DAT done. WTFF X 1000000

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gumdrop16

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omg wtf. just wtf. all i have to say is WTF. im SO upset. its disgusting. i want to cry but im too pissed to even cry. more like, im in shock.
this was the second time i took my DAT. i did better my FIRST time then i did this time.
THIS TEST WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HARDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
i cannot even tell you how hard i thought this test was. i literally have every other question marked in my sciences, NO JOKE. my RC was ALL ETHICAL, 2 passages about ethics, and i had maybe ONE science related passage on like an effing bacteria or some ridiculous microorganism, and even THAT passage was FILLLEDDDDD with tone/inference questions. all my passages were long as shi t. like 25 paragraphs long, i kid u not. is that normal? NO. well, i didnt think so. fml x 2000. on my last dat, from what i rmbr, i swear all of my passages were maybe 11 paragraphs MAX. this time.....i was like wtf????????????? i practicied with topscore RC and scored a 22 and 23 for the 1st 2 tests. i didnt bother with the 3rd test.
pat and qr, i dont have much to say.

todays dat scores :
pat 18
qr 17
RC 19
bio 20
gc SEVENTEEN THATS 17. THATS 1-WTF-7
ochem 20
TS 19
AA 19

my 1st dat, i had 20ts/20aa. BUT my gc was a a 24. and so was my rc. I WENT DOWN, DOWN INTO THE GUTTER. MY SCORES WENT DOWN. I ALREADY SUBMITTED MY APP. I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MADDDDDDD. my test was sooooooooo hard.

and i say hard, i studied ALL summer long. i knew destroyer COLD, front and back, every subject (minus qr- thats just wtf in general for me). i did all of chads videos and quizzes. i knew them and understood them all. i just finished my masters in bio. im not a flakey studier, i KNOW my shi t. i got UNLUCKY AS FU CK today and got wiped down by this test. im mainly MAD bc my scores in general went DOWN. this is so embarassing i dont even know what to do with myself. my first DAT was HELLA easier then this. HELLLLLLLLAAAAAAAA EASIER. i have bad luck.

also, does anyone know, how is it chosen which version of the DAT each student takes? is it the proctor who sets u up, who randomly picks a version of the DAT they have at that prometric center or what? how does it work? is it biased? im so confused. I HATE MY LIFE

ps- the reason i retook my dat, was bc i had a subpar gpa from ug, and my pat was a 15 last time, and qr was a 14. to set off my subpar gpa, even with my MS, i wanted /needed to raise my PAT and was aiming for a 22+aa/ts. i want to jump off a cliff and drown.
 
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I just got owned in bio as well. The questions were not straighforward but required critical thinking and application which was definitely not expected. Hence got a 17 🙁 Knowing the basics will def help but the questions were nothing like my last 2 attempts on my DAT
 
Gumdrop,
Hey! I just read your post talking about your scores. First, congratulations, AA 19 is a good, competitive score. Remember that a 17 is considered average. This means that LOADS of people score UNDER a 17. You are at least 2 points above average! Next, it's going to look good to dental schools that you took the exam twice. I know you're thinking, "no, no it's not I scored lower." So you have may have scored lower, BUT you took it twice because you wanted to improve. They know that you didn't take it twice because you thought, " what a fun experience, I can't wait to do that again!" When they look at your scores they are going to see a person that tried not once, but twice AND a person that scored ABOVE average; not ONCE but TWICE! I know that you're really bummed out because you invested a lot of time, money, and energy to take the test. Don't let this concern you, if anything you should be proud. Look at your dedication toward a goal you have set! You have been through the hell and back, not ONCE, but TWICE! You can do it, you will get accepted into dental school; I believe in you. I believe that you'll get accepted because once you interview, your desires to be an above average health care provider will shine through! You CAN do it, and what's more important is that you WILL do it. I know it seems "meh" to get a 19 because some people on here have some pretty high scores. Remember though that: 1) you aren't necessarily competing against them to get into school because they are from different areas/applying at different times 2) remember that you did your best with what you were given 3)"don't try and keep up with the Jones" Who cares that so and so made a 25? That doesn't affect you, good for them! Do not be bashful, be proud of what you have accomplished, achieved, and what you will accomplish and achieve. You can do it and you will make it, just keep pushing, moshing, biting, fighting, scratching, clawing, shooting, chopping, swearing, and running and DON'T YOU DARE STOP UNTIL YOU GET WHAT'S YOURS; WHAT YOU'VE WORKED FOR, AND WHAT YOU'VE EARNED. DON'T YOU DARE SHED A TEAR, YOU HOLD YOUR HEAD UP HIGH AND STAND AS A MAN (or woman :laugh:) AND BE PROUD OF YOURSELF. IF and I say IF a school tells you "no," then DON'T take NO for an answer! Regardless of your mother or father saying, "now when a girl says no, she means no" (it may not be legitimate, see Akin for further details) "no" isn't the end all! Just because someone says no doesn't mean someone else won't say yes, or that the same school won't say yes later! DON'T accept any other answer from dental school other than YES! Once you are a dentist, you will look back and think of the torment you went through: all the studying, tests, feelings of inadequacy, and then you will be even more proud of yourself and achievement. This is America even the sky isn't the limit (proven April 12th 1961).

