The Dental Admission Test can be a gruelling exam, but there is no way around it. If you want to get into competent dental schools, you simply need to ace the DAT.
Of course, one way to do this would be to enrol in a DAT prep course, but a much faster, more efficient strategy would be to opt for private tutoring instead.
You may think that the best DAT tutoring service will cost you a fortune, but that’s not necessarily true. You could enrol for a decent tutoring service that charges as little as $40 per hour.
Read on to find out what your DAT tutoring options are.
DAT Tutors Comparison Table
Varsity Tutors | Wyzant | Tutor the People | The Princeton Review | Kaplan | |
Rates | From $1,296 for 12 hours | From $40 per hour | From $899 for 12 hours | From $1,800 for 10 hours | From $649 for 5 hours |
Hours of Instruction | From 12 to 48 Hours | Hourly basis | From 12 to 36 Hours | 10 or 30 Hours | From 5 to 40 Hours |
Delivery | Online | Online | Online | Online | Online |
Personalized Study Plan? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Access to Practice Materials? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
24/7 Tutor Access? | Yes | Yes | Depends | Yes | No |
Mobile App? | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Tutor Satisfaction Guarantee? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Which DAT Tutoring Service Is Right For You?
- If you are looking for the best value DAT tutoring service with plenty of study materials and resources, our top pick is Kaplan DAT tutoring.
- The DAT tutoring service that has the best live instruction platform is Varsity Tutors DAT tutoring.
- If you are budget conscious and are looking for the most affordable DAT tutoring service, we recommend Wyzant DAT tutoring.
- The DAT tutoring service with extremely flexible extended payment plans is Tutor the People DAT tutoring.
- The most personalized DAT tutoring service that gives you the flexibility of picking your own tutor is Wyzant DAT tutoring.
- The best DAT tutoring service for on-demand homework assistance is The Princeton Review DAT tutoring.
Best DAT Tutoring Service In 2024
1. Varsity Tutors DAT Tutoring Review
Varsity Tutors is by far, the largest tutoring service you will come across, covering a ton of academic areas and boasting a large number of experts.
The service caters to all kinds of students, from preschoolers, and high school students, to professionals.
You can hire a private tutor to specifically help you prepare for standardized tests such as the DAT. Whichever tutor you choose, their rates are based on how many hours of tutoring you would like to purchase.
Varsity Tutors DAT Tutoring Rates | ||
Tutoring Hours | Rate Per Hour | Total Cost |
12 Hours | $108/hr | $1,296 |
24 Hours | $102/hr | $2,448 |
36 Hours | $95/hr | $3,420 |
48 Hours | $91/hr | $4,368 |
One of the key selling points of this platform is that the tutors go through a rigorous vetting process to ensure that you only get paired up with a highly credentialed, top-notch instructor capable of providing you with an incredible learning experience.
Furthermore, with Varsity Tutors, the instructors offer excellent support throughout the entire tutoring process to maximize your academic success.
One advantage of Varsity Tutors is that the instructors are very engaging, presenting complex concepts in a way that’s easy to understand. The tutors are also available 24/7, so you can access some tutoring on a whim if you need urgent help with something.
The pleasant sessions are further enhanced by the fact that you get a personalized lesson plan best suited to your unique study needs and learning style.
Varsity Tutors’ award-winning live instruction platform is another thing to look forward to.
The interactive whiteboard, snapshot tool, and document editor allow for seamless collaboration with your DAT tutor right on the screen without needing to fuss with emails. Going beyond just web chatting, the built-in tools within the Varsity Tutors online interface allow for a fully immersive learning platform.
Should you happen to be dissatisfied with the tutor you’ve been paired with during the initial session, you can contact customer support, and they will help find you a new DAT tutor.
The first session with the new tutor will be absolutely free, as per Varsity Tutors’ Tutor Satisfaction Guarantee.
Should you still be dissatisfied after the second session, you can choose to either find yet another tutor or you could pursue a refund of your unused hours.
So really, whichever way you look at it, it doesn’t hurt to give this private tutoring service a try when it comes to your DAT test prep.
Besides, don’t be surprised if you end up still using this tutoring service even in your undergraduate career as a first-year dental student!
– They have an excellent, innovative online learning platform.
– Students have access to thousands of practice tests.
– Tutoring hours can be shared among any student in your family.
– Offers on-demand urgent tutoring if you need it.
