DAT Results (July 6)

[jlaha]

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I just took the DAT today. Here are my scores:

BIO: 18
GC: 17
OC: 17
TOTAL SCIENCE: 17

PAT: 15 ( 😕 )
RC: 19
QR: 17

ACADEMIC AVERAGE: 18


I was hoping I would at least break 20 on one section, but that didn't happen. In my opinion, the science was pretty straight forward, however I didn't get biology questions from the subjects that I was strong in, so that sucked. There about 10-15 no brainer questions which was welcoming. I didn't have the famous (or infamous?) "sea urchin" question everyone keeps mentioning. To be honest, as I was going through the entire science section, I kept shaking my head as if to say "I'M SO F***ED," however, when I saw my scores, although not HIGH, they were OK in my opinion.

I thought I did a LOT better on the PAT than my score indicated. I didn't study too much for this section, and I suppose I got burned as a result. I had to guess on the few that I had skipped as time was running out. I'm kind of bummed about the PAT, but, meh, I'll live with it. I know some schools are picky about it, and some schools aren't.

I thought reading was incredibly easy. I DID NOT use Kaplan's method of outlining and then answering questions. I simply read the question and found it in the passge, which was VERY easy in a lot of instances. For example, I had three questions in a row that were in the same paragraph, so that cut down my search time. I also finished with time to spare. Of the 50 questions in RC, i'd say 40-45 were easy to look up, and the rest were inferences you had to make. I got a 19 though... thought maybe I'd get a 21.

I ran out of time in quantitative reasoning, so I had to guess on the questions I had skipped and intended to come back to. None of the problems were super hard, however the trick is to know how to solve them quickly, obviously.

Now that the DAT is over, the AADSAS is submitted (~2.5 weeks ago), and I'm done with college and my bachelor's in history, I'm glad to say that I can finally relax for a bit. Hopefully I'll get some interviews, which will tell me that things are going good.

Other info:
UCLA graduate (2005)
Overall GPA: 3.5ish
Science GPA: 3.4ish

Lots of volunteer experience, dental office experience, etc.



What do you guys think? Comments, suggestions, etc.

 

[Three-Oh]

I just took the DAT today. Here are my scores:

BIO: 18
GC: 17
OC: 17
TOTAL SCIENCE: 17

PAT: 15 ( 😕 )
RC: 19
QR: 17

ACADEMIC AVERAGE: 18


I was hoping I would at least break 20 on one section, but that didn't happen. In my opinion, the science was pretty straight forward, however I didn't get biology questions from the subjects that I was strong in, so that sucked. There about 10-15 no brainer questions which was welcoming. I didn't have the famous (or infamous?) "sea urchin" question everyone keeps mentioning. To be honest, as I was going through the entire science section, I kept shaking my head as if to say "I'M SO F***ED," however, when I saw my scores, although not HIGH, they were OK in my opinion.

I thought I did a LOT better on the PAT than my score indicated. I didn't study too much for this section, and I suppose I got burned as a result. I had to guess on the few that I had skipped as time was running out. I'm kind of bummed about the PAT, but, meh, I'll live with it. I know some schools are picky about it, and some schools aren't.

I thought reading was incredibly easy. I DID NOT use Kaplan's method of outlining and then answering questions. I simply read the question and found it in the passge, which was VERY easy in a lot of instances. For example, I had three questions in a row that were in the same paragraph, so that cut down my search time. I also finished with time to spare. Of the 50 questions in RC, i'd say 40-45 were easy to look up, and the rest were inferences you had to make. I got a 19 though... thought maybe I'd get a 21.

I ran out of time in quantitative reasoning, so I had to guess on the questions I had skipped and intended to come back to. None of the problems were super hard, however the trick is to know how to solve them quickly, obviously.

Now that the DAT is over, the AADSAS is submitted (~2.5 weeks ago), and I'm done with college and my bachelor's in history, I'm glad to say that I can finally relax for a bit. Hopefully I'll get some interviews, which will tell me that things are going good.

