DAT over 08/04!! :( advices please!

[dental21]

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First attempt:

PAT 14
QR 15
RC 14
BIO 14
GC 18
OC 18
DAT AA: 16
DAT TS: 16

Second attempt: Aug 4th, 2009

PAT 13 ::
QR 13 was drained in the end....out of time
RC 17
BIO 18
GC 18
OC 20
DAT AA: 17
DAT TS: 18

GPA OVERALL 3.56

GPA SCIENCE 3.52

I am not going to take any more I am fed up with this...Help me

I applied to NYU, Temple. TUFTS, Marquette, Midwestern...etc what are the shots?

I applied in begining of June

 

[nze82]

Retake!

 

[dental21]

So that means I don't have CHOICE of getting in...because for the first attempt last year I was interviewed and then waitlisted and then rejected even though I applied late................September23rd..took first on October 23rd....

 

[nze82]

So that means I don't have CHOICE of getting in...because for the first attempt last year I was interviewed and then waitlisted and then rejected even though I applied late................September23rd..took first on October 23rd....

I'd be very surprised if you get any interviews with AA 17 and PA 13. Those scores are very low, and if you want to have a decent chance at dental school, you MUST retake! Anyone who tells you otherwise either doesn't know anything about the admission process or is just BSing you!

 

[dental21]

Oh okay thanks for the comment.

But does the dental school see the improvement from the first attempt to the second attempt as the good impression???? since i did very good in science sections compared to the first one....and my second attempt DAT AA is 17 and TS is 18

Do appreciate your time being...

 

[nze82]

Oh okay thanks for the comment.

But does the dental school see the improvement from the first attempt to the second attempt as the good impression???? since i did very good in science sections compared to the first one....and my second attempt DAT AA is 17 and TS is 18

Do appreciate your time being...

Sorry to be all blunt about this (I don't mean to be harsh). But changing your score from AA16 to AA17 is hardly an improvement, and your science scores are all about average (except OC).
You have to keep in mind that dental schools have no problem finding applicants with DAT scores 19+ and GPAs of 3.5+.
So, why would they consider someone with below average DAT scores, when there are so many students out there with impressive scores and applications. You must understand that you're competing in a highly competitive field, and settling down for mediocre scores will simply eliminate you from the race. So, your chances will be very slim, if you decide to stick with your current scores.
Again, don't take this as a personal attack, I am just trying to give you a realistic feedback.

 

[dental21]

I really do appreciate your response...now I am upset about it since it seems like there is no way I'll get in any dental schools, even the private schools that I was looking forward too..

Thanks once again...I thought my scores were all average except for the fact the PAT hurts alot..so they will automatically eliminate me because of my PAT score right?

 

[nze82]

I really do appreciate your response...now I am upset about it since it seems like there is no way I'll get in any dental schools, even the private schools that I was looking forward too..

Thanks once again...I thought my scores were all average except for the fact the PAT hurts alot..so they will automatically eliminate me because of my PAT score right?

Well let's face it. They can also eliminate you for your 13QR and 17RC. Your RC and PA are two of the most important scores, and many schools have cutoffs for these two scores. I believe you fall below the cutoff points for the majority of US dental schools. So, yes! There's a good chance that they won't even bother interviewing you.
Don't take any chances. You get three shots. Retake the exam and boost up those scores!!!!!
I got AA19 TS20 PA19 last year and I only got two interviews (Got waitlisted at both schools). Having said that, what do you think your chances would be with AA17 TS16 PA13?

 

[dental21]

ahh no chances 🙁 but the DAT is not the only factor they consider into the application though. That's what I understand from the people saying in general. application, GPAs, and DAT and personal statement plays a huge factor in the admission processes.

and I know I got strong personal statement and application as well and I came out from the high reputation university...thats why I got interviewed/waitlisted with the AA 16 and PA 14 last year...

So anything is possible i guess...i shouldnt have asked the question at the first place since it makes me feel bad...

 

[nze82]

ahh no chances 🙁 but the DAT is not the only factor they consider into the application though. That's what I understand from the people saying in general. application, GPAs, and DAT and personal statement plays a huge factor in the admission processes.

and I know I got strong personal statement and application as well and I came out from the high reputation university...thats why I got interviewed/waitlisted with the AA 16 and PA 14 last year...

So anything is possible i guess...i shouldnt have asked the question at the first place since it makes me feel bad...

Sure! anything is possible.
But your justification for not retaking the exam doesn't make any sense to me. No dental school will ignore your poor performance on the DAT simply because you've written an amazing personal statement.
You're applying for dentistry, a science-based major. So, your science background becomes a determining factor in your admission. The DAT is an excellent measure of your science background and schools will scrutinize your DAT scores before they even look at other sections of your application. Now, if you have a hard time accepting this fact and you're more comfortable telling yourself that your great personal statement will overshadow your low DAT scores that's a different story, and I wouldn't be able to change your mind about it.

Nevertheless, the final decision is yours to make, and I wish you the best during the 2010 cycle.👍

 

[dentrilla]

I've got to completely agree with nze, you CAN do better!

get crackdatpat! ur pat score will rocket!

 

[doc3232]

I agree with nze. I think you should tell us how you studied so we can give some good tips.

 

[longhornpride]

You definitely need to take it again. It doesn't matter if you graduate from Harvard if your PAT score is a 13.

 

[dental21]

Some schools said I still have chances...PAT doesnt stand out as much as Science scores though..

Schools said they look at science more since it is more correlated to the D1.!!!

