BIOLOGY 1040: DAT PREPARATION
SYLLABUS, SPRING 2013
INSTRUCTORS
Scott Allen
David Eldredge
scott.allen@aggiemail.usu.edu
dteldredge@gmail.com
SUPERVISING FACULTY MEMBER
D. Andy Anderson
andy.anderson@usu.edu
COURSE MEETING TIMES
Monday and Wednesday
4:00-5:50pm
ENGR 205
There will also be four Saturdays throughout the semester in which you will have the chance to take a full-length
practice DAT. Students will be informed of which computer lab we will be using prior to the testing Saturday.
These tests will come from acethedat.com, which you will purchase after the semester has started. Please do not
purchase this earlier.
Note: It is mandatory in order to receive a “P” for the course that you attend 23 of the 29 class periods and three
of the four Saturday practice tests.
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course is for pre-dental students preparing to take the Dental Admissions Test in the upcoming year. It should
be taken as a supplement to the student’s studies and not as a sole means of preparation. During class, the
instructors will present important information on the DAT and teach important testing skills. In addition, students
will be given quizzes to test their understanding of each topic. Each student should read and study before coming to
class because the instructors will not have time to cover all of the material necessary for the DAT. This class is
meant to be a brief review of the majority of the material that will be on the DAT. The best way for an individual to
take advantage of this class is to come prepared for class and set aside time for review and practice. The DAT will
be a primary criterion for an applicant’s acceptance into dental school. Toward the end of the semester, we will also
go over interview questions and how to prepare for dental school interviews.
COURSE GOALS
This course will provide students with a sound understanding of all the sections on the DAT and help them to build
the testing skills necessary to excel in each section. In addition, it will provide students a good review of the
concepts that are most commonly seen on the eventual test day. The class should be used as a measuring stick to
gauge an individual’s understanding and preparation for the DAT. Other topics will be discussed such as the
application process, AADSAS, how to select which schools to apply to, and interviewing questions.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
The instructors have decided not to provide these materials through the bookstore because it will be less expensive
for students to buy them for themselves. All materials can be found on the Internet at amazon.com and other media
retailers.
Ace The DAT
www.acethedat.com
Cost: ~$50 DO NOT PURCHASE THIS UNTIL AFTER WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN CLASS
-This is an online study program. You will use the full-length practice exams from this to take your three or four
Saturday tests. Please reserve at least three full-length practice tests for this purpose.
Note: Please DO NOT purchase this until the semester has started. We will go over it the first day of class and
show you exactly what to get. The length of service is 6 months, so purchasing it early will only cause it to expire
earlier.
Kaplan: DAT 2009-2010 w/CD-ROM*
ISBN: 9781419553561
Cost: ~$80 New, however it can be purchased for less if it’s used
*Please be sure to get the CD-ROM Edition
*We have found other editions to be basically the same thing as the 2009-2010 (usually the cover changes color).
Any edition will work fine.
Please bring a study notebook used only for DAT preparation to class.
SUGGESTED MATERIALS
Crack the PAT
Maker: Crackthedat.com
Cost: $100 and up
We will be using this program once a week. If you elect not to purchase it (or don’t have a computer to bring to
class) we will put the questions on the overhead and you can participate like that.
DAT Destroyer
Maker: Orgoman
Cost: $150
Again, we will frequently use questions from this resource. If you elect not to purchase it (it’s a book), then you can
participate by looking up at the overhead.
The rest are simply suggestions but we won’t be using any of these in class
TopScore Pro (CD-ROM)
Maker: Scholarware
Cost: ~$50
(Practice tests- said to be the most accurate but we won’t use these in class)
DAT Achiever
Maker: Raymond Fam
Cost: ~$70 for 3 tests, $110 for 5 tests, $140 for 7 tests
(very difficult practice tests)
Cliffs AP Biology Notes:
Maker: Cliff
Cost: $15
(Review book for the AP Biology test)
Barron’s: How to Prepare for the DAT
Author: Richard A. Lehman
ISBN: 0764105779
Cost: ~$20
PRACTICE TESTS
A total of four practice tests are offered during the semester. They will be offered on the Saturdays specified in the
day-by-day schedule. These tests are part of the requirements to pass the class and you should plan accordingly.
Once again, it is mandatory that you attend at least three of the four. (However, it is encouraged that you attend all
four.) Ace The DAT will be used for these tests and they will be taken in the computer lab. This enables students to
get used to the testing format on the computer.
GRADES
The course is graded pass/fail and is worth one credit. The grade is based on attendance and the student must attend
80% (23 out of 29) of the classes and three of the four Saturday practice exams. Students must attend tests on the
days they are offered in the syllabus. Only extreme emergencies will be excused (i.e., your leg fell off on the way to
the test). Work, family, or other similar responsibilities will not excuse an absence. Attendance will be taken
everyday and turned in once a week for grading purposes by the supervising faculty member. Signing the
attendance sheet for class is MANDITORY! If a student does not attend at least the minimum number of classes
(23) or does not take at least the minimum number of Saturday tests (3), then the student will receive a grade of “F”
from the supervising faculty member.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students with physical, sensory, emotional or medical impairments may be eligible for reasonable
accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All accommodations are coordinated through the Disability Resource Center
(DRC) in Room 101 of the University Inn, 797-2444, 797-0740 TTY, or toll free at 1-800-259-2966.
Please contact the DRC as early in the semester as possible. Alternate format materials (Braille, large
print or digital) are available with advance notice.
UNACCEPTABLE CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
Since a significant goal of this class is to prepare each of you for your upcoming exams, then behavior
that disrupts the classroom environment will be discouraged.
1.
Once class has started, cell phones should be silenced and no ring tones or conversations
are permitted.
2.
Once class has started, talking among students is strongly discouraged. If you need to
talk, please leave the class and conduct your conversation outside. If students persist in talking
among themselves during class, they will be asked to leave the room so other students can benefit
from the limited amount of class time available.
DAT Prep Class (Biol 1040 Schedule Spring 2013
Date
7-Jan
Topic
INTRODUCTION
9-Jan
PAT
14-Jan
BIOLOGY
16-Jan
GENERAL CHEMISTRY
21-Jan
NO CLASS
23-Jan
GENERAL CHEMISTRY
26-Jan
SATURDAY TEST #1 9:00 AM
28-Jan
MATH (Last day to drop w/o notation)
30-Jan
MATH
4-Feb
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
6-Feb
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
11-Feb
GENERAL CHEMISTRY
13-Feb
GENERAL CHEMISTRY
*19-Feb
MATH
(*attend class as if it were Monday)
20-Feb
MATH
23-Feb
SATURDAY TEST #2 9:00 AM
25-Feb
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
27-Feb
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
4-Mar
GENERAL CHEMISTRY
6-Mar
GENERAL CHEMISTRY
8-Mar
Last day to drop with a “W”
11-Mar
SPRING BREAK
13-Mar
SPRING BREAK
18-Mar
MATH
20-Mar
MATH
23-Mar
SATURDAY TEST #3 9:00 AM
25-Mar
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
27-Mar
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
1-Apr
GENERAL CHEMISTRY
3-Apr
GENERAL CHEMISTRY
8-Apr
MATH
10-Apr
MATH
13-Apr
SATURNDAY TEST #4 9:00 AM
15-Apr
BIOLOGY
17-Apr
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
22-Apr
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
24-Apr
PREPARE FOR APPLICATION/Q&A