DAT feedback!

[ABteeth]

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I recently took the DAT -- scores:
PAT - 17 (very frustrating -- I was getting 20/21s on the Kaplan practice tests ... thought the real thing was much harder)
BIO/GCHEM/OCHEM - 19 each
TS - 19
RC - 21
QR - 19
AA - 19


science 3.58
overall 3.65

...strong ECs/work experience...

...uncertain about my PAT and whether i should retake the DAT in september.

any thoughts/feedback would be greatly appreciated.

thanks!

 

[nze82]

I recently took the DAT -- scores:
PAT - 17 (very frustrating -- I was getting 20/21s on the Kaplan practice tests ... thought the real thing was much harder)
BIO/GCHEM/OCHEM - 19 each
TS - 19
RC - 21
QR - 19
AA - 19


science 3.58
overall 3.65

...strong ECs/work experience...

...uncertain about my PAT and whether i should retake the DAT in september.

any thoughts/feedback would be greatly appreciated.

thanks!

The PA could become problematic depending on the schools you're applying to. Your GPA is OK and your DAT score is average. So, as long as you're not aiming for the most competitive schools out there, you may indeed have a chance.
I wanna say you should retake and improve that PA score, but then there's always the risk of having a later application and messing up the science scores on your 2nd try. So, I'm gonna keep my mouth shut and make no comments about a retake!

 

[g23armani]

Hm, tough choice. While your other scores besides PAT aren't amazing, they are consistently pretty good...it's nice you didn't have anything too low in the AA consideration.

The PAT could definitely hurt you, however. What schools are you applying to?

How far along in your aadsas application are you?

 

[ABteeth]

--my aadsas application was verified about a week and a half ago
--i'm working on supplementals right now and hope to get them done ASAP

--i have the adea's guide to dental schools for 2009, and of the schools i'm applying to, my scores/gpa (except the PAT of course) are right around the mean scores provided in the book

--i've heard that for some med schools, applicants get requests from schools to send in supplementary materials but at the same time are told to improve their mcat score...i don't know if this ever happens with dental schools....

--i'm certainly willing to take the test again ... but as nze82 pointed out, it can be a gamble with the sciences

...help!

 

[dentalmon]

as long as you're not aiming for the most competitive schools out there, you may indeed have a chance.

So what would be a list of least-competitive schools..? i wanna know about it🙂

 

[nze82]

So what would be a list of least-competitive schools..? i wanna know about it🙂

ADA's guide book and predents.com are your best friends!

 

[denthopeful]

Your scores are really similar to mine! I made a thread too, hopefully this helps you
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=638272
I don't think I'm going to retake..

 

[brightsmiles9]

Good job, and congrats on getting it over with! Kaplans PAT is much easier than the real exam though. Good luck with the applications, howd you study the reading/math?

 

[ABteeth]

Thanks! I'm uncertain about re-taking though ... GRR.

RC - honestly, I didn't study other than taking the Kaplan practice tests, but i was more concerned with studying the sciences, so that's what i focused on
QR - mainly just the Kaplan practice tests and going over the answers


What study material is the best for PAT? And Bio? If I were to retake, I'd like to feel more prepared for Bio as well