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First time applicant with exceptional volunteering and shadowing, strong letter of recommendation, average stats with gpa 3.47 Pre-Dental Major, sgpa 3.27, leadership and dental mission trip, Dental Club service exec 2 years, AED Medical Honors Society Club, and a DAT of 19 AA (unfortunately sub scores are lower than matriculating students 21QR,21PAT,23RC,17TS((18BIO,16GC,16OC))...initial test anxiety got the better part of me at the beginning, once my heart rate was regulated I performed well in all other subjects, although I know all candidates are faced with the same setting, followed by a mid August application complete date). Applied to all midwest dental schools with 2 pre-December interviews and 3 January interviews, all waitlisted. I am perplexed with the interview offers if it is actually my low science sub-scores if they, in particular, are what is prohibiting an offer of acceptance. Of course all of my reading and research shows nothing below a 17 is acceptable, but ad-coms would know this prior to my interview offer, correct? I feel like I possess good interview qualities and have felt positive following each school visit. I am appreciative of the waitlist opportunities, however I would very much appreciate opinions on what my chances are of actually matriculating this cycle.
I am in the process of studying to retake the DAT and will graduate in May. Insight and advice are appreciated, I am feeling a bit poorly with the limbo process and am looking for wisdom beyond the retake your test and reapply....I will be doing both but am faced with taking post bacc courses, masters or dental assisting following graduation. Hoping for a miracle and an acceptance...I will apply myself and represent the school in the most positive manner, just needing an offer of acceptance.
The DAT science scores are really low to me. I'm guessing those are key to not getting an acceptance at this time. You might have a good chance to get off the waitlists but a lot of schools really put secondary weight on some of the science scores. I've had faculty argue over which science subscore is better: bio or chem or QR, and many claim associations with low subscores and problems with academic progress (the more statistically valid arguments concern DAT vs. the NBDE). So in the end, I don't know exactly what your chances are because every school will treat the DAT information differently, and you never know who winds up being with you on the waitlist in the end when March comes around to compare against.