Contemplating on retaking the DAT

[timeforacleanin]

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Hi,

I've been contemplating on retaking the DAT after my first rejection. Was wondering if it would make any real difference for the other schools if my scores improved.

AA 19
BIO 20
GCHEM 21
OCHEM 18
PAT 22
QRT 18
RC 16 - yeah.... 🙁

My GPA isn't incredibly high (3.18). So I was wondering what you guys might think. I have thought about improving the GPA but I don't think it will go up much since I already have alot of credits.

Thanks 🙁.

 

[Avery07]

I think you should.

I am in the same boat as you with a 19AA 19TS 19 PAT. I didn't have any really bad scores though as all my sections were 19 with the exception of QR at 18 and OC at 20.

But with not getting in this cycle, I don't want to do sit out again. There's too many 20+'s out there.

 

[Jia7]

i would take it again just for the RC score. i am not absolutely sure about this but i think a lot of schools have a cut off score around 17 (or something) so you want to be sure that schools don't reject you just for that 16.

good luck!

 

[molar3]

hey,
im in the same boat as you too. I think you scores are average/decent and if you had a great gpa (3.5+) you probably wouldnt need to take it again. Since your gpa is low-ish, you need to aim for a 23+ to help boost your chances of getting in especially if you arent going to take any more classes (ie-post bacc or masters). Also you should up your volunteer /work expirience/shadowing time. You need to do something more this time around starting with improving your DAT.
My DAT was a 20AA/20TS/16 pat (fmllll) and had 16 qr and RC 25, so bc of my low PAT and low gpa (3.3 cum, 2.77 science...fml again) im retaking my DAT (hopefully aiming for a 23+ , clearly this is what i was doing the first time around but it didnt happen unfortunatley!! pat is a killer for me) and i registered to take 20 credits of science classes this coming semester ive also started working at a dental clinic. UGH this process is so stressful. Goodluck to you and if i were you id defly retake your dat.

 

[molar3]

I think you should.

I am in the same boat as you with a 19AA 19TS 19 PAT. I didn't have any really bad scores though as all my sections were 19 with the exception of QR at 18 and OC at 20.

But with not getting in this cycle, I don't want to do sit out again. There's too many 20+'s out there.
__________________

@ avery, i remember reading your DAT breakdown this previous summer i believe, and if i remember correctly you felt pretty defeated during your dat right? I rmbr reading something like that or that you had a terrible headache (something like that i forget), but you still came out with a 19AA which is good considering the way you felt. I'm not sure why you werent accepted bc your gpa and stats are pretty good/average for alot of accepted dental students i think. Perhaps if you had applied to different/more schools (ie-big private universities) and applied early perhaps you wouldve been accepted? Im not sure, i really thought youd get in but i hope you dont think its the end of the world that you didnt (bc this is how i felt......i had to snap out of it after a day of wallowing) . are you going to do anything diff this time around? When are you planning on reapplying? (ie-this coming summer or the next?).
hopefully we'll all get in next time we apply!!!

 

[Erhatstil]

I think you should.

I am in the same boat as you with a 19AA 19TS 19 PAT. I didn't have any really bad scores though as all my sections were 19 with the exception of QR at 18 and OC at 20.

But with not getting in this cycle, I don't want to do sit out again. There's too many 20+'s out there.

<no hijack>

avery i remember you working super hard last time preparing for the dat..didn't you basically write a bio book? you get that ish published?

i'm surprised you don't have an acceptance. what will you do if things don't work out this cycle??

 

[Avery07]

I think you should.

I am in the same boat as you with a 19AA 19TS 19 PAT. I didn't have any really bad scores though as all my sections were 19 with the exception of QR at 18 and OC at 20.

But with not getting in this cycle, I don't want to do sit out again. There's too many 20+'s out there.
__________________

@ avery, i remember reading your DAT breakdown this previous summer i believe, and if i remember correctly you felt pretty defeated during your dat right? I rmbr reading something like that or that you had a terrible headache (something like that i forget), but you still came out with a 19AA which is good considering the way you felt. I'm not sure why you werent accepted bc your gpa and stats are pretty good/average for alot of accepted dental students i think. Perhaps if you had applied to different/more schools (ie-big private universities) and applied early perhaps you wouldve been accepted? Im not sure, i really thought youd get in but i hope you dont think its the end of the world that you didnt (bc this is how i felt......i had to snap out of it after a day of wallowing) . are you going to do anything diff this time around? When are you planning on reapplying? (ie-this coming summer or the next?).
hopefully we'll all get in next time we apply!!!

