can i get in w/ this DAT score and my GPA???

[HC_smiles]

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hi all,

i loved the post by CCN about their experience w/ having a low GPA and solid DAT score. thanx so much for sharing ur experience w/ the rest of us. i have the opposite problem, i believe my GPA is considered *competitive* in combination w/ my extracurriculars but my DAT was not hot at all 😕

anyway, i just took the DAT on Friday. N here's wat i got:
TS - 17
AA - 17
PAT - 15 🙁
Bio - 18
Chem - 19
OChem - 13
RComp - 20
QR - 18

im most worried about the PAT...i feel that if i had done better on it, i probly wouldnt be as worried as i am rite now.

my GPA is a 3.62 and my science gpa is a 3.55, going into senior year
im a bio major w/ a double minor in chemistry and psychology
i am part of the university honors program at shu
i have a full scholarship and have been on the deans list all semesters except one
i have had several research internships including UMDNJ and Colgate-Palmolive
i have been doing research in a biochemistry lab for the past year
i have shadowed a couple of dentists
i am president of the biology society, part of the AED pre health honor society, habitat for humanity, intramural soccer, basketball, floor hockey, and volleyball, martial arts club, etc....
i am registered to take sculpting and biochemistry in the fall....

do u think that i have a chance w/ my credentials and a 👎 dat score?????

PLZ LET ME KNOW WAT U THINK SINCE I AM SPAZZING RITE NOW....do i have a chance of getting in? wat skools can i get into?? do i have to retake the dat? 🙁

thanx... n much <3

 

[tinman831]

None of us are members of the admissions committee so we can't give you a definitive answer as to whether or not you will be accepted based on those DAT scores. However, I can tell you that some schools do have minimum DAT score requirements (which your scores won't meet). You should check the requirements of the schools you are applying to or call the schools and ask them. You might want to start thinking about retaking it.

 

[NickMSU]

Ur scores do not represent you GPA very well. This makes your grades look worse. U should defiently retake it. Ur goal should be for 17's in every subject. I do not believe you will get in with those scores. Best of luck

 

[r0entgen]

Ur scores do not represent you GPA very well. This makes your grades look worse. U should defiently retake it. Ur goal should be for 17's in every subject. I do not believe you will get in with those scores. Best of luck

i agree. and the DAT is a stupid test...a low DAT score immediately discredits your higher gpa, in my opinion.

 

[preluder]

A school like Tufts won't look at apps with dat scores below 14. It'd probably be best to retake it.

 

[syn_apse]

you won't get in unless you retake the DAT

 

[Notoriousjae]

once you retake the DAT and get 19 or above you should have no problems considering your gpa

 

[tinman831]

A school like Tufts won't look at apps with dat scores below 14. It'd probably be best to retake it.

Tufts Minimum scores:

16 Academic Average
15 Perceptual Ability
16 Total Science

 

[Fariba]

HC_smiles, I know it was probably hard to hear so many people tell you that you have to retake the exam. Preparing for the exam takes such hard work and time and energy and stress that when its all over the first thing you say is "I dont ever want to do that again."

But the fact of the matter is, you really should consider retaking it. But dont think about it right away since you are probably drained from having just taken it. Give yourself some time to rest, relax, and recupirate from the initial blow of not getting the score you want.

Next step is to see what you need to do better the next time around. In fact, you should be really excited because you know EXACTLY what you need to work on now and you already have gotten over the initial jitters of taking it the first time.

The next time you take this test, you will be more mature, better prepared, less nervous, and completely confident. Your academic achievements throughout college are a perfect example of - hard work pays off!!!

Its all up to you. Please dont be discouraged. Be excited... cause now you can only do better! And schools wont care how the old scores were when the new ones are awesome!

Good luck!

 

[RockstarDMD]

No problem..... study the rest of the summer and re-take in September. Get your Ochem score up and I am sure you will increase your chances. 👍

 

[absurdhippo]

You HAVE TO retake the DAT and improve your scores. Since you're just going to be heading into your senior year, don't worry too much. You have plenty of time to improve. A 13 in OCHEM definitely won't cut it at any school. Personally, I don't even think 17s across the board will cut it, but seeing as how great your other credentials are, they might work for you.

I had a 3.6 gpa and 3.5 science gpa...19/19/18, and pretty well-rounded in all other areas (although not nearly as well-rounded as you)...and I only got into ONE dental school.

