Meet Christofer Hatzis, a happy DAT Bootcamp customer who recently conquered the DAT. I’ve asked Christofer to share his DAT experience with us as the featured student of October.

What is one piece of advice you would give to another student preparing to take the DAT?

My one piece of advice is to objectively measure where you are at in your studies and consistently engage in activities that will put you closer to your goal. Aristotle put it perfectly when he said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” This idea was vital for me getting the score I wanted on the DAT. When I began studying, I figured out which areas I was performing well in, and those in which I was lagging. It is important to objectively measure where you stand, as well as have a clear idea of where you want to be. As I began studying, I made small tweaks each day to kick-start a virtuous cycle. Over time, all these small changes reinforced themselves, initiating a routine that became habitual. Eventually, your routine will become like a strong current. It is important to not only let inertia keep you moving forward, but to also swim with the current and continue pushing yourself each day.

Visualizing my goal each day was also very helpful for me. One technique I used was thinking about scoring a 30 on each section before I went to bed each night, as well as first thing in the morning. I pictured myself receiving a 30, and imagined all the feelings associated with it. I believe that these positive affirmations focused my behaviors and thoughts towards my goal.

How did you use DAT Bootcamp to prepare for the DAT?

I can confidently say that DAT Bootcamp questions were most comparable to what I experienced on the actual DAT. About three weeks prior to my test date, I began going through 1-2 Bootcamp practice tests per day. I would go through all the questions, then check my answers and understand why I got each one wrong. Learning why I got questions wrong was key for me; you will realize that if you really think deeply about a question you missed, you will not make the same mistake ever again.

What would you do differently to prepare for the DAT?

If I were preparing for the DAT again, I would be more consistent in practicing for the PAT section. My biggest weakness was angle ranking, and I feel that if I used the Bootcamp Angle Ranking Generator more often, I would have definitely scored higher. I was consistently scoring around 23 on the PAT section so I took a break and began focusing on other sections. When I went back to PAT a few days before my exam, my scores dropped drastically. Stay consistent, see your goal, believe in your goal, and it will be much easier to achieve your goal.

If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with me, please do not hesitate to email me at chrishatzis44@gmail.com

My score breakdown: 24 AA, 22 TS, 20 BIO, 22 GC, 30 OC, 23 QR, 23 RC, 21 PAT

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