Keep your head up!
Rhino

"God will take you through hell just to get you to heaven"
-T.I.
 
I took mine Tuesday and got a 21/21/19.

Bio wasn't too bad. I had some random questions that Cliffs didn't prepare me for, but it was fair. Got a 22.

RC seemed fine. I honestly studied about 30 minutes total for this section so I don't know what to compare it to, but the first passage was a struggle but I started to figure out how to attack the section and I breezed through the third. Got a 20 here.

The PAT was a lot harder than CDP for me. Granted, I got a 19 and my average score was a 19 throughout studying, but after the 8th test I hadn't broken in the 20's so I really took the time to learn strategies on every section. The only full length test I took after that I got a 22 on. Keyholes were harder. TFE was similar. Angles were easier, HP was about the same. Cubes were easier. Pattern folding was the biggest wtf I've ever seen. All 15 of mine were complex shapes that it was hard to picture. CDP never challenged me on what shape I was forming, just the shading. My real DAT I could barely figure out the shape I was going for. That said, it was light on the shading, but I didn't have any dice or the ones where you just big the big side and go with it. It was 15 complex shapes that I had no practice on.

That said, OP's test is not the norm. I had two GC lab application problems, but one was kind of a safety thing(don't really want to go into detail) that I got right because I remember our lab instructors hilarious first GC lecture on what not to do. The other I had no idea and just guessed and moved on.
Thanks for the update. Great job on the scores! I've read that Achiever's PAT picks up where CDP is lacking, so I may have to refer to that quite soon to be sure I can handle the real deal.

Back to studying...
 
Wow. That is unfortunate- sorry you had a difficult version... I can only imagine how it would affect your confidence and thereby make you do even worse... 🙁

I was originally scheduled to take mine 8/28 but pushed it back to 9/4 a couple of weeks ago. Should those of us taking the exam soon be worried? I feel like I've read a couple of similar posts lately... describing how the Bio section had really off the wall questions, PAT was more difficult than CDP, and RC was terribly hard... I'm already feeling slightly overwhelmed, some days I get excited thinking I am making progress and others I feel depressed. Reading this post just terrifies me! 🙁

Oh and I just wanted to wish everyone taking their exam tomorrow and in the upcoming days good luck!!

you shouldnt be terrified, just be confident. i was very confident going in as well. i honestly think very few people get this version of the DAT. i think youll be one of the lucky ones who doesnt get it . positivity!
 
I just got owned in bio as well. The questions were not straighforward but required critical thinking and application which was definitely not expected. Hence got a 17 🙁 Knowing the basics will def help but the questions were nothing like my last 2 attempts on my DAT

me too. memorizing cliffs ap or barrons ap bio or w/e else, can "help" but my dat was very NON fact based. it was very hypothetical and problem solving ish and critical thinking related. memorizing everything or anything in the world this summer wouldnt have helped i dont think. i wouldnt even know where to look to study some of the questions i saw on my exam. all my sections were like this. but for some versions of the dat, im sure memorizing cliffs and destroyer inside out can get someone even a 30. luck vs no luck...
 
you shouldnt be terrified, just be confident. i was very confident going in as well. i honestly think very few people get this version of the DAT. i think youll be one of the lucky ones who doesnt get it . positivity!
Thanks 🙂

And I hope you're feeling better 🙂
 
why would you even retake after your first scores? you probably listened these kids on sdn who have no clue about ANYTHING when it comes to stats/applications/acceptances....do your research next time. your scores went down, and if you get an interview you better be able to explain why. **hard exam** isnt going to cut it. good luck.
 
why would you even retake after your first scores? you probably listened these kids on sdn who have no clue about ANYTHING when it comes to stats/applications/acceptances....do your research next time. your scores went down, and if you get an interview you better be able to explain why. **hard exam** isnt going to cut it. good luck.