Worst case scenario: you re-apply for c/o 2012 and get a year off from school. I don't think that's so bad at all, so don't be discouraged. Just study and prove that you want to become a dentist. Based on everything you said, this test could be the only thing standing in your way.

 

[drengineer]

The 13 in O chem and 15 in PAT don't present your case very well. Retake the DAT and aim for atleast 18's in all sections and given your GPA you should be able to get into a dental school. Goodluck.

 

[dontbam]

yes retake ur DAT, my question is how u have a 3.55 science GPA and scored 13 on ur o-chem section.

 

[prez_al]

I had a 3.6 gpa and 3.5 science gpa...19/19/18, and pretty well-rounded in all other areas (although not nearly as well-rounded as you)...and I only got into ONE dental school.

AHHHHHHHHH!!!! 😱 Did you apply early?! IF that's the case, I'm really scared now!

 

[whiskeysour]

AHHHHHHHHH!!!! 😱 Did you apply early?! IF that's the case, I'm really scared now!

you have a 3.8 GPA and a 22 DAT 🙄

i would be scared, too.

 

[pbure]

AHHHHHHHHH!!!! 😱 Did you apply early?! IF that's the case, I'm really scared now!

you applied to way too many schools..waste of time. with a 3.8 and 22/22/17 you can be a lot more selective

 

[ObviousGuy]

PAT - 15 🙁

OChem - 13


im most worried about the PAT...i

I would be more worried about that ochem...unless you are ethnic and apply to howard or mehairy, you out of luck imo. I would retake the thing in 3 months and see how you fare.
Ochem and Pat are not difficult to score 19's in if you hit it hard. That is my advice.

 

[INFNITE]

just wondering...how long did you study for this exam? It's not a difficult exam if you put in the time and effort to prepare. What did you get as a grade in undergrad orgo course? That is obviously the one area you need a LOT of work on. I struggled mightily in orgo during undergrad (had B and B-) but I put in the extra emphasis in my preparation and organic chem ended up being my best section on the DAT's. It's not a matter of whether you can do it or not...if you spend more time preparing, I'm sure you can get a much better result.

 

[HC_smiles]

You HAVE TO retake the DAT and improve your scores. Since you're just going to be heading into your senior year, don't worry too much. You have plenty of time to improve. A 13 in OCHEM definitely won't cut it at any school. Personally, I don't even think 17s across the board will cut it, but seeing as how great your other credentials are, they might work for you.

I had a 3.6 gpa and 3.5 science gpa...19/19/18, and pretty well-rounded in all other areas (although not nearly as well-rounded as you)...and I only got into ONE dental school.

Worst case scenario: you re-apply for c/o 2012 and get a year off from school. I don't think that's so bad at all, so don't be discouraged. Just study and prove that you want to become a dentist. Based on everything you said, this test could be the only thing standing in your way.

thanx evry1 for all of ur advice and responses. i kinda felt awful after i saw that 15 and 13...cuz i knew that i pretty much had to retake it. its 3 months in between correct? also, i can still apply and just say that i am retaking rite?????

again, thanx evry1 for evrything 🙂

 

[egots]

thanx evry1 for all of ur advice and responses. i kinda felt awful after i saw that 15 and 13...cuz i knew that i pretty much had to retake it. its 3 months in between correct? also, i can still apply and just say that i am retaking rite?????

again, thanx evry1 for evrything 🙂

its not even your PAT its your orgo score that does it, how much time did you spend studying? not to sound insulting but did you not study orgo that much?

good question, i wonder if you can opt to not send in your DAT score, b/c some schools may just trash it when they see u didnt make the cutoff for your organic score, if the schools see it i would suggest just waiting 3 months before sending it out, i mean its so competitive nowadays you dont want any reason for them to look badly on your application..all you need is your DAT score and you will be fine b/c all your other stuff is great

 

[Ronald Jeremy]

you applied to way too many schools..waste of time. with a 3.8 and 22/22/17 you can be a lot more selective

Pavel, you Canadian! That's not too many schools. No one is bullet-proof when it comes to the admissions process. Go back to watching your 'hockey', eating round bacon, clubbing baby seals, listening to Celine Dion and Brian Adams, and being part of America's hat.
As for the person with the DAT scores: dude, how in the hell can you have that good a science GPA and pull a 13 in OCHEM??? I think they give you 10 points just for showing up! Not to be mean or anything, but come on. You were either WAY too confident going into the actual exam (or studying) or your university's cirriculum is weak. I don't think it's the latter.
You obviously need to take it again. With your academic credentials, you should be pulling at least 19's across the board. Don't settle for anything less. Spend the $1100 on Kaplan or whatever other prep course is available, dedicate your summer to studying, and, this time, TAKE THE DAT SERIOUS!!!! Look at your scores as a shot-across your bow, ace them in 3 months, and bounce back strong. It may turn into a grat talking point in an interview. Best of luck.

