Do I need above-averge DAT?

[Mohrisbetr]

---

Members don't see this ad.

First off, I greatly appreciated you all taking the time to read my post and answer my questions. I'm quite confused about things at the moment and could use the guidance. Thank you.

I've graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and have a GPA just shy of 3.2. To make up for my GPA, I've been hoping to do above average on the DAT as I don't have many other strong points to my application - some shadowing and volunteering but I have little clinical or research experience and don't even know what I want to write my personal statement about yet.

I took the DAT today and got the following scores:

PAT: 23
QR: 18
Reading: 26
Bio: 18
GenChem: 17
Orgo: 18
TS: 18
AA: 19

I'm a science major and feel that I can do better on the science sections as well as the math (I mismanaged my time and had to guess on last 5 questions). I am confident on the PAT and can probably get a 22 if I retake the test. Here are some questions shooting through my head:

1) Can I get into dental school? Is it worth applying? I'm already taking a year off, should I just apply next summer and take two years off so I can get more medical experience?

2) If I retake the DAT, I'll have to wait at least 3 months, right? So that means that I'll take it October first at the earliest. From what I gather, most schools' deadlines for the AADSAS are November 1st or later. Can I submit an application with my current DAT score, inform them that I'm retaking it, and then submit my new (hopefully improved) score in the old one's place?

3) How much am I really disadvantaging myself by not completing my application until late October? With my average scores, is putting myself behind in the applicant pool something I can't afford?

Please understand that I'm not trying to get into top dental schools. I don't want to go to a bottom of the barrel school, but I don't at all feel obligated to get into any of the top ones, either. I just want to get in somewhere I can be happy with.

EDIT: Uhhhhh.. I just tried to calculate my science GPA to the best of my ability and its only a 2.92. I included science electives (psych) and math and physics courses. This certainly doesn't help my overall 3.2 GPA.

 

[sfrice80]

first off, i greatly appreciated you all taking the time to read my post and answer my questions. I'm quite confused about things at the moment and could use the guidance. Thank you.

I've graduated from unc-chapel hill and have a gpa just shy of 3.2. To make up for my gpa, i've been hoping to do above average on the dat as i don't have many other strong points to my application - some shadowing and volunteering but i have little clinical or research experience and don't even know what i want to write my personal statement about yet.

I took the dat today and got the following scores:

pat: 23
qr: 18
reading: 26
bio: 18
genchem: 17
orgo: 18
ts: 18
aa: 19

i'm a science major and feel that i can do better on the science sections as well as the math (i mismanaged my time and had to guess on last 5 questions). I am confident on the pat and can probably get a 22 if i retake the test. Here are some questions shooting through my head:

1) can i get into dental school? Is it worth applying? I'm already taking a year off, should i just apply next summer and take two years off so i can get more medical experience?

2) if i retake the dat, i'll have to wait at least 3 months, right? So that means that i'll take it october first at the earliest. From what i gather, most schools' deadlines for the aadsas are november 1st or later. Can i submit an application with my current dat score, inform them that i'm retaking it, and then submit my new (hopefully improved) score in the old one's place?

3) how much am i really disadvantaging myself by not completing my application until late october? With my average scores, is putting myself behind in the applicant pool something i can't afford?

Please understand that i'm not trying to get into top dental schools. I don't want to go to a bottom of the barrel school, but i don't at all feel obligated to get into any of the top ones, either. I just want to get in somewhere i can be happy with.

1.) Your gpa is on the low side, it depends what your science or bcp gpa is though, if that brings you above your 3.2, thats at least in your favor. I cant answer whether you should apply this cycle but i can tell you it wouldnt hurt, unless you're super strapped for cash. I would definitely work at getting some more shadowing time or volunteer experience especially if you are seriously lacking in that department.

2.) You will have to wait 3 months. You can submit and update your dat scores with the schools after you re-take it. Its getting later in the cycle though and your initial scores will weigh the heaviest and most schools make their first round of admissions at the end of nov. And beginning of dec. So most interviews are scheduled by nov.1st for the first round of admissions.

3.) If you are going to apply this cycle, i would get all of your information in as soon as possible and give yourself the best possible chance of receiving serious consideration and hope you do better on your re-take. Definitely should get those science scores up. Your qr is pretty solid, i wouldnt be too upset with that. Your pat is very solid. Just keep those sections consistent and work on getting the sciences up. People do get in with your current stats, so its not unattainable. Good luck!

 

[4thMolar]

What are your individual science sections? If you didn't get below an 18 on any of them, I would personally go ahead and apply to dental schools this cycle and not retake the exam. Also, what is your science GPA? I think right now with your overall GPA and AA known, that you will get an interview at UNC at least since it is your state school and probably a few others schools if you apply early enough. Dental schools work on a rolling admissions basis, so if you wait until October, your chances for interviews will go down. If you apply now and indicate you are going to re-take the DAT in October, your application won't even be reviewed by until then. Call the schools you are applying to and see what they have to say.

 

[Mohrisbetr]

If you apply now and indicate you are going to re-take the DAT in October, your application won't even be reviewed by until then. Call the schools you are applying to and see what they have to say.

Wait.. you're saying that using my DAT and then sending off a new DAT later will actually hurt my application because it will automatically push it back in the reviewing process even if I get it in within the next few weeks?

Also.. Check my EDIT at the bottom of my OP. My science GPA is even more severely lacking than my overall gpa 🙁.

 

[pinetar321]

I would retake them in early october. Like UVA, UNC is a very academically-challenging institution, so I understand why your GPA is where it is. If you feel you can bring that TS score up to atleast a 20 or even a 21 then yes, retake. From my talks with deans, they understand those public-ivy gpas can be low, but you better prove them wrong and get a great science score. Congrats on the PAT tho, you did great there.

 

[sfrice80]

I would retake them in early october. Like UVA, UNC is a very academically-challenging institution, so I understand why your GPA is where it is. If you feel you can bring that TS score up to atleast a 20 or even a 21 then yes, retake. From my talks with deans, they understand those public-ivy gpas can be low, but you better prove them wrong and get a great science score. Congrats on the PAT tho, you did great there.

Yes, but no matter how you spin it, a 2.92 science gpa is low, whether you achieved it at Harvard or a community college. You have to do really well on your DAT re-take.

 

[Mohrisbetr]

Yes, but no matter how you spin it, a 2.92 science gpa is low, whether you achieved it at Harvard or a community college. You have to do really well on your DAT re-take.

But am I able to submit my DAT score so I can get in my application early in the process, then retake and resubmit my new (hopefully improved) DAT without penalization? or does telling them that I'm going to submit a new DAT make my application get pushed back in the process?

 

[4thMolar]

But am I able to submit my DAT score so I can get in my application early in the process, then retake and resubmit my new (hopefully improved) DAT without penalization? or does telling them that I'm going to submit a new DAT make my application get pushed back in the process?

Well if you indicate that you are re-taking the DAT, it usually entails that you did poorly on your previous attempt. I think your scores are good, so adcoms may or may not wait to review your file until your new DAT scores arrive. I guess it depends on the school. But like i said, call each of the schools up and get their opinion.

 

[Mohrisbetr]

Well if you indicate that you are re-taking the DAT, it usually entails that you did poorly on your previous attempt. I think your scores are good, so adcoms may or may not wait to review your file until your new DAT scores arrive. I guess it depends on the school. But like i said, call each of the schools up and get their opinion.

Okay. Thanks for the second post. Sounds like that's what I'll do.