DAT Scores; retake or apply?

[B8913]

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My scores for the DAT weren't that great but are they good enough to get in somewhere?

AA 19 PAT 19 QR 18 RC 21 BI 21 GC 18 OC 18 TS 19

 

[darknightzzz]

what are your ECs and GPA?

I see other applicants with that DAT score getting 4-5 interviews. So that DAT is definitely enough to get interviews.

however, it sounds like you will apply next year and have almost a whole year ahead of you, I think you should invest in crack DAT, qvault, destroyer, and bootcamp if you can get the score to 21+, life will be easier for you come admission time.

during the admission cycle, your confidence will spiral downward and I think having a solid stats can offer you some assurance while you wait for interviews to come.

 

[B8913]

ECs...a LOT. I'm very involved in community service, president of three clubs and captain of the soccer team at my university.

GPA is a 3.9...but I go to a smaller school, D3 so I'm worried they'll assume my courses are not as tough.

 

[RangeRover89]

Don't be discouraged. The deal is that MOST people in the schools right now have between a 19-20. Thats the average for incoming students. You don't need a 25 to get in. Thats a myth on here. Most people who have scores like you, AND get in, don't even know SDN exists!

 

[BeaverLover]

You'll be fine

 

[SableFire]

Your stats are good. If want to retake go ahead, but there really is no need!

 

[B8913]

okay, thank you everyone!! I appreciate the feedback..I've been nervous.

 

[embrojam]

That's a strong GPA, you should get interviews. That being said, if you have the gumption to study again, I personally would retake

 

[The Cheese Stands Alone]

Honestly a 19 is competitive. It's the average DAT score for accepted students across the nation. With you having a 3.9 GPA I would not worry about retaking. Just my two cents! The cheese is out.

 

[OhHamburgers]

From 2014 data, I think average dat for test takers was 18, average dental school applicant dat was 19 and average matriculating dental school student dat was 20. I would say your score is not ideal to get much attention, but it really depends on what school you are applying to. There are many schools where average dat score for entering class is around 19. I think with your gpa and ec's will help alot. ADEA guide book is good resources if you need to compare numbers really quick. I would say If you haven't so already, you should apply and see how it goes. Waiting one extra year just to feel super safe and save application fee? I think that is not a good strategy.

 

[pgex2t]

My scores for the DAT weren't that great but are they good enough to get in somewhere?

AA 19 PAT 19 QR 18 RC 21 BI 21 GC 18 OC 18 TS 19

Well you'll definitely get interviews with those stats; however, if you manage to get a higher DAT score, you'll have a better chance at getting interviews at your top choices.

 

[ajj70]

ECs...a LOT. I'm very involved in community service, president of three clubs and captain of the soccer team at my university.

GPA is a 3.9...but I go to a smaller school, D3 so I'm worried they'll assume my courses are not as tough.

Don't assume since you are at a D3 that the admissions people will think your classes are easier---they know better, even if the general public does not. Your stats and EC's are great. I'm assuming you have 100+ shadow hours. Are you applying this cycle though? It's kind of late now to get in for first round interviews. I'd probably save the money and apply next cycle.

 

[dentopix]

Don't assume since you are at a D3 that the admissions people will think your classes are easier---they know better, even if the general public does not. Your stats and EC's are great. I'm assuming you have 100+ shadow hours. Are you applying this cycle though? It's kind of late now to get in for first round interviews. I'd probably save the money and apply next cycle.

A 3.9 is a killer GPA, no matter what division school you go to. I think with that GPA your DAT is high enough

 

[480640]

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[B8913]

I am pretty nervous with this dental school app process. Most of my friends applied in early July and have already gotten a few acceptances. I completed my applications in mid-october. I have a cGPA:3.9 and a sGPA: 4.0 with DAT scores: AA 19, TS19, RC21, BI21, OC 18, GC18, PAT 19 QR 18. I've received an email survey from case western today asking if I'm interested in being considered for spring interviews, I said yes! But still no interview invites and its december....should I be worried?

 

[allantois]

I'd start restudying for DAT so you can apply asap in the next cycle, should you need to.

