DAT done 8/28/10

[phamula]

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Consider retake in Nov? I took my DAT today. Feelin' kinda weird about it.

PAT - 21
QR - 16 - knew what happened here - got hung up on a few probs, but I did answer everything.
RC - 19
Bio - 20
GC - 16 😕 but this......
OC - 20
TS - 18
AA - 18

I studied for 2.5 months between 6-10 hrs a day.

I used KBB, DAT Destroyer, Barron's AP Bio, TopScore, Chad's Videos 🙂thumbup🙂.

I don't know what happened in GC...I went into the test feeling comfortable and confident. I was getting between 17-19 on GC on TopScore. I actually did worse in OC in TopScore and didn't do too hot in the class either.

I don't mind the scores in the other areas, but GC WTF, it sucks thinking about how if I did better here and knew what went wrong, I actually would have had a decent score minus QR.

I have a 3.2 GPA, 3.0 BCP

I know I am not entirely hopeless, but I feel like I can't breathe until the application cycle is over to see if I even get an interview. I am walking on a very very fine line.

Retake? Cross Fingers?

 

[lanky limbs]

If you think you can do better, I'd say retake. I don't know who you're applying to, but find the statistics for their 2010 entering class and if your GPA is lower, multiply the difference by ten and add that to their average dat scores to find out what to aim for - I'm just telling you what I'd do. Anyway, you have to make up for what's hurting your chances and EC's, shadowing, and LOR's can only go so far.

 

[BRM3488]

What do you think you missed in GC/what would you have done differently? I am getting similar Topscore scores for that section, and I'm a little concerned (my test is monday).

I wouldn't worry too much a 16 isn't terrible, you will prob get an interview at your state school.

 

[phamula]

oooh if only my state had a dental school, I'd apply 🙂

It's weird, I don't know what I could have done differently I thought I understood the concepts in GC and did not find the GC section on the real DAT to be hard, but I have no idea what happened. I guess all I can say is, turns out I didn't grasp the concepts as well as I thought? When I saw the 16 in GC it blew my mind.

I got piano'd too, but I didn't find it hard at all cause I watch "How It's Made" on the Science channel all the time - they did a segment on the construction of a piano - so that random fact in my life was applied 😀

 

[phamula]

If you think you can do better, I'd say retake. I don't know who you're applying to, but find the statistics for their 2010 entering class and if your GPA is lower, multiply the difference by ten and add that to their average dat scores to find out what to aim for - I'm just telling you what I'd do. Anyway, you have to make up for what's hurting your chances and EC's, shadowing, and LOR's can only go so far.

Thanks for the advice. I do feel like if I take it again I could do better, but then I was cornered with the thought of what difference is 18 and 19 not trying to set low standards here. It's really a tough call, but if I do retake it's all in my benefit for this year or the next.

I talked to my uncle and he said he got into dental school with a 17. I'm sure his GPA was a little higher, but not much more cause he did not graduate cum laude from undergrad.

I have to wait 3 months to retake right? and take it before Dec 2010 for this cycle?

 

[BRM3488]

hmm well maybe there were just a few tricks in your version. Good job with the piano passage! 👍 I need to watch How its Made lol

 

[DoCt0rPeTe]

with your gpa and dat, if you don't have a significant amount of volunteer work, I would say retake. But first, I would call the schools that you have applied to and see what they think.

 

[phamula]

with your gpa and dat, if you don't have a significant amount of volunteer work, I would say retake. But first, I would call the schools that you have applied to and see what they think.

Calling sounds like a good idea, thanks.

I have 50 hrs of experience which is not much at all compared to the 1000hr+ people, but it was only this year I found a connection with dentistry. I am in the process of working with a dentist to figure out more shadow hours/work for her in her office. So if I do not get in this cycle, I have more experience accumulating for the next.

I proposed a 1 cr healthcare study internship my senior year, so most of the shadowing hrs I have are in many different fields. I am a 5th yr student in order to go abroad in Jan. and finish up my art focus in ceramics (major bio, minor in art and psychology).

I also run my family's business full time through college and have worked at a nursing home for 5 yrs. I also do bookkeeping for local businesses. So the time I would have spent towards EC have gone to working to support myself. I am in Tri-Beta (biological science chapter at my school) though, but I do not think that is anything significant.

I am also the first in my family to go to college and apply to post undergrad schools. 3 of my mom's siblings are dentists. My mom is a minority low-incomer with 3 kids - 2 currently in college.

 

[BRM3488]

You have a great story...you may still have a chance this cycle. I would definitely call the schools as has been mentioned, you may be pleasantly surprised. Good luck

 

[phamula]

This is kind of an awkward question...

When I call, what do I ask them specifically?

Do I just tell them I just took my DAT and ask them if I should consider retaking?

Or do I ask them how I could improve my application? But if I asked that, at this point in time the only areas I could hope for an improvement in my application are my LORs and retaking the test. I feel like I have a strong PS, and I've already submitted my app., no going back there...

I am having trouble formulating a direct question that communicates clearly why I called the school without running my life story about applying to dental school and the hurdles I've encountered.

 

[BRM3488]

Just ask them if they have any cutoff scores (some schools for example have a cutoff at 17 for certain/all sections). The link below has 2009 entering class statistics, as well as each school's cutoffs/recommended DAT/GPA's. Its a good starting point, but you should still call anyway.


http://www.adea.org/publications/Documents/OG_2010/OG2010_ch3.pdf