Application advice needed! DAT: 17/18/20 GPA: 3.3

[erk005]

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I have a 3.3 GPA and got AA:17 TS:18 PAT:20 on DAT (BIO:19, CHM:19, OCHM:16, RC:16😡, QR:17).

I applied to UCSF, UoP, NYU, BU, COL, UNLV, MWU, and ASDOH. I am an AZ resident.

I am planning on retaking my DAT this December (this time I have DAT Destroyer, Achiever, and Topscore), and was wondering if an improvement in scores would give me a chance for admission in 2010. Also, does an interview determine the possibility of getting accepted after retaking the DAT? My plan is to send the schools a new DAT score before they send me a rejection.

I have over 1000 hours of expierience shadowing/working in dental practices, although I don't think this matters that much, compared to GPA/DAT.

Should I retake this December, or will this not matter for this cycle and wait until next summer? Please let me know what you think.

 

[doc3232]

Play it safe.
Take the DAT in December and study hard. You need a very high score to get in later in the game especially because your gpa is a bit below average.

Worst case is you get rejected from everywhere but you will still have a high DAT score to apply with for the next cycle.
Just make sure you really give it your all this time. good luck 🙂

 

[preOMFS]

Make sure you study hard enough to get a good score. It would be tough to rebound from a second sub-par performance. Also, don't get your hopes up for this cycle. If you don't get in, go twice as hard next cycle, apply in June and write a killer personal statement.

 

[americanpierg]

Make sure you study hard enough to get a good score. It would be tough to rebound from a second sub-par performance. Also, don't get your hopes up for this cycle. If you don't get in, go twice as hard next cycle, apply in June and write a killer personal statement.

preOMFS, did your DAT version have the mRNA and language passages in it?

 

[adizzle87]

I still think you have a shot at getting NYU, BU, ASDOH, and MWU post-dec interviews if you manage to bring up your AA to 20 and get at least a 18 on RC. Make sure you tell the schools you are retaking. There is, however, no guarantee they will place a hold on your file until you retake the DAT. Best of luck to you.

 

[erk005]

Thank you for all of your advice!
It can be discouraging sometimes to see everyone on SDN with 20+ scores in every section. Its nice to get some encouragement.
I was planning (hoping) on getting a 20 on my next DAT. When I studied the first time, I never took a computer practice test, and my lowest RC on paper was a 17. I hope using SnD this time on RC will get me at least an 18, and DAT Destroyer to improve my OCHM and QRT scores. I have also heard that Achiever and Topscore were great practice tests that I missed out on the first time.
Thanks again for the replies!
-Eric

 

[KitKat09]

do it right- it is a first rule... Second rule- whatever has to happen will happen... so do not put too much pressure... many bright talented people had to apply several times before they get accepted...
if you feel you need more time just take it and reapply next cycle. Yes, it is not what you want to hear but realistically having your DAT in Dec won't change much for many schools.
Yes, BU, MWU and NYU will still interview into spring. Invites for Dec will go out somewhere in Nov and invites for Jan will go early Dec. Then there is usually large wave of invites for early Feb when deposits from Jan 15 counted. Usually schools will keep your app "under review" for 3-6 weeks before making a decision so lots of those invites will come to people who have been under review for while.... March interviews are either for very few spots left or for alternate lists.
now it takes a while for DS to receive your official DAT scores, sometimes school will allow you to send unofficial scores and sometimes not.
Of course those DAT scores will make a difference only if the rest of your appl is strong and it is just grades that hold it down. If you aware MWU Dean reads each and every one PS so you can just imagine how important PS for that particular school is.

 

[FutureDent020]

Thank you for all of your advice!
It can be discouraging sometimes to see everyone on SDN with 20+ scores in every section. Its nice to get some encouragement.
I was planning (hoping) on getting a 20 on my next DAT. When I studied the first time, I never took a computer practice test, and my lowest RC on paper was a 17. I hope using SnD this time on RC will get me at least an 18, and DAT Destroyer to improve my OCHM and QRT scores. I have also heard that Achiever and Topscore were great practice tests that I missed out on the first time.
Thanks again for the replies!
-Eric

Hey fella, don't get discouraged. I feel the same way as you. My numbers are not stellar. Got an interview at NYU pretty early though, so let me be your hope. Oh and if you take it again and do better, that will look good on your part.

 

[FutureDent020]

Oh and one more thing. People usually on SDN and pre-dents are those very serious about dentistry and confident enough to showcase their scores. I promise you there are plenty of kids out there who are applying to schools with your numbers or below. Or have yet to apply because they can't get the DAT scores they want.

 

[preOMFS]

preOMFS, did your DAT version have the mRNA and language passages in it?

Don't really remember. I think I blacked-out during the middle of it and woke up at the end thinking "what happened??"