Alternatives to taking the DAT again

[joshwake]

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I simply cannot do well on timed tests. I do fine with classes and usually get As. I got a 17/19 on my first DAT and almost the same on my second. No matter how much I study I crumble under the time limit and stress. After 2 years of applying to 12-18 schools I'm looking for other options. (I don't have a state school here in Utah)

I am looking into the 2yr online course offered by ATSU for a masters in Public Health with an emphasis on Dentistry.

Any other recommendations of programs that I may want to look into? Online courses are always a plus.

 

[DocVT]

It seems as though your GPA is fine but your DAT scores are a bit average, so I don't know if doing a Masters is the best option (but it can never hurt) since a lot of people with low GPAs usually go for a Master to try to raise their GPA. How many practice exams did you take beforehand? Practicing under timed conditions is the best way to raise your DAT. As far as masters programs, I have also looked into ATSU's MPH with Dental Emphasis, and if going for a Masters, I think getting an MPH is more relevant than other programs. I think New Jesey School of Medicine and Dentistry also has an MPH with dental emphasis, but I'm not too sure of any others with emphasis on dentistry. Also, since ATSU is online, I don't know how adcoms look at that as opposed to a classroom environment.

 

[joshwake]

actually, my gpa needs help. 3.3 and only a 3.2 science. I messed around my first few years of college.

as far as the dat goes I am ok with flat memorization but anything with numbers takes me longer than the average student. I am very right brain oriented and I simply cannot compute numbers quickly, so I end up doing poorly on the math and sometimes gchem (I got a 13 on math on my last dat, lol). All the practice dosn't help me much at all, I know how to do all the math it's just that I can't do it in the time given. Trust me, I have tried getting quicker, I'm just not geared that way.

besides, I kinda wanna save that 3rd dat retake, so I would rather just take a masters program and boost my gpa. So far the program at ATSU is most appealing to me.