DAT Dilemma

[cmp90]

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Ok, so this is my first time posting, but I have been using this forum a lot to get advice on how to study for and do well on my DAT and have been very grateful for all the help I received. I just finished my DAT today and here are my scores..

22BIO
21GC
22OC
22TS.. so far so good
19 PAT (it was possibly the angles that got me, I could never figure it out.
21RC
16QR

So obviously I was pretty burned out by the time I got to my QR. I got dropped to a 20AA because of it. I am very proud of my scores and the amount of time I put in, but the QR is a huge mark that stands out. I was wondering if dental schools will place a high amount of emphasis on each individual score such as the QR section or if the other scores will give me a bit of a boost. I am stressed because my GPA is not every up to par, around a 3.43, and sci gpa is a tad lower. Does this look like it would be a good bet to go ahead and take it again, though I'd have to wait 3 more months and be a bit late in being considered for interviews just for this one section. Also it would have to be like the day of the deadline for finishing the DAT and being considered for admissions (September 30th) if I do take it again.
Thank you all in advance for any advice.

 

[AllahIsGreater]

Ok, so this is my first time posting, but I have been using this forum a lot to get advice on how to study for and do well on my DAT and have been very grateful for all the help I received. I just finished my DAT today and here are my scores..

22BIO
21GC
22OC
22TS.. so far so good
19 PAT (it was possibly the angles that got me, I could never figure it out.
21RC
16QR

So obviously I was pretty burned out by the time I got to my QR. I got dropped to a 20AA because of it. I am very proud of my scores and the amount of time I put in, but the QR is a huge mark that stands out. I was wondering if dental schools will place a high amount of emphasis on each individual score such as the QR section or if the other scores will give me a bit of a boost. I am stressed because my GPA is not every up to par, around a 3.43, and sci gpa is a tad lower. Does this look like it would be a good bet to go ahead and take it again, though I'd have to wait 3 more months and be a bit late in being considered for interviews just for this one section. Also it would have to be like the day of the deadline for finishing the DAT and being considered for admissions (September 30th) if I do take it again.
Thank you all in advance for any advice.

who said there is a deadline? i know people who just got accepted into last cycle, by sumbmitting the DAT scores in the last month

 

[cmp90]

who said there is a deadline? i know people who just got accepted into last cycle, by sumbmitting the DAT scores in the last month

I'll be applying to a number of schools where there is not a deadline but my top choice would be to Georgia's dental school, which requires I be done by September 30th to be considered for admission.

 

[LetsGo2DSchool]

Dude, don't worry about your QR score. Schools don't care about that unless you score an atrocious 8 on it. And the fact that they look at the breakdown of scores means they'll see all your other good scores.

Math is pointless for dental school. Think about it...

It's like ummm you have 32 teeth in your mouth, I'm going to extract three of them so now you have 32 - 3 = 29 teeth remaining. That's the extent of math in dentistry.

 

[cmp90]

Haha, hopefully dental schools will feel the same as you.

 

[LetsGo2DSchool]

They do and they understand that the QR section is basically a filler section on the DAT and a minor check to make sure no one is completely clinically ******ed in math. Plus it's the last section of a 4.5 hour exam and they understand people are exhausted and can make dumb mistakes in this section so they give the benefit of doubt here.

It's the one section on which they are super lenient.

 

[Clancyp]

I'll be applying to a number of schools where there is not a deadline but my top choice would be to Georgia's dental school, which requires I be done by September 30th to be considered for admission.

Im applying to MCG too, fret not. I know a few guys that applied in September and got interviews and such. Id say not to retake, your scores are solid and QR is nothing to worry about. Hopefully we will be students together! Goodluck sir.

 

[cmp90]

Im applying to MCG too, fret not. I know a few guys that applied in September and got interviews and such. Id say not to retake, your scores are solid and QR is nothing to worry about. Hopefully we will be students together! Goodluck sir.

Thanks for the encouragement. Hopefully I'll see you there, goodluck to you as well!