Other info:
UCLA graduate (2005)
Overall GPA: 3.5ish
Science GPA: 3.4ish

Lots of volunteer experience, dental office experience, etc.



What do you guys think? Comments, suggestions, etc.

I just wanted to be the first to congratulate you on an average AA and below average PAT. Congratulations.

 

[dat_student]

I just took the DAT today. Here are my scores:

BIO: 18
GC: 17
OC: 17
TOTAL SCIENCE: 17

PAT: 15 ( 😕 )
RC: 19
QR: 17

ACADEMIC AVERAGE: 18

Other info:
UCLA graduate (2005)
Overall GPA: 3.5ish
Science GPA: 3.4ish

Lots of volunteer experience, dental office experience, etc.



What do you guys think? Comments, suggestions, etc.

You definitely have many positives (UCLA graduate, good GPAs, decent academic average, etc.) I wish you the best of luck and I hope that you'll get accepted to all the schools that you have applied to.

 

[SunnyD0119]

just to ask you a question what'd you study w/ did you take any other practice tests if so how'd you do on them??
anyways i'm sure you'll be fine coming from ucla

 

[Amber81]

I just wanted to be the first to congratulate you on an average AA and below average PAT. Congratulations.

Three-oh, obviously not everybody can make a 27 AA like you, right? Anyways, the DAT is such a lame test. In my opinion it's not a very good indicator of any kind of raw intelligence. The DAT is just an indicator of how much science crap you can cram into your head....and obviously it favors those who have more time to study. I know a guy who is the very definition of mediocrity in the classroom with his 2.8 GPA who made a 25 on the DAT. How'd he do that? He studied over a year for the DAT taking all kinds of prep courses while his wife worked and supported him. Dental schools don't know any difference now. All they'll see is his 25 DAT score vs. some guy who made an 18 and say wow, the 25 looks sooooo much better. Little will they know that the guy with a 25 had to study over an entire year to get that score....and had the luxury of being supported by someone else to do it. Meanwhile the guy with an 18 was maybe taking a full load of college classes while working part-time and only had a month or two to study for the DAT this summer after work and on weekends. Point is the DAT is a crock. The best DAT scores are not always from the best students.

jlaha, good job. I take my DAT in three weeks and can't wait to be done with it and relaxing too.

 

[gatszu]

i'm a bruin, too, and a bruin for life 😀. didn't quite graduate/finish up w/my biochem major though. did you take that dental 199 class?? what schools are you applying to? UCLA expects 21+ on dat. i suggest taking the exam again & get 20+.

 

[Blackstars]

I just took the DAT today. Here are my scores:

BIO: 18
GC: 17
OC: 17
TOTAL SCIENCE: 17

PAT: 15 ( 😕 )
RC: 19
QR: 17

ACADEMIC AVERAGE: 18


I was hoping I would at least break 20 on one section, but that didn't happen. In my opinion, the science was pretty straight forward, however I didn't get biology questions from the subjects that I was strong in, so that sucked. There about 10-15 no brainer questions which was welcoming. I didn't have the famous (or infamous?) "sea urchin" question everyone keeps mentioning. To be honest, as I was going through the entire science section, I kept shaking my head as if to say "I'M SO F***ED," however, when I saw my scores, although not HIGH, they were OK in my opinion.

I thought I did a LOT better on the PAT than my score indicated. I didn't study too much for this section, and I suppose I got burned as a result. I had to guess on the few that I had skipped as time was running out. I'm kind of bummed about the PAT, but, meh, I'll live with it. I know some schools are picky about it, and some schools aren't.

I thought reading was incredibly easy. I DID NOT use Kaplan's method of outlining and then answering questions. I simply read the question and found it in the passge, which was VERY easy in a lot of instances. For example, I had three questions in a row that were in the same paragraph, so that cut down my search time. I also finished with time to spare. Of the 50 questions in RC, i'd say 40-45 were easy to look up, and the rest were inferences you had to make. I got a 19 though... thought maybe I'd get a 21.

