Does anyone know what is the min DAT score with 4.0 GPA to have a chance to get

[gorge]

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I have 4.0 with 19 GPA do I need to retake it?

 

[Baba Yaga]

You mean a 4.0 GPA with a 19 DAT?

I would say no, as long as your section scores are pretty evenly distributed (so it's not a case of uneven distribution, e.g. you have some super low sections and super high sections).

 

[gorge]

Thanks

 

[Glimmer1991]

IMO, a super high GPA coupled with an average-to-low DAT score brings into question the difficulty of one's undergraduate coursework. I mean, seriously, it seems like a person who would put in the grueling work to achieve a 4.0 would ALSO work for a high DAT score... unless, that is, there wasn't too much work involved in getting that 4.0 after all.

 

[Baba Yaga]

IMO, a super high GPA coupled with an average-to-low DAT score brings into question the difficulty of one's undergraduate coursework. I mean, seriously, it seems like a person who would put in the grueling work to achieve a 4.0 would ALSO work for a high DAT score... unless, that is, there wasn't too much work involved in getting that 4.0 after all.

I don't know about that. There are plenty of reasons people get average to low DAT scores coupled with a high GPA and I highly doubt that for the most part it's because the coursework at the undergraduate level isn't difficult enough. People study during the semester or while working or doing research, etc.

Some people are just poorer standardized test takers than others. In class, it's more about what you know and how much of that you can retain, since for the most part classes are not graded on an actual curve (even though I've been in two classes where this has happened, personally). Standardized exams are a completely different ball game.

I find your statement analogous to saying that someone with a 4.0 and a 2000 SAT score is going to have the difficulty of their high school curriculum called into question because they aren't scoring 2100+ and therefore might not get into a great college or something.

To that I have to say that there's a lot more to an application than numbers, and as long as one has a well constructed dental school application, that person should gain admittance somewhere.

Anyway, OP asked whether his 19 was gonna make or break his application. It won't, as long as it's pretty evenly distributed. 20 is the average DAT score for matriculating students, is it not? If so, then why would a 19 set off warning bells? It makes no sense.

Obviously, ideally we would all be like you numbers-wise and have a super high GPA coupled with a super high DAT score, but most people are not so fortunate to have both for a variety of reasons. This is okay. We are all unique and bring different skills to the table.

Not everyone with low scores gets in, not everyone with average scores gets in, and not everyone with high scores gets in--if the magic formula that worked 100% of the time was realistically achievable, we would all be doing it. Everyone makes trade offs in every aspect of their lives, and it really just depends on whether you're bring the skills adcoms want to see to the table. In that respect, I think a 4.0 and a 19 DAT score is perfectly fine to apply with. Sure, it's not perfectly perfect, but who is perfectly perfect anyway?

 

[Glimmer1991]

I definitely don't think a 19 sends up a big red flag! I just think it is sort of odd, especially when coupled with a stellar 4.0. Most of the people I see online have GPAs and DATs that roughly correlate. A 4.0 is WAY above average, and a 19 is a little bit below. I also worry because with a 19AA, there obviously must be scores below 19--and we don't know how low those scores are.

There is definitely no magic formula for an acceptance. It's about a balance of ECs, dental experience, and numbers. My philosophy is that you want to have the best of each, but that is much easier said than done. There are people on this site that have many more EC hours logged than me! Like you said, you have to make some sacrifices.

 

[LogOff]

IMO, a super high GPA coupled with an average-to-low DAT score brings into question the difficulty of one's undergraduate coursework. I mean, seriously, it seems like a person who would put in the grueling work to achieve a 4.0 would ALSO work for a high DAT score... unless, that is, there wasn't too much work involved in getting that 4.0 after all.

Agreed, I'd retake, but only if you're positive you can do better.

 

[Hawkteeth]

A chance to get... in to Harvard? No. But you'll get in somewhere else.

 

[user101]

absolutely do not retake...i had a 19 and 3.73, and got into 4 schools
you will have many acceptances granted the rest of your application is attractive

 

[gorge]

Thanks 🙂

 

[UltimateHombre]

absolutely do not retake...i had a 19 and 3.73, and got into 4 schools
you will have many acceptances granted the rest of your application is attractive

👍

I have had several friends with 3.9-4.0 with 19 DAT and they have all had 5+ acceptances to choose from. 2 of them are at the top of their class at their respective schools.

The only thing the DAT measures is your ability to take a standardized test and cram for a month, which in turn will predict if you will be able to pass the boards or not. A 19 more than demonstrates that.

GPA is much more indicative of daily dedication and study habits over a long period of time, and therefore a better indicator on how good a student you are.

 

[doc toothache]

There is definitely no magic formula for an acceptance. It's about a balance of ECs, dental experience, and numbers. My philosophy is that you want to have the best of each, but that is much easier said than done. There are people on this site that have many more EC hours logged than me! Like you said, you have to make some sacrifices.

The magic formula(s) probably exists, but we certainly are not privy to it.

 

[dans105]

Agreed, I'd retake, but only if you're positive you can do better.

I would not retake. I'd take that 4.0 and 19 straight to AADSAS.

 

[Baba Yaga]

GPA is much more indicative of daily dedication and study habits over a long period of time, and therefore a better indicator on how good a student you are.

I think schools take this into account.

In my experience with the pre-dental society at my school, it is more likely that someone will have success with a high GPA and average to slightly below average DAT than a below average GPA and a high DAT.

 

[gorge]

Thank you all for your useful information good luck for everyone

 

[thepod17]

IMO, a super high GPA coupled with an average-to-low DAT score brings into question the difficulty of one's undergraduate coursework. I mean, seriously, it seems like a person who would put in the grueling work to achieve a 4.0 would ALSO work for a high DAT score... unless, that is, there wasn't too much work involved in getting that 4.0 after all.

