Can you get into dental school with a 12 AA DAT score?

[nowaysurvey]

Not likely, but apparently one DID according to the 2015 ADEA Guide book.

Sorry if this has been already brought up, but I just wanted to explore the issue further and as a whole want others to know that your GPA and/or DAT score doesn't mean everything (**but again, I'm positive it doesn't apply to everyone though **)

Here are some data taken from the book:

For the dental school enrollees of 2013, sGPA, cGPA and AA DAT scores ranged from 2.19-4.33, 2.26-4.29, and 12-28, respectively.

Upon looking at data from individual schools (which is taken from the those enrolling in 2014), I do see again that some schools do accept applicants that have academic averages WELL below the average enrollee (sGPA, cGPA, and AA DAT scores from 2.30, 2.40, and 13, respectively). Even then, as a whole most schools will take in applicants from the lower end of the spectrum (~17 AA DAT and ~2.80 cGPA).

So with the data presented, I'm not posting to bash or send jealousy to those that got in with such averages. In fact, I want to let others know, especially those who worry particularly about their GPA or DAT scores that they obviously don't mean everything.

But with that said, it does come to my mind on how those applicants get consideration with such scores. I can only assume that if you have a low DAT score, chances are your GPA scores will somewhat correspond to it. To me, that means their extracurriculars, recommendations, or personal statement made their applications stood out and were probably perfect, no? (Or perhaps there were something going on under the table here, lol). Anyone here got in or happen to know someone who did with similar stats and would like to discuss further?

Also, many here on SDN are tired of seeing "Chance me" threads, where the poster is generally worried to death about having a 3.3 cGPA or a 18/19 AA DAT score. Here's some advice. Besides the obvious suggestions such as taking extra classes, do SMP, or take DAT again, etc... mines would be first do not fret. To newcomers of SDN, many people here are overachievers, so their GPA/DAT scores will freak you out, thinking you probably have no chance at all. Just because your stats arent' similar to the average enrollee, it doesn't mean you can't become a dentist. Second, please do some research. There are some schools according to this guide as well as threads here on SDN that generally or will accept applicants with much lower averages than the average dental enrollee. And third, make sure your extracurriculars, personal statement, or recommendations as perfect as possible. If you didn't have much leverage on your academics, I hope you at least do with your extracurriculars, PS, or LoRs. Try your best to make yourself stand out with these.

Peace.

P.S. Applicants of the 2013 cycle had sGPA, cGPA, and AA DAT ranges from 0.51-4.33, 1.23-4.30, and 10-28, respectively. I shouldn't be judging others, but that 0.51 sGPA tho...I don't even.

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[JLT223]

No, you can't. That person probably bought their way in.

/thread.

 

[nowaysurvey]

No, you can't. That person probably bought their way in.

/thread.

Hmm, that's always a possibility. But it seems like almost every school has its unique outliers...I just hope your speculation isn't common as it seems to be.

 

[JLT223]

Hmm, that's always a possibility. But it seems like almost every school has its unique outliers...I just hope your speculation isn't common as it seems to be.

A 12 AA isn't a unique outlier. You can score a 12 AA by randomly selecting answers. How does that signify a person can handle any sort of dental school coursework and/or pass their boards? An outlier would be a 17 AA at a school that has an average of 21 or so. There is a huge difference between a mediocre score (17) and an absolute bomb of an attempt (12).

 

[NutritionIllinois]

Hmm, that's always a possibility. But it seems like almost every school has its unique outliers...I just hope your speculation isn't common as it seems to be.

The 12 AA would be virtually impossible. But I like the point of your thread. A lot of people get admitted with AA 16-19, and many people here act as if those are doomsday scores. Obviously the better stats the better the odds, but schools really do look at the whole application. So if you are going to a great school, have a solid GPA, and other nice things on your application, some schools will be more forgiving of a 16 or 17 DAT. I think below a 16 the odds are very slim, but 16+ IF you have other things going for you and IF you interview well, it is definitely possible and realistic.

 

[Tebros]

I know a dental student who had a 2.1-2.3 GPA but he has published 2-4 research articles. Second authors. So...that helped him alot.

so what im trying to say is, if you do find applicants with an extremely low GPA that got accepted, they had something else that got them in.

 

[nowaysurvey]

A 12 AA isn't a unique outlier. You can score a 12 AA by randomly selecting answers. How does that signify a person can handle any sort of dental school coursework and/or pass their boards? An outlier would be a 17 AA at a school that has an average of 21 or so. There is a huge difference between a mediocre score (17) and an absolute bomb of an attempt (12).

Sorry for the misunderstanding, my wording isn't the best. But even then a 12 AA DAT is an oddball and it does raises questions, which you and I do have speculations on. With that said, I never did say or thought that a 12 AA DAT would signify that the enrollee would be able to handle dental school or let alone pass their boards. Personally, I and many would probably think that an applicant with a 12 AA DAT would not be able to handle the rigors of dental school, but being a proficient dentist after dental school is probably an entirely different story. With that said, is there really a ginormous difference between a 12-14 or 15-16 AA DAT score, which the latter is more common in the statistics of enrollees? Because no matter how you look at it, a 15/16 AA DAT is pretty low. And here on SDN, if you were to post that you just got a 15/16 AA DAT score (which doesn't seem to happen often here), you would be berated if you don't retake it.

Again as a whole, I am merely raising issue that many here on SDN freak out about a low GPA score or after receiving a DAT of 18/19, which is merely the average according to data compiled by ADEA. But even then, most schools will accept applicants from the lower end of the spectrum too (15-16 AA DAT). Of course, there's probably some more reasonable background to the story such as superb extracurriculars, PS, and LoRs.

