Be careful for DAT retakers

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I took my DAT this April and August and requested the official score report to be sent to dental schools second day after my second test. I also requested to send one copy to myself because I had thought it is free. Anyway, it cost me 25 bucks and surprisingly I found out that only my first test score is listed in the report. I called ADA and they told me that when I fill out the request form on-line, I should request SCORE FOR THE FUTURE TEST 😡because it takes 3-4 weeks to process my score!!! How ridiculous it is! I already took the test and I still need to request score for future test!😡😡😡 I argued with her but she is really unfriendly. She finally transferred my call to her manager. I left a voice mail to her manager . let's see what will happen.
So, be careful when you request score report if you retook the DAT. I would never know dental school only received my first score if I did not request a copy.
 
The same thing happened to me. This is ridiculous. The lady also transferred me to the manager and I left him a voicemail.
 
yeah, the PROMETRIC centers should tell you to choose "future dat scores" ..but then again they can't assume that u haven't already requested to have it automatically sent out..luckily my i typed in the wrong credit card expiration date and callede dADA, and they saw my mistake and fixed it to "future dat scores"..
yeah i feel u buddy..sorry =(

oh btw, the manager is "cindy" and she's super super nice..ADA staff aren't.
 
THIS IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE. Absurd!!
They wouldn't refund me or do anything to help. There goes $150😡😡😡😡
 
I just spoke to the manager and he was like he can't do anything about it. I was so pissed off and arguing with him. I paid $675 and now its going down the drain and I have to pay that again. This is soo ridiculus and they are sooo mean!!!!!!
 
This is ****in ridiculous. I am soo angry right now you can't even imagine.
 
I just resent my scores AGAIN! Does ada do this through computer, meaning do they send the scores via internet or is it a mailed package?
 
wow this is shocking...

very valuable information for retakers since most of us may wait til directly after we take our 2nd test to designate schools (i know i will) and i definitely would have put "request scores from a PAST test" instead of future.

my condolences to you guys/girls and your wallets, its a shame the ADA has to be so cold about things
 
I was shocked to see this too. I had added 5 more schools after taking the test, but luckily ended sending my scores a month after the test, so they have sent in the new ones (or atleast I hope thats the case).
 
So if I designated the schools when signing up for the second test ie before I took the test and when I was scheduling the test do I need to worry about this or because I was signing up for the test and the school designations at the same time its all clear?
 
So let me get this. You decide to retake the test after having already taken it. You schedule your test a few months in advance, and around the same time order score reports to be sent out the day after. Is that right?
 
armorshell said:
So let me get this. You decide to retake the test after having already taken it. You schedule your test a few months in advance, and around the same time order score reports to be sent out the day after. Is that right?
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eh..

ok so we apply to take the DAT ( u choose 5 free schools).
we take the exam and WOW we get 25+'s.
the next day (not within 2 weeks), you request score report so u can send your new DAT scores --> so you check off "send PAST DAT scores" cuz they are the past, you took them less than 2 weeks ago..

BUT THAT's WRONG. u have to choose "send FUTURE DAT scores" because ADA will not receive your DAT scores on file until 2 weeks after u take the exam..

so basically, if it's been less than 2 weeks, choose FUTURE. if u took it months ago, choose Past DAT score...

when in doubt, just call ADA to see what DAT score year they have.
 
I had the same problem. I wish instead of having past/future test, they'd just list the test dates so we can choose them more accurately.
 
dude this is so f***** up I dont know where to start. I called their office and asked the lady which one specifically i needed to indicate . And she told me if I put past then they will send "all of my scores". This is so ******ed why should i have to pay for someone else's incompetence and stupidity.
 
It has not happened to me, but I feel you guys.
I bet they make a good amount of money this way, and would not consider clarifying it.
 
damn I made the same mistake too. I have to call ADA tomorrow.
 
I chose past date and all of the schools got my most recent test scores. My TMDSAS page even updated my new scores. I still don't understand, should I be making phone calls?
 
mantraman1010 said:
I chose past date and all of the schools got my most recent test scores. My TMDSAS page even updated my new scores. I still don't understand, should I be making phone calls?
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how do you know that the schools got your most recent scores? Did you contact all the schools?
 
I retook my test June 2, a year after my first, and TMDSAS got it on the 20th with the new scores. I kind getting worried about out of state schools.
 
Mstoothlady2012 said:
how do you know that the schools got your most recent scores? Did you contact all the schools?
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The Texas application system enters in the scores into your profile for you to check once they get the score reports and they have both my previous and new scores. So I'm assuming if you chose past date, they will send out both reports, old and new. Newer ones once they become available.
 
