Chances at getting in...

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JPizzle

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So im a little concerned about my DAT scores and wanted your opinions on my chances at getting into a school...

AA - 18
PA - 17

oGPA - 3.7
sGPA - 3.55
 
JPizzle said:
So im a little concerned about my DAT scores and wanted your opinions on my chances at getting into a school...

AA - 18
PA - 17

oGPA - 3.7
sGPA - 3.55
Click to expand...


Well your GPA is good, but your DAT is a "little" low...but it's not too bad actually. I'd apply and see what happens.
 
Another case where the sgpa does not reflect the dat scores.
 
doc toothache said:
Another case where the sgpa does not reflect the dat scores.
Click to expand...
the DAT has nothing to do with academic ability....its simply a way to trim the fat......standardized tests are a silly, waste of time
 
wasn't there a report indicating DAT scores to be more indicative of a student's academic success in dental school compared to an individual's GPA?
 
CANgnome said:
wasn't there a report indicating DAT scores to be more indicative of a student's academic success in dental school compared to an individual's GPA?
Click to expand...

i would imagine so... GPA's can be inflated/deflated depending on the school.
 
standardized tests importance >>>> gpa. i know CANgnome would agree 😛
 
JBieber said:
standardized tests importance >>>> gpa. i know CANgnome would agree 😛
Click to expand...

you know he went to 2 different schools? Undergrad and masters were done at separate schools, look at the difference...

well let's not get in to grade inflation and deflation... let the admissions people deal with this...
 
I'm responding to comments above saying the dat doesnt reflect ones knowedge in the prereq sciences not to the OP's little slightly below average DAT that is made up for by his great GPA.

If one does so well in the science prereqs, understood the material, obtains a great gpa - how could they be foiled by the DAT?
The answer is (aside from testing disorders) that if they didn't score high they never really learned/understood the material, indicating they played "the game" in order to get a high grade yet didnt really retain much.
 
pinhi said:
the DAT has nothing to do with academic ability....its simply a way to trim the fat......standardized tests are a silly, waste of time
Click to expand...

standardized tests run the academic world. want to make it to the next level? do well on standardized tests. SAT's before college, DAT/MCAT/LSAT/GRE/etc before professional school, boards before you're let loose.
 
I thought GPA is more important than DAT... 4 years vs. less than 6 months (for most people).
 
I think both DAT and GPA serve very important purposes. While the GPA provides a measure of consistency, discipline and hard work that is so often required in dental school, DAT reflects the individuals ability to pass the boards and apply knowledge learned in classes since it is not the most straightforward test. I think having a high GPA but average DAT may still get you interviews, having a very low gpa (3.0ish) with a high DAT may still be a little risky in getting admissions ---just my 2 cents..
 
I would have to agree with dentalpath with the fact that the DAT and GPA are both important, and i do not think that one completely outweighs the other. It would be hard for me to believe that a 4 hour test shows the type of person applying. Back to the original post, will the 17 on the PAT throw up red flags?

* i also think that most dental schools have a good idea of which universitys have those inflated/deflated GPA's...
 
JPizzle said:
I would have to agree with dentalpath with the fact that the DAT and GPA are both important, and i do not think that one completely outweighs the other. It would be hard for me to believe that a 4 hour test shows the type of person applying. Back to the original post, will the 17 on the PAT throw up red flags?

* i also think that most dental schools have a good idea of which universitys have those inflated/deflated GPA's...
Click to expand...

I don't think so... but you should def. call the schools that you're interested.
 
JBieber said:
standardized tests importance >>>> gpa. i know CANgnome would agree 😛
Click to expand...

😛

I hope it is this way 😀. But honestly, I think they both have a pull a large amount of weight, the DAT just more. Undoubtedly, there are schools that weight them identically and not one over the other, or perhaps even schools that favor high GPA more than DAT scores.

There are people who are accepted every year that has 16/17 and even 15 AAs 😱.


add: Personally, I was completely lost during undergrad with my family troubles and financial issues, so my personal dreams/academics were on the way way back side of things until very recently. But there are people who took a higher course-load with the same situation get 3.5+ at the same school, probably. Maybe. So I feel that GPA CAN tell some things. But... this is probably all messed up by grade inflation/deflation. 😳
 
Last edited:
I think the discussion of DAT versus GPA is a very complicated one and there are so many factors involved and it is challenging task to reach a balance between the two while implementing a fair method of evaluation for the applicants.