 

[ursinus00]

at least 17 or higher in each section will probably get you in somewhere. you still have a lot of times, just retake it.

hi all,

i loved the post by CCN about their experience w/ having a low GPA and solid DAT score. thanx so much for sharing ur experience w/ the rest of us. i have the opposite problem, i believe my GPA is considered *competitive* in combination w/ my extracurriculars but my DAT was not hot at all 😕

anyway, i just took the DAT on Friday. N here's wat i got:
TS - 17
AA - 17
PAT - 15 🙁
Bio - 18
Chem - 19
OChem - 13
RComp - 20
QR - 18

im most worried about the PAT...i feel that if i had done better on it, i probly wouldnt be as worried as i am rite now.

my GPA is a 3.62 and my science gpa is a 3.55, going into senior year
im a bio major w/ a double minor in chemistry and psychology
i am part of the university honors program at shu
i have a full scholarship and have been on the deans list all semesters except one
i have had several research internships including UMDNJ and Colgate-Palmolive
i have been doing research in a biochemistry lab for the past year
i have shadowed a couple of dentists
i am president of the biology society, part of the AED pre health honor society, habitat for humanity, intramural soccer, basketball, floor hockey, and volleyball, martial arts club, etc....
i am registered to take sculpting and biochemistry in the fall....

do u think that i have a chance w/ my credentials and a 👎 dat score?????

PLZ LET ME KNOW WAT U THINK SINCE I AM SPAZZING RITE NOW....do i have a chance of getting in? wat skools can i get into?? do i have to retake the dat? 🙁

thanx... n much <3

 

[prez_al]

Pavel, you Canadian! That's not too many schools. No one is bullet-proof when it comes to the admissions process. Go back to watching your 'hockey', eating round bacon, clubbing baby seals, listening to Celine Dion and Brian Adams, and being part of America's hat.
As for the person with the DAT scores: dude, how in the hell can you have that good a science GPA and pull a 13 in OCHEM??? I think they give you 10 points just for showing up! Not to be mean or anything, but come on. You were either WAY too confident going into the actual exam (or studying) or your university's cirriculum is weak. I don't think it's the latter.
You obviously need to take it again. With your academic credentials, you should be pulling at least 19's across the board. Don't settle for anything less. Spend the $1100 on Kaplan or whatever other prep course is available, dedicate your summer to studying, and, this time, TAKE THE DAT SERIOUS!!!! Look at your scores as a shot-across your bow, ace them in 3 months, and bounce back strong. It may turn into a grat talking point in an interview. Best of luck.

LMAO... that's actually a funny rant even though I should be pissed, but damn, that's way better than the usual "Canada is America's B*tch!" rant. Personally I have nothing against baby seals and I don't listen to Bryan Adams though although most of your rant is true, esp with the baby seals. You should add in how Canada butchered the rules of "American Football"; but then again, America stole basketball from us 😎

 

[HC_smiles]

its not even your PAT its your orgo score that does it, how much time did you spend studying? not to sound insulting but did you not study orgo that much?

good question, i wonder if you can opt to not send in your DAT score, b/c some schools may just trash it when they see u didnt make the cutoff for your organic score, if the schools see it i would suggest just waiting 3 months before sending it out, i mean its so competitive nowadays you dont want any reason for them to look badly on your application..all you need is your DAT score and you will be fine b/c all your other stuff is great

the orgo section on the DAT was harder than wat ive seen on the practice tests which i was getting 15-18s on....but still it sux n i was devastated when i saw the result 🙁

i kno on the application u put the date of ur most recent DAT and ur scores and when you will take it again...to me, i think that shuld suffice as motivation to do better since i dont think u can just hide the score like that as much as i want to