Dat freaking RC...

[misterrr]

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How do dental schools weigh the RC component of the DATs? Or do most schools approach the DAT more holistically?

I did fairly well in the sciences (TS/AA), but got my rear handed to me in the RC.

I'm definitely willing to rewrite the DAT to improve the RC, even if it means I get a lower TS/AA second time around. (not sure if that's a good idea...)

As always, thank ya~

 

[NDPitch]

Most schools weigh it pretty high nowadays. There's a spreadsheet by doc toothache detailing how schools responded to a survey that asked how they ranked certain sections of the DAT. RC was surprisingly heavily weighted by many schools.

As far as your situation goes. I'll be honest. Stop complaining. You thinking your 19 is terrible is seen as an insult to those who actually struggled in reading comprehension and scored way lower.

I scored a 17 in RC but still received 7 offers of admission. Apply and wait for your interviews.

 

[Hawkteeth]

Your willing to take a hit on your TS and AA for RC? Your fine, don't retake.

 

[misterrr]

Most schools weigh it pretty high nowadays. There's a spreadsheet by doc toothache detailing how schools responded to a survey that asked how they ranked certain sections of the DAT. RC was surprisingly heavily weighted by many schools.

As far as your situation goes. I'll be honest. Stop complaining. You thinking your 19 is terrible is seen as an insult to those who actually struggled in reading comprehension and scored way lower.

I scored a 17 in RC but still received 7 offers of admission. Apply and wait for your interviews.

I was being genuinely curious to be honest, and seriously considering retaking if there is a consensus on it from fellow applicants. I will take out the score numbers if that's what it seems like. Thanks

 

[NDPitch]

I was being genuinely curious to be honest, and seriously considering retaking if there is a consensus on it from fellow applicants. I will take out the score numbers if that's what it seems like. Thanks

Nah it's no big deal. Just putting things into perspective for you, that's all.

19 is not equal to getting your ass handed to you. You'll get into multiple schools, most likely.

 

[misterrr]

Nah it's no big deal. Just putting things into perspective for you, that's all.

19 is not equal to getting your ass handed to you. You'll get into multiple schools, most likely.

Thanks, btw I snagged your 1000th post 😛

 

[NDPitch]

Thanks, btw I snagged your 1000th post 😛

Haha. Indeed.

 

[Silent Cool]

How do dental schools weigh the RC component of the DATs? Or do most schools approach the DAT more holistically?

I did fairly well in the sciences (TS/AA), but got my rear handed to me in the RC.

I'm definitely willing to rewrite the DAT to improve the RC, even if it means I get a lower TS/AA second time around. (not sure if that's a good idea...)

As always, thank ya~

There is an important paper that outlines the value of RC and other subsections of the DAT as they pertain to admissions. It was written by Karl Kingsley, et al., at UNLV. The paper details why these scores matter and which ones matter the most:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17468310

 

[ktran17]

"More detailed analysis of the admissions variables within the formula revealed that some Dental Admission Test scores, such as Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Analysis, and Biology, were significantly correlated with dental school performance at UNLV-SDM"

QR? lol

 

[dentalWorks]

How do dental schools weigh the RC component of the DATs? Or do most schools approach the DAT more holistically?

I did fairly well in the sciences (TS/AA), but got my rear handed to me in the RC.

I'm definitely willing to rewrite the DAT to improve the RC, even if it means I get a lower TS/AA second time around. (not sure if that's a good idea...)

As always, thank ya~

They say RC is important yet... I've seen many non-american (even in my own class) whom addmit to having a 17 and still getting in.

I think 17 is a "safe" low number, anything lower and I think retake should be in order

 

[ABayBay13]

RC is the only section of the DAT that correlates to performance in dental school.

 

[free99]

RC is the only section of the DAT that correlates to performance in dental school.

Source?

 

[aznboi89x]

Source?

above link to pub med...

many DS believe this and they DO see a correlation.

 

[free99]

RC is the only section of the DAT that correlates to performance in dental school.

above link to pub med...

many DS believe this and they DO see a correlation.

I read the article before I posted, but that's not what is says. RC is one of the scores with which they found a correlation, but so was Bio and "QA". The correlation was also different depending on what they were looking at, d-school GPA or NBDE part I scores.

The results of this study found that some of the admissions variables cited in the literature did correlate well with dental student performance, while other variables lacked significant correlation with student performance. Our study confirmed that DAT-BIO, DAT-RC, and DAT-QA were the variables most strongly associated with NBDE-I scores and DS-GPA, among all groups at UNLV-SDM.

