Do I have a chance at Penn/UCSF with a 450 AA/480 TS/380 PAT

[banana_strawberry]

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I've been conditionally accepted to my state school already, but am wanting to apply out to Penn and UCSF. Do I even bother? My EC's are pretty good and am confident that I'll get good LORs too. Will my DAT screen me out?

 

[DAT Destroyer]

I've been conditionally accepted to my state school already, but am wanting to apply out to Penn and UCSF. Do I even bother? My EC's are pretty good and am confident that I'll get good LORs too. Will my DAT screen me out?

It’s great that you already have a conditional acceptance , that’s a huge accomplishment and means your hard work has paid off! 🎉


That said, both Penn and UCSF are extremely competitive, research-focused programs where the DAT averages are quite high. While a strong personal statment , EC's and LORs help, a 450 AA / 480 TS / 380 PAT will likely fall below their usual screening range. Most applicants they interview have significantly higher scores.


That being said, don’t underestimate your state school ,many state schools can actually be harder to get into because of the limited seats and heavy in-state preference. Having a conditional acceptance there already puts you in a great position and shows your application is strong overall.


If you still want to apply to other programs like Penn or UCSF there’s no harm in trying, but go in knowing the odds are low at those particular programs this cycle. Either way, you’ve done something incredible by earning that seat and many would love to be in your shoes.


Nancy, DAT Destroyer Team 💪🦷

 

[banana_strawberry]

It’s great that you already have a conditional acceptance , that’s a huge accomplishment and means your hard work has paid off! 🎉


That said, both Penn and UCSF are extremely competitive, research-focused programs where the DAT averages are quite high. While a strong personal statment , EC's and LORs help, a 450 AA / 480 TS / 380 PAT will likely fall below their usual screening range. Most applicants they interview have significantly higher scores.


That being said, don’t underestimate your state school ,many state schools can actually be harder to get into because of the limited seats and heavy in-state preference. Having a conditional acceptance there already puts you in a great position and shows your application is strong overall.


If you still want to apply to other programs like Penn or UCSF there’s no harm in trying, but go in knowing the odds are low at those particular programs this cycle. Either way, you’ve done something incredible by earning that seat and many would love to be in your shoes.


Nancy, DAT Destroyer Team 💪🦷

hi thank you for your honest response! saying significantly higher scores is a bit disheartening, as UCSF claims their AA is a 22 (and my score being a 450 is pretty close to a 460). are these averages not to be trusted then? a student at Penn had also told me that most of their class came in with a 22 AA. im not sure who to trust anymore.

 

[JacquesVallee]

I've been conditionally accepted to my state school already

Your state school is presumably the cheapest so why the heck would you want to spend 600k for Penn or UCSF?

 

[DAT Destroyer]

hi thank you for your honest response! saying significantly higher scores is a bit disheartening, as UCSF claims their AA is a 22 (and my score being a 450 is pretty close to a 460). are these averages not to be trusted then? a student at Penn had also told me that most of their class came in with a 22 AA. im not sure who to trust anymore.

That’s a really good question — and you’re absolutely right that UCSF and Penn list an average AA around 22. Those numbers aren’t “wrong,” but they can be a bit misleading because they reflect enrolled students, not the full range of interviewed or rejected applicants.


In other words, while the average accepted student might have around a 22, the competition pool often has many students scoring 23–25+, especially at schools that attract heavy research and academic applicants like UCSF and Penn. It makes the overall environment more selective than the published average might suggest.


Your 450 (around 20–21) is still a respectable score, and combined with a solid GPA, strong personal statement, and meaningful experiences, it can still stand out — especially since you already have a conditional acceptance. That shows your application as a whole is strong.


You’re asking all the right questions, and your mindset is exactly what helps students succeed — stay curious, informed, and realistic without losing confidence. You’ve already accomplished something many applicants dream of. Hope this helps...Nancy