5/23/09 DAT - Officially tripping out - practice test scores

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baliztiknsg

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  1. Dental Student
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Hey All,

So here is my situation...
I go to UCI, 4th year biology major in my last quarter, with a 3.79 cumulative GPA (Bio GPA 3.84, Physical Sciences GPA 3.718), dental volunteering @ a regular clinic & a free clinic for homeless/financially unstable individuals, 2 years of research with 1 publication for an abstract (me being primary author), waiting on a 2nd publication, and a presentation @ a huge neuroscience conference in Toronto for the published abstract, social chair in AED (pre-health honors fraternity), nominated into Phi Kappa Beta honors society, graduating with Latin Honors, and some other random volunteering positions

My question is, what are my chances of getting in anywhere (especially California) if my DAT practice tests and such, so far, are (started taking all these last week, i have 3 Topscore/3 Achiever and 4 CDP to go, and will update as I take them):

KAPLAN
Tues Test -
Bio - 18
Gchem - 19
Ochem - 14
PAT - 19
RC - 21
QR - 18
TS - 17
AA - 18

Wed Test -
Bio - 20
Gchem - 16
Ochem - 14
PAT - 18
RC - 22
QR - 17
TS - 17
AA - 18

Thurs Test -
Bio - 15
Gchem - 18
Ochem - 18
PAT - 20
RC - 21
QR - 21
TS - 17
AA - 19

Fri Test
Bio - 21
Ghcem - 17
Ochem - 17
PAT - 19
RC - 22
QR - 19
TS - 18
AA - 19

DAT Achiever
Test 1
Bio - 17
GC - 16
OC - 18
TS - 17
PAT - 16
RC - 21
QR - 21
AA - 19

Test 2
Bio - 16
Chem - 15
OC - 16
PAT - 17
RC - 20
QR - 19
TS - 17
AA - 18


Test 3
QR - 19

TopScore
Test 1
Bio - 18
GC - 18
OC - 15
PAT - 19
RC - 21
QR - 17
TS - 17
AA - 18

Test 2
Bio - 19
GC - 21
OC - 19
PAT - 20
RC - 21
QR - 19
TS - 20
AA - 20

Test 3
Bio - 18
GC - 20
OC - 19
PAT - 20
RC - 22
QR - 21
TS - 19
AA - 20



Crack DAT PAT
18/18/19/16/

I know that was a big post...but any insights from all of you would be great..thanks!👍
 
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baliztiknsg said:
Hey All,

So here is my situation...
I go to UCI, 4th year biology major in my last quarter, with a 3.79 cumulitive GPA (Bio GPA 3.84, Physical Sciences GPA 3.718), dental volunteering @ a regular clinic & a free clinic for homeless/financially unstable individuals, 2 years of research with 1 publication for an abstract (me being primary author), waiting on a 2nd publication, and a presentation @ a huge neuroscience conference in Toronto for the published abstract, social chair in AED (pre-health honors fraternity), nomiated into Phi Beta Kappa honors society, and some other random volunteering positions

My question is, what are my chances of getting in anywhere (especially California) if my DAT practice tests and such, so far, are (started taking all these last week, i have 3 Topscore/3 Achiever and 4 CDP to go, and will update as I take them):

KAPLAN
Tues Test -
Bio - 18
Gchem - 19
Ochem - 14
PAT - 19
RC - 21
QR - 18
TS - 17
AA - 18

Wed Test -
Bio - 20
Gchem - 16
Ochem - 14
PAT - 18
RC - 22
QR - 17
TS - 17
AA - 18

Thurs Test -
Bio - 15
Gchem - 18
Ochem - 18
PAT - 20
RC - 21
QR - 21
TS - 17
AA - 19

Fri Test
Bio - 21
Ghcem - 17
Ochem - 17
PAT - 19
RC - 22
QR - 19
TS - 18
AA - 19

DAT Achiever

TopScore

Crack DAT PAT
18/

I know that was a big post...but any insights from all of you would be great..thanks!👍
Click to expand...

