DAT scores

[JMoney]

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Well this was my first time to take the DAT.

AA 17
TS 17
Bio 18
Gchem 17
Ochem 15
Reading 20
QR 14 👎
PAT 17

Overall GPA: 3.69
Science GPA: 3.45

I live in Dallas and would like to attend a TX school but I emailed both San Antonio and Baylor and they told me I need 20 across the board. Does anyone know what Houston's #'s are??? I really feel that the 14 on the QR is going to kill my chances. Do I have ANY chance getting into any school 😕 I am 27 years old and have been working in the biological research field since I was 21. I studied for a month straight after work and weekends and I feel that to increase my scores I would have to quit my job and study full time. I have looked into private schools like Tufts and NYU since their requirements seem lower on their website......is this true?? I feel like my dream is over guys/gals......much needed support but at the same time I want straight up answers/opinions!!

Thanks in advance
Jason

 

[Gulch]

Jason, don't give up the dental dream buddy! The good news is that your grades are relatively high, and your job as a biological reseacher, with real, world experience is a huge plus. Tufts and NYU aren't your only options (Tufts is a little more competitive than you might think). There are other schools that take applicants with grades like yours and avg DAT scores around 18, but to really make your application money an investment instead of a gamble, I would take the DAT again and try to raise your scores. In the mean time, start warming up the 2006 ADSAS app to make sure you get your name out to schools early! 🙂

 

[J2AZ]

You need more than a month to prepare for this exam regardless of whether or not you are working. Take the next three months and study atleast 6 days a week. Try to do 3 or 4 hours after work and 5 to 6 hrs sat and sunday. You need to take plent of practice exams during the two week period leading up to the exam. Doing that will help you learn how to pace yourself. Review the answers to the exams and why you got them right or wrong. I rec the following books.

Bio: Kaplan Blue Book and Schwaums biology review. The Schwaums book is great for ecology. Do plenty of review questions

Chem: Kaplan Blue Book first and then Cliffs Notes Gen Chem Quick review (read atleast 4 times). Cliffs is an easy read. Do plenty of review problems

O-Chem: Write out and memorize all of the Kaplan Blue Book reactions. Try to get your hands on the ExamKracker for MCAT O-Chem book. ExamKracker is and easy 5 chapter book that can be read over and over until you begin to see the patterns in OChem. this will make memorizing the reactions that much easier.

RC: Practice over and over. As you know the actual exam is a bit easier. All you have to do is skim and then hunt for the answers.

QR: Based on your 14 you did not study at all for this section. If you want a decent score you need to use the Kaplan Blue book and memorize all the formulas and tricks. I believe there are only 5 or so chapters on math.

PAT: Practice practice practice. Just do it over and over and over again under test like conditions and you will do fine.

If you have the cash do the onlice Kaplan so that you have access to all of their material. Get familiar with the test and take it again in 3 months.

With your scores you may get inot a school there is no telling. However, odds are against you.

 

[Gulch]

QR: Based on your 14 you did not study at all for this section. If you want a decent score you need to use the Kaplan Blue book and memorize all the formulas and tricks. I believe there are only 5 or so chapters on math.

Wow! good advice for study aids from J2AZ! For the QR, here's what I did when I was in the same boat: I bought two math drill books from Borders- one for the SAT and the other for standardized tests. They gave some helpful hints for increasing speed, but more than that, they supplied a ton of practice problems for algebra, arithemtic, trig and geometry. The kaplan book is good in terms of teaching backsolving, picking numbers and good formulas for typical problems (combined work and distance formulas, etc.) but some more practice drills might help jump start your math abilities. I mean seriously, I'm sure you had this stuff down cold in High School. Do the drills, then the tricks. Then watch your score go up...

 

[JMoney]

thanks guys/gals I really appreciate the input......if I were to apply with the scores I have at the moment, would I get an interview anywhere???? What scores should I get in each area to be competitive??

Thanks Again
Jason

 

[organichemistry]

the nice thing about having to raise your QR scores are the infinite amounts of resources for it.

Any ACT or SAT study book is going to help you. And of course the DAT specifics will too.

Just practice, practice, practice. Take SAT and ACT math sections. Lucky for you, there are hundreds and hundreds of these out there... as opposed to just a handful of PAT problems to work through.

best of luck.