DAT done 05-26-09

[skang22]

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Hello~
I just took the DAT today and was wondering what you guys thought about my scores and my chances to few schools.
First of all here are my scores:

PAT: 23
QR: 19
RC: 16 😱
Bio: 18
Gen: 22
Ochem: 21
TS: 20
AA: 19

Here is the breakdown:

PAT: CDP is a must do! I felt Achiever was so much harder than the actual. The angles were so much easier than CDP. Everything else were comparable to CDP.

QR: Lots and lots of word problems. Not enough time for them.

RC: OMG. This is all I can say. I took the Topscore and Achiever test and got 20-21. I had a lot of tone questions. All three passages has a least eight tone questions. I just wanted to cry.

Bio: So many random questions.

GC: I was so worried about this section but came out to be my best of the SNS. Very simple and to the point. Focus on the basics!

OC: Destroyer did an awesome job for this section. But, I had one question which asked me to refer to a series of reaction to answer it.
However............there was no diagram!!! I was like WTH??? I pointed this out to the person there but I don't know what will happen. Do you guys?

Overall I was pleased with my scores EXCEPT for the RC. It was nothing like the practice tests.

Now, here is my question:

I am from GA and wanting to go to UCSF or Uop.
I majored in Bio with 3.76 for both GPA and done a undergrad research.
Being an out-of-state applicant and having a low RC, would I have any chances to those school?
If not, then which schools?

 

[iwannabadentist]

thats not just low, thats below cutoff for UoP (cutoff = 17). UCSF requires a min. of 17 on PAT, AA, and TS, but not necessarily RC so maybe its possible for a CA resident, but will severely hinder yor application as an out of state. Other than RC, pretty solid scores! RC is important to a lot of schools, so I'd recommend a retake! Gluck

 

[nze82]

Yeap! I gotte agree with "Iwannabadentist." That RC score will definitely reduce your chances! Other than that all the other scores are great!

 

[skang22]

I understand the rc score will reduce my chances to cali schools. But would I have any chances at other schools?

 

[nze82]

I understand the rc score will reduce my chances to cali schools. But would I have any chances at other schools?

Dude! I hate to be all negative! But you must realize that most Dental Schools want to make sure that their applicants can read. By no means am I suggesting that you're incapable of reading. I'm just saying an RC score that low is a red flag. If you had a score in the 18-19 range, I wouldn't suggest a retake, because all your other scores are good. But 16 in any section is low!
I'm sure with a little bit more practice you can bring your score up to 19-20 (if not higher), and if you manage to maintain your other scores as high as they are now, then you'll be much more competitive!
At the end, it's really your decision. You should figure out whether or not it's worth going through another month of studying.
You can also call the schools you're interested in and find out whether or not they have a cut-off for RC.

Good Luck!👍

 

[Homing Swan]

I know a guy, and when i say that i mean i talked to him personally not that i heard about him, that got a 13 on QR and got accepted to UOP. also I have a really good friend that got a 14 on RC and got accepted to UW. I'm sure cutoffs exist but they are not the final decision maker, especially when it comes to these two sections. Keeps you head up and go to interviews confident and humble, and apply to where you WANT to go to school not just where you think you can get in.
GOOD LUCK!!

 

[dentisttobeDMD]

anybody who did well on the DAT, can you please post some helpful study material? i read a lot about destroyer, achiever, topscore, kaplan...can you please post how helpful they are? (taking the DAT soon...any advice will help)

 

[skang22]

Thank guys for being honest. I really appreciate it. I guess I was just upset at the fact that rc was so different from the practice tests out there.
I will definitely call the schools and find out about the cutoffs.