Admittance with low DAT

[RozhonDDS]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Does anyone know of any students or friends, that even received an interview with a 15/16/16? or is it more like a stat that means, we will throw away your application as soon as we see it? or do they actually look at your other credentials on your application and GPA

 

[HermeytheElf]

Does anyone know of any students or friends, that even received an interview with a 15/16/16? or is it more like a stat that means, we will throw away your application as soon as we see it? or do they actually look at your other credentials on your application and GPA

The DAT is not a difficult test and score like that merely demonstrates an lack of studying and a poor foundation in the basic sciences. If you can't have the discipline to put in a few weeks worth of studying for the DAT, I don't see how you'll be able to make it through 4 years of dental school. As far as I know, it's pretty rare for someone to be even considered for an interview with scores like those.

 

[Chrono1984]

Doubt it's impossible, but would be quite the uphill battle. Retake it, there still is time.

 

[syn_apse]

according to a recent, completely unscientific poll on SDN, about 97% of accepted students this cycle had a DAT academic average of 18 or higher... http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=272657

during the 2005 cycle, 16 or 17 was the unofficial cutoff. i wouldn't be surprised if 18 fades away next cycle too...

 

[INFNITE]

retake the test. If you have a 16 on one particular section, that's not so bad, but you have 15's and 16's across the board, which is pretty much an automatic rejection in most schools. How long did you study the exam for?

 

[xxxTheDonxxx]

according to a recent, completely unscientific poll on SDN, about 97% of accepted students this cycle had a DAT academic average of 18 or higher... http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=272657

during the 2005 cycle, 16 or 17 was the unofficial cutoff. i wouldn't be surprised if 18 fades away next cycle too...

I think this is true...but with that said I think most SDNers in here are a bit smarter than your regular applicants. I think with 17s and maybe 16s, you need extremly high gpa, with a outstanding cummunity service and everything else, you might have a chance to enter some less competitive schools. I think the DAT is still hard, and the trend for the numbers does not shoot over the roof overnight.

 

[Mr.E]

Does anyone know of any students or friends, that even received an interview with a 15/16/16? or is it more like a stat that means, we will throw away your application as soon as we see it? or do they actually look at your other credentials on your application and GPA

USC has a minimum of a 15 in all sections. Other schools do not have a minimum. Acceptances really depend on your overall package. UCLA and Havard obviously have high cutoffs, so don't apply there. Apply to school that average closer to your scores. SDNr's have, for the most part, high scores, so take everyones' opinion lightly. The question you should be asking yourself is: Can I improve my DAT score? If the answer is "yes," take it again. If the answer is "no" pat your application with other extras and apply early, like June. Best of luck.

 

[syn_apse]

I think most SDNers in here are a bit smarter than your regular applicants.

this is very true. i'm an exception

 

[luvabully]

I got 2 interviews last year with an AA of 16. One was my state school and one was a private school. I think private schools do a better job at looking at the whole application, however, I only got waitlisted to one school in the end. It's true that a 15/16 on the DAT is from lack of preparation. I hadn't taken any of the classes yet when I took mine but took it anyway because I wanted to apply this year. I will definitely be retaking it though because it looks like I'll be reapplying next year and it's just too competitive to count on getting in with those scores.

Recommend retaking and being truly prepared. It would look worse to do the same the second time around (the reason I didn't retake yet - no time to study). I know it sucks to think about retaking that wretched test! But good luck!

 

[RozhonDDS]

I appreciate all the comments, but please don't get my post/thread mixed up with the conclusion that those are my DAT scores, I actually just took my DAT today and received a 17/18/17, which isn't much better, and I am still goign to retake it in order to apply for the 2007 cycle, I just wanted to get a feel for what the actualt test and its environment was like, but on the other hand wanted to see if the notion "anything can happen" pertains directly to DAT scores and admittance to Dental Schools.

 

[xxxTheDonxxx]

this is very true. i'm an exception

I respect your opinion but what i said is based on my phone calls to some of the schools I will be applying to and they said we "prefer" students with 18s across the board, with 3.1 sgpa. Of course, these schools are the less competitive ones.

 

[gsJ]

I respect your opinion but what i said is based on my phone calls to some of the schools I will be applying to and they said we "prefer" students with 18s across the board, with 3.1 sgpa. Of course, these schools are the less competitive ones.

hey XXDONXX would u like to share what schoolsthese are...much appriciated thx

 

[RozhonDDS]

bump