DAT score and AADSAS

[MSZ]

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Hi,

I'm new to this site, but it certainly looks very helpful. I had a question about the DAT. I'm a junior in undergrad right now and I decided to take the DAT a little early to get it out of the way. I just took the exam a couple of days ago and I was pleased overall, although my Reading and Math scores dropped which I don't really understand. Because of those two scores, I was considering retaking it, but I am unsure if it's really worth it. The following were my scores.

AA: 22 (96%)
TS: 24 (99%)
PAT: 20 (89%)

QRT: 17...disappointing after get 22's on practice
RDG: 18...same thing
BIO: 23
CHM: 25
ORG: 29 (I got a 100% on that one)

Also, does anyone know how early I can start filling out the AADSAS application? And, I heard U Penn offers a Dean's Merit scholarship...do they tell you before or after you get accepted?

If anyone has any insight into any of these questions, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

P.S. - This seems silly, but some of you have your GPAs and DAT scores listed below your messages...how did you do that?

 

[DrTacoElf]

Hi,

I'm new to this site, but it certainly looks very helpful. I had a question about the DAT. I'm a junior in undergrad right now and I decided to take the DAT a little early to get it out of the way. I just took the exam a couple of days ago and I was pleased overall, although my Reading and Math scores dropped which I don't really understand. Because of those two scores, I was considering retaking it, but I am unsure if it's really worth it. The following were my scores.

AA: 22 (96%)
TS: 24 (99%)
PAT: 20 (89%)

QRT: 17...disappointing after get 22's on practice
RDG: 18...same thing
BIO: 23
CHM: 25
ORG: 29 (I got a 100% on that one)

Also, does anyone know how early I can start filling out the AADSAS application? And, I heard U Penn offers a Dean's Merit scholarship...do they tell you before or after you get accepted?

If anyone has any insight into any of these questions, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

P.S. - This seems silly, but some of you have your GPAs and DAT scores listed below your messages...how did you do that?

Definitely Don't retake the dat. The earliest you can apply to AADSAS for 2006 is middle of May, but you can make an app for 2005 to get a look at it 🙂. For putting stats below your name click on usercp in the upper left corner of your screen then edit signature and type away 😎

 

[wimmcs]

Congratulations on such great DAT scores!! Fill out your application and send it in ASAP. I'm sure you'll be invited for interviews pretty much anywhere you apply. Not sure of your GPA, but I have a feeling is not bad. Good luck!

 

[dentalguy]

do you want to copy and paste those scores under my name.........cause I'll take em Great job!!! If you don't mind me asking....what did you do to prepare for it.....i have been studying for a while and I have my DAT in three weeks....

 

[dexadental]

Congrats, these are excellent DAT scores, I would not retake them if I were you, may I ask though, what did you use to study? Thanks.
Doug

 

[Profchaos]

This is another nonsense post, people got a great score but looking for assurance. 😎

 

[dentalguy]

i second that......

 

[MSZ]

Thanks to everyone that wrote a reply. I really appreciate everyone's help and comments. There are only a handful of pre-dental students at my school, and my advisor told me to retake the exam because of my reading and math, so that is why I was asking. I didn't think I needed to, but it's always nice to hear from other people who are actually going through it.

As far as preparing for the exam, my studying was actually broken up a bit. At first I was thinking about taking it last summer to really get it out of the way, but I was working full time so it never came through. However, I did take the Kaplan DAT course, and I would highly recommend it. My teacher was not great, however. But, the online materials they have are phenomenal. They're a lot harder than the sciences given on the DAT by far. Anyway, I didn't really keep up with the material during the class because of my research/work, so I really only studied the perceptual and practiced some math over the summer. Then, I had 10 weeks of school (my school runs on trimesters), and that was probably one of the most stressful terms I had ever had, so I did not study for the DAT at all and I was freaking out. After my finals were done before Thanksgiving, I had three weeks to learn all the sciences and brush up on some math/perceptual/reading. Believe me, I was not really happy about this, but I didn't know when else I was going to take it. So, all I did was read through that big fat Kaplan book, used Kaplan's online subject tests, and did a couple of Topscore exams. I like organic chemistry, so I just read through those chapters quickly and same with Chemistry. Biology...(even though it's my major) was a pain because there is just too much information. If you have three weeks left to prepare, set-up a schedule where you work on the parts you hate the most first and then break from that by studying something you like. I think timing yourself is key also. Just so you know, a lot of Kaplan's materials requires that you do a lot of the computations for chem, but on the DAT, they just require that you recognize how the math is done...big time saver. Also, study the kaplan tests. My goal was to understand the type of questions asked rather than understand every nitty gritty detail. I'm a perfectionist at heart, and it really bothers me when I can't get something, but I've learned for this test, if you don't get it, move on. Overall, confidence is a big factor too. I HATE standardized tests, and in the past, this has definitely lowered my scores because I had so much anxiety and a poor outlook. You'll never feel completely prepared, so go in positive, say that you studied all you could, and kick butt.

If you want more details on other studying tips or the DAT, let me know 🙂.