DAT-Fail-What-To-Do?

[Mapwizard]

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What's up guys,

Mapwizard here. I just had to ask all of you experts out there about my DAT. I'm kinda at a loss about what to do. Here are my scores:

AA:20
TS:21
OC:21
GC:25
Bio:19
RC:23
QR:14
PA:16

GPA's: 3.3/3.3. Strong upward trend.

As you can see I did very poorly in QR (14) and PA (16). These sections hit me like a ton of bricks on the real DAT. I did a practice test and got a 19 or 20 in PAT so figured I was g2g. Do these scores warrent a retake? Do they land me in the autoreject pile? Most importantly, anyone know of schools they think I should look into with low scores in those sections?

Thanks alot. I'm not quite sure what to do and would appriciate feedback.

 

[Kahr]

First off, skim the "What are my chances" thread:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=635046

Secondly, check doc toothache's ranking spreadsheet based on GPA/DAT scores:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=810649

I know certain schools have cutoffs, and you certainly would fall below those for the QR, not certain about the PAT. Either you'll get answers given to you, or you can search these forums, or for the best answers you contact the schools you're interested in directly.

When do you plan to apply? If it's this cycle, I would apply right away unless you feel the odds are too highly against you. Assuming you just took your DAT, a retake is probably too far away to make a difference at this point (just a guess on my part).

If you aren't applying this cycle, then a retake is probably a good idea to get scheduled while a lot of material is still fresh in your mind, with the high scores you got, I have trouble believing you're at much risk for those same high scores dropping too much the second time around, while with the right preparation the low ones are fairly easy to raise, especially given the sections.

 

[dapplicant]

I would retake in Nov. and write to dental schools to inform them you will have new DAT scores. Study really hard to make sure you can kick dat butt. I personally would not wait until next cycle to apply if I already have all the materials prepared.

However, do be more selective in the schools you apply to. Make sure you have quite a few safety schools who have later deadlines.

 

[Mapwizard]

Thanks for the prompt posts guys.

Kahr - I will check those out Thanks! Calling is also a good idea. I took my DAT a couple weeks ago. It was the last part of my application - I didn't want to sink that much money into my application before taking the DAT so I only applied to my state school, LECOM, Midwestern's, and AT still.

As far as retaking the DAT. The only sections I actually studied for were the chemistries. The RC, Bio, Math were done with my knowedge base (dumb, I know). I think if I studied these sections my scores may rise which makes me tempted to retake this december. Though, I would love to get in this cycle...

Dap, due to alot of commitments I cannot take it till dec. would the scored have the same effect as you described if I were to take it then?

 

[tmirchel]

Just apply to more schools that accept those scores. lots of schools don't care at all about QR and some pat is in the same boat. Not a big deal. I thought I told you this at school yesterday!

you also have a very strong upward trend.

 

[Rutgers2015]

Honestly that's not a fail. You're solid. Schools have accepted kids with 12 QR. It's the least important section and dental schools frankly could care less if you're a mathematician or not-- that won't necessarily make you a good dentist. And the PAT is the lower side, but again, people with 16 PAT have gotten interviews. check out predents.com. I wouldn't retake if I were you, especially because you're already a bit late in the cycle, many schools have already begun sending interviews! My worries are not so much about your DAT as much as applying relatively late and your GPA is lower than average too. Best of luck to you!

 

[bing12]

you are fine

 

[UCSD1984]

Honestly that's not a fail. You're solid. Schools have accepted kids with 12 QR. It's the least important section and dental schools frankly could care less if you're a mathematician or not-- that won't necessarily make you a good dentist. And the PAT is the lower side, but again, people with 16 PAT have gotten interviews. check out predents.com. I wouldn't retake if I were you, especially because you're already a bit late in the cycle, many schools have already begun sending interviews! My worries are not so much about your DAT as much as applying relatively late and your GPA is lower than average too. Best of luck to you!

This advice is highly optimistic and not to my liking.

 

[yappy]

I think you may be okay as long as you apply very broadly. Not sure where you're from but I've had a friend here in cali that got into USC with a PAT as low as yours. It's a privite school so they treat students out of state the same as in state. Other than that & QR you did well. Your sciences were simular to mine.