You should read my original post. I dont just retake exams for fun buddy. I had a reason. Thanks for ur rude 2 cents though
 
I apologize if i came off rude. I just carefully read your first response. All i meant was dont be quick to retake, because often times this can be the case. Call up the schools. Getting into dental school is more than just numbers. Kids who think numbers are the most important thing, lol well they are in for a surprise. The application process is a game, those who know how to play get in. The others just keep arguing on sdn. Thats all i meant. I sincerely wish you the best of luck. If you ever need advice please feel free to pm me.
 
I apologize if i came off rude. I just carefully read your first response. All i meant was dont be quick to retake, because often times this can be the case. Call up the schools. Getting into dental school is more than just numbers. Kids who think numbers are the most important thing, lol well they are in for a surprise. The application process is a game, those who know how to play get in. The others just keep arguing on sdn. Thats all i meant. I sincerely wish you the best of luck. If you ever need advice please feel free to pm me.

Having a subpar ug GPA and a 15 PAT/14 QR is enough reason to retake the DAT, especially when the overall AA/TS is only a 20.

Numbers isn't everything? Let's hear your numbers. I'll be amazed if you got accepted somewhere with a 15 PAT 14 QR. Hell, I'll be amazed if you got an interview with a 15 PAT 14 QR. Who in their right mind, given the opportunity to retake, would ever pass it up for a 15 PAT and 14 QR? The dude was totally right to retake it.

Also, I don't know what background you have in Dental School Admissions but numbers isn't everything? Allow me to introduce you to a saying.

Money isn't everything and you can't use it to buy everything

But without ANY money, you can't buy ANYTHING.

Replace money with "numbers".

Gumdrop, seriously. You did the right thing to retake, and for the 10th billion time, sorry that it had to be the hardest one of the bunch. But once you get into dental school, you'll have a hell of a story to tell your classmates eh? Sure beats posting WTF WTF on SDN haha. 🙄
 
Lol, yes you read right numbers arent everything. you can have 4.0 and 25 DAT and not get into a single dental school. Until you go through the interview process, and actually see that yes, numbers are important but not everything than you will understand. I have a friend who had a 15 in reading, and got into two schools. A 15 in reading, is actually more detrimental than having a subpar math and pat score....most schools dont even look at math, and pat isnt heavily emphasized at many schools. Again, I apologized, to the op as i didnt read his initial post carefully. I agree his DAT retake was needed, after reading that. However, i want to emphasized again NUMBERS ARE NOT EVERYTHING........Hopefully after you guys get in you will realize that 🙂 ....I also hope you understand that i am not saying numbers arent important, no one can say that, but i would only say numbers are 50-70% of your acceptance.
 
i cant even comprehend what just happened today. im in shock. i cant even cry when i know i should be. i cant FUNCTION. IM SO MAD. i honestly thought destroyer was easier then my test. and bio was like wtf x 1000 also. im SURPRISED i got a 20.
on my test, i had SO many diagrams, and pictures and interpreting data/results. there was nothing SIMPLE about any question. every question was complex, nothing was straightforward. im so mad that i think i blew my shot for ds, again. its not even that i did bad this time, its that my scores went DOWN. i feel like schools will be like wtf this applicant became an idiot. i feel like im in depression and wont eat ever again........IM SOOOOOOO SADDDDDDD/MADDDDDDDDDDDDDD. excuse my melodramatic-ness, but i need to vent and my family keeps telling me to calm down. i CANT CALM DOWN.

i didnt even break a 20 on pat, and thats one of the main reasons i retook. i think i feel the tears coming

I feel you OP; but if it makes you feel better, you are in a better position than I am. Non-traditional here as well.
But I actually LOL'ed at the highlighted comment. Thanks :laugh:
 
Hey! What the heck! Whoever made that DAT version is messed up... you make my test seem like it was the alphabet!

I'm seriously doubting and just surprised that they would put 25 paragraphs on EACH of your RC passages?? That seems incredibly unreasonable!! 😱
so... I don't mean to be a jerk or anything but are you suree it was 25 paragraphs each?!?? 😕 and what kind of questions did you have for the RC section? what does ethical mean??
 