– The platform doesn’t provide a live chat option.
2. Wyzant DAT Tutoring Review
Unlike Varsity Tutors, Wyzant doesn’t have any fixed private DAT tutoring rates. Rather, the charge depends on the tutor you pick. Some Wyzant DAT tutors charge $50 per hour, while others charge as much as $200 per hour.
Another feature you are bound to love on this platform is the flexibility that comes with picking a tutor by comparing their different credentials.
First of all, you have the different rates, allowing you to go for a tutor that best fits your budget. Secondly, you get to see each tutor’s rating as per their previous students’ reviews, and the tutor’s cumulative tutoring hours are also provided.
This will give you a good idea of how experienced a certain tutor is when it comes to online tutoring and also how highly recommended they are.
Despite them all being DAT tutors, each instructor’s area of specialization has been clearly highlighted. So you get to decide whether you need a DAT Organic Chemistry guru, a dental medicine expert, or whether you’d much rather prefer an expert in dental and medical school admissions.
Whichever tutor you choose, Wyzant offers a good fit guarantee whereby if you are dissatisfied in your first session with a new tutor, that lesson will be free. No questions asked.
Wyzant’s mobile App helps you easily connect with tutors, whereby you chat with them in real-time and make your bookings as well. Furthermore, the App also helps you effortlessly track your progress.
Another added advantage of this platform is that you do not need to pay any upfront fees. After signing up for the service, you can message any expert tutor absolutely free of charge.
You only pay for the time you need. Whether that’s one lesson or 20 hours, it’s entirely up to you to decide what to spend, paying as you go rather than having to commit beforehand. Besides, Wyzant lets you pay at the end of the lesson, therefore, prioritizing your utmost satisfaction.
The online learning platform is full of interactive features making it very easy to collaborate with your tutor. Besides the interactive whiteboard, you can also use screen share and the text editor to interact with your tutor.
Also, it is worth noting that as much as the platform lets you choose your own tutor, there is also the option to let the platform simply match you with a suitable tutor. You simply provide your time and price range, and lessons shall be set up for you.
– Payments are made after a lesson, not before.
– You get to compare tutors comprehensively.
– Has an excellent online learning platform.
– Has a mobile app for on-the-go communication with your tutor.
– You cannot take a tutoring session on the mobile app.
3. Tutor The People DAT Tutoring Review
Tutor the People provides 3 DAT tutoring options depending on whether you need a quick review, an in-depth review, or a more comprehensive, high-achiever kind of tutoring.
Tutor The People DAT Tutoring Rates | |||
Tutoring Hours | Rate Per Hour | Total Cost | |
Quick Review | 12 Hours | $75/hr | $899 |
In-Depth Review | 24 Hours | $67/hr | $1,599 |
High Achiever Plan | 36 Hours | $61/hr | $2,199 |
One of the highlights of this tutoring service is that a free introductory hour has been added to each package. This free hour allows you to meet your tutor and develop a customized study plan before you start using your paid hours, and I’d say that’s pretty neat.
Furthermore, besides the fixed tutoring rate plans, you can also contact the company for a customized plan based on your unique study needs and expectations.
Furthermore, you also have the option of multiple extended payment plans allowing you to pay in instalments.
Money should never stand in the way of quality education, and Tutor the People is willing to work with you, so you get a quality private DAT tutor despite your financial constraints.
Having instructors who scored in the 94th percentile and above on the DAT exam, Tutor the People prides itself in having highly experienced tutors equipped with unique teaching methods to get you an excellent DAT score.
Whether you are struggling with DAT content or test-taking strategies, the tutors will work with you diligently for a personalized DAT prep experience.
Another great thing is that Tutor the People’s tutoring package additionally involves helping pre-dental students with their applications, including revising your personal statement.
With Tutor the People, you can even get private tutors for the Canadian DAT, which works out great if you are studying for that and not the American DAT.
– You can customize a tutoring plan to your specific study needs.
– Allows for flexible instalment-based payment plans.
– All plans include a free introductory hour.
– Includes help with dental school applications.
– Does not provide on-demand sessions.
4. The Princeton Review DAT Tutoring Review
Princeton Review offers two DAT private tutoring options based on whether you are looking for comprehensive content review tutoring or targeted tutoring of a specific DAT section or topic.
