Carving on the Canadian DAT

[FlossEnthusiast]

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I've heard that American dental schools don't look at carving scores from the Canadian DAT. True or false? Has anyone ever hard anything concrete from D-schools on this?

Would they car if you bombed this section on the test? Just curious...

 

[hassana4]

i really dont think that they look at ur carving score since its not part of the american dat. but if its really bad, then it may raise eyebrows about manual dexterity. but agen, i dont think that soap carving is a good indicator of manual dexterity since i took the canadian dat too. by bad, how bad do u mean?

 

[FlossEnthusiast]

I got 14 - kinda crappy eh. I had this stupid triangle on the end of the soap that totally screwed me over.

I agree with you though. I feel it really gives minimal indication of your manual dexterity and potential in d-school. Anyways, I'm keeping my fingers crossed, cause I think all of my other stats are pretty much up to par.

Anyone else heard anything from d-schools on this?

 

[dackmonkey]

when i interviewed at the university of minnesota in august, the interviewer mentioned that my carving score was good. i asked her "i didn't know you guys looked at the carving score". she gave me a smile and said "we look at everything".

if your carving score is there, they will make a note of it although the american schools don't require it. having a good score will help your chances and like someone mentioned before, a bad score is likely to raise a some suspicions.

 

[hassana4]

Flossenthusisat: I chekd ur stats put on predents rite now. u hav solid numbers and frankly u stand a very gud chance considering that u hav applied to a number of schools. i got a 20 on the carving portion but that was on my 2nd CDN dat attempt. i got a 14 like u on the first attempt. n i had that stupid triangle thing too (it was ther in nov'06 and feb'07). dont let it bother u too much. jus sit bak n let the rest of ur application carry u thru.

dackmonkey; its interesting minnesota mentioned carving on ur interview. dint know they looked at that stuff. btw, u hav an awesome dat score all round. wat did u get on carving?

 

[FlossEnthusiast]

n i had that stupid triangle thing too (it was ther in nov'06 and feb'07).

That stupid triangle really did me in - Nov 06

Thanks for the reassurement though. I think I have a great personal statement and some good LOE's and EC's. Hopefully it'll be enough. At least I haven't gotten any rejections yet so I'm staying positive.

Thanks for the insight dackmonkey. And really, your DAT scores are awesome. You really nailed RC 👍.

 

[microserf123]

Hmm yeah triangle ends are a little difficult. But have you seen one which is a a triangle with one notched side and two fluted sides? Now thats a strange one! I got that one a few years ago

 

[dackmonkey]

Flossenthusisat: I chekd ur stats put on predents rite now. u hav solid numbers and frankly u stand a very gud chance considering that u hav applied to a number of schools. i got a 20 on the carving portion but that was on my 2nd CDN dat attempt. i got a 14 like u on the first attempt. n i had that stupid triangle thing too (it was ther in nov'06 and feb'07). dont let it bother u too much. jus sit bak n let the rest of ur application carry u thru.

dackmonkey; its interesting minnesota mentioned carving on ur interview. dint know they looked at that stuff. btw, u hav an awesome dat score all round. wat did u get on carving?

yeah it was a little surprising that they sort of considered it. but i guess when it's there on your score report, it's hard to overlook. for the DAT scores on my predents i only got a 20 on the carving and was pretty disappointed. i took the DAT a second time and will be using these scores to apply to the Canadian schools since i got 18/18/19 but a 26 on the carving (actually with that triangular ended shape). since the carving is the most important aspect of the Canadian DAT i figure sending both sets of scores will show the adcoms i'm competent enough both academically and in my manual dexterity.

 

[FlossEnthusiast]

yeah it was a little surprising that they sort of considered it. but i guess when it's there on your score report, it's hard to overlook. for the DAT scores on my predents i only got a 20 on the carving and was pretty disappointed. i took the DAT a second time and will be using these scores to apply to the Canadian schools since i got 18/18/19 but a 26 on the carving (actually with that triangular ended shape). since the carving is the most important aspect of the Canadian DAT i figure sending both sets of scores will show the adcoms i'm competent enough both academically and in my manual dexterity.

I actually think that a 20 on carving is pretty awesome. I attend UWO and I've spoken to the dean of Western dentistry and he told me that carving isn't considered as heavily as the other sections of the DAT. I think it depends on the school, but carving isn't always the most important section. Is it at UofA? Either way, I think that sending both scores is probably your best bet for Canadian schools. Good luck though!