Editing for anonymity!

 

[2018hopeful]

i don't know about that. There are plenty of reasons people get average to low dat scores coupled with a high gpa and i highly doubt that for the most part it's because the coursework at the undergraduate level isn't difficult enough. People study during the semester or while working or doing research, etc.

Some people are just poorer standardized test takers than others. In class, it's more about what you know and how much of that you can retain, since for the most part classes are not graded on an actual curve (even though i've been in two classes where this has happened, personally). Standardized exams are a completely different ball game.

I find your statement analogous to saying that someone with a 4.0 and a 2000 sat score is going to have the difficulty of their high school curriculum called into question because they aren't scoring 2100+ and therefore might not get into a great college or something.

To that i have to say that there's a lot more to an application than numbers, and as long as one has a well constructed dental school application, that person should gain admittance somewhere.

Anyway, op asked whether his 19 was gonna make or break his application. It won't, as long as it's pretty evenly distributed. 20 is the average dat score for matriculating students, is it not? If so, then why would a 19 set off warning bells? It makes no sense.

Obviously, ideally we would all be like you numbers-wise and have a super high gpa coupled with a super high dat score, but most people are not so fortunate to have both for a variety of reasons. This is okay. We are all unique and bring different skills to the table.

Not everyone with low scores gets in, not everyone with average scores gets in, and not everyone with high scores gets in--if the magic formula that worked 100% of the time was realistically achievable, we would all be doing it. Everyone makes trade offs in every aspect of their lives, and it really just depends on whether you're bring the skills adcoms want to see to the table. In that respect, i think a 4.0 and a 19 dat score is perfectly fine to apply with. Sure, it's not perfectly perfect, but who is perfectly perfect anyway?

.preach.

 

[Glimmer1991]

Since I sort of got ganged up on...

I hate to say "I told you so." But, I told you so. OP posted a new thread.
http://forums.sdn.net/showthread.php?t=1004692

And, ironically, people are saying in the new thread that the DAT brings the doctorate and GPA into question. Now we know why the OP never responded with his actual subsection scores, although they were mentioned early on. High grades and low DATs shouldn't mix; an 18 AA doesn't mean that there aren't subsections that are far too low. (I'd like to note that although the OP says 19AA in this thread, he says 18AA in the other.) It just doesn't look right. Someone who can take the 4 years to achieve a STELLAR GPA can surely take the two months to achieve a 20+ on the DAT.

It is hard to reteach yourself subjects as a nontrad, but especially with Chad, the chemistries in particular are doable. The DAT is a necessarily hurdle that we ALL have to tackle. It's the great equalizer. Sure, it doesn't show longevity like a GPA does, but it is the same for EVERYONE, which gives it lots of importance.

There are people with 17AAs who get in. There are people with 2.9s that get in. But that doesn't mean that we should be content with such numbers; they are the exception to the norm.

I'd also like to add that I am genuinely not some pompous butthole sitting here and preaching that people who don't have a 4.0 and 30 DAT are the scum of the earth or something preposterous like that. I KNOW how hard it is to do well. I absolutely work my TAIL off for my grades and scores; I'm not one of those geniuses where everything just comes to me with minimal to no effort. I am an extremely dedicated and hard worker. If I can do well, I have faith that others can, too! 🙂

 

[dchoi]

DAT scores and gpa are definitely looked at together at the same time. In my case, I took all my prerequisites at a CC (tough classes and great professors). At one of my interviews, someone mentioned that because of my DAT scores, he could see that I learned the basics well in my prereq courses. He was basically stating that my dat scores supported my gpa. So if you have a great gpa, you want high dat scores to validate your gpa. If you have a poor gpa, great dat scores can support the fact that your classes were very tough, but you learned a lot.

 

[dentalWorks]

Last I checked... average DAT for matriculated folks was 19-20.... so how come this person's 19 isn't up to the task? because he "suffers" from a 4.0?

IMO, EVEN if that 4.0 came from CC, the 19 DAT is enough.

no retake necessary

 

[Glimmer1991]

Last I checked... average DAT for matriculated folks was 19-20.... so how come this person's 19 isn't up to the task? because he "suffers" from a 4.0?

IMO, EVEN if that 4.0 came from CC, the 19 DAT is enough.

no retake necessary

It isn't a 19. It's an 18, as per the new thread, and there are at least 2 sections with scores of 16.

That would just be too much of a gamble for me, but maybe I am a pessimist.

 

[dentalWorks]

It isn't a 19. It's an 18, as per the new thread, and there are at least 2 sections with scores of 16.

That would just be too much of a gamble for me, but maybe I am a pessimist.

oh... I didn't see that.
yeh... you gotta retake

 

[Eastcoast24]

I definitely don't think a 19 sends up a big red flag! I just think it is sort of odd, especially when coupled with a stellar 4.0. Most of the people I see online have GPAs and DATs that roughly correlate. A 4.0 is WAY above average, and a 19 is a little bit below. I also worry because with a 19AA, there obviously must be scores below 19--and we don't know how low those scores are.

There is definitely no magic formula for an acceptance. It's about a balance of ECs, dental experience, and numbers. My philosophy is that you want to have the best of each, but that is much easier said than done. There are people on this site that have many more EC hours logged than me! Like you said, you have to make some sacrifices.

i don't think its odd at all. My friend and I go to the same university. He has a 21+AA DAT and I only have a 19 but My GPA is better than his. Some people are just naturally good at taking standardized tests. Luck can also play a role.

 

[free99]

i don't think its odd at all. My friend and I go to the same university. He has a 21+AA DAT and I only have a 19 but My GPA is better than his. Some people are just naturally good at taking standardized tests. Luck can also play a role.

It does, yes, but maybe he just studied harder than you for that particular test.........