 

[Sl1d3r]

OP don't worry too much about it. I had a similar gpa to you and similar test scores. I got an acceptance as soon as I could. GPA and DAT scores do not make a good dentist. You can find a million other people who have the intelligence to do it. What will make you stand out is compassion and personality. Those things will shine through naturally from your personal statement and letters of recommendation. Also if you land some interviews then that is where you will really need to show what makes you unique. Personally I wouldn't worry too much about the scores but focus more on what will make you stand out outside of numbers on a piece of paper. You've checked the box for grades and test scores now go get some life experience before you get an interview.

 

[pilotdentist]

In December the top applicants get acceptances at a bunch of schools. They can only attend 1. Those acceptances/further interview rounds will be sent on to other people. Hang in there.

 

[B8913]

I'm hoping to get an interview from CWRU! It's my top choice; might be a long stretch, and a little discouraging if I don't get anything this cycle, but I know that this is what I want to do....so I don't care if it takes me 5 years to get in somewhere....I'll get there 🙂 Thanks for the reassurance!

 

[deleted659902]

Don't assume since you are at a D3 that the admissions people will think your classes are easier

Actually, some schools factor difficulty/prestige of an undergrad into admissions process by dividing undergrads into tiers and use that info as a multiplier for GPA portion. Ex) a tier-1 school applicant might get 4.0 (GPA) x 1 (tier adjusted multiplier) = 4.0, whereas a tier-2 applicant might get 4.0 x 0.9 = 3.6 etc.

 

[doktorinprogres]

Actually, some schools factor difficulty/prestige of an undergrad into admissions process by dividing undergrads into tiers and use that info as a multiplier for GPA portion. Ex) a tier-1 school applicant might get 4.0 (GPA) x 1 (tier adjusted multiplier) = 4.0, whereas a tier-2 applicant might get 4.0 x 0.9 = 3.6 etc.

Do you happen to have examples of which schools do this and perhaps a source?

 

[ajj70]

Actually, some schools factor difficulty/prestige of an undergrad into admissions process by dividing undergrads into tiers and use that info as a multiplier for GPA portion. Ex) a tier-1 school applicant might get 4.0 (GPA) x 1 (tier adjusted multiplier) = 4.0, whereas a tier-2 applicant might get 4.0 x 0.9 = 3.6 etc.

You get this information from whom? You do realize that some of the most "prestigious" universities are also the most notorious for grade inflation, right? Does that mean they downgrade their GPA's then? How exactly are these so called tiers divided? You do realize that Division 3 that we are talking about is just an athletic designation, schools like M.I.T. are Division 3, does that mean it's less "prestigious"?

 

[Advance]

Actually, some schools factor difficulty/prestige of an undergrad into admissions process by dividing undergrads into tiers and use that info as a multiplier for GPA portion. Ex) a tier-1 school applicant might get 4.0 (GPA) x 1 (tier adjusted multiplier) = 4.0, whereas a tier-2 applicant might get 4.0 x 0.9 = 3.6 etc.

I've never heard of this.

 

[SableFire]

You get this information from whom? You do realize that some of the most "prestigious" universities are also the most notorious for grade inflation, right? Does that mean they downgrade their GPA's then? How exactly are these so called tiers divided? You do realize that Division 3 that we are talking about is just an athletic designation, schools like M.I.T. are Division 3, does that mean it's less "prestigious"?

I think they may do this when comparing Colleges and Universities to Community College but I don't know how you could possibly do that when comparing Universities and Colleges to each other. Take for example I go to a D3 and our Biochemistry class is known to be much more rigorous than the U of MN (just down the road) so many students elect to take it there for the easy A. But that's just department by department for all I know our O-Chem may be easier (I doubt it our O-chem is very very difficult). Professors play a huge role in grades and that varies by class to class. I just don't see how you can group a school into a tier based on a few classes. Also what is their criteria for tier ranking?

 

[NutritionIllinois]

You get this information from whom? You do realize that some of the most "prestigious" universities are also the most notorious for grade inflation, right? Does that mean they downgrade their GPA's then? How exactly are these so called tiers divided? You do realize that Division 3 that we are talking about is just an athletic designation, schools like M.I.T. are Division 3, does that mean it's less "prestigious"?

So you would rate a 3.5 from MIT the same as a 3.5 from DeVry? For Marquette, the ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools book specifically states it considers "quality of undergraduate institute attended" as an admission factor.