18 DAT and 3.37 GPA. Chances of getting in?

[J1715]

So I retook the DAT and is very disappointed in my score:
PAT: 20
QR:18
RC:15
Bio: 19
GC: 17
OC: 21
TS:19
AA: 18

I was intending on applying this cycle. I have a 3.37 GPA because I messed up my first year of college. However, my GPA has been trending up and my past two semester's GPA has been avg of 3.7. I am worried about my RC score since it is VERY low. What are my chances of getting in any dental school? I have many shadowing and volunteer hours including at the hospital and for extra curricular. I have also started an organization at my University and work as a lab assistant. Please advice. I am unsure of what to do If I continue to apply this cycle, what schools do you think I would have chances of getting in?

(If i retake the DAT, I wont be able to do so until early September which will be too late to apply then?)

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[DoesThisLookInfected?]

I personally would retake if I was in your position. You have to think about all the other applicants and ask yourself (in terms of scores) will this put me on an even playing field with other competitive applicants or will this put me on a higher playing field (not lower!). I think you could probably slide if your GPA was higher, but it's not.

 

[Medin2017]

Retake

 

[GoodAsGold]

Definitely retake and apply as soon an possible. Also aim for at least 20 AA and 20 TS.

Good luck! Wishing you the best.

 

[danchoi03]

Your chance will be ZERO. Retake is a must.

 

[Lynndent]

Honestly, my scores weren't all that great and I was able to land 2 interviews. Waitlisted at both though. I think RC is below cutoff for most schools. But your sciences look pretty good. I'll be retaking my DAT this summer. Best of luck!

 

[SweetMelonPreDent]

Not going to be accepted with a 18.

 

[predent2151]

People with your stats do get in, but not most. A retake would probably put you in a better position. It would be reallyyyy late cause your app wouldn’t be verified till October. If I were you I’d apply to like 3-4 schools, let them know you’re retaking the DAT, go ahead and submit your app, and study hard.

 

[SweetMelonPreDent]

Apply late with atleast a 20 is still better than early with an 18. It is what it is.

 

[dent_wannabe]

With multiple below 20 scores, you most likely need to retake. Also keep in mind that if you retake, I heard the bar will be higher than for those who had it once and done. It looks bad if you do not improve significantly from a retake.

 

[kimball]

Retake, also you will be automatically excluding yourself from schools that have cutoffs at 16 for sections.


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[blueberr1es]

I had a 18 AA and 3.38 GPA. I retook it in the middle of application season and scored 20 AA. This means that all 14/15 schools (except NOVA) waited for my second score until September before reviewing my application. Hope this helps!

 

[lwergod]

I had a 18 AA and 3.38 GPA. I retook it in the middle of application season and scored 20 AA. This means that all 14/15 schools (except NOVA) waited for my second score until September before reviewing my application. Hope this helps!

how many interviews did you get?

 

[dent56171]

I had a 18 AA and 3.38 GPA. I retook it in the middle of application season and scored 20 AA. This means that all 14/15 schools (except NOVA) waited for my second score until September before reviewing my application. Hope this helps!

what schools did you apply to? Im on the same boat, retaking the DAT on July 19 and deciding when I should send in my application. I was thinking sending it to one school last week of June so the transcript can be verified and then submitting to other schools as soon as I take my DAT and find out what I get. I have a 3.47 GPA.

 

[blueberr1es]

how many interviews did you get?

3

 

[blueberr1es]

what schools did you apply to? Im on the same boat, retaking the DAT on July 19 and deciding when I should send in my application. I was thinking sending it to one school last week of June so the transcript can be verified and then submitting to other schools as soon as I take my DAT and find out what I get. I have a 3.47 GPA.

I applied to 5 schools in June and rest in July. I took my retake in late September. Application submission process takes a while so I didn't delay it. I updated them constantly during the process.
Your science GPA is more important than your actual GPA, so as long as it is in that range, you should have a chance, given your ECs, shadowing, and DAT turn out well. Your personal statement is also extremely important.
I applied to a range of school based on their application deadline date, location, and consideration of DAT over GPA.
Reach- Tufts, BU (Accepted), Stonybrook, Columbia, UCSF, UConn, NYU (Accepted), UB, Rutgers
Midrange- Howard, Maryland, LECOM, Nova, USC, UNE, Touro (I declined interview), WesternU
Of course, there is no telling how schools see you as an applicant. So, I based it on statistics on average DAT and GPA. Since I submitted my DAT late, I was mindful of which schools had late application deadline (which would indicate that they fill their seats late).
Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[lwergod]

I applied to 5 schools in June and rest in July. I took my retake in late September. Application submission process takes a while so I didn't delay it. I updated them constantly during the process.
Your science GPA is more important than your actual GPA, so as long as it is in that range, you should have a chance, given your ECs, shadowing, and DAT turn out well. Your personal statement is also extremely important.
I applied to a range of school based on their application deadline date, location, and consideration of DAT over GPA.
Reach- Tufts, BU (offer), Stonybrook, Columbia, UCSF, UConn, NYU (offer), UB, Rutgers
Midrange- Howard, Maryland, LECOM, Nova, USC, UNE, Touro (declined interview), WesternU
Of course, there is no telling how schools see you as an applicant. So, I based it on statistics on average DAT and GPA. Since I submitted my DAT late, I was mindful of which schools had late application deadline (which would indicate that they fill their seats late).
Let me know if you have any other questions.

where were you eventually accepted?

 

[blueberr1es]

where were you eventually accepted?

Do you mean what school did I choose?I received offers from BU and NYU.

 

[lwergod]

Do you mean what school did I choose?I received offers from BU and NYU.

I see, I thought the offers were your interviews.

so out of all the schools you applied to, only Touro declined to interview you? that's impressive


what were your stats?

 

[dent56171]

I applied to 5 schools in June and rest in July. I took my retake in late September. Application submission process takes a while so I didn't delay it. I updated them constantly during the process.
Your science GPA is more important than your actual GPA, so as long as it is in that range, you should have a chance, given your ECs, shadowing, and DAT turn out well. Your personal statement is also extremely important.
I applied to a range of school based on their application deadline date, location, and consideration of DAT over GPA.
Reach- Tufts, BU (offer), Stonybrook, Columbia, UCSF, UConn, NYU (offer), UB, Rutgers
Midrange- Howard, Maryland, LECOM, Nova, USC, UNE, Touro (declined interview), WesternU
Of course, there is no telling how schools see you as an applicant. So, I based it on statistics on average DAT and GPA. Since I submitted my DAT late, I was mindful of which schools had late application deadline (which would indicate that they fill their seats late).
Let me know if you have any other questions.

Yeah Im thinking of sending in my transcript next week and application in the last week of June. I was going to apply to 1/2 schools in June and all the rest in July after my DAT as my transcript would have been verified by then anyways. I did bad my first time so I do not want schools to reject me based on that score. Thank you!

 

[blueberr1es]

I see, I thought the offers were your interviews.

so out of all the schools you applied to, only Touro declined to interview you? that's impressive


what were your stats?

My apologies for the confusion. BU and NYU offered me a spot. Tour offered me interview, which I declined.

 

[ssdent18]

Retake