The Princeton Review DAT Tutoring Rates | |||
Tutoring Hours | Rate Per Hour | Total Cost | |
Comprehensive Tutoring | 30 | $167/hr | $5,000 |
Targeted Tutoring | 10 | $180/hr | $1,800 |
One interesting distinction between the two options is that while Comprehensive Private Tutoring is covered by Princeton Review’s Better Score Guarantee, the same guarantee does not apply to Targeted Private Tutoring.
The Princeton Review Guarantee is that if you’re not 100% satisfied with your tutor after the first session, you will get paired up with another instructor and get another session free of charge.
Once again, keep in mind that this Guarantee only applies to the Comprehensive Private Tutoring package.
Before their recruitment, Princeton Review puts its instructors through a rigorous 37 hours of training, so you can rest assured that you will be working with expert tutors who are very knowledgeable in the subject matter.
Not only that, but the tutors are also dynamic and engaging, bearing the unique ability to present complex information in a simple way that’s easy to understand.
Based on your study needs, your assigned tutor will start by customizing a prep plan just for you, and this test prep program is what will guide your tutoring sessions.
Think of it as taking a DAT prep course, but with the added advantage of receiving one-on-one attention suiting your precise goals and challenges.
Instant Homework Help is another excellent feature of this DAT tutoring service. All tutors are available to you 24/7 to help out with any DAT question you may be struggling with.
This means that besides just your assigned private tutor, you still have the support of a large tutoring team dedicated to guiding you in whichever way you may need.
Whether your homework question is in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, General Chemistry, or Quantitative Reasoning, all you have to do is type in your question, and you will be connected with a tutor in about 60 seconds!
That’s pretty convenient, don’t you agree?
Princeton Review has some custom-built apps which allow for easy management of communication, scheduling, and student progress. Besides, there is also a custom student dashboard that allows for robust reporting so you can stay on track and see exactly how your tutoring experience is going.
Beyond just tutoring, signing up for this service gives you exclusive access to Princeton Review printed study material to enhance your practice and content review.
– The tutors are very approachable and engaging.
– Tutoring packages include plenty of study resources.
– You can get on-demand tutorial help in under 1 minute.
– Has excellent online instruction tools.
– Does not have a DAT mobile app to facilitate appointment scheduling.
5. Kaplan DAT Tutoring Review
Kaplan DAT private tutoring offers a variety of flexible packages, ranging from 5 to 40 hours of instruction.
Kaplan DAT Tutoring Rates | ||
Tutoring Hours | Rate Per Hour | Total Cost |
5 Hours | $130/hr | $649 |
10 Hours | $120/hr | $1,199 |
15 Hours | $113/hr | $1,699 |
20 Hours | $110/hr | $2,199 |
25 Hours | $108/hr | $2,699 |
30 Hours | $103/hr | $3,099 |
35 Hours | $97/hr | $3,399 |
40 Hours | $92/hr | $3,699 |
To begin with, Kaplan’s experienced tutors all have excellent qualifications. At a minimum, they all scored in the top 10% on every section of the Dental Admissions Test, so you can rest assured that you will be dealing with top DAT scores.
Before enrolling for private tutoring, you get to talk to an expert who will answer all your queries for free. This lets you know exactly what you’re signing up for, so you can proceed more confidently.
Once you’ve enrolled, you start by working with your tutor to set your own schedule and pace, highlighting the specific areas that provide your greatest opportunity for score improvement.
I have to say though that of all DAT tutoring services, Kaplan is the one that truly provides excellent value for your money.
All DAT private tutoring students have full access to Kaplan’s online resources, including practice tests and best-selling DAT content review books.
Additionally, the DAT tutoring package also includes 3 months of Limitless Prep by Kaplan™, which is an excellent DAT prep course. Furthermore, you can upgrade to 6 months if you need to.
Another advantage of this service is that besides getting a personalized study plan, you also get personalized homework from your tutor. Not to mention that the tutoring package also comes with full mobile functionality, so you can prep anywhere, at any time.
– Includes the Limitless prep course and Kaplan’s best-selling DAT book.
– Flexibly offers a variety of tutoring packages.
– Has full mobile functionality, so you can flexibly study anywhere.
– Comes with Kaplan’s Higher Score Guarantee.
– Does not have a tutor satisfaction guarantee.
What Are The Top Features To Look For In A DAT Tutoring Service?
1. Personalized Study Plans
The whole point of taking up private tutoring instead of simply taking online lessons through a DAT prep course is that with tutoring, you get one-on-one undivided attention allowing both you and the tutor to address all your specific needs and studying challenges.
