DAT Dilemma

[7amsho]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Good afternoon everyone! I have a dilemma on when to take the DAT and I know I will be the one making the decision but I was hoping some of you could help me make the best decision.

I am currently enrolled in organic chemistry 2 and I was planning on taking my DAT June 30th, just so I would have 6 weeks after the semester is over to study a lot for the test. I am currently studying for it but I am also working, doing research and taking 15 credits so taking it right after the semester is over would hurt my scores.

My question is, do you advise submitting my application early June, and then take the DAT (in this case, no matter what scores I get, they will be submitted, but I would have applied early), or wait until I take it, then hit submit as soon as I get my scores if they turn out to be competitive (that would be July 1st or 2nd). Which one do you recommend doing? I could also change the date to mid June but I wanted to give myself as much time as possible to do many practice tests, if I take it earlier I would take far less practice tests. I really wanna get topscore, qvault, bootcamp and achiever.

If I will have to retake it it would be around October, which I think is very late! I just don't know what to do at this point and it's stressing me out a lot.

Please advice, I know ultimately it's my decision but I was hoping to see what some of you would do in my case. I am a junior, and everything on my application is pretty competitive, just waiting on the DAT.

 

[sjv]

Submit application early June, take DAT on the 30th. You can still be first batch and your DAT scores will follow 2-3 weeks later in another mailing. Your application won't be looked at until your DAT scores are in but it is so early at that point that it won't matter. If you would like, you can also send an unofficial copy of your DAT scores to each school after you take it and they may attach it to your file but in the end, I wouldn't worry, its really early at that point.

 

[7amsho]

so you think I should submit the application and cross my finger to do well on the DAT? My advisor pretty much told me I have two options, either apply then take the DAT or take the DAT then apply (just so I won't waste money in case I score really low)

 

[sjv]

If a low score would prevent you from applying this upcoming cycle entirely then wait until after your DAT to apply, you'd probably be in the 3rd or 4th batch which is still very early and would likely have no impact on your application. If you plan on applying no matter what then submit your application as soon as you can.

If you want to save money, you could just apply to one school and pay the initial fee and then add schools after your DAT and they would go out in the next batch after you add them. That way, your application would be verified and completed and would be only waiting for you to designate more schools to be sent to.

Generally, as long as you apply before the end of July, you're considered early (but subjective depending on who you talk to and the individual school in question).

 

[7amsho]

I really like the idea of picking a school first, I currently have a list of around 10-12 schools, would you suggest picking my most preferred one? least? or middle?

 

[sjv]

I really like the idea of picking a school first, I currently have a list of around 10-12 schools, would you suggest picking my most preferred one? least? or middle?

Won't matter since it won't be looked at until your DAT scores are in, don't worry about it too much.

 

[7amsho]

sjv I really appreciate your help! I am glad now I have this third option available, which is applying to only one at first! thanks a lot!