As part of the DAT prep course, we had no class this week. I guess the idea is that a week off allows us to catch up with all of the material. This may very well be true, but a part of me believes it might be because the prep course company can market the course as a 7-week program as opposed to a 6-week program. For whatever reason they did it, I think it was a great idea.
I took as much advantage of this week as possible to go over all the material I have gone through these past 6 weeks: holy shit there is a lot. It is almost unfathomable to think that I have crammed only half of the material in my head and that another half is in the queue. And it can be frustrating, too. Many times, I find myself forgetting or confusing important details. Remedying these instances can be incredibly time consuming processes, and time is simply a luxury I do not have.
In any event, I am happy to announce I am more than half way through the material, which means I am right on schedule. Sure, it meant I was sleeping about 5 and a half hours a night, but I sleep better knowing I can work on something new the next day.
This week will be really important as I now have less than 4 weeks before the exam. If I am able to get through all the material by the end of this week, I figure the 3 remaining weeks will be ample review time. I hope I am able to do it.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
Things just ain't like they used to be...
It is week 6 of my DAT class and, as expected, I am pretty behind in the material. Of course, I am not the only one. Being in a room full of college age kids, they are bound to be behind too with classes wrapping up for the semsester. It is inevitable when you have to plow through 250 pages a week. And, not just 250 pages of reading, but densely packed, boring as fuck organic and general chemistry.
But, my complaints on the amount of studying is not what I want to talk about. What I do want to talk about is how much the whole preparation thing for entrance exams has changed. I was talking to one of the dentists I shadowed this past Saturday. During the course of the conversation, he asked how I am preparing for the DAT. I told him I was taking a class that met a few times a week and had homework. Of course, I had to ask him how he prepared for it. His response was, "I do not really remember, but I think I bought a book, went through that, then took the test. I did not have much time between work and school, but I had to take it."
Admittedly, his comment did not surprise me. I know these classroom prep courses are a relatively new phenomenon. And, in my opinion, a really good one especially for someone who has not taken any sciences courses for over a year. Still, I really do wonder how I would fair if I did not have the option to take a prep course. Would I have a chance of getting in? One thing is for certain, I could not study for the exam and be ready to take it in the same amount of time I am doing this one. I would need an additional month or so to get to where I am now. Even then, though, I wonder if I would feel as confident walking into the center on testing day. I guess I will never know.
But, my complaints on the amount of studying is not what I want to talk about. What I do want to talk about is how much the whole preparation thing for entrance exams has changed. I was talking to one of the dentists I shadowed this past Saturday. During the course of the conversation, he asked how I am preparing for the DAT. I told him I was taking a class that met a few times a week and had homework. Of course, I had to ask him how he prepared for it. His response was, "I do not really remember, but I think I bought a book, went through that, then took the test. I did not have much time between work and school, but I had to take it."
Admittedly, his comment did not surprise me. I know these classroom prep courses are a relatively new phenomenon. And, in my opinion, a really good one especially for someone who has not taken any sciences courses for over a year. Still, I really do wonder how I would fair if I did not have the option to take a prep course. Would I have a chance of getting in? One thing is for certain, I could not study for the exam and be ready to take it in the same amount of time I am doing this one. I would need an additional month or so to get to where I am now. Even then, though, I wonder if I would feel as confident walking into the center on testing day. I guess I will never know.
Friday, May 2, 2008
A Few Thoughts on this Week
DAT Studying
I am not surprised I have had a difficult time putting together a solid study routine. After I come home from work during the week, the last thing I really want to do is study the Nitrogen cycle and the 10,000,000 different hormones the DAT can possibly test you on. I usually find my eyes drifting from the computer on to the television screen or opting to take numerous study breaks. Before I know it, it is already time for me to think about getting to sleep.
Dental Schools
Newsflash: dental school is expensive. Actually, really expensive. I cannot even fathom paying for dental school and my living expenses for a year. I can barely do it now, and I do am not even in school. I guess I better start learning to live within my means more than I do now. The cost also makes me reconsider some of my dental school choices for the sole reason that I would never want to be in that much debt.
Dental Shadowing
The more I do it, the more I like it. Sure, it is unpaid, but there really is not a better way to understand the profession than to see the day to day operations of an office and talk to dentists in their own practices. Although some people complain about it, it is probably one of the better qualifications to get into dental school - at least more important than physics.
I am not surprised I have had a difficult time putting together a solid study routine. After I come home from work during the week, the last thing I really want to do is study the Nitrogen cycle and the 10,000,000 different hormones the DAT can possibly test you on. I usually find my eyes drifting from the computer on to the television screen or opting to take numerous study breaks. Before I know it, it is already time for me to think about getting to sleep.
Dental Schools
Newsflash: dental school is expensive. Actually, really expensive. I cannot even fathom paying for dental school and my living expenses for a year. I can barely do it now, and I do am not even in school. I guess I better start learning to live within my means more than I do now. The cost also makes me reconsider some of my dental school choices for the sole reason that I would never want to be in that much debt.
Dental Shadowing
The more I do it, the more I like it. Sure, it is unpaid, but there really is not a better way to understand the profession than to see the day to day operations of an office and talk to dentists in their own practices. Although some people complain about it, it is probably one of the better qualifications to get into dental school - at least more important than physics.
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