DAT...very disappointing

[sbesbesbe]

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hi there SDN,

finally finished DAT...I am very disappointed in myself...
I knew going into the exam, I was not ready for it BUT just hoped that things could turn out the way I wanted it to...that's just selfish
throughout my studying time, I don't think I've ever gave it a 100%
I don't think I've ever studied hard enough and it showed,
I feel so bad for my parents who literally gave me money to buy whatever I needed for this exam and told me not to do any chores around he house since it would ruin my "study habit..."
I feel so bad that I let them down BUT mostly, I just feel like I let myself down
I feel like crying...
so here are my scores:

PAT 22 (93.8%)
QR 18 (86.6%)
RC 16 (22.6%)
BIO 15 (26.1%)
GC 22 (95.2%)
OC 20 (84.4%)
TS 18 (70.2%)
AA 18 (72.5%)

I'm not going to do a breakdown since let's face it, people would rather read someone with a crazy ass score.
I'm applying next year,
should I get everything ready and apply on June 1st with the current score and let the schools know I will be retaking it in like July?
I do need to retake it right? BIO 15 probably will not even meet the cutoffs for some schools
I only have a cGPA 3.3 and sGPA 3.2 ish....

a very sad day...
any thoughts?

 

[Dentalkid434]

Honestly, there is no point of worrying about this exam now. What was done was done. I understand the guilty feeling - trust me been there, done that. The best thing I can recommend you do is to take the DAT again and this time DO NOT SLACK! The next time you can take the DAT over is after December, which means you are going to be at a serious disadvantage for admission for this cycle. If I were you I would hold off applying for this cycle, study HARD, take the DAT again and do well this time around and the moment the application opens for the following cycle, I would fill it would and try to be in the first batch.

You may also want to try to pull your GPA a bit more prior to applying.

Best of luck to you and PM me if anything.

 

[Seahawk]

I'm so sorry, but don't beat yourself up, you obviously smoked most of the sections. RC is a crap shoot and BIO is the hardest section to study for for most people.

I think because of your GPA you need to retake it. Even with a rocking GPA a 15 BIO/16 RC is pretty low and those are two important sections.


If it was me I would keep hammering at the BIO/RC and retake it soon before you forget the other stuff. I would definitely shoot for a retake before your apply next cycle.

 

[Rootz90]

hi there SDN,

finally finished DAT...I am very disappointed in myself...
I knew going into the exam, I was not ready for it BUT just hoped that things could turn out the way I wanted it to...that's just selfish
throughout my studying time, I don't think I've ever gave it a 100%
I don't think I've ever studied hard enough and it showed,
I feel so bad for my parents who literally gave me money to buy whatever I needed for this exam and told me not to do any chores around he house since it would ruin my "study habit..."
I feel so bad that I let them down BUT mostly, I just feel like I let myself down
I feel like crying...
so here are my scores:

PAT 22 (93.8%)
QR 18 (86.6%)
RC 16 (22.6%)
BIO 15 (26.1%)
GC 22 (95.2%)
OC 20 (84.4%)
TS 18 (70.2%)
AA 18 (72.5%)

I'm not going to do a breakdown since let's face it, people would rather read someone with a crazy ass score.
I'm applying next year,
should I get everything ready and apply on June 1st with the current score and let the schools know I will be retaking it in like July?
I do need to retake it right? BIO 15 probably will not even meet the cutoffs for some schools
I only have a cGPA 3.3 and sGPA 3.2 ish....

a very sad day...
any thoughts?

I think you should retake because :

1. You have a kind of low GPA
2. You are applying next year
3. Bio and reading scores might not make the cutoff for some schools.

If your GPA was let say a 3.7 then you might be able to get away with your DAT score.

 

[awaitsimpatient]

Just retake, there is plenty of time until next cycle!! Stay positive and think " there is always others that had done worse than you", You can redo in three months again

 

[Davermz450]

Best advice I could give would be to call the schools you want to go to. In my situation, which I can relate, I have a 18/19/23 and I want to go to school in AZ. Both schools advised me not to retake b/c more often than not a retake is worse. I think in your case call about the cut offs. Your other scores are awesome! I got a 17 in bio so I feel ya. Bio blows!

 

[gumdrop16]

hi there SDN,

finally finished DAT...I am very disappointed in myself...
I knew going into the exam, I was not ready for it BUT just hoped that things could turn out the way I wanted it to...that's just selfish
throughout my studying time, I don't think I've ever gave it a 100%
I don't think I've ever studied hard enough and it showed,
I feel so bad for my parents who literally gave me money to buy whatever I needed for this exam and told me not to do any chores around he house since it would ruin my "study habit..."
I feel so bad that I let them down BUT mostly, I just feel like I let myself down
I feel like crying...
so here are my scores:

PAT 22 (93.8%)
QR 18 (86.6%)
RC 16 (22.6%)
BIO 15 (26.1%)
GC 22 (95.2%)
OC 20 (84.4%)
TS 18 (70.2%)
AA 18 (72.5%)

I'm not going to do a breakdown since let's face it, people would rather read someone with a crazy ass score.
I'm applying next year,
should I get everything ready and apply on June 1st with the current score and let the schools know I will be retaking it in like July?
I do need to retake it right? BIO 15 probably will not even meet the cutoffs for some schools
I only have a cGPA 3.3 and sGPA 3.2 ish....

a very sad day...
any thoughts?

i hate the freakin DAT. this is why.

 

[wallypredoc]

You are in an awesome position right now! Getting that first DAT behind you is a big step. You are ABLE to apply since you have A score. You can update your DAT score at anypoint in the application process as long as you get it to the dental schools before they make their final decisions. So, start studying again soon so you can start from where you left off. I made a 19 in January of 2012, another 19 in August 2012, and finally a 21 yesterday. Hang in there. You are so close to being a really good applicant. Applying to dental school is a long process for a lot of applicants. I didn't get in my first time, AND I took the DAT three times!

 

[wallypredoc]

By the way, your OC and GC scores are very nice! They show that you are highly capable of getting that 20+ AA.

 

[sbesbesbe]

thanks alot guys for your encouragement!

looks like I need to bust my ass this year in school and
try my best for my next DAT!

trying to forget about this and move on but still hard to...

 

[Junebug1665]

I think the fact that you know you didn't do everything you could have and didn't give it 100% is so important. It took me taking it twice and getting an 18 both times to realize I wasn't studying right or as much as I should have. So if you take it again you know where you can improve. Your scores reslly aren't terrible to be honest. I wouldn't beat yourself up over it.

 

[dental24]

Execellent scores. Yeah BIO and RC lookin aite. espec since BIO is a 15, some schools cut off at 16. But you did fantastic in everything else. I have similar stats like you. My advice is plan on a retake like me but increase those GPA's by Spring 2013 if youre planning on applying for 2014. 🙂 GOOD LUCK!!!