 

[dackmonkey]

I actually think that a 20 on carving is pretty awesome. I attend UWO and I've spoken to the dean of Western dentistry and he told me that carving isn't considered as heavily as the other sections of the DAT. I think it depends on the school, but carving isn't always the most important section. Is it at UofA? Either way, I think that sending both scores is probably your best bet for Canadian schools. Good luck though!

well maybe my first scores weren't so bad after all! i'm the the UofA now and word on the street is that carving is super important here. i'm only really applying to UofA and UBC anyways because i doubt i'll get in anywhere in the east with my GPA. i'm actually doing my UBC application as we speak haha.

 

[hassana4]

a 20 n then a 26....u must hav ice water runnin in ur veins dude. thats awesome. but im gona disagree with u on carving being the most important aspect at CDN schools. i know UBC counts it heavily but ontario schools r not as picky bout it. atlst UofT and UWO dont look at it that much. not sure bout UofA though. i think the PAT is the scale tipper in most cases at CDN schools. coz AA is pretty close to TS since RC is the only addition. thats wat i think atleast. i cud be wrong...

 

[dackmonkey]

a 20 n then a 26....u must hav ice water runnin in ur veins dude. thats awesome. but im gona disagree with u on carving being the most important aspect at CDN schools. i know UBC counts it heavily but ontario schools r not as picky bout it. atlst UofT and UWO dont look at it that much. not sure bout UofA though. i think the PAT is the scale tipper in most cases at CDN schools. coz AA is pretty close to TS since RC is the only addition. thats wat i think atleast. i cud be wrong...

i thought the heavy weighting of the carving was at most canadian schools (i had only really asked UofA and UBC and simply extrapolated) but i guess i was wrong.

yeah, i have 2 friends who got 29s and 30s on the carving (2 writings each) so i never thought of my scores as spectacular. any of you guys applying at UofA or UBC?

 

[FlossEnthusiast]

ontario schools r not as picky bout it. atlst UofT and UWO dont look at it that much. not sure bout UofA though. i think the PAT is the scale tipper in most cases at CDN schools. coz AA is pretty close to TS since RC is the only addition. thats wat i think atleast. i cud be wrong...

I don't know about UofT, but for sure, Western isn't that picky about carving. RC and PAT both are fairly important though.

With your stats dackmonkey, I think you have a pretty good chance at UWO (the average GPA of their entering class was around 88% this year, I think). I don't know about UofT though, usually they don't extend interviews unless your GPA is above a certain number. I've found that most Canadian schools are all about the numbers. I mean, Western doesn't even ask for LOE's or anything other than transcripts and DAT scores.

Anyway, I don't think I'm going to bother applying to UBC or UofA - for an out-of-province applicant, my stats just aren't that stellar, I don't think. In Canada, I'm only going to apply to Western. To be honest, I don't think I really have a chance anywhere here. WHere are you guys applying in Canada?

 

[dackmonkey]

I don't know about UofT, but for sure, Western isn't that picky about carving. RC and PAT both are fairly important though.

With your stats dackmonkey, I think you have a pretty good chance at UWO (the average GPA of their entering class was around 88% this year, I think). I don't know about UofT though, usually they don't extend interviews unless your GPA is above a certain number. I've found that most Canadian schools are all about the numbers. I mean, Western doesn't even ask for LOE's or anything other than transcripts and DAT scores.

Anyway, I don't think I'm going to bother applying to UBC or UofA - for an out-of-province applicant, my stats just aren't that stellar, I don't think. In Canada, I'm only going to apply to Western. To be honest, I don't think I really have a chance anywhere here. WHere are you guys applying in Canada?

yeah canadian schools are all about the numbers. at the UofA they will send any LOE's received back to the sender. how ******ed is that? you should apply to UBC for sure, they got rid of their out of province quotas last year so everyone is in the same boat!

 

[FlossEnthusiast]

you should apply to UBC for sure, they got rid of their out of province quotas last year so everyone is in the same boat!

I didn't know that. I haven't done much research on Canadian schools besides the ones in Ontario. I still think, even being considered international, I have a waaaay better chance in the states.

 

[hassana4]

im applyin to ubc and uwo. im from UofT and the competition is crazy here in ontario. wat do u guys think my chances r with a 3.73 GPA? my DAT scores are average too i.e 20 on the dot. nothin spectacular. n btw, the avg of the incomin class at UofT this yr was 3.88. i agree with flossenthusiast that our best shot at gettin acceptances are in the US.

 

[dackmonkey]

im applyin to ubc and uwo. im from UofT and the competition is crazy here in ontario. wat do u guys think my chances r with a 3.73 GPA? my DAT scores are average too i.e 20 on the dot. nothin spectacular. n btw, the avg of the incomin class at UofT this yr was 3.88. i agree with flossenthusiast that our best shot at gettin acceptances are in the US.

realistically i'm just banking on the american schools too. my shots at UofA and UBC are below average i'd say.

