer.

The key to answering this subset and acing it is through deduction. Most of the time you will not be able to determine the correct answer in one go. Instead, you will have to use to process of elimination.

Things to remember about DAT- Perceptual Ability (PAT)

  • Don’t forget that the PAT is timed. You will be given 60 minutes to complete all six subsets. While the difficulty level of each question barrier it is recommended that you try and complete each subset within 10 minutes.
  • The most important thing to remember when preparing for any sort of a test is to practice, practice, and then practice some more. Websites such as PATCrusher and DATPrep provide free Dat PAT test exams.

Conclusion

These DAT Perceptual Ability skills will be very useful to you as a dentist since you will need to construct mental images of teeth from X-rays, deal with casts and fillings, and otherwise work with complicated 2D and 3D objects.

The DAT- Perceptual Ability (PAT) part of the test may seem difficult for some but the key to cracking any exam, as mentioned before, is to practice, practice, and then practice some more.

DAT Cube Counting – A Guided Introduction 2022 [Updated]

DAT Cube counting is usually thought of as an easy section, however, it should not to be taken lightly. In fact, the Perceptual Ability Test doesn’t have problems that are just plain and simple. You’ll likely have to put effort into each and every single question you face on exam day.

What you’ll find below is a simple introduction to cube counting. If you want more material on this subject you should check out some of the resources available at PATCrusher. As with every other section of the PAT and the DAT, you want to practice a lot. After all, most of these problems become much easier once you meet a certain level of preparation.

Introduction to Cube Counting

In a cube counting question you will be presented with a figure made of connecting cubes, all of them are the same size. Your task here is to give the right answer as to how many cubes in the figure would have a certain number of sides painted if a bucket of paint were to be dropped on top. You’ll have to examine the figure and determine how many cubes have either of the following characteristics.

  • Only one side painted.
  • Only two sides painted.
  • Only three sides painted.
  • Only four sides painted.
  • All five sides painted.

Cube Counting Practice

This is it for the basics of cube counting. Let’s review an easy example of this kind of problem below. In the figure below, figure A, how many cubes have one side painted? Painted is also another way of saying exposed.

cube counting
cube counting patcrusher

Cube counting questions can be answered easily based on a simple strategy. This is making a tally table of all the cubes present in the problem. Ideally, you would identify the left side of the table with numbers from 0 to 5, representing the sides painted. Then, you move on to do the tally of every individual line or column of the figure. After you’re done making a tally for every column or line, you then have to make a total by counting the tallies. This should be enough to get the correct answer to the problem. A good way to check is to count the number of cubes in the figure and compare it to the total number of tally marks.

We recommend that you practice at least 10 -12 questions every day. Start your practicing 30-60 days before the exam. The average student studies for the DAT for 45-60 days. Some may need more time or less to grasp the section so start early and see how you feel.

Concluding.

Remember that this is just one example of cube counting for the Perceptual Ability Test of the DAT. You should definitely get a lot more examples and problems to solve.

You can get much more information, practice questions, solving strategies, tips and examples at PATCrusher. Feel free to sign up for a free account. Once you experience the depth of features and quality of the content, you’ll be more than set to prepare for the Perceptual Ability Test of the DAT.

DAT Hole Punching: PAT Guide for 2022 [Updated]

The Perceptual Ability Test, or PAT, has over 90 questions to answer. In this particular introduction, we will be focusing on hole punching. This PAT section can be easily cruised through with the right preparation. The best type of preparation is one that involves a lot of practice. Since this is just a simple introduction to the PAT hole punching, you’ll likely want to look for more examples. This is why we recommend PATCrusher as it is, in our opinion, the best resource of quality solutions and examples for the DAT hole punching practice.

Let’s go ahead and tell you what this section is all about.

Introduction to Hole Punching.

For this section of problems, you will see a square piece of paper which is folded on itself a number of times. It can be folded from one to three times. Then, it’s time for hole punching for one or more holes at particular locations on the folded paper.

You will have to mentally unfold the piece of paper in an effort to present the exact location of the holes punched. The image below is an example problem like the one you can expect to find in the PAT.

hole punching
Hole Punching PATCrusher

Each hole punching question will have, visible lines and dashed ones. You can see this in the example from above. The solid lines indicate the fold location of the paper. The dashed lines show the original position of the paper before any foldings.

Rules for Hole Punching problems.

  1. You wont find a question where the paper is folded across the edges of the initial configuration.
  2. The paper may not be twisted or turned under any circumstance.
  3. For every hole punching problem, there’s one and only one correct answer.

Conclusion

Remember that this is just an introduction to DAT hole punching. You can certainly get a lot more examples, solutions and strategies from PATCrusher. There is a lot of ways to visualize the solution for these problems, your main focus to master this section should be practicing. The more you do it the better you’ll score at the DAT.

Pay close attention to each figure and make sure to use every example that you come across to improve your understanding of how to solve hole punching problems. Remember, there are always more examples and tips waiting for you.