Done with DAT..wow...

[KwoO623]

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Hey guys, this is my first time posting. I just took my DAT this morning and wow....it was much harder than I thought. I studied about 3-4 weeks on top of taking my last few classes for my undergrad degree. I was doing a little below average on the practice science tests but I thought the real one would add a point or 2...guess not.... the ochem and gen chem section on the DATs killed me. here are my scores:

PAT:19
RD:21
QR:15
Bio:17
OC:16
GC:16

I wish I had just studied a little more for the science and QR section. My cumulative gap is a 3.02 and science ~2.9? I had a 2.2 until the end of my sophomore year and no matter how well I do...seems impossible to bring it up any more. I volunteered all summer for a dentist at a free clinic but thats as far as my experience goes. I was thinking about applying this week but I need to know what my chances are realistically. After seeing these scores onthe dats and my gpa..do I have a chance? Should I just wait until next year to apply? I was planning to apply to vcu,temple,stonybrook, and nyu. I heard something about asking schools to hold your application until you retake the dats. Is that possible for any school? I need some help guys....thanks

 

[J2AZ]

Kwo0623,
Hi! I would like to start by saying don't worry about your GPA. I say this b/c dental schools will look at trends. You had a 2.2 and have since pulled it up to a 2.9. You could not have done that without having a string of A's. Schools are willing to discount a poor early performance. In fact I believe Missouri calculates a GPA for your last 30 units of science. Obviously yours will be high. Your experience is good b/c it shows you care. Working at a free clinic will give you a leg up on a student who shadowed at a private practice. I feel you should prepare to take the DAT again. 3 to 4 weeks is not enough studying. However, based on your scores and study time you are way ahead of where I was at that same time. Just so that you know you did not sell yourself short, you might want to cough up the $400 in fees and try your luck at 2 or 3 schools. I might switch VCU for BU and since it appears you are in NY, check out Buffalo. I hear it is an excellent school. The problem you may encounter is that it is October and if you send your app in now the schools probably wont receive it until mid Nov. But Hell, if there is anything I have learned in life it is that never say never. I know a guy who got into a school with a 16 average and no degree. As much as we don't believe it to be true, schools do look at more than just stats. After all every dentist has had his or her academic struggles and they realize that its not the difficulties and failures that define the student but rather how the students reacts to and over comes them.

 

[KwoO623]

Thanks J2AZ for the words of encouragement. I am finished with my application minus the personal statement which I will finish this week and hopefully I will have my application mailed out by the end of this or mid next week. I'm actually a resident of virginia which is why I am applying to VCU. Most of my family either lives in or will be moving to ny so that is why I am applying to those schools and also because I heard NYU has a large incoming class compared to other schools. Is stony brook and temple a long shot with my stats? waste of money? Anyways, I hope my personal statement helps balance my poor gpa. Thanks again.

ps. anyone hear of NYU accepting anyone with stats like mine?(granted I do a little bit better on DAT's the second time around). and also, when should I call the schools to ask them if they could hold my app till my next DAT?

 

[hockeydentist]

merely glance at your numbers, would indicate that your aa avg was an 17 or 18.

With that DAT and GPA, your possiblity of matriculation for next year is definately narrowed down to a couple of schools. Mostly in the East coast area . I.E NYU and Boston. I am sure there a couple of other schools.

Your biggest hurdle, could be that you're thinking of applying right now. Its october, so that means schools will most likely not making a decsion, way after december 1st. By then the spots that were available to you pre December 1st have narrowed considerably. your now fighting for a few spots.

You could test the waters for this cycle, but it almost looks like next cylce could be your's if you apply early. consider retaking the DAT, if your trying to stay in your instate school.

If you have the money, test the cycle this year. Nothin ventured nothing gained.

HD 👍

 

[KwoO623]

thanks hockeydentist. I think I will apply this year. Hopefully I can call them in time to hold my app so I can take DAT again. Do you guys know the stats for temple?

 

[J2AZ]

Temple: Acad. 18.5 PAT 18.4 Over All 3.25 Sci. 3.15
VCU: Acad. 18 PAT 17 Over All 3.31 Sci 3.24
NYU: Acad. 18 PAT 17 Over All 3.14 Sci 2.94
Stony Brook: Acad. 19.2 PAT 17.6 Over All 3.61 Sci 3.52

If I were you I would dump Stony Brook from my app. I say this not because of you stats but b/c from the sound of it you are still a Virginia resident. If so your chance of getting into Stony Brook is slim to none. They only took one out of state student in 2003. This year will probably be no different. I am sure you know this by know but when picking schools you need to find out how many out of state students they accept and then calculate your odds. Most state schools other than your own are always going to be more difficult to get into b/c you are competing for about 15 to 20 seats not the 40 to 70 seats in state students are looking at. Here are some good options based on your stats and the # of out-of-state seats available.

Boston: Acad. 19 PAT 18 Over All 3.16 Sci 3.04
Louisville: Acad. 17.37 PAT 17 Over All 3.28 Sci 3.17
Tufts: Acad. 18.21 PAT 17.32 Over All 3.31 Sci 3.23
UNLV: Acad 18 PAT 17.73 Over All 3.2 Sci 3.08
Buffalo: Acad 17.56 PAT 17.54 Over All 3.36 Sci 3.22

 

[KwoO623]

Thanks for the info J2AZ. Yea I think I am definately going to drop stony brook and maybe temple just to save some money because my chances are so slim.