**4 Interviews, But Need Some Honest Help!!!

[punchdrunk7]

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So I have been so happy and blessed to receive 4 interviews so far. Louisville, Indiana, Loma Linda, and Midwestern-AZ. However two of the four schools have mentioned during the interview that they are worried about my 16 in BIO🙁, I was and still am. But with 4 interviews, 5 rejections, and 11 schools to hear from would it be worth a re-take? (Two schools I called said that I would be competitive with a higher biology score, and most likely rejected w/o retaking.)

(*Disclaimer, this is not to demean anyone without interviews, I just want some advice cause I am at a crossroads.)

 

[schen140]

i think it'd be wise to invest in a retake. if the schools gave u interviews while saying they were worried about ur bio score, it basically means thats the one thing holding u back from an acceptance

 

[punchdrunk7]

i think it'd be wise to invest in a retake. if the schools gave u interviews while saying they were worried about ur bio score, it basically means thats the one thing holding u back from an acceptance

Any advice you can share to do better in BIO I would absolutely LOVE!😀

 

[321931]

Any advice you can share to do better in BIO I would absolutely LOVE!😀

Get lucky? LOL, I dunno, I just read schaums, and AP bio; however, the questions are so random that luck plays a factor.

 

[Pennywisdom]

Have you looked into Cliffs AP Bio? That book is awesome.

 

[punchdrunk7]

Thanks Rainee and Pennywisdom, I will look into both resources. I am just dreading the fact that I have to study for this damn test again, it sucks!

 

[Pennywisdom]

Thanks Rainee and Pennywisdom, I will look into both resources. I am just dreading the fact that I have to study for this damn test again, it sucks!

I know how you feel. My O-Chem score is pretty darn low, and despite receiving some interviews, I'm also thinking about retaking the DAT.

I would retake it only if I have a solid grasp of the sciences. Aside from Bio your numbers are pretty solid, so really prepare for it before you retake it.

 

[RedDevilDDS]

If I were you, I wouldn't retake it. I'll just wait till December 1st.

 

[dentalWorks]

well don't retake it, but if your free these days, start preparing like your going to retake it (just in case).

I would STRONGLY suggest you read through Cliff's AP biology, and have an actual biology text book near you as a reference guide.... I am a believer that Cliff's, if studied very well, should help you achieve 18-20 in biology

 

[John Durian]

I agree with RedDevil. It's getting kind of late. I also had 4 interviews, but I feel iffy about some of them. I would just accept it and wait for the acceptance come December 1st

 

[wantVCUdental]

If I were you, I wouldn't retake it. I'll just wait till December 1st.

+1
I agree 4 interview means you are in great shape
if a 16 in bio is a big problem why would 4 schools interview you?

 

[CaliPreDent]

Cliffs is the best....I wasn't a bio major and i got a 19 on the bio section because i literally read the cliffs book then the kaplan book back to back and did DAT destroyer...all questions

 

[skylark]

So I have been so happy and blessed to receive 4 interviews so far. Louisville, Indiana, Loma Linda, and Midwestern-AZ. However two of the four schools have mentioned during the interview that they are worried about my 16 in BIO🙁, I was and still am. But with 4 interviews, 5 rejections, and 11 schools to hear from would it be worth a re-take? (Two schools I called said that I would be competitive with a higher biology score, and most likely rejected w/o retaking.)

(*Disclaimer, this is not to demean anyone without interviews, I just want some advice cause I am at a crossroads.)

I'm gonna add that it depends on which of these 4 schools asked you to consider the retake. If your top 2 schools had problems with your Bio, then i would do the retake. But if your goal is to just get into dental school (since all schools will make you a dentist) and you don't care which school you attend, maybe hold off until Dec1. You might get accepted somewhere else other than the two who hinted at the retake.

Studying for the DAT again is a nuisance. and what happens if you improve Bio and some of the sciences drop to 18? it's a gamble. think carefully

 

[timwatley]

I wouldn't worry about it, everyone is just being dumb. The schools wouldn't interview you if they were that concerned about the 16 BIO. I'm sure most of the schools are reasonable enough to think about this before they extend you an offer. I would have thought the 14 QR would have made it hard to get an interview but you must have had a great app. You'll get into one of the schools, guaranteed.

 

[dl9006]

i'm not sure if i would retake since it is getting late in the cycle but bio and reading are one of the most important scores on the dat. something to consider.

but the fact you got so many interviews even with your bio score must mean there's something that the schools really like about you and maybe they'll overlook the score as an anomaly. even if you retake, it'll take a good amount of time for the scores to reach the school so i suppose if i were you, i would just wait it out.

good luck!

 

[tjddmskiss]

dl9006

It's misconception man ! There are some school which has cut off for each section. However, overall school doesn't care about each section. I got 5 interviews so far with 16 RC.

