Advice: Should I cancel my retake?

[danedent7]

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Need advice here SDN. I took my DAT in July , did NOT like my scores. Terrified I would not even be considered for interviews, I decided to schedule a retake. I am to retake on October 11 . Thing is, I've received 3 interviews in the meantime and I'm starting to get this thought in the back of my head that maybe I don't need to retake. I think my application Is stand-up, which has obviously overshadowed my ugly dat scores . Would it look horrible if I decided to cancel it? Should I cancel it? Am I being ignorant and over- confident and should just shut the hell up and keep studying??

This process is brutal.
Let me know your thoughts, I really need some insight!!!

 

[danedent7]

For refrence: Scores 19AA 21TS
18bio/21gchem/24org/17rc/16pat/18qr

All over the map there. 3.7 gap 3.6sgpa.

 

[gumdrop16]

For refrence: Scores 19AA 21TS
18bio/21gchem/24org/17rc/16pat/18qr

All over the map there. 3.7 gap 3.6sgpa.

dont do it. dont retake. dont do it !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jhc83]

I personally would not retake it if i got three interviews.... They already like you 🙂 haha
But at the same time, they might mention about your dat scores during the interview and ask you to retake it..... If thats the case..... I guess you have no choice. Or else they could place you on the waitlist.

 

[Tunaman]

For refrence: Scores 19AA 21TS
18bio/21gchem/24org/17rc/16pat/18qr

All over the map there. 3.7 gap 3.6sgpa.

Stats are pretty solid, 16pat is usually the cutoff, & 17 rc isn't the end of the world. Just apply broadly & you should be alright, don't necessarily think a retake is a must. With 3 interviews you might be ok, just keep the faith & stay humble

 

[minafeet]

your scores are perfectly fine. the sciences are strong which is what counts.
also your gpas are good. i say cancel the retake, go to your interviews, and forget about the DAT

 

[Sal427]

your scores are perfectly fine. the sciences are strong which is what counts.
also your gpas are good. i say cancel the retake, go to your interviews, and forget about the DAT

I agree! I'm in the same situation as you, and I think we just need to convince the interviewers that we're more than just our DAT scores 😛

 

[danedent7]

Seriously ? Please , this is worlds toughest decision for me. I don't want to F. Up here and regret the decision the rest of my life!! But I'm terrified my GC score and Org score could drop or something. Im not confident my scores will skyrocket just because round 2 of studying has entailed much less vigor (literally burnt out) . I'm trying so hard to move forward studying but , again, this birdy in my ear keeps telling me to just go with what I got and work it. Final thoughts- any devils advocates out there for me?!

 

[shootingstar7]

Ill play D.A....didnt u already pay for it?

 

[shootingstar7]

Plus... Uve told the schools u were going to retake. And u still have a month. You can do a lot in a month.

 

[fuser]

.

 

[danedent7]

I have payed. It sucks, but regardless of the money standpoint, I want to make a wise decision here . My first 2 interviews are on oct 15 and 16 and my test is scheduled for the 11 . I may wait until after those interviews to see if they even mention the retake and if they want me to do that. Ah!

 

[shootingstar7]

Just think about when they ask you, in your interviews, how did your DAT go? How are you going to feel about saying, "Well, I uh, decided not to take it again."

 

[isittoolate]

Stats are pretty solid, 16pat is usually the cutoff, & 17 rc isn't the end of the world. Just apply broadly & you should be alright, don't necessarily think a retake is a must. With 3 interviews you might be ok, just keep the faith & stay humble

I don't think I would recommend a retake when you have so much at stake. If you already have interviews, then I assume that they already believe you are a worthy applicant. Losing the money on the DAT will be insignificant in the whole scheme of things.

Good luck with everything danedent7, we're rooting for you!