Anyone call today? I called and I have to say I have never spoken with a supervisor that has been so rude before. Halfway through my explanation he cut me off and started yelling at me !!! honestly no joke, he started yelling and talking down to me. Totally caught me off guard because you just don't expect that when you are talking to a supervisor. Supposedly his name is Dr. something I don't remember and if your on the phone with him make sure your ready for it. The guy needs to take a laxative and chill out. According to him it is impossible for anyone at their office to make a mistake. Let me repeat he said impossible, I guess they have figured out a way to solve for human error. He told me the only thing I can do is to fax in a complaint that they will review during their meetings. yeah ok buddy and when I asked if I could speak to someone above him he said that person doesn't exist and he is the only one in charge and hung up on me !! Which is untrue, I called the ada and got the phone number to the supervisor of all testing services provided by the ada (DAT, boards, etc) and her number is 312-440- 2500 ext 2817. If you guys have had the same problem call this lady and talk to her about it. Even if we dont get our money back we can prevent this from happening to other predents and keep a**holes like that from going unchecked and treating paying customers like that.
 
So I called the supervisor woman. She said that she could check if my test scores were sent out, but she couldn't tell if it was the new or old scores that were sent. She said that my scores were sent out on Thursday, Aug. 14th. She told me I need to be a little more patient and that the schools would soon receive the scores that I requested.... She didn't speak English super fluently, and I wonder if she even understood my problem. I tried to explain to her that I selected "previous test score" because I had already taken the test a second time, but I wanted my most recent scores sent. I don't think she was following me.

I called the schools and my top 5 (the 5 that I selected originally when I signed up for the test) have my new score, but my other schools that I added after my re-take do not have my new scores yet. I am wondering now if they are in the mail...or if the old ones were sent. Should I send the new test scores again, or should I wait and see if the rest of the schools get the right score? What are you guys doing about this problem? Did you already choose to have your scores sent again? This is really frustrating!
 
ha ha i think i talked to the same lady. What she told me was to write a letter for an appeal to some lady called cindy. Oh btw did i mention the appeal costs 50 dollars? honestly its ******ed. She told me theres nothing that they can do besides paying again. Some of these people are so cold hearted. Why should i pay 225 dollars twice for them to send a piece of paper to 9 schools. Its so unethical. Anyways I think im gonna call all the schools tomorrow morning and explain my situation. Im pretty sure they can download official scores online and Im hoping they would be willing to do that.
 
Wait, you think that they can download our scores without us having sent them? I mean, I DID request to have my scores sent (and I paid too), but
it looks like ADA sent my OLD scores. You are saying that you think the schools can still have access to our NEW scores anyways? Will you please let me know what you find out from the schools when you call tomorrow? Thanks!
 
It's really not hard for schools to download test scores. Paying hundreds of dollars for a 42 cent stamp isn't too efficient.
 
I took mine 3 weeks ago, and i checked send now, not future since that was my first exam. Should I check off future box? am i in trouble??
 
Someone should get in contact with someone in Prometric that can actually do something to fix this or else many many others will fall into the same mistake.
 
Stupid ADA lady. I called today and she told me only those schools chosen during the enrollment process would get my new scores. I NEVER CHOSE ANY AND SENT THE NEW SCORES THE DAY AFTER AND CHECKED PREVIOUS TEST DAY AND TMDSAS HAS MY SCORES! I tell her this and she says TMDSAS gets their scores from the three TX schools, and then I ask, where do you think the schools get their scores, and then she says, FROM US..*******ES! These people really piss me off. I've been at work all day and have had no time to call out of state schools. Anybody with any luck?
 
THIS IS SO RIDICULOUS! I called ADA today and the lady was so rude. I explained her the whole situation and she is like well your new scores were processed after you submitted the request to send the scores to the school. Then she was like hold on I will transfer to the manger and she didnt even let me finish. The transfered call went straight to that manager's voicemail. I left a message for him but he still hasn't replied me back.

In the meantime I emailed all the schools (except those 5 that we get for free that I selected while registering for DAT, b/c I am pretty sure that they got the new score right?) if they got the new scores or the old scores. Creighton & USC said that they only got 2007 score whereas VCU said they got both 2007 & 2008 scores. I am still waiting to hear back from the other schools. WTH is going on??? How is the possible that some scools get both scores and some only one? I think I am going to call each school personally and get to the bottom of this ****!!!!

Do schools still look at your application without the official DAT score? I wrote my score while filling out AADSAS. I am so pissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Mstoothlady2012 said:
THIS IS SO RIDICULOUS! I called ADA today and the lady was so rude. I explained her the whole situation and she is like well your new scores were processed after you submitted the request to send the scores to the school. Then she was like hold on I will transfer to the manger and she didnt even let me finish. The transfered call went straight to that manager's voicemail. I left a message for him but he still hasn't replied me back.

