did bad on the DAT :(

[manthedent]

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i need help people i did really bad on the DAT 14 🙁 my godness and i registered to retake the dat in mid Oct. my GPA 3.48 and i was wondering should i wait until next cycle to register or should i retake the dat and may be i will do better. do i have chance anywhere to be accepted or wait and i have applied to ud mercy, ucla, loma linda, u of michigan. 🙁

 

[OSUDDS]

a 14 aa? or a 14 in one category?

Plus you are registered for the DAT in October, or you could be?
If you got a 14 and you can take it again in October, do it.

 

[iviikoivi]

i don't mean to pick at you but don't u need to wait 90 days to retake your dat

 

[manthedent]

yes i took the test back in july

 

[dr.rex]

your AA was a 14?

 

[Envision]

i need help people i did really bad on the DAT 14 🙁 my godness and i registered to retake the dat in mid Oct. my GPA 3.48 and i was wondering should i wait until next cycle to register or should i retake the dat and may be i will do better. do i have chance anywhere to be accepted or wait and i have applied to ud mercy, ucla, loma linda, u of michigan. 🙁

If your AA or TS are 14, then i don't think you have any chance at those schools (or any). Your chances this cycle will obviously depend on your improvement. just my 2cent.

 

[blue_moon01]

i need help people i did really bad on the DAT 14 🙁 my godness and i registered to retake the dat in mid Oct. my GPA 3.48 and i was wondering should i wait until next cycle to register or should i retake the dat and may be i will do better. do i have chance anywhere to be accepted or wait and i have applied to ud mercy, ucla, loma linda, u of michigan. 🙁

Don't be scared. Let's work on rectifying this situation first.

If the AA is 14 then you should immediately call all the schools you are applying to and ask them if they can wait for you to retake your DAT so that they won't reject you off the bat. Then, if you can afford to, send out more applications, esp to schools with later deadlines. Since your DAT score is 14, I'd suggest you not take the DAT in mid-october. Give yourself a realistic period of time to study and kick the DAT where it hurts the most. Take it at least one month from now in November if you have to. approach the DAT like it's a war and you have to win it, not just little battles, but the whole thing. get your mind set ready. Don't just take it in October in an attempt to get your scores in earlier. The truth is, it's already late so you might as well make damn sure your scores are gonna rock the boat. Not to mention the new 3 strike DAT rule that will come into effect in JAn 2007. SO don't waste it.

Stick to a study regimen. Put your social life on hold for a month if you have to. EAT, Breath, sleep, LIVE the DAT.
Buy TOPSCORE, ACHIEVER, DESTROYER, KAPLAN review books.
Make up a study schedules and incorporate practice tests to diagnosed yourself on your weak subjects so start those practice test as early as two weeks into the study regimen.
find text books that are used for introductory biology, Chemistry, and organic chem and study the chapters that discussed topics that are in the review books.

Also, I would like to share with you my studying strategy
I take 15 minutes naps about every 2 hours of studying. When I feel like I can't do it anymore I take another 15 minutes nap. To avoid those naps turning into 10 hours sleeping nap I had my sister wake me up using any method necessary. You might have already known this but the nap is necessary for your brain to put all the neat things you just learned into long-term memory. Forcing yourself will only slow the studying process down.

Ok, Be prepared to study hard in the next month, but it will pay off. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, give yourself a motivation prize like a nice handbag if you get a 20+ score on your DAT.

Good luck.!

 

[blue_moon01]

🙂

 

[in her drawer]

I mean 2 hours of studying.

🙂
You can do this!!!

There is an edit option.

 

[blue_moon01]

There is an edit option.

Thanks!

 

[OSUDDS]

wow. This isn't real right?

 

[aggie-master]

If you did that bad on the DAT, you should consider giving up on this year and pushing the DAT back until April or so for next year and studying for it for 6 months.

I don't see how someone would go from a 14 to a 19 or 20 in 3 months of studying.

 

[JohnDoeDDS]

I think you can go from a 14 to a 19 in 3 months of studying. But it is going to have to be hardcore studying. Best thing is try to get someone who did well on this test or studies good. You need to make sure you are studying efficiently.