 

[Habbas]

i feel ya man, bio is my lowest at 18, if i at least got a 20 i wouldve had a 23aa, i have 3 interviews and still feel confident, lets see what happens dec 1, gl 🙂

 

[Denteeth]

Not sure if I saw you mentioned it somewhere that if you have taken any upper level biology/science related courses and how well you did. If you did pretty well then I hope you used that as your explanation during the interview and if you didn't then just simply write a short polite email to the folks who interviewed you and explain that you have a good understanding of BIO and you just goofed the DAT (bio section)…

I don't think retaking DAT at this juncture is very wise – lots of things can go wrong in other sections or you may not even improve your BIO section…..plus the time it requires to prepare, take and process before your new scores will get to the ds.

Good luck though and I hope you hear good news on Dec.1

 

[dl9006]

dl9006

It's misconception man ! There are some school which has cut off for each section. However, overall school doesn't care about each section. I got 5 interviews so far with 16 RC.

no it's not.

heard it from a dental prof

maybe schools weigh each sections differently but bio and reading are still one of the most important sections.

you must have had something outstanding that made you stand out amongst other applicants.

that's great and wish you best of luck in your interviews

 

[honkietrash]

where in Utah are you from? So I used online video from thinkwell. They were really good. There are also some really good audio materials that you could listen to in the car or as you fall asleep. Maybe keep it easy going at first and then if you dont get accepted you can really start studying again. I know lots of dentists that had to apply multiple years. Not the end of the world.

 

[RedDevilDDS]

dl9006

It's misconception man ! There are some school which has cut off for each section. However, overall school doesn't care about each section. I got 5 interviews so far with 16 RC.

You must have killer TS, AA and GPA 😀

 

[schen140]

Any advice you can share to do better in BIO I would absolutely LOVE!😀

the good thing about bio is that the more you read it, the more you know about it. you dont really need to do practice problems. i didnt use schaums or cliffs, but ive heard good reviews about those, so if the kaplan book wasnt comprehensive enough for you then you should try to squeeze in either schaums or cliffs

and like someone above mentioned, you could wait till december 1, and if u dont have any acceptances then you can start studying your butt off after that.

my original advice was that, if youre not in school right now and u have alot of free time, the wisest option is to play it safe and invest in a retake. theres still many weeks for you before december 1. lets say you get a 20+ on bio on november 28th...then you can fax the unofficial copy to those schools that interviewed you already, and if they had been planning to reject you based on that bio score, they would now have to reconsider

 

[RedDevilDDS]

So I have been so happy and blessed to receive 4 interviews so far. Louisville, Indiana, Loma Linda, and Midwestern-AZ. However two of the four schools have mentioned during the interview that they are worried about my 16 in BIO🙁, I was and still am. But with 4 interviews, 5 rejections, and 11 schools to hear from would it be worth a re-take? (Two schools I called said that I would be competitive with a higher biology score, and most likely rejected w/o retaking.)

(*Disclaimer, this is not to demean anyone without interviews, I just want some advice cause I am at a crossroads.)

edited.

 

[tjddmskiss]

No I am not. My stat is just average 19,20,20 with high GPA (3.78 and 3.89 science GPA) and also lots of volunteering and community service (+1000 hours volunteer even in Africa)
with 16 RC got 5 interviews so far.

 

[darkwalk]

Do you have free time now? If so, why not study for the DAT? Do you want to risk thousands of dollars as well as one year of your career due to laziness for a few months?

 

[IamOCD]

So I have been so happy and blessed to receive 4 interviews so far. Louisville, Indiana, Loma Linda, and Midwestern-AZ. However two of the four schools have mentioned during the interview that they are worried about my 16 in BIO🙁, I was and still am. But with 4 interviews, 5 rejections, and 11 schools to hear from would it be worth a re-take? (Two schools I called said that I would be competitive with a higher biology score, and most likely rejected w/o retaking.)


What is your AA and your GPA? If your other sections were high enough scores, one problem score will not hurt you significantly. I was on the AdCom at my dental school and we did not rank applicants lower for one low score unless their transcript also reflected a deficiency in that same subject...then we might suspect a problem and request a retake. You should concentrate on making sure you interview well so you have everything else going for you and the AdCom's will probably overlook one "mistake."

 

[punchdrunk7]

Wow, thanks to everyone who replied with such valid information. I was not expecting such kindness by so many, but thats why I really love this site. Honest people who are heading towards the same goal and want to help!! As for my app I have a 3.85 overall GPA and 3.7 Science GPA. I also was a TA for Human Anatomy and Human Physiology, and earned A's in both. So the 16 in BIO was an anomaly for me. I think thats why I have interviews, and have hope they can consider my background.

 

[punchdrunk7]

What is your AA and your GPA? If your other sections were high enough scores, one problem score will not hurt you significantly. I was on the AdCom at my dental school and we did not rank applicants lower for one low score unless their transcript also reflected a deficiency in that same subject...then we might suspect a problem and request a retake. You should concentrate on making sure you interview well so you have everything else going for you and the AdCom's will probably overlook one "mistake."

My AA is 19 and TS is 20, GPA is 3.8 overall and 3.7 science. I also was a TA for Anatomy and Physiology. So I am really hoping for some luck, and that I impressed them enough during the interviews. Thanks for the advice and confidence.