cDAT to take or not to take???????

[chasinmaerd]

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Hey guys (esp those applying to or attending Canadian dental schools), I know this is very last minute but I really need your help 🙁 any opinions or advice would do!!

I'm writing the cDAT for the first time in TWO days but NOT ready for it at all...
My parents and friends have suggested that I try it anyway just to see "what it is like". Although I agree with them in that writing the exam alone would be a good experience for me to do better next time, they don't really know much about pre-dental and won't probably know what is the safest choice.

My question is if I end up writing the DAT this time just for the sake of experience and get a very poor score, would it have negative impact on my application in the next cycle even if my retake in Feb has a much better score (goal is to get 23+)? Is it more beneficial in any way to get good results at first attempt rather than multiple attempts?

Also, if I've already paid for my cDAT but end up not taking it, would it appear in the record as a score of zero or would my registration be omitted entirely? If it does appear as a zero, would this be considered in my future application?

Thanks so much everyone!!!

 

[Johnwickk]

Hey guys (esp those applying to or attending Canadian dental schools), I know this is very last minute but I really need your help 🙁 any opinions or advice would do!!

I'm writing the cDAT for the first time in TWO days but NOT ready for it at all...
My parents and friends have suggested that I try it anyway just to see "what it is like". Although I agree with them in that writing the exam alone would be a good experience for me to do better next time, they don't really know much about pre-dental and won't probably know what is the safest choice.

My question is if I end up writing the DAT this time just for the sake of experience and get a very poor score, would it have negative impact on my application in the next cycle even if my retake in Feb has a much better score (goal is to get 23+)? Is it more beneficial in any way to get good results at first attempt rather than multiple attempts?

Also, if I've already paid for my cDAT but end up not taking it, would it appear in the record as a score of zero or would my registration be omitted entirely? If it does appear as a zero, would this be considered in my future application?

Thanks so much everyone!!!

I'm writing it on saturday as well. I suggest you take it just to see how it is so you will know what to expect in February. Alot of people take it twice and i don't think it looks bad at all unless you score lower the second time..Just my two cents

 

[BeaverLover]

but NOT ready for it at all...

I would NOT take it if you're not ready. Don't you Canadians have exams from previous years as example/practice? It doesn't make sense to take the test purely for experience if you're not even prepared...would you take biochem for an F to MAYBE get an A the second time? Experience won't help much if you don't even have the foundation down. Best of luck!

 

[predent_mathlete]

I agree with @BeaverLover. It looks much better to take once and nail it then it does to have to compensate for bombing it once.

 

[Johnwickk]

^But the canadian dat takes place only twice a year. November and February. So IF he messes up in February he can only retake it the following year which will delay his application process