Dat Done 7/5 - What are my chances?

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bloop

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Hey all, if you could gimme some advice, I'd really appreciate it!

So I took my DAT today--hoped I'd score about 3 points higher cuz that's what my practice tests seemed to be predicting for me, but oh well.

PAT 19 69.4 😕
QR 16 65.3 🙁
RC 20 78.5
BIO 20 91.8
GC 20 86.0
OC 20 84.4
TS 20 91.3
AA 19 85.4


Not really gonna post a breakdown unless someone wants one cuz this isn't one of those beautifully amazing scores that most people post on here. I used Destroyer, Topscore, CDP, Chad's vids + quizzes, Cliff's AP Bio, and a few other things. I am sad I didn't do better on PAT cuz my practice tests were coming up 21's-23's, and I felt like I did good while I was doing the science section, but apparently I missed a few more than I'd thought. QR is something I didn't study a lot for because I was mainly focused on the chems, but QR felt deceptively easy, so I dunno what happened!

I was studying since April, but not as hardscore as the last 2 or 3 weeks where I was literally studying day and night for the exam starting at 6 am till whenever, just taking breaks to eat and take my dog out. I think that did more harm than good in retrospect cuz with the constant studying + lack of sleep, everything felt all jumbled and confusing in my head when I got to the real thing, not to mention I a bad feeling in my stomach during the whole thing.

Mainly I wanted to ask: what are my chances once I apply? I'm not trying to be an attention-seeker here, I know a 19 is decent, but I was mainly hoping to do much better because I'm not sure if schools will see me as competitive because I feel like all the other stuff I have and done is going to just emphasize the fact that I used to be pre-med and only pretty recently turned pre-dent--which I do not know if it is something that admissions people would look down upon.

  • I have a 3.64 gpa, and not sure what my sGPA is cuz my college wiped out my audit the minute I graduated, but I think it's like 3.5 or higher.
  • I have some research exp, and I do have some volunteering from throughout college.
So yeah, to me it all feels medical-ish stuff, so am I going to considered differently? Any advice on what else I could do to better my chances here? Should I retake my DAT even? 😕 I just feel strangely stuck.
 
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Hey all, if you could gimme some advice, I'd really appreciate it!

So I took my DAT today--hoped I'd score about 3 points higher cuz that's what my practice tests seemed to be predicting for me, but oh well.

PAT 19 69.4 😕
QR 16 65.3 🙁
RC 20 78.5
BIO 20 91.8
GC 20 86.0
OC 20 84.4
TS 20 91.3
AA 19 85.4


Not really gonna post a breakdown unless someone wants one cuz this isn't one of those beautifully amazing scores that most people post on here. I used Destroyer, Topscore, CDP, Chad's vids + quizzes, Cliff's AP Bio, and a few other things. I am sad I didn't do better on PAT cuz my practice tests were coming up 21's-23's, and I felt like I did good while I was doing the science section, but apparently I missed a few more than I'd thought. QR is something I didn't study a lot for because I was mainly focused on the chems, but QR felt deceptively easy, so I dunno what happened!

I was studying since April, but not as hardscore as the last 2 or 3 weeks where I was literally studying day and night for the exam starting at 6 am till whenever, just taking breaks to eat and take my dog out. I think that did more harm than good in retrospect cuz with the constant studying + lack of sleep, everything felt all jumbled and confusing in my head when I got to the real thing, not to mention I a bad feeling in my stomach during the whole thing.

Mainly I wanted to ask: what are my chances once I apply? I'm not trying to be an attention-seeker here, I know a 19 is decent, but I was mainly hoping to do much better because I'm not sure if schools will see me as competitive because I feel like all the other stuff I have and done is going to just emphasize the fact that I used to be pre-med and only pretty recently turned pre-dent--which I do not know if it is something that admissions people would look down upon.

  • I have a 3.64 gpa, and not sure what my sGPA is cuz my college wiped out my audit the minute I graduated, but I think it's like 3.5 or higher.
  • I switched to pre-dent sort of recently so I do not have many shadowing hours in yet, though I hope to have 70 or more after the next week or so, just so I can show schools that I've definitely done something.
  • I have some nerve regeneration research exp, and I do have some volunteering from throughout college (with the Red Cross and some random other places) + a medical service trip to Central America.
  • I also have assistantships set up for this coming fall and into year with some various dental professionals so I can see a whole bunch of specialties and also hopefully show that I'm sincere about wanting to into dentistry. I'll also get in more volunteering since I'm not in school anymore.
So yeah, to me it all feels medical-ish stuff, so am I going to considered differently? Any advice on what else I could do to better my chances here? Should I retake my DAT even? 😕 I just feel strangely stuck.