 

[microserf123]

Actually this years incoming class at UofT had a mean GPA of 3.91!

 

[lizlisadoll]

Haha, ya it was 3.91!
I think this average surpassed that of UT meds!
Hey dackmonkey, I think I'll see you at Columbia on Sept 28!
It's great to have Canadians around 😀

 

[FlossEnthusiast]

Actually this years incoming class at UofT had a mean GPA of 3.91!

Flippin ridiculous.

I wish all of guys the best of luck though. Hopefully I'll hear something good soon *fingers crossed*.

It's definately nice to know that there's some Canadians around. Keep us posted.

 

[dackmonkey]

Haha, ya it was 3.91!
I think this average surpassed that of UT meds!
Hey dackmonkey, I think I'll see you at Columbia on Sept 28!
It's great to have Canadians around 😀

haha it sure is!

 

[SMCohen]

Thought I'd throw in that the dean at Nova also commented on my carving score, and asked me how I prepared for it.

So far I've had one interview, and my second one is coming up - both at American schools. I wouldn't stand a chance at UofT with my GPA.

 

[dackmonkey]

Thought I'd throw in that the dean at Nova also commented on my carving score, and asked me how I prepared for it.

So far I've had one interview, and my second one is coming up - both at American schools. I wouldn't stand a chance at UofT with my GPA.

neither would i hahaha. looks like 3 of us here have interviews at Columbia, and yours is coming up pretty soon. do they especially like canadians or something? haha. good luck at your interview.

 

[Ital91]

I am also a Canadian and am planning to apply to american schools if I am not accepted at a canadian school. Do you guys thinks it is worth it to write the american dat or is the canadian dat sufficient?

 

[SMCohen]

I think the Canadian DAT is sufficient - some schools say they prefer the American DAT, but will accept the Canadian one. The schools that don't accept the Canadian DAT are generally schools that also don't accept international students.

 

[hassana4]

just out of curiosity, how did u guys study for the carving portion? did it take an insane amount of practise to get 23's and 24's or is it all about luck? i got a 20 n i thot i deserved a 15 coz imo i completely messed it up.

 

[dackmonkey]

just out of curiosity, how did u guys study for the carving portion? did it take an insane amount of practise to get 23's and 24's or is it all about luck? i got a 20 n i thot i deserved a 15 coz imo i completely messed it up.

i just bought a bunch of soaps from the CDA and bought a DAT carving book with a bunch of sample designs from my school. did about 20 carvings or so, and tried to time myself every time and see what i needed to improve on.

 

[pbure]

I think the Canadian DAT is sufficient - some schools say they prefer the American DAT, but will accept the Canadian one. The schools that don't accept the Canadian DAT are generally schools that also don't accept international students.

Take it from me..write the U.S DAT if you want to apply in the states. I had a 21/21/18 on the canadian DAT's and still didnt get in. I just wrote the U.S DAT's last week..got a 20/21/18..so hoping for some better luck this cycle.

Applying to McGill,Universite de Montreal and Universite de Laval also..

 

[prez_al]

I don't think it matters whether you write the American vs. Canadian DAT. In the end they only care for your Academic Average and your PAT score. I had little trouble getting into a school in the states with just the Canadian DAT. If they accept either test, then you should be good taking one or the other. And carving doesn't even matter anymore in the Ontario schools as Western and Toronto don't care for carving. Western also doesn't care about the PAT.

 

[Christine Kao]

I'm wondering whether I should waste $230 applying to U of T.
If the mean GPA was 3.91, then it means I'm not allowed to be accepted.

Whatever, I'll just donate them some money. They can use it to buy equipment to teach the brighter students.

 

[sehrmoon]

hey guys.. iknow its like comparing apples and oranges but did you find the canadian dat harder or the american one?I have mine coming up soon,i sent my old canadian scores which are not so great so i m retaking it. so can anyone comment? I am preparing all i can for the orgo and qr... so can anyone advise pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

[sloken]

christine, I'm with you on that dilemma.
I'd love to move to Toronto, but their small number of OOP spots plus ridiculously high mean GPA is only slightly discouraging.

 

[sehrmoon]

how are you guys studying for bio and chem for the canadian DAT? i know the american one is a bit harder for the sciences...... anyone done both.... help

 

[SMCohen]

I used Kaplan to study for chem, and Schaum's Biology to study for bio.

 

[Ital91]

Im using the kaplan blue book and my first year bio and chem texts. One month to go!! I cant wait to get this test over with. Juggling classes and studyin for the dat is getting to me. Has anyone else other than sehrmoon heard that the canadian dat is easier?