DAT advice- retake?

[iamtony]

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I've taken the DAT 3 times now and each time I walked in more confident than the time before. Unfortunately, I walked out depressed at the outcome. I just need advice on whether you guys think it would be a good decision to attempt another time or go in to next years cycle with my scores. If it was my second or third time I would have with no hesitation but going on fourth, I am starting to get worried and don't know how much they will look down on it. It's a risky maneuver and even if I am confident I can do better, what if I don't? There is always that chance.

My GPA is somewhat solid enough I believe. I graduated and am now taking courses to bump it up a little.
Overall 3.76
Science 3.61

.Academic Average 19 19 20
Perceptual 17 17 16
Quantitative Reasoning 17 17 19
Reading Comprehension 26 23 21
Biology 19 19 17
General Chemistry 16 17 21
Organic Chemistry 16 18 21
Total Science 17 18 20.

I know there's room for improvement but I just don't know anymore! I know perceptual is a weakness and I would really need to bump that up.

I am proud that I was able to bump up math and both chemistry. Was it a fluke or was it good studying? Who knows....there's one of those risks involved if I decide to retake. I am confident in my knowledge of biology but that last test they just really got me with some tricky questions.

I even asked someone from admissions what he thought about my scores and he said they were excellent (yeah right!) but then I asked him what he thought about me retaking to try and improve and he said why not? As long as you do well....well there in lies the problem!

Any advice would be appreciated...maybe I'm just looking for some support/motivation in the right direction 😳

 

[Seamonkey Doc]

I've taken the DAT 3 times now and each time I walked in more confident than the time before. Unfortunately, I walked out depressed at the outcome. I just need advice on whether you guys think it would be a good decision to attempt another time or go in to next years cycle with my scores. If it was my second or third time I would have with no hesitation but going on fourth, I am starting to get worried and don't know how much they will look down on it. It's a risky maneuver and even if I am confident I can do better, what if I don't? There is always that chance.

My GPA is somewhat solid enough I believe. I graduated and am now taking courses to bump it up a little.
Overall 3.76
Science 3.61

.Academic Average 19 19 20
Perceptual 17 17 16
Quantitative Reasoning 17 17 19
Reading Comprehension 26 23 21
Biology 19 19 17
General Chemistry 16 17 21
Organic Chemistry 16 18 21
Total Science 17 18 20.

I know there's room for improvement but I just don't know anymore! I know perceptual is a weakness and I would really need to bump that up.

I am proud that I was able to bump up math and both chemistry. Was it a fluke or was it good studying? Who knows....there's one of those risks involved if I decide to retake. I am confident in my knowledge of biology but that last test they just really got me with some tricky questions.

I even asked someone from admissions what he thought about my scores and he said they were excellent (yeah right!) but then I asked him what he thought about me retaking to try and improve and he said why not? As long as you do well....well there in lies the problem!

Any advice would be appreciated...maybe I'm just looking for some support/motivation in the right direction 😳

I commend you for taking it three times. It's a tough call to make, but I think you can apply with your latest scores. The PAT is weak but your other sections are ok (TS and AA are good) and your GPA is pretty nice. I wouldn't take another risk w/out applying first, but that's just me.

If you do want to retake though, seriously reconsider your study habits. Look into other materials and maybe give yourself more time to study. The fourth chance will be your last chance so make it count.

Good luck

 

[JdogDMD]

Well you have some good scores but some bad as well and some sections that decreased. Plus when you have taken the DAT 3 times you have to request special permission to take it again. Your GPA is fine. Some schools have cut-offs for each section and that 16 on the PAT may hurt you. Not sure what to tell you, but all you can do is apply and see. Some people get in, some don't, that's how it goes. Good luck!!

 

[Bis-GMA111]

i have a 20/20/16 as well and i'm taking it again. my gpa however, is a lot lower than yours so i'd say that you have a better shot than me lol.

tough call, but i think with your gpa you should be fine

 

[wired202808]

You're not allowed a 4th retake unless you get permission from the ADEA.

 

[iamtony]

Well you have some good scores but some bad as well and some sections that decreased. Plus when you have taken the DAT 3 times you have to request special permission to take it again. Your GPA is fine. Some schools have cut-offs for each section and that 16 on the PAT may hurt you. Not sure what to tell you, but all you can do is apply and see. Some people get in, some don't, that's how it goes. Good luck!!

yeah PAT is definitely not my strong point =/. I would have to load up on material for that section.



Wow I had no idea and after a quick google search I guess you guys are right. Well, I guess I'm set on DAT chances then? haha....what to do now? ARGH!!!!
edit: Well, actually I wonder how hard it is to get permission. According to the ADEA all they ask for is proof that you are still trying to get in to d-school (for example, a rejection letter...talk about reopening an old wound!)


but good luck to you guys as well

 

[Seamonkey Doc]

yeah PAT is definitely not my strong point =/. I would have to load up on material for that section.