In the meantime I emailed all the schools (except those 5 that we get for free that I selected while registering for DAT, b/c I am pretty sure that they got the new score right?) if they got the new scores or the old scores. Creighton & USC said that they only got 2007 score whereas VCU said they got both 2007 & 2008 scores. I am still waiting to hear back from the other schools. WTH is going on??? How is the possible that some scools get both scores and some only one? I think I am going to call each school personally and get to the bottom of this ****!!!!

Do schools still look at your application without the official DAT score? I wrote my score while filling out AADSAS. I am so pissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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nvm actually VCU said that my AADSAS shows both DAT scores. lol whatever that means. They didnt even answer my questions. I wanna know what ADA sent not AADSAS uh!
 
I called ADA today to ask how long it would take for them to send out the official scores. And one guy told me that they don't mail it out anymore, they now do it all electronically, so in about 2~3 weeks, the DS will be able to download your office scores from their offices.
 
Thank you OP for posting about this and saving us from
headache.
 
so I called ADA again today to confirm which scores were sent out and yes they sent out the wrong scores. Anyways they want me to pay again if I want the new scores to be submitted to the schools.

Do all schools have to have official scores from ADA. They won't accept a copy from the applicant? Does anyone know? thanks!

P.s. They are going to put this note on the DAT score request application sometime soon.
 
i emailed the schools to see if they could download my new scores online. One said that they had already done that lol. So if i were you I would call or email them and see what they say. Btw did they have you talk to Dr. Tsai the director or whatever his title is ? The guy is so arrogant and rude, they should really monitor how this guy talks to students. He's alienating future dental professionals and people the ADA will need in the not too distant future.
 
shoombol tallah said:
i emailed the schools to see if they could download my new scores online. One said that they had already done that lol. So if i were you I would call or email them and see what they say. Btw did they have you talk to Dr. Tsai the director or whatever his title is ? The guy is so arrogant and rude, they should really monitor how this guy talks to students. He's alienating future dental professionals and people the ADA will need in the not too distant future.
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well when I called yesterday they transfered me to him but went straight to voicemail and I left message but he still hasn't called me back. Today when I called again they wanted to do the same thing and I was like dont transfer me to the manager I don't need to speak to him, I just want answers. I knew that he wasnt going to help me so what's the point of it. I guess I will just pay again. I asked 2-3 schools and they said that they can't look at my DAT scores because they havn't received my AADSAS yet. Apparentely they can't download DAT score electronically unless they get AADSAS application. Should I wait another week and then call the schools to ask if they have new or old scores or should I just request the new ones now?
 
One of the schools told me the same thing so i would hold off until they get your application. The thing thats annoying is that aadsas says my printout has not been mailed out but I have gotten emails from a few schools saying that they have received it . I dont know how we are supposed to know exactly when they receive it. I would just be persistent and start getting in contact with them starting monday.
 
shoombol tallah said:
One of the schools told me the same thing so i would hold off until they get your application. The thing thats annoying is that aadsas says my printout has not been mailed out but I have gotten emails from a few schools saying that they have received it . I dont know how we are supposed to know exactly when they receive it. I would just be persistent and start getting in contact with them starting monday.
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Yea I got that message too from Louisville, so I called them to find out if they can tell me anything about my DAT score. But they said they havnt received the application yet but its on the way. I don't understand that part b/c AADSAS said that they will mail my application on the 25th. Weird!!! Anyways louisville was still able to look at my DAT scores and she confirmed that they hav only received my 2007 scores not 2008 scores. I don't understand, if they havnt really receieved my AADSAS application then how were they able to view my DAT scores and not other schools.
 
there was another thread about htsi whole situation a few weeks ago...a lot of people on that thread got their new scores sent out for free.....so when they say "i cant do nothing bout it" they are lying....they also dont mention this send scores for the future when U HAVE ALREADY taken it on the site where u choose your schools...and they told me its on some guide and they're gonna put it on the website...but that's ridiculous bc i have no idea what guide htye are tlaking bout and there is no way we're suppose to know this....so yea i would continue arguing with them bc they are lying when they say they cant do nothign bout it bc a lot of people afew weeks ago got their new scores sent for free
 
I haven't taken DAT yet but I called AND emailed ADA about how they "send" scores

They both said they don't actually send anything. They take 2-3 weeks to process your score and post it up on ADA for scores to download. This is how they "send" scores..from what the two people told me.

SOO, they don't actually send any paper or anything from what I was told, which is very sad that it costs so much and takes so much time.
 
oOo, i think yakuza's right. most of the school's i emailed regarding my scores would say something like...we don't have your scores yet, but it'll most likely be up on next tuesday or wednesday's download. im assuming each school has a specific day once a week that they dl scores from the ada.
 
ddsbruin said:
oOo, i think yakuza's right. most of the school's i emailed regarding my scores would say something like...we don't have your scores yet, but it'll most likely be up on next tuesday or wednesday's download. im assuming each school has a specific day once a week that they dl scores from the ada.
Click to expand...


