Can a 15 RC score on DAT get accepted?

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bballrules

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Hey guys, I just finished my test 30 minutes ago. I have a question about my lowest score, a 15 on RC. My other scores are:

PAT 19 QR 17 RC 15 Bio 20 GChem 19 OChem19 = 19/18/19

My scores look balanced except that 15. What do you guys think? I have a 3.5 GPA and have been shadowing a dentist for about 8 months now. I plan on submitting AADSAS the first week we are allowed too. Do you think I should retake? Or do you think that I might get pass some schools cutoffs because I applied early and they don't know the pool yet. Please tell me the truth of my chances, it will only benefit me. Anyways, thanks for your help.
 
I think a 15 in anything but QR is going to hurt tremendously. Do an extensive search on predents to see if anyone with that score in RC was accpeted. I would plan on retaking it ASAP. If you wait to see how your current scores work out, you'll miss out on the 1st rush of interview invites.
 
I suggest retaking the dat again. Since you took your exam so early, you still have time to re-study hard and improve your scores. RC is important to many dental schools as it is somehow correlated to your ability to sort out info. Since lots of info. will be thrown at you in dental school, adcoms tend to look at it. At least so I've heard. I think applying with a 15 will only hurt you. Stats are going up and the competition is getting fierce. With a 3.5 you're looking good there but you should definately consider retaking the exam.

Good luck!
 
IF you have anything below a 17, I would retake the exam. I think 17-18 is the cutoff for most schools.
 
Thank you guys for your response. I really appreciate it! I forgot to mention one thing. This was my second attempt. My first scores were:

PAT 18 QR 16 RC 16 Bio 16 GChem 20 OChem 20
18/18/18

My second:
PAT 19 QR 17 RC 15 Bio 20 GChem 19 OChem19
19/18/19

I know both RC's are extremely low and I am really worried. If I retake the test, I don't know if I can score as high on the other subjects. I really am stressed out and don't know what to do. I want to apply to USC, Tufts, NYU, BU, and other big private schools. Some schools don't show the cutoffs on their website, is it to be assumed that it is 17? If I do retake the test, when I register, should I send them out to NO SCHOOLS and decide after I get my results? Will dental schools ever know if I took it three times or will they just think I took it twice because that's all the records they have. Thanks again.
 
I would be amazed if you got in with a 15 in reading comp. You're best bet is to get some DAT prep software, something with several different RC practice exams.

I was somewhat concerned about my 17 in QR, but schools didn't seem to care. I think it is different with reading comprehension, schools do care about that one.
 
I applied with pretty much the same score last year except I got a 16 in RC. I didn't apply as early as you but I got into a couple schools. You have a lot of time to retake the DAT if you don't feel comfortable. I suggest you apply early and maybe retake. It won't hurt. Good luck
 
I applied with pretty much the same score last year except I got a 16 in RC. I didn't apply as early as you but I got into a couple schools. You have a lot of time to retake the DAT if you don't feel comfortable. I suggest you apply early and maybe retake. It won't hurt. Good luck

congrats on the acceptances pej. i don't have a great RC score either and being an international student, i'm worried as well. did u get accepted into ur state school or private schools? i have to apply mostly to private schools, so im wondering if you could tell me ur GPA and which schools u had interviews/accepted to. thank u so much. i'll be a re-applicant so i hope u can help me out. thank uuuu!! 😳
 
Just some hope for all, I got accepted with a 12 in QR. My scores were 16/18/18 on the second attempt. My first was 17/17/17 with a 14 in QR. It can happen, but you most likely will not be accepted to a state school.
 
Just some hope for all, I got accepted with a 12 in QR. My scores were 16/18/18 on the second attempt. My first was 17/17/17 with a 14 in QR. It can happen, but you most likely will not be accepted to a state school.

congrats zebrafish! but i think schools view RC a lot more importantly than QR...so that's why a low RC should be more alarming..(unfortuantely for me..and the person who started the thread.)
 
Its true. RC is most strongly correlated with board scores. Thats why a lot of schools value RC more highly.
 
Do you think my stats are good enough for an interview? Do D-Schools will throw away your aps based on DAT scores? Do you think the two main filters are GPA and DAT? If I have strong ECS, personal statement, do you think this can help me get an interview despite my low DAT scores? I know if I can get an interview, I can impress the adcomm. I really don't think I can duplicate my science scores. By turning in apps May 15th, do you guys think maybe schools can invite me?
 
