DAT Scores!

[BShimel]

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Hey guys looking for a little feedback here with what I'm sporting:

PAT: 22
BIO: 20
GC: 20
OC: 23
QR: 19
RC: 23
TS: 21
AA: 21

I would have liked higher in Bio and GC, but I'm very happy with the PAT. My gpa is low....like 3.1 science 3.27 overall low. My ECs are excellent as are my letters. I submitted yesterday, but the question is should I risk it trying to take it again? Do I have a shot even with the low GPA? Are these scores good enough to offset the GPA if I'm trying to improve the gpa through a post-bacc this fall? Thanks in advance!

 

[failedmagician]

solid scores. Great job!! What did you use? Any tips? How close were these to your practice scores?

 

[BShimel]

Thanks! I spent a lot of time early on when studying using the Kaplan materials. I had taken one of the courses but honestly thought it was only so-so. In my opinion you can't trust the Kaplan PAT stuff...it's way too easy compared to what you're actually going to see! Stick with Crack PAT, that to me was REALLY close to the real test. As far as the science I used Kaplan + a lot of Destroyer. Destroyer is solid in BIO and OC. For QR and RC it's sort of ironic but i teach/tutor SAT prep and honestly I feel like my RC should have been higher but hey I'm not going to bitch about a 19...Hope this helps!

 

[g23armani]

I wouldn't retake, your scores are solid. Hopefully you have your application done / verified by aadsas and you applied to a decent # of schools?

 

[Shingo123]

Excellent scores, why would you ever consider retaking? Those scores are more than competitive and quite well rounded.

Those won't hold you back at all , and in most cases will help you out.

 

[failedmagician]

Thanks! I spent a lot of time early on when studying using the Kaplan materials. I had taken one of the courses but honestly thought it was only so-so. In my opinion you can't trust the Kaplan PAT stuff...it's way too easy compared to what you're actually going to see! Stick with Crack PAT, that to me was REALLY close to the real test. As far as the science I used Kaplan + a lot of Destroyer. Destroyer is solid in BIO and OC. For QR and RC it's sort of ironic but i teach/tutor SAT prep and honestly I feel like my RC should have been higher but hey I'm not going to bitch about a 19...Hope this helps!

Destroyer helped you with Bio? Lately people have been saying Destroyer didn't help them too much in Bio. Thank you for your tips 🙂

 

[BShimel]

I wouldn't retake, your scores are solid. Hopefully you have your application done / verified by aadsas and you applied to a decent # of schools?

I submitted yesterday, transcripts are there and I'm just waiting for verification now.

Excellent scores, why would you ever consider retaking?

Yeah I know they're competitive, I guess my gpa just worries me. I was only even thinking about it in an attempt to offset the crumby gpa. And yeah, I'm applying to 19 total...With the overall stats I have i didn't want to leave anything to chance. Thanks for the responses though guys.

 

[dentalmon]

hey congrats on the score.. i dont think u needa retake .. your scores are hella good..

 

[BShimel]

hey congrats on the score.. i dont think u needa retake .. your scores are hella good..

Thanks! Appreciate it.

 

[KitKat09]

Don't retake it. Your scores are very solid, I am guessing around 90s percentiles. Unless you are set on doing to a California school you will probably be just fine. It's easy to come on here and read about the 25s and 29s and feel bad about your scores in comparison, but you have to remember that the people on here do not represent the entire applicant pool and the ones scoring in mid twenties are the exception to, not the rule. I have been told by the dean of admissions at UCLA that DAT retakes are not looked upon too favorably and should not be done unless the student is confident that they can significantly improve their scores. It's not about playing for points. So unless you are ready to bust your butt for the next few months and get your scores up to mid 20s, don't do it.

 

[drpj]

Nice scores! I don't think you should retake. I would be more than happy to get the scores you did! =)

 

[liriano]

Nice Scores! You came through with QR too. Good luck applying!

 

[GiTsticker]

Hey man, I know how you feel. I've got a 3.1/3.1 science/overall. I'm taking the test in a few days and I gotta admit, I would be dissatisfied with a 21AA. I used that weird calculating system that factors in GPAs and DAT scores etc. and a 21 put me in at around Temple's average acceptance...
I have to agree with everyone else though, retaking would probably be a bad idea. It's like playing blackjack and drawing a 17 you know?

