DAT done, do i need a retake?

[dental diva]

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Hello! So I just re-took my DAT, and overall I improved, but looking at other peoples' scores, I'm getting a little nervous. i think i COULD still do better, I had a full semester of courses while studying for this DAT, and they aren't easy ones (anatomy, physics, etc) and now i'm regretting that I didn't push my test back to January.

June 2012: November 2012:
QR: 16 ..............20
BIO: 16...............22
PAT: 17..............20
OC: 19...............18
GC: 21...............20
RC: 19................22
AA: 18................20
TS: 18................20

Like I said, they aren't the greatest, I've already applied to 7 schools and plan on faxing these over, but is a THIRD re-take in my future? i went down a point in ochem and gchem

thanks so much in advance, i couldn't have even gotten these scores without you all on SDN 🙂

 

[LaughingGas]

you improved almost everything and you have balanced 20s across. Unless you have subpar GPA like me, you shouldn't retake .
Congrats!

 

[aqz]

I think you might believe a re-take might be necessary only because you went down one point in GC and OC and knew you could've done better had you kept those old scores.

But without comparing your new scores to your old scores....which is what dental schools do - they just look at your most recent score - I'd say you have a solid, above average DAT score. No retake necessary with an average-above average GPA.

 

[dental diva]

okay, thank you so much! LaughingGas I actually remember reading your breakdown while studying, thanks a ton 🙂

 

[chrispyy]

solid scores! great work sir.

 

[qnzbabi91]

You should deffinitely manage to get in. Just apply to ten schools just to be safe. Get your application in early and you are good. Good job.

 

[magriva]

Your new scores are really good. You should be able to get interviews. Congrats!

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

 

[bellos]

Great improvements! What made the difference this time?

 

[dental diva]

🙂 i stared at the screen for a little after i was done because i was so excited to see so many 20s.

i think the first time around, i focused whole-heartedly on orgo because i basically had to start from scratch, i had an awful orgo teacher. so i spent the last couple weeks before my test basically doing nothing but orgo, i'd casually do genchem destroyer and go through my bio notes here and there but barely. and i hadn't even TOUCHED QR or reading last time, and i stopped doing PAT for a couple days before my test. This time, i went through EVERY subject EVERY day for at least an hour, i think that helped keep everything fresh. i only went through destroyer once but if i could go back i would've done it twice, it really helps hammer in those concepts for bio. i also think i would've done a LITTLE better this time if i hadn't studied during the semester, so i don't advise anyone to do that unless you have to...it's absolutely exhausting and i think i gained 10 lbs from eating fast food so much 🙂

and during the test, i felt like i was a lot more confident since i started off well with bio. My first time around I felt horrible after the sciences were over and i pretty much gave up haha, this time i answered every question like my life and soul depended on it...which it kind of did, so that was nice motivation 😀

 

[free99]

Nice bio score - what did you use for prep?

 

[dental diva]

Nice bio score - what did you use for prep?

LOTS of q-vault, and Campbell's for chapters 19-21 because of that rumor that some questions come from those chapters...i didn't have any on my test from there lol. and i ran through Cliff's and Barron's. it also helped that I'm currently taking Human Structure and Function I, a couple of oddball questions came up and i was able to figure them out because of what i had just learned in class 🙂