Hmmm...I don't want to discourage you, but I got AA:19 TS:20 PAT:19 last year and I didn't get into any of the California schools. I had a 3.84 science GPA from UCLA, and sufficient amount of shadowing and research experience.
Looking at your scores, your weak area seems to be your science section, and O-chem in particular. Your PAT scores are about average. But you must remember that the PAT section of the real DAT is much more challenging than what you see on KAPLAN tests. So, if you're scoring 19-20 on KAPLAN tests, you're most likely to get a lower score in this section on the real exam (I'm not trying to scare you. I'm just stating the facts). Most Cali schools like UCLA, UCSF, and UoP look for PAT scores that are 20 and above. So, if you score 18 or below on the real exam, you can pretty much forget about the top Cali schools.
Looking at your TS, you're scoring somewhere between 17-18. If you're serious about getting into Cali schools, you might wanna start thinking about improving this.
Keep in mind that dental schools are getting more competitive every year. This year we have people who have scored 30 on their G-chem and O-chem section. So, you're really competing against people who have at least AA scores of 20 and above.
You've done lots and lots of extra activities and you have a nice GPA, but none of those will matter, if you end up with a DAT score of 17-18.

I'm not trying to be harsh, but I don't think you're ready to take the real exam yet. If you've already registered, perhaps you might wanna reschedule your test and buy yourself more time, so you can study more and improve your scores.

Good Luck to You👍
 
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Hey, can you tell me which Kaplan exams those were? I took those too and want to compare.

I think you should buy crack dat pat, since kaplan pat seems easier than the real one. Also, maybe you want to review more and stop taking practice exams...I think you took and are taking too many.
 
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Kaplan tests in order I think were (from the course I took in January): Practice test 2, 3, DAT Final, and Practice Test 1


As for Cali schools, I am beginning to rule them out and looking towards more realistic schools now. I know my GPA is good enough for nearly anywhere, but I am thinking about places near Cali, like maybe UNLV or Arizona...what do you guys think about my chances at those schools?
 
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baliztiknsg said:
Kaplan tests in order I think were (from the course I took in January): Practice test 2, 3, DAT Final, and Practice Test 1


As for Cali schools, I am beginning to rule them out and looking towards more realistic schools now. I know my GPA is good enough for nearly anywhere, but I am thinking about places near Cali, like maybe UNLV or Arizona...what do you guys think about my chances at those schools?
Click to expand...

According to Predents.com the following are the stats for UNLV:
DAT: 19.27
PAT: 18.78
GPA: 3.26

So, yea! I think you have a better chance there than any of the Cali schools, provided that you'll get similar scores on your actual DAT. Perhaps USC would be a good choice for Cali, in your case, since their DAT requirements aren't that high (well, at least compared to other schools! But they're still looking for scores in the 19-20 range as well--I think last year it was a bit lower)
 
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update: added Achiever Test 1 and another CDP...

Kaplan PAT really screwed me up cause CDP and achiever is SO much harder for PAT....

Achiever was pretty tough for the sciences...but I think my RC/QR scores were pretty good since I've heard that achiever is alot harder than the real DAT...im taking Topscore tomorrow so hopefully I can get some confidence out of that one


Any more insight from anyone? I am already looking past Cali schools just for realistic purposes, so what are some average Dental Schools that maybe my application can fit to?

Thanks in advance for any help...DAT in 5 days!:scared:
 
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I believe I mentioned this before. Look on Predents.com to get an idea of the schools that match ur scores.

baliztiknsg said:
update: added Achiever Test 1 and another CDP...

Kaplan PAT really screwed me up cause CDP and achiever is SO much harder for PAT....

Achiever was pretty tough for the sciences...but I think my RC/QR scores were pretty good since I've heard that achiever is alot harder than the real DAT...im taking Topscore tomorrow so hopefully I can get some confidence out of that one


Any more insight from anyone? I am already looking past Cali schools just for realistic purposes, so what are some average Dental Schools that maybe my application can fit to?

Thanks in advance for any help...DAT in 5 days!:scared:
Click to expand...
 
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U should do more review.. less practice test! U should spend as much time going over the tests as u are taking them 😵..
 
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If it makes you feel better, I'm about a 4.0 student and I feel really dumb too. 😀 Doing pretty crappy on practice exams...even PAT. So there are others out there that are in for it as well.
 
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baliztiknsg said:
damn I just took achiever sciences 3 and got rocked...big time

If my topscore goes well tomorrow (around the straight 20's today) should i feel more confident? achiever seems to be alot harder than topscore...
Click to expand...
Why do you need others to tell you whether or not you should feel confident about your knowledge?
You're the one studying those material and taking the tests. So, you should know better than anyone else whether or not you should feel confident.
If you're consistently getting scores in the 19-20 range on the topscore tests, then you'll probably get around the same score on the real exam. If 20 makes you happy on the real DAT, then I don't see why you shouldn't be confident.
 