 

[aphorth88]

I submitted yesterday, but the question is should I risk it trying to take it again? Do I have a shot even with the low GPA? Are these scores good enough to offset the GPA if I'm trying to improve the gpa through a post-bacc this fall? Thanks in advance!

don't retake the test. your scores are GOOD. having a low gpa but HIGH DAT score helps you greatly. how do i know? the assistant dean of a dental school told us so definitely apply to dental schools.

as for postbacc, save your time & money. your DAT scores are good. if you don't get into ANY dental school, then do postbacc. the goal is to get into ANY school. always remember that. good luck!

 

[jay47]

Hey man, I know how you feel. I've got a 3.1/3.1 science/overall. I'm taking the test in a few days and I gotta admit, I would be dissatisfied with a 21AA. I used that weird calculating system that factors in GPAs and DAT scores etc. and a 21 put me in at around Temple's average acceptance...
I have to agree with everyone else though, retaking would probably be a bad idea. It's like playing blackjack and drawing a 17 you know?

Excellent analogy. I would not retake, even with your gpa. I had a friend to got in last year with a 3.0 and a 21. He also had an upward grade trend, which may play to your favor if tha applies to you. I think it made a big difference in his application.

 

[BShimel]

Excellent analogy. I would not retake, even with your gpa. I had a friend to got in last year with a 3.0 and a 21. He also had an upward grade trend, which may play to your favor if tha applies to you. I think it made a big difference in his application.

Awesome guys thanks so much for the input. Yea I wasn't super keen on retaking the test to be honest...I mean it's FUN and all but...So yea I do have an upward trend. Two of the bigger hits I took were four math classes from my undergrad that AADSAS told me count as "other science" (thanks a lot, gpa for those classes was a 2.55) and a couple of courses I bombed halfway through my science pre-reqs. Since the biochem that I ended up with a C in though my lowest grade was a B+ in Ochem II.

I talked to UoP and was told to take a few of the courses I'm missing, namely Anatomy, Physio, and Histology if I can find it. She said if I was able to pull solid Bs in all three of those I'd be in good shape. I think that while a lot of the review goes on this summer and into the fall, it's important to them that I have a commitment to continuing to improve by taking these classes in the fall. It made me feel better to actually talk to the head of admissions and have her tell me that. It also makes me feel better to hear about some of the success stories. Thanks again for all of the good vibes and info.

 

[sleepinxlionhar]

Great scores!

It sounds like UoP requires Anatomy, Physio, and Histology, but on the ADEA book, says it's just recommended. I'm planning on taking physio, but not so sure about anatomy...

 

[BShimel]

Thanks!

It sounds like UoP requires Anatomy, Physio, and Histology, but on the ADEA book, says it's just recommended. I'm planning on taking physio, but not so sure about anatomy...

Honestly...Here;s how I understood it: They don't REQUIRE those courses to apply, but to get in, heh. It's sort of like fleecing the uninformed of their secondary app fees but not giving them a great chance to get in. Hell, maybe I'm being unfair but that doesn't seem that farfetched. I would take it. I mean I know I'm going to take as much as I can to try to boost the gpa...that and UoP's course load for the first year is wicked.

 

[jlt0530]

Hey man, I know how you feel. I've got a 3.1/3.1 science/overall. I'm taking the test in a few days and I gotta admit, I would be dissatisfied with a 21AA. I used that weird calculating system that factors in GPAs and DAT scores etc. and a 21 put me in at around Temple's average acceptance...
I have to agree with everyone else though, retaking would probably be a bad idea. It's like playing blackjack and drawing a 17 you know?

where can i find that calculating system?
i would like to know where i stand too!


BShimel,
congrats on your score! if i were you, i wouldn't retake. I understand that you might not satisfy with your score (i would tho 😀) but i've heard that having a high DAT score and relative low gpa is better off than having a low dat score and high gpa. Plus, it's really hard to raise one point in AA especially if you are in high range of score. and it's too risky since scores can get lowered. Since you've already submitted and got verified, i think you will be in a good shape! Wish you good luck!

 

[Colorful Joe]

Congrats on the score, looks pretty solid. You said that you used the destroyer for bio and oc, did you also use it for G-chem????