anyone take MCAT & DAT, want to hear results

[geldrop]

What would a 20 convert to on an MCAT? Or a 21?? I guess i should just take the DAT and convert my mcat score over and see how it turns out but figure if someone out there has already done it officially we can just make a little chart to give people some idea of what to expect, and satisfy my curiousity.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[yosemitesam]

I'm also curious to see what the responses are. However, I'm not so sure that any comparison is really going to be that accurate. From what I understand, the tests are just designed differently. It's kind of like comparing the ACT and SAT; while they supposedly test for the same things, people can do really well on one test and miserably on the other.

A lot depends on a person's individual learning/test taking styles. I've never taken the MCAT but from what I've seen, it's geared more towards a conceptual understanding. In contrast, the DAT (except for the PAT and reading section) is all about regurgitating arcane scientific trivia. I really doubt that someone who had studied for one test would be adequately prepared to take the other.

Anyhow, if anyone has taken both do post your scores - I kinda wanna see.

 

[DesiDentist]

There is no comparison. I know people who did mediocore on the MCAT and tore it up and got 23+ on the DAT. I also know some people who got around a 31 on the MCAT and got a 19 on the DAT.

Both of these individuals thought that the DAT was significantly easier. I guess, luck plays a huge part especially on the DAT since unlike the MCAT you competitors (the other students) have the same exact test. However, on the DAT a person could have a number of combinations of questions and if that person is lucky then the questions will be up there alley, or they could be unlucky and have questions they never heard before.

Hope this makes sense.

DesiDentist

 

[type-s]

DAT - alot easier than mcat. very straightforward/direct.
MCAT - very exhausting. indirect. makes you think HARD. confusing...

took mcat twice. dat once.

MCAT 1) 26
MCAT 2) 25

DAT - 22acad. / 19 pat

 

[yosemitesam]

Geldrop, it seems like I remember you posting some of this MD vs DDS stuff before. You're not an anti-dentite are you? 😀 It doesn't surprise me that the MCAT is harder - if nothing else, it takes twice as long to complete. And I thought the DAT was too long...sheesh. A medical program is harder to get into so it only makes sense that the admissions test would have to be a little harder to help weed more folks out.

I am surprised by type-s' scores though. I didn't think there'd be that big of a difference. A 22 is a pretty good DAT score and 26 is kinda weak, isn't it? (no offense, type-s)

 

[type-s]

none taken.

that's why i couldn't get in. mcat score sucked.
but dentistry is a good alternative. i believe that i made a good choice.

 

[yosemitesam]

Type-s, why did you choose dentistry over say a caribbean school or a DO program? You'd have been a shoe-in into one of those programs and I've actually known several people who've gotten in to allopathic schools with those kind of MCAT scores.

Now that I've finally gotten accepted into dental school, I have started wondering sometimes if I shouldn't have gone the medical route, too. It's probably just a case of buyer's remorse and will surely pass, but it's made me think about what I really wanted out of a career. And about the only thing in medicine that would give me similar satisfaction is some type of surgery. Anyway, I'm not trying to dissuade you from your decision, - I'm sure you've done some serious soul searching about this - but I am curious as to why you think the two professions are so interchangeable. Maybe it'll help me get over this sudden bout of indecision that I 'm havin right now.

 

[geldrop]

I loved that seinfeld episode!! Actually to be honest, i have a good friend who wants to go to dental school. I did not even consider dental school, I figure if i am interested in teeth at some point I can go into oral surgury or something, just more options the medical route.

But anyhow, my friend did very well on the exam and I am very competative with him, and wanted to compare us. He says he plans on taking the MCAT exam since he did so well on the DAT. I almost would take the DAT just to try to outdo him. Really has nothing to do with dentistry other than my competative nature.

I don't think the two professions are interchangable all that much. Dentistry at least from my perspective (a worthless one), is more mechanical like surgery is. I wonder if a good car mechanic or construction worker or artist would be a better surgeon. I just see a physician as having more puzzling cases and less straightforward (lets root canal that). But tell me if i am wrong. Also that suicide rate and smelling people's mouths scares me too.

Another thing, I feel that the mcat is a very study rewarding exam. I was able to raise my mcat score a full 6 points by studying. I would never call anyone stupid for getting a bad score on the mcat.

