Any Truth to the Rumor that the DAT Is Changing?

[HBomb]

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Any truth to the rumor that ADA will change the DAT to include physics? I keep hearing it, but don't know if there's any validity to it.

 

[Fantasia]

Funny, I haven't heard anything about this. But if they do add physics, then people will basically be studying the same stuff they would if they were taking the MCAT.

 

[blankguy]

If they did make any changes how long will it take them to implement it?

 

[krull]

Originally posted by blankguy
If they did make any changes how long will it take them to implement it?

immediately

 

[The Musketeer]

I think it will take about half a year to implement this because they will have to make up suitable physics questions (unless if they take it directly from MCAT or OAT) as well as to inform DAT testers to study for physics. Also, if this rumor is true, then maybe dental schools will begin to require applicants to have physics as a pre-requisite (similar to Medicine and Optometry).

 

[big dogg]

i dont see how they could do this so fast. they would have to make it official a few years ahead because what would happen to the people that are already done with their pre-req's? why not add a second semester of orgo too?

 

[krull]

Originally posted by The Musketeer
I think it will take about half a year to implement this because they will have to make up suitable physics questions (unless if they take it directly from MCAT or OAT) as well as to inform DAT testers to study for physics. Also, if this rumor is true, then maybe dental schools will begin to require applicants to have physics as a pre-requisite (similar to Medicine and Optometry).

physics is a pre-req at most dental schools

 

[blankguy]

Originally posted by krull
physics is a pre-req at most dental schools

But it is not tested in the DAT.

 

[sxr71]

Originally posted by blankguy
But it is not tested in the DAT.

You still have to take it to go to dental school.

 

[Mo007]

I am sooooo glad that I dont have to take any more Physics.... Amen!

It was just getting too Sci-Fi for me .

 

[blankguy]

Originally posted by sxr71
You still have to take it to go to dental school.

Yes, but we can forget about it once we take it.

 

[HBomb]

It would be a major change, so I think you guys are right in saying that it would take a lot of time to implement.

 

[Calculus1]

First, I don't think they could change it in 6 months. Second, they will only change it when the average score gets too high. There are still schools willing to accept people with 17s, so I don't think it will change for at least 4-5 years. The averages are picking up, however, so I think it will change eventually.

 

[dr_benj]

Why would they add physics just because the scores are getting too high? Why wouldn't they just make the current questions more difficult? Anoyone have any source from which they heard this rumor that is somewhat valid?

 

[HBomb]

I just heard a few classmates talk about it, and I thought I'd ask this forum if there was anything to it. But it doesn't sound like it's true, since no one here has heard anything like that.

 

[joooj86]

The rumor i heard was that they want to make the science sections more like the Mcat, where there are passages that u have to use in addition to ur knowledge in order to answer the questions. I really doubt that this will be the case but you never know!

 

[blankguy]

Originally posted by Calculus1
First, I don't think they could change it in 6 months. Second, they will only change it when the average score gets too high. There are still schools willing to accept people with 17s, so I don't think it will change for at least 4-5 years. The averages are picking up, however, so I think it will change eventually.

You make it sound like there is a conspiracy against predents.
Changing the format of the test to get more people with lower scores.

 

[Calculus1]

I'm not exactly sure how to respond to that. If I wasn't clear, I'm sorry. The jist of what I said is, scores are on the rise. The applicant pool is growing, but the number of seats available is not. Eventually, they may have to change the test to eliminate more applicants. I don't quite see how this is a conspiracy against pre-dents.

 

[krull]

Originally posted by Calculus1
Eventually, they may have to change the test to eliminate more applicants.

 

[blankguy]

Originally posted by krull

I'm not sure I want to do say that. What if you happen to be one of the eliminated ones.

 

[sxr71]

Why would they add physics just because the scores are getting too high? Why wouldn't they just make the current questions more difficult? Anoyone have any source from which they heard this rumor that is somewhat valid?

If the scores are getting too high, what they usually do is just change the scale by recentering the test. Changing the format of the test - even making questions harder - requires some warning to students in that all the study material and practice material need to be updated to reflect the increase in difficulty of questions. Adding physics can be done with some advance warning so again prep classes and prep books can have a section for physics.

