Dat 9/27

[dental24]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hey Everyone!

I wanted to thank all of the SDNers who have contributed to help others out. I cant thank everyone enough for their advice and study methods. I thought I would post my breakdown and feedback on the DAT even though its not that great:

PAT: 16
QR: 18
RC: 21
BIO: 18
GC: 20
OC: 16
TS: 18
AA: 19

I have sGPA-3.21 and a cGPA-3.35. Can anyone tell me if I have to retake the DAT? Also could ya'll give me your feedback? In my mind I kind of know that I have to but I really dont know if schools look at just AA and TS.
I have 2 leadership experiences, lots of EC's, great LORs, shadowed 3 dentists. BTW I've already applied for Fall 2013 admissions and have even interviewed earlier in September with one Dental School.

Sorry guys my post got deleted so I've put it up again with an edit.

I recently recovered from the stomach flu, I was on meds even till my exam. I took one med that made me really dehydrated so I thought I would drink lots of water before I started so I wouldn't faint or anything. I did and this was not a good idea. I ended up having to pee during OC and PAT. I didn't want to get up and go in the middle of my test because I was afraid I would lose lots of time so I wasn't really thinking for these sections. Totally sux because I know I could've done better especially since I got lie 21+ on CDP.

Here's the complete breakdown
BIO (18): Qvault is the BEST! Do not go for the details. If you feel like specific things are just too hard to remember skip it (put an answer down) and come back later if you have time.

For GC & OC, USE CHADS and all of his Quizzes! If you have time keep practicing with destroyer, topscore, and qvault (no qvault for OC).

GC (20): CHADS is all you need. I didn't even use Destroyer even though I had it. I used Qvault and Topscore to practice and it was pretty good as it kept me on time. I think the goal here is to understand all of the concepts and know how to setup. Just go through Chads and do all of his quizzes, topscore, and qvault for practice.

OC (16): CHADS!!! Qvault sux for this section there were too MANY errors. DO NOT USE QVAULT for OC. I used topscore and about 1/3 of destroyer. I also did chad's quizzes. Know basics.

PAT (16): I know it doesn't look too good but def could've done better if I would've just used the restroom lol. PAT will be easy if you PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! It was mostly like CDP and achiever. The only thing that was difficult was that in Keyholes two of the answers looked the same and you had to know which one was the right proportion. Trust me when I tell you that its not that obvious . TFE like CDP. Angles like CDP and achiever. Pattern folding like CDP. Cubes were EASY!

RC (21): Easy, I did one topscore test and one Qvault test got 21 on both so I didn't study. I used SEARCH and DESTROY

QR (18): CHADS and Qvault is great for this section. I was a little slow on timing but the questions are easy. You just need to practice and just answer all of the easy questions first. Chads helps with your conversions so use him

Overall the DAT is easy, you just have to practice every day. Its not a hard exam, I know everyone here wants to do well but if you sincerely work hard by doing what other SDNers have said a million times youll do fine!

Use these materials and you'll do GREAT!!!
PAT: CDP, Achiever and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ud0ZX0eEFA
BIO: Qvault and Kaplans or Cliffs, topscore, 2007 and 2009 exams (you want all diff types of questions so you have more knowedlge, its not about how well you do on the exams as it is you understanding what you got wrong)
GC: CHADS and his quizzes, Topscore, Qvault
OC: CHADS and his quisses, topscore, Destroyer
RC: Search and Destroy (practice if you aren't a fast reader)
QR: Chads and Qvault


Good luck to you all and I hope everyone is able to destroy the DAT. Lemme know if you have any ques Ill be happy to help 🙂

 

[wallypredoc]

Re-take no doubt. Shoot for a 21 to make up for that low GPA. You will might get an instate interview, but your odds are slim.

 

[Rootz90]

If you are shooting for ANY dental school, I say NO to a retake.

