3rd time DAT and got depressed, any advice?

[zinia07]

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First of all, I really hate taking DAT.

My first DAT was:
AA 17
TS 18
BIO 18
GC 18
OC 19
RC 14 (got my eye problem.. couldn't read the passage because it got blurry and my eyes were so sore for some reason)
QR 17
PAT 22

My second DAT:
AA: 19
TS 20
BIO: 20
GC: 18
OC: 19
RC: 20 (improved, this time I was wearing my contact lenses, not my glasses. It was way better for me to read, weird)
QR 17 (still bad)
PAT 20

After my second DAT, I applied 12 schools and got only one interview, and then got waitlisted. I heard some of the waitlisters got in but it wasn't my case. So I decided to retake the DAT again because I knew that I didn't study that hard for the first two DAT.

And my third time DAT:
AA: 20
TS: 20
BIO: 19
GC: 21
OC: 19
RC: 15 (bad again.. the passages were too long and hard.. didn't have enough time to finish it. I couldn't even read the last passage and guessed a lot of questions and left some questions blank. Sigh... I'm a slow reader.)
QR: 26 (much higher than the last two..so it could cover my super bad RC score)
PAT: 22

Now I'm very worried about my RC and TS score. TS 20 seems ok but I didn't improve that much compared to the previous one. I studied hard this time and spent a lot of time to study natural sciences, but I got a lot of unfamiliar stuff from bio and OC.

My RC, I have no idea what the committee members think about this. I'm sure it will affect negatively on my application. I'm thinking of writing a letter and fax with my unofficial DAT score, explaining what happened and why I did bad on this section. I really hope that they consider RC on my second DAT which I did pretty ok.

I am a canadian applicant and graduated in 2009. Schools I applied this year are BU, NYU, Columbia, USC, and Tufts.

Can anybody give me any advice, comments, or suggestions? I believe RC score does not 100% represent my English skill, it's just how fast you read and pick up information, but I heard RC is more important than QR.

Second time applying, taking DAT 3 times, bad RC score, not improved NS score, what are my chances? My gpa is 3.4.

 

[321931]

Perhaps you could have your eye problem documented by a physician? Then you can elaborate to adcoms about it? I have no clue. Sorry to hear about your eye. 🙁

 

[zinia07]

Thanks for your reply, Rainee,

Unfortunately, I cannot get anything from physician. It was such a long time ago when I had eye problem, and also I know it wasn't serious enough to go see a doctor. I think reading the passages on the monitor and wearing glasses that I don't normally wear made my eyes very tired.

But this time, i didn't have any eye problem... it was just my slow reading skill and bad time management...

 

[healthcaree]

Just being honest. but I think Columbia is gonna be a waste of money for you. My friend got interview there last year and got waitlisted with a 3.7 gpa and 23AA/23PAT (she had 20+ in all sections). I doubt that she would've messed up her interview because she got into NYU, Tufts, BU, UW, and a few more schools. I think she only got rejected to UCSF. She did some research, worked as a dental assistant for two years. I just don't think people with less than gpa of 3.5 have a chance at Columbia unless your DAT is amazing. If you don't mind, I'd add Pittsburgh instead b/c they're really friendly with international students.

oh and yes. I heard about RC being important too. Rumors say that it's because some students have hard time following the lectures; so they want to make sure that their english proficiency meets their standard.

 

[zinia07]

Thanks healthcaree,

Isn't it too late to add more schools now? It will take time for AADSAS to process/send my application to the school. If it's not too late, I'd like to add more..

 

[healthcaree]

It's not really LATE since it's still way before the closing deadline of the schools.. but late in a sense that so many people have already submitted the application. I tried adding schools, but it only took a week or so to send the app out. I guess it really depends on how busy they are.


and remember that a lot of people have already submitted their application without having their DAT score. those people are going to be on hold until their DAT scores come in. adcom won't even look at incomplete apps. the admission office forwards the complete application to the committee members. whoever turns in the complete app gets the priority.

 

[silveryhair]

How did you improve your QR so much?

I would recommend, looking for the DAT score sheet on this forum. I remember seeing a few schools who look at all your DAT scores and not the most recent one and they will see that you got a 20 on the last test and should look upon you favorably. I would also call the schools and ask what they their opinions are just to be safe.

