DAT done 1/22 - Retake?

[Rach7]

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I took the DATs for the the first time today.

PAT 19 (69.4%)
QR 18 (86.6%)
RC 20 (78.5%)
Biology 21 (95.5%)
GC 20 (86%)
OC 19 (75.7%)
TS 20 (91.3%)
AA 20 (93.4%)


I think I did pretty well for a first attempt, however, my GPA is a little low (3.2). I'd really like to get into schools like NYU and BU, but I'm worried my scores are too low for someone with a lower GPA. Should I retake?

 

[prsndwg]

I took the DATs for the the first time today.

PAT 19 (69.4%)
QR 18 (86.6%)
RC 20 (78.5%)
Biology 21 (95.5%)
GC 20 (86%)
OC 19 (75.7%)
TS 20 (91.3%)
AA 20 (93.4%)


I think I did pretty well for a first attempt, however, my GPA is a little low (3.2). I'd really like to get into schools like NYU and BU, but I'm worried my scores are too low for someone with a lower GPA. Should I retake?

you got some solid scores here. congrats on finishing up and doing well. in regards to retake or not, I would say check out predents.com to see what kind of GPA and AA's are they looking for. Keep in mind that predents.com does not cover every student and ppl on there are a little above average.
you got to apply early.

ps. how was RC? what was it about?

 

[erk005]

No, you should probably not retake an exam that you scored above the 90th percentile on. just get A's in classes in my opinion.

 

[Rach7]

Thanks for your replies 🙂

My first passage was about cancer causing genes. It focused on the history of cancer research. I used the Kaplan method (writing down key words for each paragraph, and then going back and answering the questions), and it worked just fine. The passage was mostly informative, and not too difficult to get through.

My second RC passage was about Glycine receptors. This one was extremely science heavy, and the information was dense and difficult to read through. I started out reading each paragraph and taking short notes, but because I was going slowly trying to get through the passage, I ended up just reading the question and searching for the answer as quickly as possible.

My third passage was about exercise and its relation to mood and psychological disorders. This was very full of information as well, but not as difficult to get through. I used the Kaplan method again.


I must admit, I though I did a little better in this section. But I'm pretty positive the tone and inference questions tricked me, as I found these difficult.

 

[hausee]

Congratz!🙂

mind post your practice scores? Archiver, topscore? or whatever you have

 

[Jeanie]

Great job! Do you mind letting us know how much you studied? Congrats again for being done!

 

[prsndwg]

Thanks for your replies 🙂

My first passage was about cancer causing genes. It focused on the history of cancer research. I used the Kaplan method (writing down key words for each paragraph, and then going back and answering the questions), and it worked just fine. The passage was mostly informative, and not too difficult to get through.

My second RC passage was about Glycine receptors. This one was extremely science heavy, and the information was dense and difficult to read through. I started out reading each paragraph and taking short notes, but because I was going slowly trying to get through the passage, I ended up just reading the question and searching for the answer as quickly as possible.

My third passage was about exercise and its relation to mood and psychological disorders. This was very full of information as well, but not as difficult to get through. I used the Kaplan method again.


I must admit, I though I did a little better in this section. But I'm pretty positive the tone and inference questions tricked me, as I found these difficult.

thanks,
since you kind of used Search n Destroyer method on 2nd passage, do you recommend it for all of them? would it have worked?

 

[Rach7]

In this case, S&D would have worked for all the passages. I only found taking quick notes on each paragraph helpful on passages that are not very science-based and difficult to read through.

I studied for about 3 months total, for about 5-6 hours per day, 6 days a week. The only test-prep materials I used were CDP and Kaplan Online for everything else. I thought Kaplan online was extremely helpful, much better than the regular blue book you find at the bookstores. The online workshops and quizzes really force you to learn the material, and I think it really prepared me very well for the biology, even though there were some of the most random questions I had ever seen. While going through Kaplan online for Chem and Orgo, I thought it really prepared me for any question type I'd see, but I must have been caught off guard by quite a few questions.

I bought the 10-test CDP, and my scores ranged from an 18 to a 23. Like it's been said before, CDP is unlike anything you'd see in Kaplan, and is a great study tool for PAT.

 

[orthosm2021]

hey i am also considering a retake myself. if you are applying to BU and NYU, honestly, I would consider a retake if I were you.

the avg accepted applicants have higher GPA as well as higher DAT than you. if you want to increase your chance of getting in, i would improve the DAT score (since its easier to boost DAT scores than GPA)

you really do not want to risk not getting into your dream schools when you have the option of increasing your chance. really.. why not?