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Re-schedule the test and hit those books. Your practice DAT scores range from 18 to 20, which is not competitive enough for Cali schools. Besides, the real test will be harder.
 
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baliztiknsg said:
damn I just took achiever sciences 3 and got rocked...big time

If my topscore goes well tomorrow (around the straight 20's today) should i feel more confident? achiever seems to be alot harder than topscore...
Click to expand...
Your real test most likely will be a little harder than achiever tests.
 
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Zubnaya Feya said:
Your real test most likely will be a little harder than achiever tests.
Click to expand...

I have to disagree with that! Achiever is actually more difficult than the real test! Topscore, though, is a lot easier than the real test. Afterall, each person has a different opinion when it comes to things like this based on their preparation for the tests and experiences with the real test! I averaged a TS of 26 on topscore tests and 21 on achiever and ended up with a TS of 24 on the real test (not to mention I got frapped). So I do think Achiever is harder than the real test!!!
As far as Cali schools, they're hard to get in to, and if you really wanna get in one, I suggest the same thing...Reschedule and go through more materials to bump up your score!

Good Luck
 
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PooyaH said:
I have to disagree with that! Achiever is actually more difficult than the real test! Topscore, though, is a lot easier than the real test. Afterall, each person has a different opinion when it comes to things like this based on their preparation for the tests and experiences with the real test! I averaged a TS of 26 on topscore tests and 21 on achiever and ended up with a TS of 24 on the real test (not to mention I got frapped). So I do think Achiever is harder than the real test!!!
As far as Cali schools, they're hard to get in to, and if you really wanna get in one, I suggest the same thing...Reschedule and go through more materials to bump up your score!

Good Luck
Click to expand...
I got a TS of 24 as well and was frapped too (with ethics passage). I thought achiever was about the same level. But, definetely, kaplan was easier (I didn't prep through topscore, cannot say anything)
 
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Zubnaya Feya said:
I got a TS of 24 as well and was frapped too (with ethics passage). I thought achiever was about the same level. But, definetely, kaplan was easier (I didn't prep through topscore, cannot say anything)
Click to expand...

Yeah Kaplan is easier, but I honestly thought topscore was a joke! But Achiever gave me a hard time a little bit. I hated the ethics passage lol
 
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well i hope that my tomorrow i get near my topscore scores cause its too late to reschedule!

I am leaning towards UNLV some other schools in the West, I know Cali is probably a long shot, but I think UNLV is within reach if I can get 19-20 on every section (they told me at least 18 to be competitive) and i know my GPA is set

hopefully I wont bomb it tomorrow, then I have to retake in August and not have my app completed till sept:scared:

Last topscore test I have (test 3):
Bio - 18
GC - 20
OC - 19
PAT - 20
RC - 22
QR - 21
TS - 19
AA - 20

Hope I can do this tomorrow!

thanks for the advice...hopefully ill have good news tomorrow
 
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baliztiknsg said:
well i hope that my tomorrow i get near my topscore scores cause its too late to reschedule!

I am leaning towards UNLV some other schools in the West, I know Cali is probably a long shot, but I think UNLV is within reach if I can get 19-20 on every section (they told me at least 18 to be competitive) and i know my GPA is set

hopefully I wont bomb it tomorrow, then I have to retake in August and not have my app completed till sept:scared:

Last topscore test I have (test 3):
Bio - 18
GC - 20
OC - 19
PAT - 20
RC - 22
QR - 21
TS - 19
AA - 20

Hope I can do this tomorrow!

thanks for the advice...hopefully ill have good news tomorrow
Click to expand...


Goood luck!! Looks like you are ready to go! How is QR for you? Any strategy? I'm all over the place with QR. lol
 
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purplepanda said:
Goood luck!! Looks like you are ready to go! How is QR for you? Any strategy? I'm all over the place with QR. lol
Click to expand...

My study tools for QR were: Kaplan blue book, Kaplan course (bunch of workshops), Destroyer, and then the practice tests from Kaplan/Achiever/Topscore

Not sure if I can provide any tips, just work real fast haha, i rarely ever finish actually and end up guessing quickly @ the end but im lucky that i get alot of them right earlier

Hopefully the real QR isnt too bad, but i've read on SDN that its harder than most practice tests👎
 
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