<no hijack>

avery i remember you working super hard last time preparing for the dat..didn't you basically write a bio book? you get that ish published?

i'm surprised you don't have an acceptance. what will you do if things don't work out this cycle??

Thanks for the kind words guys. I'm still not certain why I didn't get in. My GPA is low at 3.3 but my last 3 semesters were 4.0s as is this semester. The only reason it is low is because I had a rough start my first year so my 3.3 really isn't a true 3.3.

I still have applications being reviewed at Midwestern AZ, Midwestern IL, NYU, and UoP however I am not going to try to get myself up in hopes of getting an interview at any of these. After being declined by UMKC, I am pretty crushed. I feel like I've done so much with this school for the past two years to ensure that I get accepted-- I never thought a rejection would be a possibility. With banking on UMKC, I was slow to get secondaries to the others schools and actually just sent NYU a check yesterday. I never thought I would need the other schools so I didn't want to waste their time. Hindsight's 20/20.

We can not change the cards we're dealt, just how we play the hand. That said, sitting around wallowing in self pity isn't going to do me any good. It was great yesterday but it's time to start preparing for the next cycle.

I killed myself studying for the DAT last time but was very sick the week before. I felt like nothing was coming together for me but proceeded to take it anyways as I could not imagine studying one more day after 6+ months of 5 or more hours a day of studying. With how I felt that day, I could not have been happier with a 19. Ultimately, bio was the death of me as I had 80% advanced A&P questions. I am taking human anatomy and physiology this spring so I plan to take the DAT again at the end of the semester with about 6-8 weeks of prep. I know everything about bio without needing to study as I tutor and teach this subject at the university-- I'll spend the time brushing up on my chems and just try to not stress out. Hopefully it gets me the 20+ I always wanted. I plan on submitting my AADSAS the day it opens up and applying to probably 20 schools. Right now I'm also considering trying to cram out a one year masters (if UMKC thinks I should) or at least doing post-bacc. I would really like to enjoy my year but if I do it will probably have me sitting out another year.

I'm afraid that if I don't try a retake, schools won't think I'm as committed to becoming a dentist on round 2.

 

[molar3]

Avery---do you graduate undergrad this spring? So youll be resubmitting in the summer of '11? thats my plan as well.
If you were to do a masters starting in the fall of '11 or a post bacc starting then too....will you still apply in the summer? I'm not sure if schools will wait for academic updates or will even wait until your done your 1 year masters to give you a decision, or do they...? I'm confused and trying to plan out my own plan of action as well and im wondering if i were to take fall courses in '11 if theyd wait to see my grades then too or if theyd just make a decision when i submit in the summer? im so confused...
i feel like some schools ask to see spring grades dont they? or is it only fall grades?
i really dont want to do a masters.....im hoping theres another route i can take...sighh

 

[Avery07]

Avery---do you graduate undergrad this spring? So youll be resubmitting in the summer of '11? thats my plan as well.
If you were to do a masters starting in the fall of '11 or a post bacc starting then too....will you still apply in the summer? I'm not sure if schools will wait for academic updates or will even wait until your done your 1 year masters to give you a decision, or do they...? I'm confused and trying to plan out my own plan of action as well and im wondering if i were to take fall courses in '11 if theyd wait to see my grades then too or if theyd just make a decision when i submit in the summer? im so confused...
i feel like some schools ask to see spring grades dont they? or is it only fall grades?
i really dont want to do a masters.....im hoping theres another route i can take...sighh

Schools will see spring grades. -- and the schools that have me under review right now told me to send them my fall grades as well. So if you have some good semesters right now, they will help you this cycle as well as next. Right now schools only see three 4.0 semesters for me in a row. After this year there will be five 4.0 semesters so I'm sure that will be enough to convince them I'm for real. Nonetheless, if they know I'm working on a masters or doing post-bach, it will only add to my application. Granted, they will most likely not see any grades but the fact that I am continuing to better myself is what will help me. However, if I'm sitting in the same position a year from now, I'll be glad that there will be 4.0 post-degree work to show them. And sorry if I sound arrogant about continuing 4.0 work.. I treat school like a life or death situation when it comes to not getting an A, which at this point, it is. There isn't anything I wouldn't do to keep my trend alive.

So yeah, schools will still accept you while you have a masters or post-bach in progress; just as they would when you have your undergrad in progress. And yes I'm graduating this spring.

 

[yappy]

It kills me Avery that you only applied to four schools. I hope you get in this cycle. Way to keep that 4.0 going.