 

[Double Bonded]

applying to a lot of schools + Post-dec interviews

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

What's up guys,

Mapwizard here. I just had to ask all of you experts out there about my DAT. I'm kinda at a loss about what to do. Here are my scores:

AA:20
TS:21
OC:21
GC:25
Bio:19
RC:23
QR:14
PA:16

GPA's: 3.3/3.3. Strong upward trend.

As you can see I did very poorly in QR (14) and PA (16). These sections hit me like a ton of bricks on the real DAT. I did a practice test and got a 19 or 20 in PAT so figured I was g2g. Do these scores warrent a retake? Do they land me in the autoreject pile? Most importantly, anyone know of schools they think I should look into with low scores in those sections?

Thanks alot. I'm not quite sure what to do and would appriciate feedback.

Haphazard thinking... I knew this test was important so I spent a lot of time on all of the sections with RC being the least amount of time. Mind you... I hit a 29 on the first topscore RC but I still did all of the RC passages on each of the practice tests that I took.

Well, what's done is done. If you get interviews just be prepared to explain your QR and PAT score because chances are, they will ask you WTF happened?

 

[Mapwizard]

It was really an issue of time. Though, I should have practiced more - that would have fixed it. Maybe by the time of an interview (post dec; hopefully) I will have retaken the DAT and will show them a good PAT score.

Does anyone know of any schools that dont care too much for the PAT or math section?

Haphazard thinking... I knew this test was important so I spent a lot of time on all of the sections with RC being the least amount of time. Mind you... I hit a 29 on the first topscore RC but I still did all of the RC passages on each of the practice tests that I took.

Well, what's done is done. If you get interviews just be prepared to explain your QR and PAT score because chances are, they will ask you WTF happened?

 

[pickmedental]

I heard that most schools care most about the natural sciences sections where u have solid scores...If I were you I would apply right now...its really up to you if to retake the DAT or not...I believe that with your scores you can get to at least one school, however, if you retake the DAT youll prob. have more choices...2 years ago my friend had an interview at UF and they asked her to improve her math score...so she took the DAT again after the interview improved from 16 to 19 and got in....Good Luck!

 

[lmaozedong1]

In my opinion, your PAT will hurt you much worse than your QR.

 

[tmirchel]

You will have to check each school and see what there requirements are.
I know Western only has minimums for AA GC OC BIO and RC 17+
just have to check.

 

[Rutgers2015]

This advice is highly optimistic and not to my liking.

Well sorry, but November is kind of late and I feel that might hurt their chances. Plus, what if the OP's sciences and RC are not as high the second time around?

 

[Mapwizard]

Heresy - they would all go up.

Well sorry, but November is kind of late and I feel that might hurt their chances. Plus, what if the OP's sciences and RC are not as high the second time around?

 

[Rutgers2015]

Heresy - they would all go up.

I sincerely hope that is the case if you do choose to retake.

 

[flyingforever]

what's up guys,

mapwizard here. I just had to ask all of you experts out there about my dat. I'm kinda at a loss about what to do. Here are my scores:

Aa:20
ts:21
oc:21
gc:25
bio:19
rc:23
qr:14
pa:16

gpa's: 3.3/3.3. Strong upward trend.

As you can see i did very poorly in qr (14) and pa (16). These sections hit me like a ton of bricks on the real dat. I did a practice test and got a 19 or 20 in pat so figured i was g2g. Do these scores warrent a retake? Do they land me in the autoreject pile? Most importantly, anyone know of schools they think i should look into with low scores in those sections?

Thanks alot. I'm not quite sure what to do and would appriciate feedback.

do not retake!!!

 

[Mapwizard]

We'll see... I may have to if I cannot get in this cycle and schools tell me my PAT is terrible. To be honest, the DAT is not that bad of a test. I know with the course work i'm doing now in biology + some good math/PAT prep I could score a higher AA/TS/PAT.

do not retake!!!

 

[setupben]

I had a similar problem. I did well in everything except QR, I think I also had a 14.

Call the schools and make sure they don't have minimums. If they don't then you should be fine there. I was told that they care least about QR.

Good luck.