Do I have a chance?

[Amir214]

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I applied last year to over 10 schools with a 3.32 science gpa, 3.25 overall and a 17AA on the DAT. Once the grades from my summer classes are posted (July 28) I am having my transcript sent out to AADSAS immediately. I am applying again this year with an expected 3.46 science gpa and a 3.32 overall gpa. I am scheduled to take the DAT in mid August in hopes of bringing my score up. I also have accumulated ~ 1000 hours shadowing a general dentist. Do you guys think I have a chance of getting in this time around?

 

[Dan3223]

If you can bring your DAT up to 19 or 20 (or higher)... then yes.

 

[jaypea65]

I have learned two things in this process. Everything thing is a crap shoot and the admission process is expensive.

 

[polarmolar]

Salam akhi, def get your DAT up, 17 is too low to get an acceptance nowadays.

 

[DrReo]

Salam akhi, def get your DAT up, 17 is too low to get an acceptance nowadays.

I disagree. People get accepted. They also have otherthings going for them, too. DAT is a portion of one's application. But with an sub-par/average GPA- you obviously need to do well on your DAT. 👍

 

[jigabodo]

If you can bring your DAT up to 19 or 20 (or higher)... then yes.

Ditto. Apply to more schools would also help your chances as well.

 

[shawny8351]

I have similar GPa with you. but for us high DAT is must.

aim for over 20s for all sections

 

[Amir214]

Well that makes me feel a little better. I've been working really hard so hopefully I'll nail it this time.

Should I apply before I take the DAT? I am a business management major so I tried finishing everything up over the school year, and this summer I took some science classes to bring up my science GPA. So my application hasn't changed much other than the added shadowing hours and the grades I will be getting from these summer classes. An advisor told me I should just wait until I take the DAT then send everything in together, but I am afraid that will be too late. I am scheduled to take the DAT on Aug 7. What do you think?

 

[TeamGuo]

Apply now!!!!!!! you can always update your transcript by sending the new grades directly to schools. You gotta remember that it takes AADSAS at least few weeks to process your application. And in August and September, that's probably when the app. volume peaks, so you might not get your app. processed till later. So apply now, take the DAT, update schools. 🙂

 

[nole44]

I was looking through the ADA manual for statistics on each school. You should check it out, it tells u the ranges of DAT scores accepted, almost every school I looked at had a range of like 17-25(some schools 28). So it really depends, don't let people on here discourage you, they aren't admissions counselors, just a bunch of internet nerds sitting back giving their opinions.

i agree....this site can be very discouraging...there are two types of people that post on here...1 being the people who have extremely high scores and like to show others that and 2 people who are scared they r not good enough bc of their gpa, dat, etc....i have approx the same gpa as you and my dat is still not taken....i would like some advice from someone who has been in our situation to tell us how they feel...also i would advise once u get the advice u r looking for to stay as far away from this site as you can especially when ur studying for ur dat!!!!

 

[eventualOMFS]

I have a 3.24 GPA, 3.11 science GPA, and 21AA/20TS/16PAT. I also have a 27 in RC (for what it is worth) and a ton of dental experience.

No interviews yet, but Case did reject me. 🙁

I'll keep you updated to let you know if there is hope for the low GPAs haha.

 

[Quattro DMD]

I have a 3.24 GPA, 3.11 science GPA, and 21AA/20TS/16PAT. I also have a 27 in RC (for what it is worth) and a ton of dental experience.

No interviews yet, but Case did reject me. 🙁

I'll keep you updated to let you know if there is hope for the low GPAs haha.

Case is really placing more emphasis on PAT then in the past. I was on their alternate list 2 years ago and director of admissions told me not to retake the DAT and do a masters program instead then reapply in 2009 with the same DAT scores. This year they put me on "hold" until I retake the DAT because my PAT of 18 is not high enough for them. So yeah, its a crap shoot.

 

[polarmolar]

I disagree. People get accepted. They also have otherthings going for them, too. DAT is a portion of one's application. But with an sub-par/average GPA- you obviously need to do well on your DAT. 👍

People get accepted but I was trying to be sincere to the OP.

An application thatsnot early with a 3.32 GPA and 17AA is not a good bet--I think you would agree.

 

[Hysteria24]

An application thatsnot early with a 3.32 GPA and 17AA is not a good bet--I think you would agree.

I would agree. It is not impossible, but rather nearly impossible. For what its worth, 6 applicants from last cycle on predents.com were accepted with either similar or lower stats.

The best quick fix is to get that DAT score up.

 

[sddat]

how did you shadow for 1,000 hours? was it over 4 + yrs?

 

[Amir214]

I've Been shadowing since '06.