DAT Done ....Help II

[ns205]

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I took the DAT on August 7 (sunday) at 6:30 am for the first time ....while I was fasting. I did okay though I was aiming for higher scores considering my Science GPA is like 2.7
I ended up with
PAT: 20 (79.0%)
QR: 18 (84.7%)
RC: 19 (52.2%)
BIO:21 (92.3%)
GC: 21 (87.0%)
OC: 25 (95.8%)
TS: 22 (95.6%)
AA: 21 (93.4%)

Science Cumulative GPA = 2.70 ( once again but harder )
Non Science GPA = 3.22

My Question: If I retake and (God forbid) I do worse do they neglect the higher score and look at the more recent scores ?

And did I waste my money applying with my low sci GPA ?

Much advice is needed for me please 🙂

 

[FutureDental88]

Good job on the solid scores !

U should definitely land some interviews,,, but maybe not with any top schools due to your low GPA.


Good luck !

I took the DAT on August 7 (sunday) at 6:30 am for the first time ....while I was fasting. I did okay though I was aiming for higher scores considering my Science GPA is like 2.7
I ended up with
PAT: 20 (79.0%)
QR: 18 (84.7%)
RC: 19 (52.2%)
BIO:21 (92.3%)
GC: 21 (87.0%)
OC: 25 (95.8%)
TS: 22 (95.6%)
AA: 21 (93.4%)

Science Cumulative GPA = 2.70 ( once again but harder )
Non Science GPA = 3.22

My Question: If I retake and (God forbid) I do worse do they neglect the higher score and look at the more recent scores ?

And did I waste my money applying with my low sci GPA ?

Much advice is needed for me please 🙂

 

[ajhalls3]

Good job on the solid scores !

U should definitely land some interviews,,, but maybe not with any top schools due to your low GPA.


Good luck !

You have done well! Don't worry about "top" schools, get into one and enjoy it. I attend one of the newest in the country and many of the issues of the "top" schools don't exist where I attend and think I am happier here than I would be at Harvard or other place. Your scores are plenty competetive, just focus on learning why your SGPA is so low and have an answer ready for interview and how you are going to overcome that.

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

Excellent scores...

Why are you trying to retake? You should be doing a post-bacc instead. Your chances of getting accepted won't increase by having a higher DAT but increasing your GPA will increase your chances of acceptance.

 

[Ghostface17]

Don't retake bro! Those are excellent scores! Even if you don't get in this cycle I would recommend doing a postbac or masters program. I did a 1yr masters program and it really bumped up my GPA.

 

[Dyslexic]

Good job on your dats! I cant say much about your situation but I heard upward trends in gpa looks pretty good and can increase your chances. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can comment on this subject.

 

[DooDAH]

You should definitely not retake and your other option is to do a masters (which
I did that this past year)....schools look at your new masters GPA and with those scores you'll for sure be good to go!

Btw im gunna be fasting too when i take mines next week and was worried how it'll go!!!

 

[NOORALLAH]

i think these are great scores.... def dont retake!!!! I think for sure you'll have a chance of getting an interview or doing a postbac... I am taking my dat in a week, do you mind sharing how you felt about the actual test as compare to your practice... AND yes, I will be fasting too...May allah help us!!!

 

[shinyMIRROR]

a test at 630am?? oh dear, that's so early!! i didn't even know they offered DAT testing so early... great scores!! and btw, my best friend got into UOP with a less than 3.00 GPA with DAT scores a little less competitve than yours so hang in there!! Good luck!

 

[nondescriptive]

Retaking does not help your chances; continue to work on improving your GPA. Call up the schools you want to apply and talk to them. They can tell you better than most on this forum.

 

[DrRoyal Pains]

Dude your scores are legit! Nice job!

 

[molar3]

ohmygosh they offer the DAT at 630am?!?!!? who even works at the prometric center that early. wat the hayy. at least u ate suhoor beforehand!
& hmmmmmm i wouldnt retake if i were u, ur scores seem pretty solid. i'd work on your gpa this coming year. u already applied so i think u should take some classes, which im assuming would have to be an informal postbacc at this point since its mid august and if u havnt applied to a masters or formal postbacc......thats ur only option.
u gotta raise ur science gpa (in the event u dont get in this cycle)

 

[JustwantDDS]

u DO NOT need to retake
end of convo about retaking. lol but do take classes or think about a 1 yr masters

 

[TwentyTwelve]

DAT is very solid...don't even think about a retake. However, it will be very tough to get an interview/acceptance with a SGPA that low. Like others have said it would be wise to do a masters to achieve a high upper level science GPA. Your DAT is good for three years at most schools so get your masters done and see you in dental school!!