Get those shadowing hours up and you should be fine. Good luck
 
Get those shadowing hours up and you should be fine. Good luck

Thanks, do you think 70-75ish hours are good? I want to apply pretty soon, otherwise I'd do more.

what were your scores on topscore like?

I only did one full run-through of a test, so on my first one a month ago I got a 20 AA, wish I could give you a breakdown of that, but I deleted my scores to redo a few sections from that test as practice. And then the last two tests, I just did the Natural sciences tests and got [BIO 19/GC 22/OC 24] and [BIO 22/GC 22/OC 18]. Even though that last OC was a little lower, I thought I had OC down the best out of all my sciences and hoped I'd do better. 😳
 
i think this is the few occasions where I have seen someone with a real DAT score equal to or lower than topscore
 
Hmm, yeah....which sucks. I have to say the exam did feel easier than Topscore but must've been my nerves or overstudying or me misjudging things or...something. Is a 19 still good enough with the rest of my background, you think?
 
If I had the same scores as you I would apply and see what happens and if I didnt get in I would apply again next year and take the DAT again around next april. This is what i did and my retake actually got me in a year early. But try with your current number and see if anything shakes loose for you.
 
With a 3.6 and a 19/20 I think you should be just fine, especially if you apply to a good number of schools. Good luck on those interviews!
 
ty for the feedback, guys. I'm gonna apply soon and hope for the best! :xf: Nice scores btw IdahoDoc, that is some cool improvement.
 
Not sure about that...I guess it might. 🙁 I stumbled while getting into the PAT, taking too long on things I shouldn't have so I can tell that's probably when things started going downhill. So frustrated about that! I think if I didn't suck so bad on math (like got a point or 2 higher) and got my act together on PAT, I would've been fine for my AA.
 
I feel very worried after reading this actually, since I have similar topscores as you :scared:

And I have a lower GPA
 
Was QR comparative to the questions on Topscore?
you will definitely get interviews

Thanks girl, I hope so! I'm not exactly sure cuz as I said before, I only took one full Topscore, and I think I must've gotten something in the range of 18-20 on that QR or it would've stood out in my mind and I'd have freaked out. I used CrackDatMath and Math Destroyer a little bit (like 2 CDM which I got a 17 and 19 on, and and a couple of Math Destroyer tests), both of which really kick your ass, but I'm guessing if I had the time to fully go through those, I would've gotten more consistent scores. I would recommend those if you have time!

I feel very worried after reading this actually, since I have similar topscores as you :scared:

And I have a lower GPA

No way dude, don't freak out. I'm guessing you aren't going to completely spazz out and have an internal nervous breakdown like I felt I did. 😳 I think if I went in there calm-headed and hadn't studied all unhealthily/crazy like I did, I would've been able to think more clearly and maybe had better timing & made less mistakes. If I had time, I would've done more full-lengths to get used to the whole experience but I was too reluctant to give up 5 hours at a time for tests. When is your DAT?
 
Those are GOOD scores. Seriously. Apply to 10+ schools. I'm pretty sure you'll get interviews! Make sure you write a really good personal statement. Your scores make the cuts for most schools, but it's your EC and personal statement that'll def need to stand out from the crowd.
 
next saturday, so I have some time

I saw your Topscore post and those are some good scores, I'm sure you will rock it! Just take it easy the day before, and good luck! 👍 Come back and give us a badass breakdown.

Those are GOOD scores. Seriously. Apply to 10+ schools. I'm pretty sure you'll get interviews! Make sure you write a really good personal statement. Your scores make the cuts for most schools, but it's your EC and personal statement that'll def need to stand out from the crowd.

Thanks 🙂, I'm feeling better now cuz of what people've been saying, I'm definitely going to work on my ps and hope for the best. You applying this cycle?
 
Thanks 🙂, I'm feeling better now cuz of what people've been saying, I'm definitely going to work on my ps and hope for the best. You applying this cycle?
Yeah. But I doubt I'm gonna get in anywhere cause of my poopy GPA. We'll see. Yeah work on that personal statement until it's perfect.
QR apparently isn't TOO important. So a point or so below 18 shouldn't kill you. Like I said, def do 10+ schools.
 
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