Wow I had no idea and after a quick google search I guess you guys are right. Well, I guess I'm set on DAT chances then? haha....what to do now? ARGH!!!!

but good luck to you guys as well

You can try to get special permission if you want to. I don't know how difficult it is or what the process entails.

But really, I think you're ok to apply. A PAT score will not kill your chances if the rest of you application shines and you do well during your interviews. Be optimistic 🙂

 

[wired202808]

yeah PAT is definitely not my strong point =/. I would have to load up on material for that section.



Wow I had no idea and after a quick google search I guess you guys are right. Well, I guess I'm set on DAT chances then? haha....what to do now? ARGH!!!!
edit: Well, actually I wonder how hard it is to get permission. According to the ADEA all they ask for is proof that you are still trying to get in to d-school (for example, a rejection letter...talk about reopening an old wound!)


but good luck to you guys as well

People get in with 16s in PAT but only to certain schools that have no official cut offs like NYU, UF, USC, etc.

 

[ugashaun]

You are fine! Apply early and broadly. By early I mean 6/1.

 

[Bis-GMA111]

i really think if you put in the time and effort, you could do well (if you retake)

i'm in the same boat. i'm worried bc the only reason i got a 20 in TS was due to a 21 in GC and 24 in OC..i had a 17 in bio as well (dipped from a 19 in my first attempt). duplicating that (for OC and gchem) might be tough, but i'm willing to bite the bullet and study my butt off until i take the exam (early august)

it's gonna be tough man, but at the end of the day the decision is up to you. remember to apply early

 

[iamtony]

Thanks for all the replies! I'm curious what some of you guys would do...Take the risk or hope for the best and try again next year?

i really think if you put in the time and effort, you could do well.

i'm in the same boat. i'm worried bc the only reason i got a 20 in TS was due to a 21 in GC and 24 in OC..i had a 17 in bio as well. duplicating that (for OC and gchem) might be tough, but i'm willing to bite the bullet

it's gonna be tough man, but at the end of the day the decision is up to you. remember to apply early

I know what you mean and I wish I had started studying earlier lol. But lazy ole me decided "oh you had some interviews let's just see what happens first". Well now it's March and you don't have a lot of time to study before June!

 

[Seamonkey Doc]

Thanks for all the replies! I'm curious what some of you guys would do...Take the risk or hope for the best and try again next year?



I know what you mean and I wish I had started studying earlier lol. But lazy ole me decided "oh you had some interviews let's just see what happens first". Well now it's March and you don't have a lot of time to study before June!

If I were you, I would try one more time and see what I can do next cycle to boost my chances aside from retaking. Applying early is one of those things. The fourth chance is your last chance if you are granted permission. I would use that as an absolute last resort. Because if you get the same scores again, its not going to help you and you're out of luck.

 

[Bis-GMA111]

Thanks for all the replies! I'm curious what some of you guys would do...Take the risk or hope for the best and try again next year?



I know what you mean and I wish I had started studying earlier lol. But lazy ole me decided "oh you had some interviews let's just see what happens first". Well now it's March and you don't have a lot of time to study before June!

well you could do what i'm doing. submit as early as possible and indicate a retake on your app. i don't have the opportunity to take it in june/july (due to classes) otherwise i would. but yeah, if i were you i'd aim for june or july

also, if you don't mind me asking, where did you interview this past cycle?

 

[makeitrain6969]

Your gpa is really good..dont retake the DAT.

 

[dentalprodigy]

Don't take

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[iamtony]

well you could do what i'm doing. submit as early as possible and indicate a retake on your app. i don't have the opportunity to take it in june/july (due to classes) otherwise i would. but yeah, if i were you i'd aim for june or july

also, if you don't mind me asking, where did you interview this past cycle?

post december at two texas schools and pre-dec at usc

 

[Bis-GMA111]

when did you submit?

 

[jvr1989]

People get in with 16s in PAT but only to certain schools that have no official cut offs like NYU, UF, USC, etc.

Actually, UF has a cutoff of 15 (written in their interview packet).

 

[Seamonkey Doc]

OP: Check with the schools you are interested in and see if they have cutoffs and what those cutoffs are. I believe most schools will have a cutoff (official or not). SDN pre dental members mean well but we are not experts. As jvr1989 pointed out, UF has a cutoff. Other school you think don't have a cutoff, might have one after all.

 

[Bis-GMA111]

i agree with sea monkey

i called up A LOT of schools regarding my situation (16 on PAT) and most said that they would recommend a retake. a few schools said that it would be hard to say since they look at "everything"...so..yeah

edit: when i called nyu last summer, they said that they look at everything, and when I called USC , they said that the PAT didn't matter (the survey for dat subsections indicated otherwise...NYU viewed the PAT as "somewhat important" while USC looked at it as being "very important".). seeing as how you got a USC interview with a 16 PAT leads me to believe that calling and finding out would be better.