Dont meet RECOMMENDED minimums, dont apply?

[STACM]

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My DAT score was 18 AA, 20 TS, 20 BIO, 20 GCHM, 20 OCHM, 19 PAT, 15 QR, and 14 RC. Alot of the schools I've called have recommended minimums they usually expect (not cut-offs). So my question is, if a school has say a recommended minimum of 18 in RC or 17 across the board in each section, does that pretty much mean I shouldn't even bother applying there?

 

[TeamGuo]

not necessarily, because other portions of your app. can make up for some low scores. But in your case, you really have to find out if that 14 RC is going to hold you back from admission.

Your TS score is awesome but that RC score might hold you back from future acceptance to d-school.

If you have no plans to retake, apply to whole bunch of schools to increase your chances. If your overall app. is strong then even with couple of low scores, you probably will still get in. Good luck!!

 

[dentstd]

My DAT score was 18 AA, 20 TS, 20 BIO, 20 GCHM, 20 OCHM, 19 PAT, 15 QR, and 14 RC. Alot of the schools I've called have recommended minimums they usually expect (not cut-offs). So my question is, if a school has say a recommended minimum of 18 in RC or 17 across the board in each section, does that pretty much mean I shouldn't even bother applying there?

It tells you that you don't meet what they're looking for, yes. People who get in with lower scores either have something else spectacular or are connected to the inner circle somehow.

 

[lemoncurry]

most schools don't seem to care about a low QR score, but RC is taken VERY seriously. Why? because you will have to read a boatload of stuff and be able to assimilate it and learn it. if your reading comp skills are lacking, it indicates to them that you might have a problem dealing with the workload of d-school.

 

[DrReo]

Don't waste your time or money. They are looking forward to students with well-rounded scores. You can have a 30 in Organic and 25 in biology but if your RC or whatever is below 17, who cares? Better off with consistant scores.

 

[STACM]

Don't waste your time or money. They are looking forward to students with well-rounded scores. You can have a 30 in Organic and 25 in biology but if your RC or whatever is below 17, who cares? Better off with consistant scores.

like u im guessing?

 

[DrReo]

I never said that. It's better to consistant than have hills, per se.

Retake the DAT and see what you can do. You have some TS killer scores!

 

[Danny289]

how about my situation, I took my DAT three times
First RC16 second :15 third 14 ! but my TS=20(Bio:21 Gc:23 oC:18) and AA=19 lol I scare to take for fourth time I think it will be 13! 🙂

 

[dent2009]

how about my situation, I took my DAT three times
First RC16 second :15 third 14 ! but my TS=20(Bio:21 Gc:23 oC:18) and AA=19 lol I scare to take for fourth time I think it will be 13! 🙂

Sorry to break it to you but it's not looking good. The low RC scores raises a red flag and the fact that they're decreasing with every attempt is a big NO-NO. What happened? Did you not work enough on improving the RC? In my opinion, taking it a fourth time is futile considering your trend in RC. If you wanna dig yourself out of the rut you better get an amazing score on the RC like a 25. You got a lot of ground to cover buddy. Good luck and prove me and everyone else who agrees with me wrong.

Actually there may still be a chance for you if you are a minority.

 

[Danny289]

Sorry to break it to you but it's not looking good. The low RC scores raises a red flag and the fact that they're decreasing with every attempt is a big NO-NO. What happened? Did you not work enough on improving the RC? In my opinion, taking it a fourth time is futile considering your trend in RC. If you wanna dig yourself out of the rut you better get an amazing score on the RC like a 25. You got a lot of ground to cover buddy. Good luck and prove me and everyone else who agrees with me wrong.

Actually there may still be a chance for you if you are a minority.

I am not minority but English is my second language. anyway I have to wait (just took mt DAT yesterday) and it will be too late for 2009 cycle( I am geting too old lol).I got one interview last year anyway, lets see what will be happend this cycle. I am not going to give up in any condition even I am much older than most of you guys. thanks for your advice buddy, I'll take it.

 

[Fonz]

how about my situation, I took my DAT three times
First RC16 second :15 third 14 ! but my TS=20(Bio:21 Gc:23 oC:18) and AA=19 lol I scare to take for fourth time I think it will be 13! 🙂

I'm guessing ESL?

 

[Danny289]

I'm guessing ESL?

yes, but i think it is not good excuse!

 

[dent2009]

I am not minority but English is my second language. anyway I have to wait (just took mt DAT yesterday) and it will be too late for 2009 cycle( I am geting too old lol).I got one interview last year anyway, lets see what will be happend this cycle. I am not going to give up in any condition even I am much older than most of you guys. thanks for your advice buddy, I'll take it.

English is your second language? When did you start learning English? How old are you if you don't mind me asking? Why don't you try applying again this year? It's certainly not too late to do so.

 

[Fonz]

yes, but i think it is not good excuse!

yeah but I can see how tough that is. I mean I don't even speak a 2nd language let alone take a standardized test in one!

 

[Danny289]

English is your second language? When did you start learning English? How old are you if you don't mind me asking? Why don't you try applying again this year? It's certainly not too late to do so.

I am 38 years. and I applied this year for three Texas Dental schools and few privets. as i said if i don't get through this year, I will apply next year, I am old enough to know what I want. yesterday i got shocked when I saw my reading score because I was thinking I am doing much better that last times, even with 95% percentile for GChem and 91% percentile for bio they didn't impresed me( honestly I thought I would be 100% percentile because I know what I know!). just I don't know what happened yesterday.....
don't worry i will survive, this year or next year or the year after i must be in!!

 

[Danny289]

yeah but I can see how tough that is. I mean I don't even speak a 2nd language let alone take a standardized test in one!

lol, I speak three languages !!

 

[dent2009]

lol, I speak three languages !!

Nice. What 3 do you speak? That is definitely a big plus on your application.

 

[Danny289]

Nice. What 3 do you speak? That is definitely a big plus on your application.

Buddy, thanks for your encouragement. I have lots of plus but sometimes numbers works better.
my average work hours is 55+ a week for last few years and I ended up with 3.56 GPA
last semester between december and may i accomplished 22 hours including genitics and Biochemstry( I had to cut my work hours to 45) and I ended up with GPA 3.51 ( I got C+ in Biochem 😡 and B in genitics) because I was thinking if i get my acceptance in the School which I had my interview I have to finish the 90 hours minimum ( I was 24 hours short ). they didn't damn care about my 144 hours from overseas in Physical therapy.
as i said the numbers works better and if I don't get my acceptance this year, I will try next year with better RC score( I don't have any problem with Science and QR). remeber buddy there are just two kinds of people in this world "people give up and people do not give up" we must choose which one to be. 🙂

 

[Danny289]

ok, I don't want to steal this thread. I am in the same situation, and I am applying to the school needs minimum, just I wanted to know whats will be next.I love this Dental school and how they care about one simple applicant few states away 🙂 they responded few hours after my email.
my question was" even with that low score, they will review my application or not?"
this is their email:
"We will review you application. However, what will most likely happen is that you will received a status letter from us requesting that you retake the DAT. In our process we consider only the most resent set of scores. And as you are aware all scores must be 15 or above. The national average in most categories is somewhere between 17 - 18. Our average entering scores range from 18 - 20. Thank you for your interest "