How To Choose the Right DAT Course?

Studying for the Dental Admissions Test can be hectic for any pre-dental student. There is plenty of material to cover and seemingly inadequate time to do so efficiently.

This is where DAT prep courses come in handy, though. Not only do these programs consolidate the vital material in an easy-to-follow format, but they also ensure more efficient and effective use of your DAT study period.

The bigger challenge then becomes identifying the best DAT prep course that will guarantee optimum value for your money.

Here are a few tips to help you out:

1. Subscription Length

Some DAT courses will offer you a 90-day subscription length, while others will give you access to their resources for as long as an entire year.

Whichever course you choose, make sure its access period aligns with how much practice you need and how much time you have to prepare for the DAT exam.

For instance, if you are taking the exam in 3 months, it doesn’t make much sense to go for a course offering a 1-year subscription length, now does it? Likewise, if you plan to take the exam in a year, why would you limit yourself to a 3-month course?

2. Content Coverage

The ideal DAT course should offer comprehensive study materials in different formats, allowing students the option of video lectures, DAT books, condensed notes, etc.

Aside from that, consider whether the course comprehensively covers every DAT subject and all test sections. You want a course that will cover your bases on all topics rather than one that will sharpen your grasp of Biology but completely lack when comes to Quantitative Reasoning.

Just as well, how detailed is the content? Not only should the course be thoroughly in-depth, but the best course should also present information in a simple, easy-to-follow format so you can complete your exam prep in the shortest time possible.

3. Strong Points

As much as you should consider an all-rounded DAT prep course that doesn’t merely favor certain subjects, the reality is that different courses will have varying strong points.

Some courses are known to have excellent video lectures that are engaging and thoroughly informative. Others are more famed for their in-depth practice problem explanations.

Some courses are known to offer excellent Biology prep. Other courses are better suited for General Chemistry.

Before selecting a particular DAT course, ensure you understand the course’s specific strengths and assess whether this aligns with your study needs, especially when it comes to the areas in which you are struggling.

4. Practice Material

The only way to get good at something is to do it repeatedly. And using that logic, the only way to get fully ready to face the DAT is to take the exam over and again.

Doing so is expensive and pretty impractical, though. So the next best option is to take plenty of practice tests and questions during your DAT study period. As such, the more practice questions a course offers, the better.

Ideally, the best DAT course should be up-to-date and have representative questions similar to the actual DAT with regard to the test format, style, and content.

It’s particularly important to take this into consideration because the DAT continually evolves and changes. Hence, you need to study using material that realistically reflects the current DAT as much as possible.

5. Extra Features

If you are constantly on the go, you will appreciate a DAT course that comes with a mobile App so you can seamlessly continue studying wherever you may be.

If you have been struggling with the Perceptual Ability Test, you might appreciate a course that offers 3D modeling so you can better practice this section.

If you have been struggling with setting up an efficient study plan, then you might appreciate a course that offers an expert-recommended study plan based on your specific needs and learning style.

The point here is that specific DAT courses come with some convenient perks that would make your life that much easier. Be on the lookout for these extra perks before settling for a particular program.

Conclusion

A DAT prep course can be an absolute lifesaver. However, you need to perform your due diligence to ensure you are investing in a course that’s genuinely worth it.

Keep your eyes focused on the value offered by a particular program because the most expensive courses aren’t necessarily the best ones out there, and vice versa. So to guarantee value for your time and money, you should be able to look past the price tag and objectively assess what a course offers.