 

[manthedent]

i think its better to wait until next year so i can be prepared better. but for the mean time what steps should i do regarding the schools that i applied to should i tell them anything or just wait and apply all over agian next year 😕

 

[country_fry]

i think its better to wait until next year so i can be prepared better. but for the mean time what steps should i do regarding the schools that i applied to should i tell them anything or just wait and apply all over agian next year 😕

I'ld just concentrate on the DAT. I wouldn't worry about the schools right now, but if it makes you feel more secure, send them an email or phone call. If you're ready to take the DAT again, I say go for it, if not, reschedule your DAT until you feel you're ready. You've already studied for the DAT, might as well put that knowledge to work for you again. It might be harder to put that DAT knowledge to use later. I think most schools want your DAT done before Dec. But I wouldn't make it your deadline, make when you feel most prepared your deadline. Then send the schools your DAT scores. If it doesn't work out this time, you'll be completely ready for the next app cycle. Don't stress and good luck.

 

[DDSY]

wow. This isn't real right?

Unfortunately, a lot of things work with a bell curve. There are always people who end up on the wrong side of the curve.

I suggest that the OP study very hard to bring up the DATs. Blue_Moon gave a suggestion on how to study and what to do starting now. In my opinion, that is a pretty sound advice.

 

[manthedent]

so if i decided to wait then just forget about every thing now and start fresh next cycle will that effect me anyhow??

 

[in her drawer]

so if i decided to wait then just forget about every thing now and start fresh next cycle will that effect me anyhow??

I wouldn't wait until next cycle to take the DAT again. It would be better to stick to studying and get it done now, that way you won't forget things and have to start studying from the beginning.

 

[country_fry]

I wouldn't wait until next cycle to take the DAT again. It would be better to stick to studying and get it done now, that way you won't forget things and have to start studying from the beginning.

I absolutely agree. I think you should take the DAT now. You will forget things if you wait. So give it a shot again. You're not out till you get rejection letters. Until then you're still in the running. if you decide then that you have to reapply, applying again doesn't look bad if that's what you're worried about. Just keep going in your pursuit of your goal.

 

[manthedent]

i really appreicat ur help all of u and tell me if i retake the dat in mid octoer or begining of Nov is that too late or not?

 

[country_fry]

i really appreicat ur help all of u and tell me if i retake the dat in mid octoer or begining of Nov is that too late or not?

If you're ready to take it, then do go for it is what I'll say. Otherwise don't rush it, seen enough people rush to take it and end up not liking those scores either. good luck.

 

[aggie-master]

Have you purchased practice DAT tests such as TopScore and DAT Achiever?

If so, what kind of scores are you making on those tests now? The reason that I'm asking is because it would really be a waste to retake the DAT now if you're scoring the 15 AA range on those tests now.

How long did you study for the DAT the first time?

 

[manthedent]

i got letters from the school i applied to asking for my DAT scores because when i registered for the dat i put only one school so now for those schools who dont have my dat should i just ignore the letters and focus on my new DAT and if i wanted to wait until next cycle i should start the ADSAS all over again next may?

 

[DentalBoarder]

i got letters from the school i applied to asking for my DAT scores because when i registered for the dat i put only one school so now for those schools who dont have my dat should i just ignore the letters and focus on my new DAT and if i wanted to wait until next cycle i should start the ADSAS all over again next may?

It depends on what you get in Oct or Nov. I think you should study some more for the DAT and take it later than Nov. Your first post was in Oct. Are you really ready to take the DAT again? If not, I recommend you withdraw your application from the schools you have applied to. Take the DAT when you're REALLY ready, but continue studying for it now since the materials will be fresh in your brain. Then take it in Dec over break or something. Also, the next time you apply, apply to more schools.

 

[maksidaa]

to manthedent: we still don't know if you got a 14 on just ONE section of the DAT (which isn't a deal breaker for some schools) or if you got an AA or TS of 14 (which totally blows your chances just about anywhere). before you make any big decisions let us know which situation you are in.

 

[manthedent]

my scores between 14 and 15 and AA was 14. but i dont think im really ready to take it now. but what happened when i reach 3 times limit? does it mean i can't take agian. or what?
and how do i withdraw my applications?

 

[ecuajedi]

After 3 you have to get special permission from the ADA. THey are preventing the people that make the study guides from sending people in to memorize questions off the test and including them in their guides.

 

[Jazzinax]

I think blue moon and others said it well. yes those are low scores, but considering that you've already put in study time for the dat, some material will still be fresh in your head. if you wait until april to take it, and push off studying until january or march, you might end up in a similar boat. why not continue studying not and retake it in november or late oct if possible, or even december. granted taking it too late might highly limit chances for this cycle, but a solid dat score will help you for the next. my advice would be would be to study with the mindset of only doing great on the dat. forget about everything else for a month or so, and when you're ready, take it. if it happens to be at a soon enough time to still apply to schools for this cycle, do it. if not, you'll have kick-ass scores for the next. good luck with it!