As such, it is important for a tutoring service to include helping you create a personalized tutoring plan to guide you and your tutor throughout your sessions.
With a plan, your expectations are laid down clearly, for both you and your tutor so that you can work more efficiently towards your goal score.
2. Tutors’ Qualifications
You cannot expect to get the kind of score that secures your admission into Harvard School of Dental Medicine by taking advice and instruction from a 60th percentile DAT scorer, now can you?\
It is important that whichever DAT tutoring service you are signing up for has accredited tutors that are highly knowledgeable in the subject matter.
Furthermore, the tutors need to have sufficient tutoring experience with a proven track record so you can rest assured that you are in safe, experienced hands.
3. Learning Platform
In this era of online classes, the medium used through digital tools becomes a huge part of the tutoring experience. How convenient and efficient is the learning interface?
What learning tools are available to you and the tutor? These tools may include interactive whiteboards, audio and video chat options, easy sharing of documents and screens, recorded sessions, etc.
Needless to say, the more tools available on the platform, the easier your learning experience shall be, and hence, the better the tutoring service.
4. Session Options
Apart from personalized instruction, where you get one-on-one undivided attention from an expert tutor, also look out for:
- How easy is it to schedule appointments with the instructors?
- Does the tutoring service allow for on-demand sessions?
- How easy is it to get offline help should you need it?
- Does the customer service assure 24/7 availability?
5. Pricing Structure
Last but not least, you have to consider the payment options whereby you have a pay-per-lesson option Vs. simple flat rate packages.
Some tutoring services, such as Wyzant, allow you to pay hourly for lessons as needed. In contrast, other tutoring services have fixed packages charging a flat rate for a set number of tutoring hours.
While the pay-per-lesson model may appear more appealing, there are a few reasons why the flat rate option may be a better fit for most students. Top of the list is that there’s simply more incentive and motivation to keep up with the tutoring when you have paid for a set number of hours upfront.
Besides that, another thing to consider is whether the service allows you to pay in installments, phasing out your payments to best suit your budget.
6. Supplementary Study Materials
Besides just tutoring, what else do you get from the tutoring package?
Do you get personalized homework, practice tests, access to question banks, flashcards, DAT content review books, etc.?
As much as tutoring is designed to be a comprehensive learning medium, having access to additional study resources once you sign up for the service is definitely an added advantage that guarantees more value for your money.
Best DAT Tutoring Service FAQs
Is DAT Tutoring Right For Me?
Yes, DAT tutoring is right for you if one or more of the following scenarios apply to you.
a) You have a busy life and need the option of flexible learning hours.
b) You need one-on-one assistance to work through a particularly challenging subject, topic, or concept.
c) You need to study at your own pace to best understand the content being covered.
d) You tend to perform poorly on standardized tests.
e) You are an intellectual and academically advanced student looking to stay challenged and motivated in your DAT prep.
So ultimately, whether you are a stellar A student or someone who failed their previous DAT attempt, all kinds of students could definitely benefit from DAT private tutoring.
How Do I Make The Most Use Of DAT Tutoring?
To make the most of DAT tutoring, you first need to ensure that you are partnered up with the right tutor whom you can communicate well with and whose tutoring you find enjoyable.
Secondly, you must be clear about your exact tutoring goals and expectations and then communicate these clearly to the tutor. Once you are both on the same page about what you expect to get out of the tutoring experience, you can then work efficiently onward.
Thirdly, be mindful of when you schedule your tutoring appointments. Pick times when you are clear-minded and can focus and concentrate fully on the session rather than scheduling sessions when you are exhausted or preoccupied with other matters.
Fourth, you need to put in the work. Getting tutored is just one aspect of a long journey, that is your DAT prep. So do the work on your side by taking practice tests, broadening your content knowledge, etc.
How Much Do DAT Tutoring Services Cost?
DAT tutoring services can cost as much as $180 per hour or as little as $50 per hour.
It all depends on the tutoring service you go for, what kind of tutoring you need, and the number of tutoring hours you’ll need.
If you just need an hour with a math tutor, you will pay less than if you need 10 hours with a comprehensive DAT tutor.
Generally, purchasing more hours will result in a lesser rate per hour, as opposed to purchasing fewer tutoring hours, where you’ll end up paying much more per hour within the very same tutoring company.