 

[wallypredoc]

I had better stats than yours and did not get in last cycle. I interviewed very well, and shadowed eight different dentists. I was told to re-take my DAT with a 19AA and a 20TS.

 

[dental24]

I had better stats than yours and did not get in last cycle. I interviewed very well, and shadowed eight different dentists. I was told to re-take my DAT with a 19AA and a 20TS.

Yeah I understand. I'm not saying that I have even average stats but I figured since I already interviewed with one school, I have a slight shot. I have lots of ECs, volunteer, leadership experience, and dentists in the family. I'm thinking that each applicant is differently viewed. I talked to a few schools today and they told me that my scores were fine and that they look at an applicant as a whole. Some other schools today told me that they were pretty strict on the DAT cutoffs needing a 17 above in all sections.

If you interviewed well like you said, Im wondering what they were really looking for...I mean your DAT seems great so wondering what they really want.

Dont get me wrong, I'm considering retaking but I just wanted to know ya'lls opinion get some feedback since i know many SDNers have been through this. I get to learn something new whenever i hear back from different peeps. Thanks your help 🙂

 

[NhuPT]

I would personally be worried about 16, especially on PAT and science. Also it's October, you are 4 months late in the cycle. However, if you retake it, it would be in January.....so it's a very tough call.
Wish you best!

 

[kevinrho]

Looks like you are in great shape if you already had an interview. That means everything else in your application was desirable considering you didn't even have your DAT yet. However, go with what you have. I don't recall the exact dates, but perhaps a re-take in january would be a little late. I say at this point there is nothing you can really do besides see where your scores take you this application cycle. If you get more interviews, that means you are competitive enough to even land interviews. If perhaps nothing else comes your way, then you'll have to re-evaluate your situation and perhaps retake.

Do you feel confident that you will do better? In your mind do you feel that you could have put a little more effort in your studying? That is something that you have to consider and make a decision for yourself. There are some people who re-take and do significantly better, some do the same, and some actually do worse.

I do agree with you in the fact that each applicant is viewed differently. There will always be people with better stats and lower stats who land interviews and get acceptances.

Good luck.

 

[dental24]

Looks like you are in great shape if you already had an interview. That means everything else in your application was desirable considering you didn't even have your DAT yet. However, go with what you have. I don't recall the exact dates, but perhaps a re-take in january would be a little late. I say at this point there is nothing you can really do besides see where your scores take you this application cycle. If you get more interviews, that means you are competitive enough to even land interviews. If perhaps nothing else comes your way, then you'll have to re-evaluate your situation and perhaps retake.

Do you feel confident that you will do better? In your mind do you feel that you could have put a little more effort in your studying? That is something that you have to consider and make a decision for yourself. There are some people who re-take and do significantly better, some do the same, and some actually do worse.

I do agree with you in the fact that each applicant is viewed differently. There will always be people with better stats and lower stats who land interviews and get acceptances.

Good luck.

Thankss! Yeah youre right. I'm still going to be studying these next few months so I have everything fresh on my mind. I do feel I could do better the next time around for sure. Although January might be a little late retake, Im thinking for the schools that havent sent me rejections by then I could send in my new scores. Worst case situation, I'll have to reapply, but even then my DAT retake in January would cover for the next cycle.

I know exactly how to study and I know that I should have probably taken the exam when I wasn't sick, so I'm going to really make sure I do well the next time. Thanks for all your help!! 🙂🙂

 

[jhmcknight]

I would probably retake and reapply next cycle with your (hopefully) stronger scores. If possible, set aside a couple month to really study hard for the test without having to worry about other stuff. Obviously easier said than done if you are still in school or working in the spring. I would retake sometime in the spring and apply in June when it opens up again.

At least from the schools that I talked to, 16 didn't reach their cutoffs. Contact the school to find out though. Its great that you have an interview though! That means you are doing something right! Calling the schools you are interested in is your best bet. Either way, you have a few months to think about it and see how this cycle turns out.