Advice needed!!! Please help...

[chessmaster10]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am reapplying to schools..i got rejected last time from about 8 schools...

overall GPA is 3.14
science GPA is little under 3.0

I got a 19 AA/ 16 PAT first time I took the DAT

I applied relatively late so I know that didn't help...really stupid.

Average extracurricular stuff + shadowing experience of 5 months + decent PS + good Recs + employment in education

I graduated in 3.5 years but I didn't pursue Post-Bac or Masters because of financial strains..so I got a job instead.

I am planning on taking the DAT again and applying really EARLY (working on apps. now)

I guess I am relying solely on my DAT scores to get accepted.

What is the minimum I need to make to have a good shot?
My personal goal is 24 AA, 21 PAT...or is that not even reasonable?

Thanks for the advice! I am trying to stay positive....

 

[anonymuz]

anythings reasonable all about how much effort u want to put into it. practice practice practice and take some achiever / topscore tests. try to score 18+ for either and u should be good. crack dat pat for ur goal of 21pat easily done gluck

 

[TheGreat]

Believe in yourself and try your best; don't think of the score you are aiming for b/c it puts pressure on you. Try your best to learn and practice the PAT as much as you can. Good luck; remember hard times are temporary, do well. Let the greatness be in you!

 

[SuperTank]

I am planning on taking the DAT again and applying really EARLY (working on apps. now)

How are you planning on applying "really early" if the cycle opened a month and a half ago, and you're still working on your application? Are you talking about the 2011 cycle?

It's good to keep your spirits up and hope for the best, but you also need to be realistic. Your GPA is really what's holding you back, and it's pretty unlikely that your future DAT score will be able to compensate, unless POSSIBLY you do achieve that 24 AA (which is also pretty unlikely). You may want to start looking into masters programs to boost your GPA and show that you really do have the study skills dental schools require.

 

[wantVCUdental]

i agree with supertank... it's already mid july, how can you be really really early?

if i were you, i would first take the DAT and score the highest i can... then worry about the next step, but if you are the multitasking type, you can start a postbac while prepping for DAT, b/c schools like high gpas

 

[chessmaster10]

Thanks

To be clear, I am applying for admission in 2011..

I understand my chances are slim at this point BUT is it reasonable to assume that my chances will improve drastically if I were to score at least a 24 AA?

 

[darkwalk]

Yea, of course your chances will be much better with a 24 AA, but that is around 99.8-99.9 percentile. Considering that 8,000 people take it each year (2003 numbers), you are shooting for 1 out of 16 top performers. I'm not saying you can't do it, but is very difficult.

If that's your goal, then I would suggest going through the 21AA+ thread and read up on how others prepared for it.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=719712&highlight=20aa

May I suggest that you also try to boost that GPA while you are studying for the DAT? Adcom likes to see an upward trend.

Did you call up the schools that rejected you last time to see what you are lacking?

 

[chessmaster10]

Well, the last school I heard from was late April..so I waited to hear back til then and didn't do even look at masters/post-bac stuff in the meantime.

I talked to a couple deans and they informed me that I needed to focus on my DAT. I even looked around for research positions for the summer but again, the deans told me to improve my DAT scores.

I am also working full-time to save money for dental school..so that was another reason I didn't apply to post-bac or masters programs.

I am planning on submitting my apps in a week...would that factor in somewhere?

Trust me, I am a realist. I realize the delicacy of my situation but I am trying to stay positive so I can ace the DAT.

There are days when I feel like I can do this. Then there are some where I feel like I should just give up....😳

 

[highhopee]

Not to be mean but I don't think you have any chance whatsoever at getting in this year.
Try to improve your DAT/raise you gpa/get more ec's/new ps and apply June 3rd of next cycle.
You will definately get in. 👍

 

[threeblindmice]

I guess I'll be a better realist than you are.......most people's overall DAT scores go up 1-2 points max the second time they take it. Being extremely optimistic you could maybe go up 3 points. Thinking you'll get a 24 the second time is not being a realist its being naive.