 

[Deuce 007 MD]

Originally posted by yosemitesam

Now that I've finally gotten accepted into dental school, I have started wondering sometimes if I shouldn't have gone the medical route, too. It's probably just a case of buyer's remorse and will surely pass, but it's made me think about what I really wanted out of a career. And about the only thing in medicine that would give me similar satisfaction is some type of surgery. Anyway, I'm not trying to dissuade you from your decision, - I'm sure you've done some serious soul searching about this - but I am curious as to why you think the two professions are so interchangeable. Maybe it'll help me get over this sudden bout of indecision that I 'm havin right now.

I was thinking the same thing but in reverse. I'm an older premed, and I want to start a family as soon as I finish med school. But residents don't make enough to support a family on. It took me 3 years after undergrad and 2 application cycles to get in to med. school. I have fellow classmates that graduated my year who are almost done with dental school. They'll be making 100K+ soon, while I won't be seeing that kind of money for the next 8-10 years depending on my residency. Hell that's almost a million dollars that my classmates would have made, before I even get a chance to make some decent money. I should of let my ego go, because I see myself as a family man first, and a phsycian second. Being able to support a family comfortably is more important to me then being an MD. I just thought I'd share with you guys my case of buyers remorse.

 

[geldrop]

Why did it take you so long to get into med school compared to your classmates??

 

[Deuce 007 MD]

Originally posted by geldrop
Why did it take you so long to get into med school compared to your classmates??

I srewed up my early years in college, I barely pulled a 3.49 gpa. I also had no clinical experience, so I figured my first year out of school I had to do something to build my resume. 2000-2001 I did the EMT thing for a year, and studied for the mcat. 2001-2002 application cycle, my first mcat attempt I scored 30M and applied that year. I got waitlisted at 2 schools and no acceptances. 2002-2003 application cycle, I retook the mcat scored 36N, and will be going to UCLA med in Aug. That's why it took so long. I have friends in dental school USC and UCSF who well be finishing next year, while I'll be just finishing my first year as a medical student. They rag on me, about how they're going to be buying the new MBZ E class, or new BMW 5 series, while I'm still driving my 94 montero.

 

[DesiDentist]

Originally posted by Deuce 007 MD
They rag on me, about how they're going to be buying the new MBZ E class, or new BMW 5 series, while I'm still driving my 94 montero.

zoom zoom!

They're right, but I prefer a Hummer H2.

I'm so glad I went into Dentistry, can't wait until the gold rush days begin.

Cash MONEY
Bling Bling for my HONEY.
You may now think I'm FUNNY.

In four years I'll buy a HUMVIE
and a Big Plasma TV
Boy can you believe ME?

Takin' it to the BANK.
Only God I have to THANK.

Now, let's begin, YO!!!

DesiDentist

 

[damian12]

Another classic Desi !! hahaha
😛

 

[yosemitesam]

Geldrop, I think you're right about good mechanics or artists making good surgeons or dentists. And I'm willing to bet that if you ask your friends who want to be surgeons or dentists, you will find that a majority of them are actually very good at things like mechanics or sculpture or woodworking. That's a big part of the attraction for people pursuing these careers.

However, I do think you're way off base in assuming that dentistry is not also an intellectual endeavor. There is a lot more involved than just drilling holes willy nilly. You should observe a complicated root canal or orthodontic treatment - there are a hundred things to consider and one mistake can cause the treatment to fail.

As for smelly mouths... all dentists have a bottle of listerine handy to deal with problem patients. I can think of a dozen things in the realm of medicine that are much more repulsive: Yes, Mrs. Johnson that's a hemorrhoid, all right. 😀

And the suicide thing is a total myth.

 

[yosemitesam]

Deuce007MD, thanks for sharing your experience. It does kinda help me put things in perspective. Anyway, I'm really feeling much better about my decision now. It was jus
t one of those things - like when you buy a car and think dang, I shoulda got the red one and every little noise is a sign of imminent mechanical disaster.

I'm sure you're not gonna regret becoming a doctor, either. Few people would be as persistent as you if they weren't really sure about what they wanted to achieve.

 

[tinker bell]

Dr. Seuss Jr.,
Still can't let go of the old hummer joke?
😎 😎

 

[djsux]

I used to be pre-med as well for a couple months, and after investigating both professions, dentistry offered me enough variety, challenge and lifestyle benefits that far outweighed my desire to become an orthopedic surgeon - plus the general surgery residency would have killed me. Also, as a DDS, you can always go back for a MD via OMS.

I got a 31 on the MCAT, and a 21A/20P on the DAT. I agree with previous statements that the MCAT involves more critical thinking using the information from the basic science courses, while the DAT is very similar to your basic science exams in college. My pre-med/pre-dent advisor actually commented that with my MCAT score, she would have expected mid-20's (heh- that's a morale booster)!