 

[gatorfan99]

Physics??!?? Boy, am I glad that I got in to dental school!! No more DAT for me!!!

I dont think thats going to happen, though. I always thought that the PAT section was supposed to substitute for the Physics..


gatorfan.

 

[Woodsy]

OH GOD! free standing physics questions? OH GOD!

 

[osushi gurl]

Dr. Yarbourough (sp?), dean of admissions from UOP came to speak at our pre-dent club meeting and he mentioned that they will eventually take out the quantitative reasoning and put in critical thinking section (writing).

This was 2 years ago.

 

[busdriver]

thank the lord they didn't do that within the last two years....dang i didn't even pass subject A!!!!

 

[blankguy]

Come on guys. Do you really think they are going to alter the DAT anytime soon especially when you consider that the last major change, adding the PAT was in 1998? They need to see how that is working out before they decide to do anything.

 

[Beam of Light]

I really hope they do make the DAT much harder than it is now. Therefore there would be less dentists in this country, and in turn this will provide the present dentists and students with a brighter aspect of the business aspect of dentistry and healthier income

 

[blankguy]

I really hope they do make the DAT much harder than it is now. Therefore there would be less dentists in this country, and in turn this will provide the present dentists and students with a brighter aspect of the business aspect of dentistry and healthier income

If they did that, there would be a possibility of raising attrition in the ranks of dentists because the shortage would be so acute that the ones who choose to tough it out will be so overloaded with work and stressed out.

 

[sxr71]

What does the DAT have to do with how many dentists come out each year, when the number of dental school spots is fixed?

 

[Beam of Light]

That's exactly my point. There needs to be less people admitted each year. Especially those with under 3.0 GPA's. How can you trust a person that made more C's than A's in school?

 

[blankguy]

That's exactly my point. There needs to be less people admitted each year. Especially those with under 3.0 GPA's. How can you trust a person that made more C's than A's in school?

That's not very nice
You should exclude those that due to "youthful indiscretion" ended up with a weak record but now are working their butt off to recover.

You are advocating shrinking the profession when the population is expanding.

 

[Beam of Light]

That's not very nice
You should exclude those that due to "youthful indiscretion" ended up with a weak record but now are working their butt off to recover.

You are advocating shrinking the profession when the population is expanding.

See you have just proved my point exactly. "Youthful indiscretion?"

Oh please. You guys have every oppurtunity to make a successful life out of the oppurtunties you've had. You just blew it. I just wish the admission counselors saw it my way. Dentistry, as a whole, would be better for it.

 

[blankguy]

See you have just proved my point exactly. "Youthful indiscretion?"

Oh please. You guys have every oppurtunity to make a successful life out of the oppurtunties you've had. You just blew it. I just wish the admission counselors saw it my way. Dentistry, as a whole, would be better for it.

Well too bad!
Proud to be an under 3.0 club member. Put up with us.

 

[Beam of Light]

Well too bad!
Proud to be an under 3.0 club member. Put up with us.

I'd rather send you to nursing school

 

[Mo007]

I'd rather send you to nursing school

Why are you doing this? putting a damper on some people's stats?

 

[UMDeeMan]

beam is just mad cause he/she has never gotten laid and is going into dentistry for financial reasons so he can get a trophy wife and maybe some ass one day. anyone can be a gunner. you gotta live a little brotha. what good are those A's going to do when nobody wants to come to your practice because your attitude sucks? from my experience, the general population does not favor arrogant people. grades are simply a mean to an end my friend. just because you have stellar stats and know how to be successful in school doesn't mean you will be the best dentist. correlation does not equal causation.

you obviously think you are perfect/superior to everyone else based on your academic achievements and lack of "youth indiscretion." well great, all i have to say is GOODWILL HUNTING. it's one thing to read something and have knowledge, but life is about experiences. you can read all the books you want and memorize every fact about dentistry, but until you actually work for patients, you are nothing different from anyone else. people should not be penalized for a mistake in their youth. in my view, i would rather have a student who messed up. they know that failure experience and thus never want to feel that again. you can't have the sweet without the sour.

 

[C.A.]

I really think the only reason they would change the DAT is to improve it's alignment with dental schools' curriculum. Undergrad and pre-dents aside, do dental students take physics?