DAT done 9/4 (need advice)

[trixr4kids0001]

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I just finished my DAT and although I felt very prepared, I did not do as well as I wanted. I studied with a Kaplan virtual online course. The sciences were not that bad, but the QR and PAT on kaplan is 100x easier than on the DAT.

Scores:
Bio- 19
GC-18
OC-23
PAT-17 🙁
RC- 21
QR-17 🙁
TS- 20
AA-20

I am debating whether or not to retake the DAT. I'm a junior and my gpa is 3.52, science GPA 3.5. I know the PAT is very important. Any advice on what I should do?

PS: DO NOT use a Kaplan course. Waaay too much money, and bad results. The PAT was cake on Kaplan compared to the real deal.

 

[LaFleur]

I think our scores and gpa are fine, personally. I wouldn't retake with your stats, I would just keep my grades up. 🙂

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[yss88]

Your Academic Average is solid, it is just your PAT that is low! Some schools don't even bother to consider the PAT section as long as it is descent, in your case a 17 is not too terrible. I would say you are gonna get in somewhere with you 20 AA 👍.

 

[trixr4kids0001]

Thanks guys! 🙂

 

[glo1984]

Your Academic Average is solid, it is just your PAT that is low! Some schools don't even bother to consider the PAT section as long as it is descent, in your case a 17 is not too terrible. I would say you are gonna get in somewhere with you 20 AA 👍.

Definitely agree with this, I know many who have gotten in with a 17 PAT. Good luck!

 

[dentalml]

PS: DO NOT use a Kaplan course. Waaay too much money, and bad results. The PAT was cake on Kaplan compared to the real deal.

totally agree....
how do your scores for the kaplan practice test compare to your real DAT scores?

 

[MatthewLeeDDS]

If there are 2 sections that are ok to score "poorly" in, it would be PAT and QR. I think generally schools don't care so much about QR. Some schools will also tell you straight up that they do not care what your PAT is either. Seeing that your TS is in line with your AA, that shows that you have a solid science background (or at least you sure can cram for a big science test!) so I think that helps you quite a bit.

 

[hoylematt]

DO NOT RETAKE! That is my opinion and I'm sticking to it. Congrats on your scores. 👍

 

[DoCt0rPeTe]

scores a very good. don't retake- you've made the cutoffs, and your lowest numbers are in the right sections.

 

[trixr4kids0001]

totally agree....
how do your scores for the kaplan practice test compare to your real DAT scores?

My kaplan scores for bio, reading comp and organic were about the same. PAT was way harder on the real thing (i was scoring 23s on the practice tests and only got a 17). I would suggest buying another program. The math problems were more complicated, which took more time, so it was harder to finish. Also some things in the math section were not covered in the DAT review book or the workshops (ex. logs). Gen chem was much easier on the real DAT ( i was only scoring 15 and 16 on the kaplan tests and got an 18). Overall I think Kaplan was beneficial, but I was just a little upset about the PAT. Hope this helps! 🙂

 

[dentalWorks]

You have very nice numbers. 20/20 with 3.5's on the GPAs. The only small (VERY SMALL) weakness I see is that 17 on the PAT, but I don't believe its going to be much of an issue in your case since your overall numbers are solid.