Chance me?!

[ANsung23]

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Hi everyone, hope everyone's day has been well 🙂

So this past week I took my 1st DAT and my breakdown is

PAT: 23
QR: 19
RC: 23
GC: 20
OC: 20
BIO: 20
TS: 20
AA: 20

My cGPA is 3.5 and my sGPA is 3.6

and I am worried that my TS score is not that good and my score is definitely on the "lower" end. My dream school is UCSF (and UCLA -- however wishful thinking) and highly want to get into dental research. I am definitely opened minded to other schools, but staying in California is preferable and research is something I'm passionate about. I have obtained a degree in Neurobiology and have done research my entire undergrad career as well as participated in the usual volunteering/leadership/sports/etc. I am soon going to be transitioning into working with a dental researcher at my university around next week and am currently working as a DA at an orthodontics/general dentist hybrid practice. I also have good personal relationships with a number of professors and keep contact with them occasionally.

I have been lurking around forums and seen that even those with 23s get rejected/or no interviews from UCSF and I understand that schools look more than just DAT scores, however it's still quite surprising to see it happen. Even so, does my score warrant a retake?

Thank you everyone for their time because the advice and discussions that happen on these forums really do impact the community!

 

[JLT223]

I wouldn't retake the DAT just because you want to attend a specific school. That seems overboard IMO. Your score is in-line with the average matriculating dental student. Contrary to what you may see on this site, you don't need a 24 AA to get accepted. Show interest to the program and keep in touch with them before the application process.

 

[akaopua]

UCSF is really hard to get into, UCLA is more realistic tbh.

 

[Lynndent]

Hey definitely don’t retake your DAT, you don’t want to risk getting a lower score and having to retake a 3rd time.

 

[ANsung23]

UCSF is really hard to get into, UCLA is more realistic tbh.

Oh Really? What makes you say that?

 

[ANsung23]

I wouldn't retake the DAT just because you want to attend a specific school. That seems overboard IMO. Your score is in-line with the average matriculating dental student. Contrary to what you may see on this site, you don't need a 24 AA to get accepted. Show interest to the program and keep in touch with them before the application process.

I understand what you mean, but the schools that I am aiming for that are heavier on the research typically have an average of 22? (I might be wrong) so doesn't that mean I should at least get the average to stand at least a chance to be looked at?