can MCAT substitute for DAT

[lilsnoboardr22]

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Hi everyone,
I am new to the forum, sorry if this topic has already been covered. However i am looking into medical school and dental school, i am very interested in plastic surgery along with oral surgery. I am just wondering if dental schools accept MCAT scores, or do i still have to take the seperate test? and also how do the DATs compare hardness to the MCAT. If i got a 30 on the MCAT am i in good shape for the DAT? Thank you in advance.

 

[ummjoey]

you need to take both tests.

you should decide on one. i dont think a lot of people take both.

edit: sorry if i wasnt clear enough, but dental schools do not take MCAT.........unless someone proves me wrong.

 

[bigstix808]

i made a very respectable score on the MCAT and decided to not go to med school. i didn't do nearly as well as i would have hoped to make on the DAT when i took it later on. the tests are just formatted differently. i would reccomend studying materials that are designed for the DAT. sure a lot of the sciences are the same, but just search SDN about the specific differences as i don't feel like listing them right now. sorry - been covered WAYY too many times...

no, dschools do NOT take MCAT scores in place of the DAT...in fact, showing that you have taken both, i'm sure they will question your reasoning and desire to pursue dentistry - that is if that is what you REALLY want to do...and if not, the adcoms are very good at seeing straight through any kind of facade you might try and front...

good luck.

 

[akarobie]

To answer op's question, d-school do not take MCAT for DAT. You need to take DAT to apply for d-school

I would like to chime my experience on this. In my junior year, I didn't know which path I wanted to take, so I studied both tests. First, I took MCAT in April and then I took DAT in June. Two test formats are totally different. I think difficulities are depend on individuals. I think it's really hard to compare both tests. My both tests score was similar.
I admit that studying MCAT really helped me to prepare DAT. But when you look at both tests, questions are asked differently. In MCAT they give you a passage and question. In DAT, they just give you questions and I think you have to know more details when you take DAT. Preparing PAT was also tough. (hard for me).

Anyway, after I shadowed several dentists, I decied to go dental path b/c it made me more joy. Even though I had MCAT score, I didn't applied to med school b/c in the long run I felt I would be more satisfied if I pursue my career in dentistry. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is there's no harm taking both tests if you are undecided. However, it takes more energy to prepare both tests. If I knew better, I would have just took DAT and focus in other good stuffs. Good luck!😉

 

[SugarNaCl]

Hi everyone,
I am new to the forum, sorry if this topic has already been covered. However i am looking into medical school and dental school, i am very interested in plastic surgery along with oral surgery. I am just wondering if dental schools accept MCAT scores, or do i still have to take the seperate test? and also how do the DATs compare hardness to the MCAT. If i got a 30 on the MCAT am i in good shape for the DAT? Thank you in advance.

The DAT has some different things from the MCAT. You would probably be fine for the sciences and RC and QR with your MCAT score. I have heard that the MCAT is more specific but you have a passage to refer to often. The PAT on the DAT is what is necessary that the MCAT doesn't offer and you may do great or you may do horrible on that section with your MCAT score. It has to do with relating objects in space.

You have to take the DAT for dental school and sounds like your best bet may be (but you MUST be top 10%...so don't bank on it) DDS and then apply for an oral surgery residency program when you are finished. Some are 4 yr and some are 6 yr (which includes an MD degree). Remember ave med school enrollee is 3.6. Average dental school enrollee is 3.56. The gap is closing so competition will be tough no matter where you go... don't rely on getting into a specialty if you aren't interested in the basis of the field. Good luck to you.

 

[bodiddely]

Best SDN Quote ever:

Example DAT question:

If a chemist was to dissolve 100ml of 3.0M H2So4 in 230ml of h20 what would the new molarity and normality of the solution be respectively?

a) 1.3M, 3.9N
b) 2.6M, 1.3N
C) 1.8M, 3.4N
D) 0.9M, 1.8N
E) 0.9M, 2.7N

i dont know if i wrote this question right, but it seemed like something that was on the DAT. its also been a while since i had chem but i think the right answer is D

Example MCAT question

If a roman catholic chemist was to dissolve 100ml of 3.0M H2So4 in 230ml of h20 on tuesday july 16th after having an arugument with his protestant wife over the existance of purgatory and what he should do about his misbehaving child. how would his wife's uncle's cousin react at the sight of the solution on the night of a full moon?

A) 46 billion
B) yes
C) George W. Bush
D) pulp fiction
E) what?

That is kinda how i saw the mcat...i must be stupid lol. but yes the questions are much more in depth and detailed and you have to use critical thinking skills to get to the correct or...most correct answer on the mcat.

 

[jigabodo]

Best SDN Quote ever:

Cracks me up everytime. 👍

 

[MnBr63]

Cracks me up everytime. 👍

Your avatar cracks me up everytime.

 

[caffeinehigh]

1. MCAT does not equal DAT
2. If you are planning on taking both, a word of advice, I wouldn't bring that up in an interview

 

[toothfairy85]

I believe there is a program at Case Western, the dentist-physician dual degree (DMD, MD) program. The MCAT is required, and the DAT is optional. I don't know much more about the program, such as specializing in OMFS afterward, how hard it is to get in, etc. If you want to know more, just google it. I think this is the only way you can get into dental school with an MCAT score instead.

 

[Paca444]

I am in the same situation as bigstix808. I took the last written MCAT in Aug 06 and then the DAT the next spring. I did considerably worse on the DAT. Everyone assured me that with a solid score on the MCAT that the DAT would be cake... not necessarily. I'm now on 5 waitlists for dental school wondering if I should spend the month to study and retake the DAT.

AA 17
RC 19
PAT 20

GPA 3.5/ 3.5

 

[jigabodo]

Your avatar cracks me up everytime.

I have yet to bust out my best ones! 👍