 

[JLT223]

Sorry for the misunderstanding, my wording isn't the best. But even then a 12 AA DAT is an oddball and it does raises questions, which you and I do have speculations on. With that said, I never did say or thought that a 12 AA DAT would signify that the enrollee would be able to handle dental school or let alone pass their boards. Personally, I and many would probably think that an applicant with a 12 AA DAT would not be able to handle the rigors of dental school, but being a proficient dentist after dental school is probably an entirely different story. With that said, is there really a ginormous difference between a 12-14 or 15-16 AA DAT score, which the latter is more common in the statistics of enrollees? Because no matter how you look at it, a 15/16 AA DAT is pretty low. And here on SDN, if you were to post that you just got a 15/16 AA DAT score (which doesn't seem to happen often here), you would be berated if you don't retake it.

Again as a whole, I am merely raising issue that many here on SDN freak out about a low GPA score or after receiving a DAT of 18/19, which is merely the average according to data compiled by ADEA. But even then, most schools will accept applicants from the lower end of the spectrum too (15-16 AA DAT). Of course, there's probably some more reasonable background to the story such as superb extracurriculars, PS, and LoRs.

This is the 2007 ADA scoring scale, which is a little outdated. Obviously there's no reason to freak out if somebody scores an 18 or so, that's really not that bad of a score. When you look at the doc I posted you'll see you need almost 2x the correct amount of answers to achieve an 18 as opposed to a 12 like you were previously talking about. If somebody gained an acceptance with a 12, they paid the school off. That is literally the only explanation. An AA of 12 is in the 1.7th percentile according to that document....

 

[nowaysurvey]

This is the 2007 ADA scoring scale, which is a little outdated. Obviously there's no reason to freak out if somebody scores an 18 or so, that's really not that bad of a score. When you look at the doc I posted you'll see you need almost 2x the correct amount of answers to achieve an 18 as opposed to a 12 like you were previously talking about. If somebody gained an acceptance with a 12, they paid the school off. That is literally the only explanation. An AA of 12 is in the 1.7th percentile according to that document....

Like I said, there is no reason to freak out over a 18 AA DAT. It's the precise reason why I made this thread. But apparently people do and it's probably because the average enrollee has a AA DAT score of 19.9 (2014 compiled data). It's probably a tad bit higher now, since that was two years ago.

But hey man, I'm not disagreeing with you about the speculation you brought up about that particular applicant paying his or her way in. I even mention in my thread that perhaps something could be going on under the table, but who really knows. You said it's literally the only explanation, but in fact it's not. We obviously don't know his or her GPA scores, extracurricular, PS, or LoRs. But because this is public data, you would think that it would raise an issue with the school on a national level cause you know like 99% of all other applicants work their butts off to get into dental school. I'm only looking at the 2013 and 2014 cycle and they has an enrollee with a 12 and 13 AA DAT score, respectively. I'm sure if you look into older records, there would be similar cases too. You think something like this happens every year at different schools? It could be, but I personally don't know. Again, just a speculation.

 

[JLT223]

Like I said, there is no reason to freak out over a 18 AA DAT. It's the precise reason why I made this thread. But apparently people do and it's probably because the average enrollee has a AA DAT score of 19.9 (2014 compiled data). It's probably a tad bit higher now, since that was two years ago.

But hey man, I'm not disagreeing with you about the speculation you brought up about that particular applicant paying his or her way in. I even mention in my thread that perhaps something could be going on under the table, but who really knows. You said it's literally the only explanation, but in fact it's not. We obviously don't know his or her GPA scores, extracurricular, PS, or LoRs. But because this is public data, you would think that it would raise an issue with the school on a national level cause you know like 99% of all other applicants work their butts off to get into dental school. I'm only looking at the 2013 and 2014 cycle and they has an enrollee with a 12 and 13 AA DAT score, respectively. I'm sure if you look into older records, there would be similar cases too. You think something like this happens every year at different schools? It could be, but I personally don't know. Again, just a speculation.

I hope it doesn't happen every year. I can't imagine somebody has anything else on their application that can make up for a score that is in the single digit percentile range. It's pretty interesting, you're right. Who knows in the end.

 

[thegreatmuta]

Anyone who scores a 12AA on the DAT should be institutionalized for the remainder of their life.

 

[Likkriue]

Schools can admit anyone they want, whoever that 12 AA was has to have given the school some reason to assure them he could make it all the way. No school is risking 300-400 thousand dollars for goodwill. Being paid off wouldn't be a bad guess.

 

[1passbbsSHAVE]

what if that person with 12AA did that on purpose trying to prove a point? He got in, and he proved a point.
On a more serious note, we don't know what else he had on his application, so all these speculations serve no purpose.

I agree with OP that low GPA or DAT shouldn't scare someone away from applying. It's the entire package, not just GPA or DAT.

 

[KristenD77]

how can I pay a school for my acceptance

 

[personalstatementsbyeric]

Puerto Rico has some very low stats lol

 

[Maybe.a.dentist]

How does a 12 AA even happen? Did this guy get back from his break, resume the test, and before he even answered the first question the building catch fire and he run off???? I can imagine this happening if you just passed out and no one shut the computer off. Just wow.

 

[SrJulio]

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[doc toothache]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/2012-range-of-gpa-dat.998464/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/2014-range-of-gpa-dat-cut-off-scores.1074256/