 

[pooh29791]

OMG, I'm in the same situation as you are in now! I took my DAT around mid July and I'm retaking it on Oc 11 as well! I was not happy with my DAT score at all. But I only got 1 interview from UCSF comparing to your 3 interviews. I think you're better shape than I am..
I'm trying to study for DAT, but on top of school works and my lack of motivation, I've only studied for DAT 3 hours a day...><. It's so hard because I don't even think the schools will count my retake DAT score since all official DAT score must be in by Oct 15.
Btw, my DAT stats is AA 19/ Sci 20/ RC 17/ QR 18/ PAT 19
GPA: 3.5
Also, I'm an international students, so my chances to get more interviews/ acceptance are lower than yours..
So be confident!

 

[danedent7]

OMG, I'm in the same situation as you are in now! I took my DAT around mid July and I'm retaking it on Oc 11 as well! I was not happy with my DAT score at all. But I only got 1 interview from UCSF comparing to your 3 interviews. I think you're better shape than I am..
I'm trying to study for DAT, but on top of school works and my lack of motivation, I've only studied for DAT 3 hours a day...><. It's so hard because I don't even think the schools will count my retake DAT score since all official DAT score must be in by Oct 15.
Btw, my DAT stats is AA 19/ Sci 20/ RC 17/ QR 18/ PAT 19
GPA: 3.5
Also, I'm an international students, so my chances to get more interviews/ acceptance are lower than yours..
So be confident!

Honesty with your stats- I wouldn't retake, all your scores are solid and a 17 won't ruin you. There's still time to get tons of interviews. I'm working with a 16 and 17 here and I'm terrified that If I don't retake I'll be the straggler who sits on the wait list despite my interview opportunities. It's a tough situation. and I totally feel you on the challenge of studying with a full course load at school. I'm not studying nearly as much as I did round 1. it's a lot to risk not knowing if my next test will be more challenging in different areas , resulting in potential point drops in my sciences. I'm confident I can do well, and raise that PAT and RC a bit but how can you be certain you'll maintain or raise the other ones ? It's truly a toss up! Are you positive your retaking? Seems like oct 11 is approaching WAY too quickly and I have multiple exams in my classes coming up here too !

 

[Glimmer1991]

I wouldn't retake.

I have yet to apply, but to me, this sounds like it would be a good idea: Call the schools that have already given you interviews, explain to them that you are considering not retaking your DAT, and ask if this will affect your standing whatsoever. If they say no, cancel it! If any of them say yes, you'll have to weigh how much you want to go to that school. By calling them, at least, you're staying safe and they'll probably appreciate the fact that you're concerned about staying in their good graces.

 

[Stacker]

I don't know how capable you are with reading but people say that the DAT's reading requires less comprehension and more search-and-destroy technique. The PAT is the easiest section to improve on. All you need to do for PAT is do all of CrackPAT's problems and learn the tic-tac-toe method.
I'd retake it. The reading section is very important to the majority of schools and has been considered the best correlation to scoring well on NBDE before it went P/F.

 

[predent12]

This is what I think you should do. Postpone your test until next spring. Go to your interviews. See what schools you get in to.

If you don't get in to any schools, then take the test next May, after you're had some time away from the material and time to relax and recuperate. (Studying is hard! You might just be burnt out.)

Now, there is a chance that the schools might ask you about your re-take, since I assume you've already listed it on your app. I'm not sure what to say in response to this- you might want to think about it.

I know this process is stressful, but you don't need to be "terrified" about your scores. The fact that you've already gotten three interviews means you are an excellent candidate!

Anyway, this is just my opinion and this is the first time I'm applying. You should do what feels right for you. However... that is what I would do. Waiting another year isn't going to be the end of the world! I'm not sure if you're in college or not, but working in the real world for a year can only give you perspective and give your application a little more depth. So if you don't get in the first time, (and remember that is only IF!) it won't be the end of the world! You WILL go to dental school. It's okay to postpone a year. However, if you aren't completely dedicated to your Oct 11th test date, then you should cancel. You should not walk into that test center unless you are 100% committed.