 

[Clancyp]

Thanks for the encouragement. Hopefully I'll see you there, goodluck to you as well!

Thanks! Take it the 30th! What were your study techniques of you dont mind me asking?

 

[wired202808]

Haha, hopefully dental schools will feel the same as you.

ur safe, schools care more bout RC and BIO, then QR. however schools that have cutoffs i.e. minimum of 17 in each section; are schools that you might have issues with. contact them directly to inquire.

 

[cmp90]

ur safe, schools care more bout RC and BIO, then QR. however schools that have cutoffs i.e. minimum of 17 in each section; are schools that you might have issues with. contact them directly to inquire.

Yes I've heard about that. I also heard that some schools are very unwilling to inform you of their cutoff scores. I'll be applying to a high number of schools and planned to directly contact every school anyways so that they may possibly recognize my name during the interview process. Thanks for the advice!

 

[cmp90]

Thanks! Take it the 30th! What were your study techniques of you dont mind me asking?

Sorry, I just saw this now.

I'd say most of all is practice questions and give yourself time to take it and review it. I spent a lot of time trying to rush through reviewing cause I lost track of how much time I had till my exam. I got everything from KBB, to cliffs, to destroyer (highly recommend), to chads (very much so recommend), achiever, topscore and crack dat pat. I read and reviewed everything twice. Id say take a few cdps first, do some achiever, and finish with topscore if you want to do all three. achiever will mentally prepare you for the worst and break you down and topscore will boost your confidence before taking the test. I spent a lot of time reviewing while on the go as well, with my notes and stuff on dropbox and synced it to my android. 8 hrs a day is recommended but in all honestly, i did not do the full 8hrs, granted I did try. But I get distracted easily, had work, and had to find time to enjoy myself. Let me know if i can help man.

 

[Clancyp]

Sorry, I just saw this now.

I'd say most of all is practice questions and give yourself time to take it and review it. I spent a lot of time trying to rush through reviewing cause I lost track of how much time I had till my exam. I got everything from KBB, to cliffs, to destroyer (highly recommend), to chads (very much so recommend), achiever, topscore and crack dat pat. I read and reviewed everything twice. Id say take a few cdps first, do some achiever, and finish with topscore if you want to do all three. achiever will mentally prepare you for the worst and break you down and topscore will boost your confidence before taking the test. I spent a lot of time reviewing while on the go as well, with my notes and stuff on dropbox and synced it to my android. 8 hrs a day is recommended but in all honestly, i did not do the full 8hrs, granted I did try. But I get distracted easily, had work, and had to find time to enjoy myself. Let me know if i can help man.

Seems like I'm on the same track that you did, give or take topscore/achiever which I'm saving for the last two weeks. I started studying about a month and a half ago about 4-5 hours a day and have finished up Chad's and Cliffs/KBB and did Destroyer 2 times. Now I'm kinda in the review phase and trying to retain everything and still stay driven. Next is Crack PAT and reviewing everything everyday. Like you, I have work and real life stuff so I'm attempting atleast 6-7 hours a day, but it always doesnt work out with real life and a naggy girlfriend. I may hit you up closer to test date if you dont mind PMing me your email. Thanks

 

[cmp90]

Seems like I'm on the same track that you did, give or take topscore/achiever which I'm saving for the last two weeks. I started studying about a month and a half ago about 4-5 hours a day and have finished up Chad's and Cliffs/KBB and did Destroyer 2 times. Now I'm kinda in the review phase and trying to retain everything and still stay driven. Next is Crack PAT and reviewing everything everyday. Like you, I have work and real life stuff so I'm attempting atleast 6-7 hours a day, but it always doesnt work out with real life and a naggy girlfriend. I may hit you up closer to test date if you dont mind PMing me your email. Thanks

No problem, happy to help. And also i'd suggest as you go along to make notes of anything you didnt know as you were reviewing, it helps to keep the difficult stuff in one word document so that you can find it easily.