 

[aggie-master]

I think that your best chance to get into dental school is to drastically improve your scores the 2nd time you take the DAT.

I would not take it until I was ready. If you're not going to be ready for this cycle, then you can always apply next year.

If you are ready to make a 19 AA next week, then take it next week. If you have to study for 5 months straight to get to that point, then take it in March and you'll be able to be one of the first applicants with a complete application for next cycle.

Holding back your application for a year sounds like a lot but it will go by fast. I was supposed to apply for the 2006 cycle but I was behind on everything and not ready to take the DAT when it was time to take it so instead of showing up and making a 17 on the DAT I pushed my plans back a year and made a 22 this year.

 

[Nasem]

Not trying to be a jack a$$ or anything, but have you asked your self "why / how Did I get a 14 ?"

What Im trying to get at is, did you actually study or did you just "wing" it ?

Whatever, it shouldn't matter, alot of people get bad scores every now and then, and your GPA is almost 3.5 so I don't think your in a bad spot (well the 14 is horrible) but Im pretty sure if you study hard & right, you'll defenetly improve your score.

Heres a tip, forget that 14, forget it ever happened, don't even let it bother you, if you pretend like it never happened, then you'll focus more on your study material and do better. Im 100% sure, if you study your butt off, you'll get better results. BUT you have to have good study habits.

 

[RT0223]

Would you please elaborate "a good study habit" please? I also got some low scores on my DAT and now I bought the Destroyer and ready to study my butt off... would anyone willing to share their great study plan? Thx.

 

[Nasem]

Everyone has different study habits. One of my theories that seemed to work when I used to study was that I NEVER cramed and I never studied at night.

I like to study early in the day and all the way until about 10 PM, after that, you need to sleep (atleast 8 hrs per night) so that all the material you studied went into your long term memory. My intervals for studying are about 1 hr to 1hr & half each time with a 15 minute drink / walk around break. Sit down again and do another 1hr to 1hr & half. Do this until you do about 6-8 hrs worth of studying for 1 day and then your done for the day. Remember, don't over do it, don't go overboard, and don't study 12 hrs a day, you'll forget more than 40% of the material if you over exhaust your brain.

One more thing is your diet, some people don't belive in good diet but it REALLY helps. Keeping your body healthy means it keeps your brain healthy as well. I always do about 30-40 minutes of cardio exercise when I wake up in the morning. After that, I drink a shake of protien (to jump start my brain), hit the hot shower, sit down after that for 30 minutes for a nice relax, then hit the books.

just remember, keep your life KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)

 

[GiveMeDMD]

i know a friend who got a 16-AA and Michigan told him not to apply because they cant take lower than a 17.

 

[aggie-master]

Would you please elaborate "a good study habit" please?

Read some of the DAT discussions board for tips.

I'll give you some quick ones.

If you need to improve your Bio score, break out your biology textbook. Go through the whole thing. If you know stuff well skim over it so it doesn't take too much time. If you don't know stuff well read over it slowly and take notes so that it will help you remember and you can also review the notes when studying later on. I did this and took my first Bio practice test of a 14 to a 21 on the real thing 3 weeks later.

Math - any time you solve for a variable, always put your solution back into the original equation and make sure that both sides are equal. It's a good way to know that you got the problem right.

Reading - I made a 14 on my first reading test and was all stressed out about it. I tried that Road Map method (do a search on the DAT board) and practiced it for 2 practice tests and made a 21 on the real DAT 3 weeks later. I'm actually surprised that I made a 21 on the real DAt. I was expecting higher than that.

GChem - know the blue book and maybe even skim through your chemistry book. The best way to improve in this section is to do every practice Chemistry test you can find and go over it afterwards and learn how to do the problems that you missed. If you walk into the DAT knowing how to do every Gchem problem from Achiever, Topscore, and Kaplan, you'll probably do pretty good on the real test.

PAT - practice, practice, practice. Read the Kaplan blue book for tips and take all of the practice tests. After taking each practice test go over it and figure out what you did wrong to miss certain problems. There are patterns that you might see in one practice test that might help you answer a problem right faster in the real test.

O-chem - I'm not really qualified to give advice here because I made a 17, but I can tell you what not to do. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL 2 DAYS BEFORE THE REAL DAT TO START STUDYING FOR THE O-CHEM PART! I probably put a total of 14 hours into O-chem studying and it killed me. This could have been an easy 21 if I had put some time into it. Learn all of the reactions in the Kaplan blue book. As you are going through it, write each one down in a notebook and then memorize them.

 

[HOTTY]

wow that is bad, I would go to the other forum for tips.