If you've been a science major in your undergrad, you will probably do very well on the DAT as you can just regurgitate random facts that you've learned along the way, while you might struggle with the MCAT as it will force to actually process that information to come up with an answer. There are very few straight answer questions on the MCAT. The MCAT is a brutal exam - the only exam where I saw ppl sobbing during the lunch break. I try to block it out of my memory as much as possible.

Enough ranting and raving - cheers & jeers...

 

[w3chen99]

I began as a pre-med, but the last couple of years found dentistry to have more opportunities and be better suited for me. I had the chance to take both the MCAT and the DAT. In preparation for the MCAT, I took 2 prep courses while for the DAT, I simply bought a Kaplan book from a local Barnes and Noble and studied at home for 2 weeks. I ended up having to retake the DAT because of a mix-up with AADSAS, but it turned out better for me.
The preparation for the MCAT REALLY helped me for the DAT. I think that the most important skill I gained from the MCAT was the ability to take tests fast and efficiently.

MCAT
1st time - 28
2nd time - 29

DAT
1st time - 24A/23P
2nd time - 25A/23P

 

[sxr71]

Originally posted by DesiDentist
There is no comparison. I know people who did mediocore on the MCAT and tore it up and got 23+ on the DAT. I also know some people who got around a 31 on the MCAT and got a 19 on the DAT.

Both of these individuals thought that the DAT was significantly easier. I guess, luck plays a huge part especially on the DAT since unlike the MCAT you competitors (the other students) have the same exact test. However, on the DAT a person could have a number of combinations of questions and if that person is lucky then the questions will be up there alley, or they could be unlucky and have questions they never heard before.

Hope this makes sense.

DesiDentist

One thing to note is that even the MCAT has multiple test forms with completely different questions. I know people at my test center who got different questions altogether. Examkrackers website also has post test info on the different forms, if I recall correctly there are over 16-20 different forms per test administration.

 

[busdriver]

Originally posted by djsux
The MCAT is a brutal exam - the only exam where I saw ppl sobbing during the lunch break. I try to block it out of my memory as much as possible.

Haha that line sounded like you were a veteran remembering the horrors of a war. I'm just glad I didn't have to take the MCAT.

 

[Comet208]

I never took an actual MCAT, but when i was studying at Kaplan for my DAT, i was sitting through their MCAT classes (they had no DAT class) and therefore took bunch of MCAT practice tests. I was getting min 9's and 10's on the MCAT pratice tests and 15-17 on their DAT prep material. I find MCAT questions to be easier for me to solve!

Comet

 

[akathisia]

3rd MCAT 29

1st DAT AA 22 Sci 24 PAT 20

I can say one thing for certain: After taking the MCAT the DAT IS easier across the the boards, but make no mistake, it's still not an easy test!

 

[Jack Worthing]

Ahh i love this topic.

MCAT: 28 (really mediocre in Bio with 10/11 in the other sections)
DAT: 22A, 17P (with a 29 Verbal, 17 Organic, ~26 Chem, ~22 Math, don't remember the rest)..


The MCAT verbal is supposed to be as possible to master as the Holy Grail. The rest of the test, as one previous poster said, just made me think "HARD" and was a pain in the ass.


====
The DAT verbal seemed to fit me like a glove. The rest of the test was not bad. Not much harder than what i take for my classes...

The PAT section, i feel I was plagued by a screwy diagram on the computer screen .. but as one of my professors says "it's a poor workman who blames his tool." It was balanced out by some of my academic scores and other application factors.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Yet still, a 28 isn't a really great score, but your DAT score of 22 IS an excellent score.

How do the two exams relate? The MCAT is much more difficult.

 

[drPheta]

Just the fact that we don't have physics on the DAT makes it easier.

BTW, I was premed early in my ugrad years. Saw the life of a phsyician and dropped it like a bad habit. Then I saw my dentist's life, talk about a revelation!

In all retrospect, and with all due respect, everyone should weigh their values w/o the ego to see what fits their lives, unless their ego is that huge.

To the poster about the family life, if you want to do medicine that bad, and it brings you the professional enjoyment you want, it can't be that bad of a choice. Sacrifices can be made and money doesn't solve all problems (though it can create a lot). That's what loans are for. Sure, it's nice to have money for your kids' future, and your family's comfort, but sacrifices can be made and goals can be postponed for the "lesser of the two evils."