 

[rnbaxter]

Given your an international student, and I was on a board looking at your 3 DAT scores, I would have to assume that your RC score in test 2 was a fluke compared to 1 and 3. I am not sure if you are able to retake again, but your AA is still good. You need to hope your communication skills are on par with your competitors.

 

[shahinc]

I am a canadian applicant and graduated in 2009. Schools I applied this year are BU, NYU, Columbia, USC, and Tufts.

Second time applying, taking DAT 3 times, bad RC score, not improved NS score, what are my chances? My gpa is 3.4.

So you have:
TS : 20
AA: 20
PAT: ??
GPA: 3.4

I think your AA and TS are good and with that GPA, I am surprised that you did not even get an interview ??

You did not even get an interview from USC ??
Did you have any shawdoing experience ?

 

[addis4ever]

Did u apply late for u to be waitlisted the 2nd time?

 

[shahinc]

Did u apply late for u to be waitlisted the 2nd time?

That is another good question. When did you apply ?
Friend of mine with AA and TS of 22 and 23 and GPA of 3.6 did not even get n interview since he applied in Dec.

 

[zinia07]

To Silveryhair,

For all the 3 tests, I just did problems on the QR section of DAT destroyer. I had no problem solving questions before, but like I did on my RC, time was the main problem for me.

This time I skipped all the word problems and did algebra first, and then went back to the word problems. That's all I did, and the calculator was pretty useful for me to save some time.

I called some schools, and they said it's ok to send a letter to explain it, but didn't give me any clear answer. As you know, since we are not able to speak to any committee member, the person who received my call just gave me a general info, like the average DAT last year stuff..

 

[zinia07]

So you have:
TS : 20
AA: 20
PAT: ??
GPA: 3.4

I think your AA and TS are good and with that GPA, I am surprised that you did not even get an interview ??

You did not even get an interview from USC ??
Did you have any shawdoing experience ?

I didn't get an interview from USC last year, but I got one from BU (waitlisted on April 1st and got rejected yesterday)
I have about three year experience at dental clinic as an assistant.

And my PAT is 22.

 

[zinia07]

That is another good question. When did you apply ?
Friend of mine with AA and TS of 22 and 23 and GPA of 3.6 did not even get n interview since he applied in Dec.

I'm not sure if I'm not worth for them, but I applied very early last year. I submitted application on the first week of June. This year, I submitted my apps on the 3rd week of June.

 

[shahinc]

I'm not sure if I'm not worth for them, but I applied very early last year. I submitted application on the first week of June. This year, I submitted my apps on the 3rd week of June.

I am really surprised and don't know how that makes any sense.

 

[peanutb123]

If possible take it the 4th time... You should have stick with your second time scores...

 

[zinia07]

If possible take it the 4th time... You should have stick with your second time scores...

Very depressing.. I wish I had no more DAT in my life..

Is there anybody who took DAT 4 times though?

 

[shahinc]

Very depressing.. I wish I had no more DAT in my life..

Is there anybody who took DAT 4 times though?

zinia

Why don't you write the Canadian DAT instead ?? I know many schools accept Canadian DAT instead. You have to wait till Nov 6 to do so but still it gives you another try.

Plus, it is much easier.

 

[peanutb123]

Very depressing.. I wish I had no more DAT in my life..

Is there anybody who took DAT 4 times though?

I am really sorry about your score. You did well in every other areas. Why not take a chance to apply This cycle. What do you have to lose couple $k...

Um... like someone mentioned that you should study for cDAT's... Consider it. regarding this topic you need need professional help... Try calling schools and talk to ADCOMs. Do you have a predent adviser or someone you can get advice from.

if all these roads lead to a dead end... Nothing is lost.

There are master programs that you can enroll in nova, etc... Apply to them. that sort of guarantees admission into d-school consider them... w/ your dat scores it shouldnt be a problem for them to grant your admissions after masters or post bac program in their school. Research about them.

Now regarding the depression part... Trust me there are people who are in worst situation then you are in so dont worry about it.

It doest matter what path you take in the end hopefully we will meet up in the same destination, your path might be tad bit longer.