Competitive DAT

[CJ122638]

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Hi all! AADSAS just calculated my GPAs at:

Undergrad:
BCP 3.46 (72hrs)
SCI 3.19 (79hrs)
NON SCI 3.72 (54 hrs)
OVERALL 3.41

Cummulative (with 2 years of grad school):
BCP 3.39 (95hrs)
SCI 3.19 (102hrs)
NON SCI 3.72 (54hrs)
OVERALL 3.37

I was going to take the DAT next week, but am now thinking I need a little more time to prepare. What do you guys think would be the minimum score I could get to still be competitive?

Also, do you think it would be better to take the DAT now and get 20s, or study for another month, get 23s (or some high number) but be applying a month later?

Thanks so much!!!!!

 

[mlle]

19s at least, IMHO

 

[khkai]

I just noticed that your cumulative course hours are in the 70s and 80s for undergrad. I double majored in college and only have about 50 some hours for each GPA. Did I calculate my hours wrong or is this pretty normal.

Thanks!

 

[Typo]

Aim for at least a 20.

My GPAs were almost identical to yours, and I scored a 24 on the DAT. I only applied to 6 schools, and got into 2 - the reason why I only got into two, I think, is not only because I applied to too few schools, but because I applied to the wrong schools. Two of them were state schools that accepted hardly any non-residents (UNC and Oregon), and one of them is looking for a much different type of applicant than me (Arizona).

In other words, scoring high on the DAT didn't help me a ton because I applied to the wrong schools.

Whether you take the DAT now or later, my advice is that you apply to a lot of schools - more than 10, or even 15+ if you can afford it. Apply to schools that accept a good chunk of out-of-state students, and maybe shy away from those that accept only a few. Don't assume you're a shoo-in anywhere - I assumed UOP would welcome me with open arms since "UOP loves high DAT scores," but they denied me. I think that 20s would definitely be enough to get you in somewhere.

I guess all of this doesn't really answer your initial question though. 🙂 In my opinion, waiting another month to take the DAT wouldn't hurt you significantly, especially if you've already applied through AADSAS and they're processing your stuff. However, make sure that you bust your rear so that you really do score better. If you've got the right materials (Kaplan's practice tests and explanations) and make a serious time commitment, it could be worth it.

How are you scoring on practice tests?

 

[CJ122638]

khkai: I dont really know about the hours. I majored and minored in a science (Biomedical sciences major and Chemistry minor). I didnt take significantly more science hours than what were required for those. I have an additional 24 science hours from grad school. Hope that helps.

Typo: I have only been using the Kaplan blue books (that I got from ebay) and Kaplan practice tests (that I got for free on this site). I have been studying for a little over two weeks. My bio score has been around 21 the whole time. My GC and Orgo scores were REALLY low when I took my first practice test (I havent seen any gen chem since my first semester of freshman year) but are now both +/- 20. My PAT score has been above 25 every time I have taken a practice test (but that is with Kaplan angles). And reading and math vary alot (between 19-22). So I dont know where I stand.

When you say Arizona is looking for a different type of applicant than you, how do you mean? What are they looking for that you dont feel you fit?

 

[Typo]

Typo: I have only been using the Kaplan blue books (that I got from ebay) and Kaplan practice tests (that I got for free on this site). I have been studying for a little over two weeks. My bio score has been around 21 the whole time. My GC and Orgo scores were REALLY low when I took my first practice test (I havent seen any gen chem since my first semester of freshman year) but are now both +/- 20. My PAT score has been above 25 every time I have taken a practice test (but that is with Kaplan angles). And reading and math vary alot (between 19-22). So I dont know where I stand.

When you say Arizona is looking for a different type of applicant than you, how do you mean? What are they looking for that you dont feel you fit?

If you can consistently score around 19-20 academic average, you should be in good shape. Most people's scores go up by 2-3 points (some people's go down, though). Kaplan's science sections (especially gen chem, I thought) tend to be fairly brutal, so you should be able to make decent increases. You probably already know this, but expect your PAT scores to go down - mine were about the same, and went down by about 3-4 points.

I'm not really an expert on Arizona, but from what people say on SDN they are looking for "non-traditional" applicants. I'm still fuzzy on what exactly "non-traditional" means, but having some grad school completed might put you in that boat. I was also extremely weak in the service area when I applied (I only had about 20 hours of volunteer service), so I'm guessing it had something to do with that as well. Friends of mine who interviewed there got vibes that the school is aimed toward training dentists who are more in the mindset that dental healthcare is a right, and who are enthusiastic about pro bono work. If this is true, I can see why my lack of service hurt my application. This is all just from random stuff I've read on SDN and heard from friends, though, so someone who's actually attending the school can probably give you a much better idea of what they're looking for. I was rejected without an interview, so I'm pretty much just running on hearsay here.

 

[HC_smiles]

i def agree that applying to more schools are key. also it helps to do some background research on the schools you are looking at. for example, unless u live in cali or have stellar scores and gpa, its pretty hard to get in. same w/ chicago. i kno thats what helped me weed out what schools i didnt apply to. im in nj so it kinda sux cuz theres only one school here. as for taking the dat, it sounds like ur in shape! my suggestion would be to take it now, so just in case youre not happy with your scores, by the time you can take it again, it shouldnt be too late. also, its good to get your primarys in as early as possible.

good luck!