For example, difference between a 22 and a 24 in a Bio section is ONLY ONE QUESTION !! This is similar to GCHEM and OCHEM and ... Now, how much better is a student who scored 24 versus a student who scored 24 ?

Now, dealing solely on GPA creates more problems. As some of you mentioned, many student are lost their first or even second year in school and then usually start to do better. This will drastically influence their GPA and reduces their chances of admission.

Now, should we look at the Trend in GPA and care more about the improvement in ones academic resume?

Then the question of the course load comes into play. It is much harder to get a 4.0 GPA when you are taking a full load of 5 course per semester than 3 course ? Both are considered full time.

How about a college versus a university ? It is much easier to get better mark in a smaller size colleges where there is not many bright minds around you rather than in a well established university and ...

At the end, I think different schools are different based on their personal experiences.
 
CANgnome said:
😛

I hope it is this way 😀. But honestly, I think they both have a pull a large amount of weight, the DAT just more. Undoubtedly, there are schools that weight them identically and not one over the other, or perhaps even schools that favor high GPA more than DAT scores.

There are people who are accepted every year that has 16/17 and even 15 AAs 😱.


add: Personally, I was completely lost during undergrad with my family troubles and financial issues, so my personal dreams/academics were on the way way back side of things until very recently. But there are people who took a higher course-load with the same situation get 3.5+ at the same school, probably. Maybe. So I feel that GPA CAN tell some things. But... this is probably all messed up by grade inflation/deflation. 😳
Click to expand...

i hear ya. on top of that, U of T has been known for grade deflation, especially st. george campus.
 
pinhi said:
the DAT has nothing to do with academic ability....its simply a way to trim the fat......standardized tests are a silly, waste of time
Click to expand...

Such a ridiculous statement.
 
DrTank said:
Such a ridiculous statement.
Click to expand...

Not really...All it shows is that you learned how to take the exam...Im a terrible test taker, and got a 20AA just becuase I learned how to take the exam.
 
xplayer2885 said:
Not really...All it shows is that you learned how to take the exam...Im a terrible test taker, and got a 20AA just becuase I learned how to take the exam.
Click to expand...

ur not a terrible test taker
 
wantVCUdental said:
are you being sarcastic?

too bad admissions people don't think that way... sigh...
Click to expand...

no, not sarcastic. are u canadian? within canada, st. george campus has that reputation at least... but many americans think canadian gpa's, on the whole, are inflated. im not sure where they get that idea from ...
 
JBieber said:
no, not sarcastic. are u canadian? within canada, st. george campus has that reputation at least... but many americans think canadian gpa's, on the whole, are inflated. im not sure where they get that idea from ...
Click to expand...
yes i am canadian, are you?
I am a UTSG graduate 🙂, how do you know about UTSG? some people think our system is inflated because only people with 3.8+ get in to dental school...

have you gotten any interviews with those killer DAT scores?
 
xplayer2885 said:
Not really...All it shows is that you learned how to take the exam...Im a terrible test taker, and got a 20AA just becuase I learned how to take the exam.
Click to expand...
exactly xplayer.....
Not a redic statement....its fact..some people have soooooo very much still to learn
 
wantVCUdental said:
yes i am canadian, are you?
I am a UTSG graduate 🙂, how do you know about UTSG? some people think our system is inflated because only people with 3.8+ get in to dental school...

have you gotten any interviews with those killer DAT scores?
Click to expand...

went to UTSG for 2 years 😉

no interviews yet... 🙁 actually my app isn't even complete at most places bc i took my DAT late july but hoping to hear from places in a few weeks :xf:
 
wantVCUdental said:
yes i am canadian, are you?
I am a UTSG graduate 🙂, how do you know about UTSG? some people think our system is inflated because only people with 3.8+ get in to dental school...

have you gotten any interviews with those killer DAT scores?
Click to expand...

UTSG is def. a hardcore school. No doubt on that. But we have to admit that there are still some really smart ones with like 3.9+ gpa from UTSG and majority of students who go U of T med/dent are from UTSG and they have like 3.8 gpa.

I don't think Canadian gpas are inflated...
 
JBieber said:
went to UTSG for 2 years 😉

no interviews yet... 🙁 actually my app isn't even complete at most places bc i took my DAT late july but hoping to hear from places in a few weeks :xf:
Click to expand...

Be Ready to face like 10+ interviews 😀
 
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