Hey, now you got me thinking...the first time i took it was SUPER easy, i just didnt know my stuff but got ridiculous easy quest like was are the isotopes of carbon.(took this exam at location #1), second time i took it at location #2 and exam was super hard, i was still ok bcus i increased at least 1 point, third time I went back to location #1 again and honestly i thought exam wasnt too hard, either i knew more or i just got an easier exam..I got exam with lots of bacterias and diseases, yea, was terrible long passages. I am not sure how pometrycenter assigns version of exams. I had to mark a lot of quest that i never had time to review. Good luck again, i know how you feel. Did you take 2nd time at same location?
 
omg wtf. just wtf. all i have to say is WTF. im SO upset. its disgusting. i want to cry but im too pissed to even cry. more like, im in shock.
this was the second time i took my DAT. i did better my FIRST time then i did this time.
THIS TEST WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HARDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
i cannot even tell you how hard i thought this test was. i literally have every other question marked in my sciences, NO JOKE. my RC was ALL ETHICAL, 2 passages about ethics, and i had maybe ONE science related passage on like an effing bacteria or some ridiculous microorganism, and even THAT passage was FILLLEDDDDD with tone/inference questions. all my passages were long as shi t. like 25 paragraphs long, i kid u not. is that normal? NO. well, i didnt think so. fml x 2000. on my last dat, from what i rmbr, i swear all of my passages were maybe 11 paragraphs MAX. this time.....i was like wtf????????????? i practicied with topscore RC and scored a 22 and 23 for the 1st 2 tests. i didnt bother with the 3rd test.
pat and qr, i dont have much to say.

todays dat scores :
pat 18
qr 17
RC 19
bio 20
gc SEVENTEEN THATS 17. THATS 1-WTF-7
ochem 20
TS 19
AA 19

my 1st dat, i had 20ts/20aa. BUT my gc was a a 24. and so was my rc. I WENT DOWN, DOWN INTO THE GUTTER. MY SCORES WENT DOWN. I ALREADY SUBMITTED MY APP. I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MADDDDDDD. my test was sooooooooo hard.

and i say hard, i studied ALL summer long. i knew destroyer COLD, front and back, every subject (minus qr- thats just wtf in general for me). i did all of chads videos and quizzes. i knew them and understood them all. i just finished my masters in bio. im not a flakey studier, i KNOW my shi t. i got UNLUCKY AS FU CK today and got wiped down by this test. im mainly MAD bc my scores in general went DOWN. this is so embarassing i dont even know what to do with myself. my first DAT was HELLA easier then this. HELLLLLLLLAAAAAAAA EASIER. i have bad luck.

also, does anyone know, how is it chosen which version of the DAT each student takes? is it the proctor who sets u up, who randomly picks a version of the DAT they have at that prometric center or what? how does it work? is it biased? im so confused. I HATE MY LIFE

ps- the reason i retook my dat, was bc i had a subpar gpa from ug, and my pat was a 15 last time, and qr was a 14. to set off my subpar gpa, even with my MS, i wanted /needed to raise my PAT and was aiming for a 22+aa/ts. i want to jump off a cliff and drown.

look at the bright side, you are more balanced with this new score than your old.

20/20 is better than 19/19, but the 19/19 is more balanced (so cheer up)

I really don't know why you are upset... You made a decision to retake and fix your old spots, and YOU WERE SUCCESSFUL... so you got a 17 in GC, big deal, at least you improved QR and PAT.

Any administraror with a half a brain is going to see what went on here.... you focused more on the weak areas (QR and PAT) and took an "easier" studies on the sciences. You did well, move on.

I always tell students, bad GPA cannot be substituted with good DAT (unless your swinging 25+, but thats highly unlikely for most). Work on more post-bacc / GPA improvement at this point, and forget about this DAT business.
 
You still have all scores over 17!! If i was you, maybe contact school you want to go and ask for advice b4 you retake...yes, your score are lower but more balance..totally true!! When we retake thats the chance we take, some section may increase others may drop..so hard to know how committee will see it..maybe stay with scores and improve other sections of your application?
 
You still have all scores over 17!! If i was you, maybe contact school you want to go and ask for advice b4 you retake...yes, your score are lower but more balance..totally true!! When we retake thats the chance we take, some section may increase others may drop..so hard to know how committee will see it..maybe stay with scores and improve other sections of your application?

They will say its crap. i cant improve other parts of my app anymore, i already have. i cant make anything else better.
 
They will say its crap. i cant improve other parts of my app anymore, i already have. i cant make anything else better.

I am sorry you feel like that!! I will be a re-applicant for the third time :scared: there are many of us going thru this.. Cheer up, wait and see..If no interviews then retake and apply again.
How do you think I feel with my QR 13? Don't rush things out, if you retake you really need to improve HIGH HIGH!!!
 
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