I ran out of time in quantitative reasoning, so I had to guess on the questions I had skipped and intended to come back to. None of the problems were super hard, however the trick is to know how to solve them quickly, obviously.

Now that the DAT is over, the AADSAS is submitted (~2.5 weeks ago), and I'm done with college and my bachelor's in history, I'm glad to say that I can finally relax for a bit. Hopefully I'll get some interviews, which will tell me that things are going good.

Other info:
UCLA graduate (2005)
Overall GPA: 3.5ish
Science GPA: 3.4ish

Lots of volunteer experience, dental office experience, etc.



What do you guys think? Comments, suggestions, etc.

Congratulations on your test. With your GPA, I dont see you having any problems getting into D-school. Can you give us some of the sample biology or chemistry questions. Thanks

 

[dat_student]

Three-oh, obviously not everybody can make a 27 AA like you, right? Anyways, the DAT is such a lame test.

Three-oh hasn't taken the DAT yet and has the habit of making statements that he keeps regretting....

In my opinion it's not a very good indicator of any kind of raw intelligence. The DAT is just an indicator of how much science crap you can cram into your head....

Humans are born with the same degree of intelligence (i.e. setting aside very few exceptional cases, e.g. those who are born with genetic disorders such as trisomy 21)

and obviously [DAT] favors those who have more time to study. I know a guy who is the very definition of mediocrity in the classroom with his 2.8 GPA who made a 25 on the DAT.

GPA also favors those who spend more time studying. In fact, it's usually 4 years (GPA) vs a few months (DAT).

The best DAT scores are not always from the best students.

Usually, worst students don't get the best DAT scores.

-------------------------------

Having said all of the above: Life is not always fair; one has to do the best he/she can, given the circumstances.

 

[Three-Oh]

Three-oh hasn't taken the DAT yet and has the habit of making statements that he keeps regretting....



Humans are born the same degree of intelligence (i.e. setting aside very few exceptional cases, e.g. those who are born with genetic disorders such as trisomy 21)



GPA also favors those who spend more time studying. In fact, it's usually 4 years (GPA) vs a few months (DAT).



Usually, worst students don't get the best DAT scores.

-------------------------------

Having said all of the above: Life is not always fair; one has to do the best he/she can, given the circumstances.

dat_student - the more and more i read your posts, the more and more i like you, and the more and more i begin to think you rock

 

[jlaha]

i'm a bruin, too, and a bruin for life 😀. didn't quite graduate/finish up w/my biochem major though. did you take that dental 199 class?? what schools are you applying to? UCLA expects 21+ on dat. i suggest taking the exam again & get 20+.

Never took the dental 199 class (heard about it too late).

Although I am applying to UCLA, it's definitely I school I know I won't get into, realistically speaking. Long story short, a friend of mine who is had 3.9 GPA, A in every class, rocked the DAT, research w/ a UCLA dental professor, etc., got into Harvard but not UCLA. What's with that? Besides, I'm looking to move out of state and have some independence for once (been living at home for too long).

I'm applying to the east coast schools, and a few others in between.

Go Bruins!

 

[SunnyD0119]

wait so what'd you think of the test and any practice tests + how they were compared to the real deal?

 

[dexadental]

Hey Jlaha...its your friend from Florida, doesn't it feel great to get that test done with!? Good scores too, your reading comprehension is pretty nice, I too as you know had a problem with the PAT and QR...don't worry though, I'm sure you'll see quite a few acceptances. Just relax now, I know it probably feels great to be done. Congrats.

 

[zackyfarms]

bruin here! woohoo....

anyways im takin the dat on monday, then a stupid biochem midterm on tues...so screwed. whatever, we will see what happens.

good job on being done though, cant waittt for that feeling...hopefully ill do aright on the dat though, heh...