 

[loganheinrich]

Don't retake bro! Those are excellent scores! Even if you don't get in this cycle I would recommend doing a postbac or masters program. I did a 1yr masters program and it really bumped up my GPA.

Can you tell me a little bit more about a 1 year masters program? Like where you took it, what you studied and how it compares to a 2 year?

Also, can anyone tell me how to calculate the science GPA? Is it ANY science course or just the prereqs GenChem/Ochem/Bio, etc?

 

[nondescriptive]

Can you tell me a little bit more about a 1 year masters program? Like where you took it, what you studied and how it compares to a 2 year?

Also, can anyone tell me how to calculate the science GPA? Is it ANY science course or just the prereqs GenChem/Ochem/Bio, etc?

Is the masters program calculated into your oGPA? I thought graduate and undergraduate GPA were separate.

 

[rmm30]

retake???? Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

 

[ns205]

So in conclusion. I should finish my bacc degree (increasing my gpa on the way) and continue into a postbac/masters til I get in . Sounds like a lot of time/money being invested but i will stick to it ! thanks guys

 

[LetsGo2DSchool]

Wow, that's so impressive that you can kick ass while fasting. If that were me, people would complain about the guy with the growling stomach.

Congrats on a nice score. Now go eat some cheetos!

 

[buckey]

So in conclusion. I should finish my bacc degree (increasing my gpa on the way) and continue into a postbac/masters til I get in . Sounds like a lot of time/money being invested but i will stick to it ! thanks guys

Pretty much, remember that you have an academic update at the end of november-december. If you take some science classes this fall and do well you could push it up some, which might be the difference.

 

[KittySquared]

excellent scores...

Why are you trying to retake? You should be doing a post-bacc instead. Your chances of getting accepted won't increase by having a higher dat but increasing your gpa will increase your chances of acceptance.

+1

 

[LetsGo2DSchool]

There's some misinformation on this thread so I'm going to correct it so you won't get a rude awakening down the road.

Don't do a Masters. Grades earned in masters program will be calculated separately by AADSAS and thus you'll still be stuck with the same undergrad GPAs. (Schools want to see 3.0+ GPAs across the board b/c they have to report these stats to ADA which get calculated into their averages and published.)

Don't repeat any courses since you just graduated recently. Kiss of death. No-win situation: if you get an A, schools will say of course b/c you're repeating the course, and if you don't get an A, schools will think you're a scrub.

Take higher level science courses at the undergrad level instead. Get your GPAs over 3.0 this way.

You still have a shot at getting some interviews. But if you have to retry next cycle, then you know what to do as far as taking courses.

Good luck!

 

[femi86]

I made an AA-19 and my GPA was like a 2.96, i had a bunch of students telling me thats not good enough. I applied to 6 school and got 5 interviews, skipped 2 cause of my job and got into the 3 schools i interviewed for. School looked at how persistent i was and that i worked 2 jobs and took 21 hours for 4 semesters straight. I got into Howard, NYU and columbia. Don't let anyone sit here and tell you something they haven't even been through. Dental school want people that will make a global impact on the world not just some kid who can regurgitate a book. If you believe in yourself you can accomplish it and not to be all religious, i prayed my ass off to get interview and god answered my prayers. The people who usually comment on this website are the kids who haven't been through any struggle and their parent paid their way through, so they sat around and studied all day. BY THE WAY I BOMBED MY PA...(THAT **** IS NOT IMPORTANT) LOL

 

[docs87]

those are great scores! goodluck, ps happy ramadan to you 🙂 i have my dat in a week debating whether to not fast that day and make it up after 😳

 

[flyingforever]

those are great scores! goodluck, ps happy ramadan to you 🙂 i have my dat in a week debating whether to not fast that day and make it up after 😳

I fasted during my exam day. I ate my breakfast around 1 am. I went to bed and woke up at 7 am and drove to testing center for 9 am test. I have a crazy physiology.

 

[UCSD1984]

There's some misinformation on this thread so I'm going to correct it so you won't get a rude awakening down the road.

Don't do a Masters. Grades earned in masters program will be calculated separately by AADSAS and thus you'll still be stuck with the same undergrad GPAs. (Schools want to see 3.0+ GPAs across the board b/c they have to report these stats to ADA which get calculated into their averages and published.)

Don't repeat any courses since you just graduated recently. Kiss of death. No-win situation: if you get an A, schools will say of course b/c you're repeating the course, and if you don't get an A, schools will think you're a scrub.

Take higher level science courses at the undergrad level instead. Get your GPAs over 3.0 this way.

You still have a shot at getting some interviews. But if you have to retry next cycle, then you know what to do as far as taking courses.

Good luck!

+1

Informal post-bacc over a Master's any day.