Its true. RC is most strongly correlated with board scores. Thats why a lot of schools value RC more highly.

I thought the Bio section was the most correlated section? I hope its not the RC! 😱
 
If you read both articles, more importantly the newer one(thats the second one listed) the author expalins that their can be variances through out each school. Not only that the second document pretty much says thier is a correlation with almost each subsection. The author also states that they would love to see what the correlation would be with gpa and scigpa etc...

Oh by the way if you look at Nebraska, they have the highest gpa #'s and ok dat's and they rank in the top 10 borads every year(see link)
http://www.unmc.edu/dentistry/students/students.htm
Just one example. It is all relative with the statss stuff.

Don't worry about all this if you got in this year, everyone gets a clean slate just work hard and do your best. Have a goal and go for it.

Sorry wasn't trying to give a speech.lol:laugh:
 
Hey guys, I just finished my test 30 minutes ago. I have a question about my lowest score, a 15 on RC. My other scores are:

PAT 19 QR 17 RC 15 Bio 20 GChem 19 OChem19 = 19/18/19

My scores look balanced except that 15. What do you guys think? I have a 3.5 GPA and have been shadowing a dentist for about 8 months now. I plan on submitting AADSAS the first week we are allowed too. Do you think I should retake? Or do you think that I might get pass some schools cutoffs because I applied early and they don't know the pool yet. Please tell me the truth of my chances, it will only benefit me. Anyways, thanks for your help.


i got 15 in RC and got 5 interviews, several secondaries, and got accepted to IUSD. i withdrew as soon as i got into IU so not sure if i would have gotten more acceptances. the only thing different is the fact that i got in 2004. not sure if things are that much different now.

good luck
 
If you read both articles, more importantly the newer one(thats the second one listed) the author expalins that their can be variances through out each school. Not only that the second document pretty much says thier is a correlation with almost each subsection. The author also states that they would love to see what the correlation would be with gpa and scigpa etc...

Oh by the way if you look at Nebraska, they have the highest gpa #'s and ok dat's and they rank in the top 10 borads every year(see link)
http://www.unmc.edu/dentistry/students/students.htm
Just one example. It is all relative with the statss stuff.

Don't worry about all this if you got in this year, everyone gets a clean slate just work hard and do your best. Have a goal and go for it.

Sorry wasn't trying to give a speech.lol:laugh:

I don't think the boards and your GPA is correlated...I am pretty sure the boards are correlated with your DAT...I am just not sure which section...RC or BIO...

Can anyone find a website that states which school has the highest average national board scores? I am looking now and can't find it...I have been told that Harvard is number 1 and Columbia is number 2...both schools have scores in the 90+...Correct me if I am wrong though.
 
It says there's a correlation between Dental Anatomy and Occlusion and QR. Wonder how that works. I can calculate numbers therefore I can do anatomy.

And of the people with high DAT scores, student performance during dental school ranged from poor to excellent. No people with low DAT ever attained higher performance.
 
At my UNC interview the dean said that RC was found to correlate most with dental school success.
 
Are you a minority? Is it a state school? Then maybe...
 
Hey guys, I just finished my test 30 minutes ago. I have a question about my lowest score, a 15 on RC. My other scores are:

PAT 19 QR 17 RC 15 Bio 20 GChem 19 OChem19 = 19/18/19

My scores look balanced except that 15. What do you guys think? I have a 3.5 GPA and have been shadowing a dentist for about 8 months now. I plan on submitting AADSAS the first week we are allowed too. Do you think I should retake? Or do you think that I might get pass some schools cutoffs because I applied early and they don't know the pool yet. Please tell me the truth of my chances, it will only benefit me. Anyways, thanks for your help.

I have a friend that was accepted to Ohio State with a 15 in QR for the 2007 cycle. His other scores were very high and he had great stats otherwise. I think you should still apply. There is usually a place to explain any low scores on secondary applications. You can still retake the DAT as well. Good luck!
 
I thought the Bio section was the most correlated section? I hope its not the RC! 😱

i feel you too! anyways to the OP, you really need to kick some a** on your third time taking the DAT. your second score isn't much of an improvement over the first, but you did shine on your bio. that's a good thing. just remember that even though you have the opportunity to retake the DAT, it can still hurt you. so on your next one, go in and take it knowing that you will never take another DAT ever again.
 
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