Yeh schools in Tx check to download scores once a week.
 
ddsbruin said:
oOo, i think yakuza's right. most of the school's i emailed regarding my scores would say something like...we don't have your scores yet, but it'll most likely be up on next tuesday or wednesday's download. im assuming each school has a specific day once a week that they dl scores from the ada.
Click to expand...
But I think if you don't pay ADA again then they won't put your new scores online for the schools to download.
 
I had this exact same problem. After reading this post and seeing all the crap that people have been going through I decided to just pay the money again. It REALLY sucks, and I think that it is not right. But I saw that you guys have been leaving messages that dont get returned and dealing with arrogant managers trying to get them to understand and it doesnt sound like any of this is working.

In my opinion this is too important, and I personally dont want another day to go by where my file could possibly get reviewed without my new score. It REALLY sucks and its really frustrating, but I figure in the long run I would probably be best... 🙁
 
Unfortunate to see there has been no advances in the crappy AADSAS application service.

What I learned from the experience is that AADSAS is a complete scam asking for loads of money to provide a very minimal and inefficient service and the ADA is in on it with these score reports.

I don't know who runs AADSAS (ADA perhaps), but I do know that these problems you are suggesting have most likely been developed specifically with the intention of making applicants pay more. They don't provide straight-forward answers because they want you to think they are a truly legitimate enterprise. They want you to think your money is going towards the work it takes for them to place all those score reports in little envelopes and pay for shipping. BS...they simply upload scores to a common server for schools to download, but it is contingent on AADSAS being completed and paid for etc. That way, they all get a little piece of the pie. With all the applicants and fees I'm guessing it's more than just a "little piece."

Just try to find consolation in the fact that these fees amount to squat when you start getting your dental school loans.
 
I had to pay the fee again after faxing my situation and arguing with several persons. I just don't want to waste too much time on this issue because considering all money and time I already spent, I don't want this issue to hold on my application. I'm glad this post can help other people and hope our effort can at least make ADA realize the problem. Actually the manager called me back and admit the on-line score request form is confusing and promise that he will raise this issue in the next meeting. Good luck, everyone.
 
Man, the ADA is making a killing off of the DAT. First of all, it can't cost them $25 to e-mail score reports to each school. It also can't possibly cost them the $200-some to administer each exam.

Then we have all of these people that are confused by the ADA's website because it is not clear with what exactly a "past exam" is.

I feel sorry for everybody here and I would be equally angry if I were in your shoes.

Good luck to everyone.
 
I gave up too! I just paid ADA AGAIN. I called ADA today to ask if they can confirm that I didn't make any mistakes this time around and the guy told me that they don't get the application until 6-8 business days BS!!! its electronic it doesn't get lost in outer space or whatever for 6-8 business days. I hope I didn't mess up again. I left the message on manager's voicemail last week to argue but he didn't call me back, I couldn't wait so I paid again. Plus I know that every1 on here argued and no1 was able to get it fixed for free, so what's the point? Anyways I asked the guy who answered the phone "wouldn't it be a wise idea to put this little note on the application itself". And he goes like yes mam we are in the process of doing that. uh!! So I hope no1 in the future makes this mistake. Unless it takes them 6-8 business years to do that :laugh:
 
hey everyone. I was calling a few dental schools to see if they had my newest 08 dat scores. I know the 5 dental schools which I selected to receive the newest scores and apparently so far 1 not from the 5 selected had my new dat scores! I also selected Past Scores as well and I was about to re-pay ADA but I may hold off. I'll try calling other dental schools and so should everyone else for those who haven't paid again.👍👍
 
paul510psu said:
Man, the ADA is making a killing off of the DAT. First of all, it can't cost them $25 to e-mail score reports to each school. It also can't possibly cost them the $200-some to administer each exam.

Then we have all of these people that are confused by the ADA's website because it is not clear with what exactly a "past exam" is.

I feel sorry for everybody here and I would be equally angry if I were in your shoes.

Good luck to everyone.
Click to expand...
Yeah, they are making a $$killing$$ off of the DAT, and no one can do ****. They call it capitalism. Not that I complain. an average person pays $400 for taking DAT and having the scores sent, and as it seems, more than half of the retakers pay three times more [2 times for retaking, and once for this stupid "future" thing] . On the other hand, you have ADEA charging $1000 + for verifying a GPA, printing your information out, using a copy machine to duplicate, and finally mailing the application to the dental schools.
P.S. I forgot the secondary application fees:laugh:.
 
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I think it's pretty safe to say that the ADEA and ADA are making a good amount off each application. Anyone think there is a way to find out just how much profit these organization are making off this application process and what exactly they do with these profits?

Seems like a monopoly if you ask me.
 
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