 

[ashlander]

u need to retake period
i don't see the point of arguing with ppl trying to help u
i say with you get 19-20 aa/ts/pat, u r safe
but afterall, it's up to u to decide

 

[dental21]

I will take a chance this year anyway. and I dont think retake will help now since the process is going on now and It wil be a slim chances if i retake as it will be in november or dec and thats too LATE for 2010. but thanks for the help anyways....

 

[hsia2]

sorry, do you mind if I ask which school waitlisted you last year?
Thanks

 

[nze82]

sorry, do you mind if I ask which school waitlisted you last year?
Thanks

If that question was directed towards me, the answer is:
-UCSF
-UCLA

 

[hsia2]

oh sorry nze
it was directed to dental 21

 

[nze82]

oh sorry nze
it was directed to dental 21

That's cool!

 

[dental21]

UIC and Louisville ....and thats last yr

 

[yumi43]

nze, your scores from last year seem really great. i am slightly baffled as to why you were waitlisted (i mean, i know ucsf and ucla dental schools are tough), but did you not apply to enough schools? or was it your gpa? sorry, you don't have to answer if it's too personal. i'm just wondering because now i'm really starting to worry! i thought 19's and 20's were good!

 

[nze82]

nze, your scores from last year seem really great. i am slightly baffled as to why you were waitlisted (i mean, i know ucsf and ucla dental schools are tough), but did you not apply to enough schools? or was it your gpa? sorry, you don't have to answer if it's too personal. i'm just wondering because now i'm really starting to worry! i thought 19's and 20's were good!

Well people always ask me this question and I really don't have a definite answer, because I don't know why I didn't get in last year. My GPA is quite high (3.84 last year). I have speculated about some stuff, but I'm not sure if these are the reasons why I got rejected from most schools I applied to last year (9 total):

1-Took the DAT on July 27th...That in turn gave me a late interview...and that's why I got waitlisted. When I went to interview at UCSF on Dec 5th, they told us that 60% of the class was already full and they already had 35 people waitlisted by then. Why I didn't make it in the remaining 40% I have no idea. UCLA gave it to me flat out. They invited me to interview for their alternate list, measning that their class was full by the time they interviewed me in April.

2-Most of the blame is on me for not doing enough research and applying to schools that take none or very few out of state applicants.

3-AA19 TS20 PA19 may look like impressive scores at the first sight, but don't forget the importance of individual scores. My individual science scores were Bio 21, G-chem 19, O-chem 18. Having only one sciences score above 20 isn't that impressive specially when you're applying to competitive schools like UCLA, UCSF, and UoP. Besides, my RC score was somewhat low for someone, who is not a native english speaker (18). So, that screwed me too. PA score of 19 is somewhat average too.

4-I did the first two years of my college at CC and then transfered to UCLA. Some schools like UNLV look down on that, specially if you're an out of state applicant. So, when I called them to find out why they rejected me they gave me two reasons:
-Apply earlier next year.
-Complete more units at UCLA.

The fact that I even got interviews at schools such as UCLA and UCSF shows that my stats weren't that bad, and my application only needed minor improvements in terms of timing. Most my friends told me to apply with the same scores for 2010, and perhaps I could have gotten in this year with the same scores. However, I knew I could do better and I didn't want to take any chances, so I retook the exam, and I'm glad I did.

Hope this answers your question🙂

 

[Holopeachy1]

UIC and Louisville ....and thats last yr

Hey if you dont mind me asking, are you considered a minority? Because that might change a few things, you might get in with those scores if you are, i think.

 

[Holopeachy1]

Well people always ask me this question and I really don't have a definite answer, because I don't know why I didn't get in last year. My GPA is quite high (3.84 last year). I have speculated about some stuff, but I'm not sure if these are the reasons why I got rejected from most schools I applied to last year (9 total):

1-Took the DAT on July 27th...That in turn gave me a late interview...and that's why I got waitlisted. When I went to interview at UCSF on Dec 5th, they told us that 60% of the class was already full and they already had 35 people waitlisted by then. Why I didn't make it in the remaining 40% I have no idea. UCLA gave it to me flat out. They invited me to interview for their alternate list, measning that their class was full by the time they interviewed me in April.

2-Most of the blame is on me for not doing enough research and applying to schools that take none or very few out of state applicants.

3-AA19 TS20 PA19 may look like impressive scores at the first sight, but don't forget the importance of individual scores. My individual science scores were Bio 21, G-chem 19, O-chem 18. Having only one sciences score above 20 isn't that impressive specially when you're applying to competitive schools like UCLA, UCSF, and UoP. Besides, my RC score was somewhat low for someone, who is not a native english speaker (18). So, that screwed me too. PA score of 19 is somewhat average too.

4-I did the first two years of my college at CC and then transfered to UCLA. Some schools like UNLV look down on that, specially if you're an out of state applicant. So, when I called them to find out why they rejected me they gave me two reasons:
-Apply earlier next year.
-Complete more units at UCLA.

The fact that I even got interviews at schools such as UCLA and UCSF shows that my stats weren't that bad, and my application only needed minor improvements in terms of timing. Most my friends told me to apply with the same scores for 2010, and perhaps I could have gotten in this year with the same scores. However, I knew I could do better and I didn't want to take any chances, so I retook the exam, and I'm glad I did.

Hope this answers your question🙂

Well your in this year, I can guarantee you that!

 

[nze82]

Well your in this year, I can guarantee you that!

Thanks!🙂
I'm keeping my fingers crossed