They do note another study that discredits the significance of QR:

In addition, Bergman et al. reported that DAT-QA was the least accurate predictor of dental school performance, while at UNLV-SDM the predictive value of DAT-QA was significant in the initial evaluation from the first class of students at UNLV-SDM.12 Although many schools may not weight this score heavily in the admissions process, these data suggest that further research may be necessary to elucidate the relationship that may exist between this score and student performance.

and openly admit:

It is clear that no admissions formula models can uniformly and unerringly predict clinical, didactic, or academic performance. Furthermore, the temporal nature of these results indicate that these correlations are not uniformly generalizable, but rather that some of the NBDE-I score and DS-GPA may be attributed to the variables used in this revised formula—a useful indicator to other admissions officers regarding the most important variables to measure and analyze within their applicant pools.

It's an interesting article, nonetheless, that gives some insight to the mysterious admissions process.

 

[NDPitch]

I'll tell you in 4 years whether or not RC correlates to performance in dental school (for me). But considering I tried to beat the test by a method that ended up not working for my passages, I'd venture to guess that my 17 in RC won't really correlate to my dental school performance.

I also swiftly reject the claim that RC is "the only thing that correlates to DS performance". It is highly unlikely that undergraduate GPAs accumulated over 4 years of study, AND scores in other sections of the DAT (such as the sciences, which make up a large part of DS curriculum), have zero correlation to how one handles the rigors of dental school.

 

[KittySquared]

I'll tell you in 4 years whether or not RC correlates to performance in dental school (for me). But considering I tried to beat the test by a method that ended up not working for my passages, I'd venture to guess that my 17 in RC won't really correlate to my dental school performance.

tsk tsk tsk excuses excuses 😛

 

[dentalWorks]

RC is as relates to dental school performance the same way as........................... *empty blank*

 

[topshelf]

I read the article before I posted, but that's not what is says. RC is one of the scores with which they found a correlation, but so was Bio and "QA". The correlation was also different depending on what they were looking at, d-school GPA or NBDE part I scores.

They do note another study that discredits the significance of QR:

and openly admit:


It's an interesting article, nonetheless, that gives some insight to the mysterious admissions process.

Wow, interesting correlation data. I'm surprised to see that RC had a higher correlation than the sciences for both NBDE and dental school GPA...

 

[free99]

Wow, interesting correlation data. I'm surprised to see that RC had a higher correlation than the sciences for both NBDE and dental school GPA...

RC had the strongest correlation to DS-GPA, but bio had a stronger correlation to NBDE scores. Interesting, indeed, I'd like to see how vicviper is doing (didn't he get a 30 on RC?). I'd like to see a study exploring how (if at all) the PAT section correlates to success in DS. Hand skills? Pre-clinical courses? Dunno.

 

[dentalWorks]

okay let me rephrase that... THERE IS NO REALTIONSHIP BETWEEN ANYTHING IN THE DAT (no bio, chem, RC, yes even PAT) to how you perform in dental school or NBDE... none whatsoever.

Undergrad GPA is probably a better predictor cause it at least demonstrates work ethic.

 

[quocstazz]

My RC was horrible, 15 to be exact, but I was able to land couple of interviews and acceptances in this cycle. I am sure you will land multiple interviews. If you want to be sure, do more extra curriculums and attend predental workshops offered by dental schools around your area. Goodluck!

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[swindoll]

.

 

[jexxx007]

I scored 16 in RC in both of my DAT exam. 🙁 I hope this does not hurt me. I am a reapplicant this year.

AA 23 TS 24 RC 16
sGPA 3.8 oGPA 3.9
Grads GPA 3.6

 

[hunterx2]

RC was my least favorite section on the test. I felt as if the people who wrote the questions did not have a good understanding of the passages themselves, and I could have legitimately argued that several answer choices might be correct. If you are going to place a high emphasis on a section for admission purposes, you'd better make sure the passages and questions are of high quality !!!

 

[dentalWorks]

I scored 16 in RC in both of my DAT exam. 🙁 I hope this does not hurt me. I am a reapplicant this year.

AA 23 TS 24 RC 16
sGPA 3.8 oGPA 3.9
Grads GPA 3.6

because everything else is so high.... I doubt anyone is even going to notice the 16. You have nothing to worry about

 

[anum468]

Most schools weigh it pretty high nowadays. There's a spreadsheet by doc toothache detailing how schools responded to a survey that asked how they ranked certain sections of the DAT. RC was surprisingly heavily weighted by many schools.

As far as your situation goes. I'll be honest. Stop complaining. You thinking your 19 is terrible is seen as an insult to those who actually struggled in reading comprehension and scored way lower.

I scored a 17 in RC but still received 7 offers of admission. Apply and wait for your interviews.

Which schools did you apply to and which ones did you get because I just took my DAT and got a decent everything score except a 17 on RC and I am concerned.