Don't Score Too High On Dat

[jpj52byu]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I just spoke with an admissions committee advisor at a dental school today about why i didn't get accepted. They said I scored too high on the dat and that my grades didnt justify my dat score. I had a 24 on the dat and a 3.2 gpa at an undergrad college that is, by the advisors own admission, one of the toughest undergrad schools in the country for getting a high gpa. The advisor made me feel like i would have had a better chance of getting in if i had scored a 20 on the dat given my gpa. By the way, i applied to 13 schools, and applied early (june 1st), and only interviewed at 2 schools and wasn't accepted anywhere.

 

[IndDent]

that's really weird...I kinda felt the same way about my app as well

scored 24/24/20 on my DAT and had a science gpa of 3.2...didn't get many replies, even from UOP

In the end only got interviews at Columbia, Tufts, Boston, and NYU

I felt that my DAT score didn't match my gpa, and that's probably why I didn't get many interviews besides the ones listed.

Indy

 

[nothen2do]

I just spoke with an admissions committee advisor at a dental school today about why i didn't get accepted. They said I scored too high on the dat and that my grades didnt justify my dat score. I had a 24 on the dat and a 3.2 gpa at an undergrad college that is, by the advisors own admission, one of the toughest undergrad schools in the country for getting a high gpa. The advisor made me feel like i would have had a better chance of getting in if i had scored a 20 on the dat given my gpa. By the way, i applied to 13 schools, and applied early (june 1st), and only interviewed at 2 schools and wasn't accepted anywhere.

Maybe instead of scoring lower on the dat to justify anything, you should raise your GPA... Schools have cut-offs, maybe 3.2 is too low

 

[S Files]

I just spoke with an admissions committee advisor at a dental school today about why i didn't get accepted. They said I scored too high on the dat and that my grades didnt justify my dat score. I had a 24 on the dat and a 3.2 gpa at an undergrad college that is, by the advisors own admission, one of the toughest undergrad schools in the country for getting a high gpa. The advisor made me feel like i would have had a better chance of getting in if i had scored a 20 on the dat given my gpa. By the way, i applied to 13 schools, and applied early (june 1st), and only interviewed at 2 schools and wasn't accepted anywhere.

this post is a joke right?!!!! stop giving bad advice. raise your gpa.
anytime you take any standardized test KILL IT!

 

[KAP]

DUMBEST post i've ever read.... wow

 

[food4thots]

ha ha ha..

 

[ElDienteLoco]

To the OP,

Sorry about your situation. I would probably disagree with what the advisor told you. A high DAT never hurts you...Your GPA wasn't competitive enough to accept you and the ADCOM had to tell you something. Good luck though. Take some more classes to bring up your GPA and you'll be fine (as long as you interview well).

If you are a BYU student as your name suggests, try the MPH program at the University of Utah. It is one year, a good chance to have grad work that will bring up your GPA and having an MPH will strengthen your app (especially at a school like ASDOH).

 

[whiskeysour]

I just spoke with an admissions committee advisor at a dental school today about why i didn't get accepted. They said I scored too high on the dat and that my grades didnt justify my dat score. I had a 24 on the dat and a 3.2 gpa at an undergrad college that is, by the advisors own admission, one of the toughest undergrad schools in the country for getting a high gpa. The advisor made me feel like i would have had a better chance of getting in if i had scored a 20 on the dat given my gpa. By the way, i applied to 13 schools, and applied early (june 1st), and only interviewed at 2 schools and wasn't accepted anywhere.

don't blame your crappy GPA on your school, tool.

 

[SirShagaLot]

I just spoke with an admissions committee advisor at a dental school today about why i didn't get accepted. They said I scored too high on the dat and that my grades didnt justify my dat score. I had a 24 on the dat and a 3.2 gpa at an undergrad college that is, by the advisors own admission, one of the toughest undergrad schools in the country for getting a high gpa. The advisor made me feel like i would have had a better chance of getting in if i had scored a 20 on the dat given my gpa. By the way, i applied to 13 schools, and applied early (june 1st), and only interviewed at 2 schools and wasn't accepted anywhere.

.......................jhkfjhdtyutyu/m,,.nm,.nm,.

 

[DIRTIE]

I just spoke with an admissions committee advisor at a dental school today about why i didn't get accepted. They said I scored too high on the dat and that my grades didnt justify my dat score. I had a 24 on the dat and a 3.2 gpa at an undergrad college that is, by the advisors own admission, one of the toughest undergrad schools in the country for getting a high gpa. The advisor made me feel like i would have had a better chance of getting in if i had scored a 20 on the dat given my gpa. By the way, i applied to 13 schools, and applied early (june 1st), and only interviewed at 2 schools and wasn't accepted anywhere.

I think that your application just slipped through the cracks. There were a lot this year, UNLV had something like 2600-2700. That is a lot for a public school. I really highly doubt it was because you scored so high on the DAT is the reason you didn't get interviews or acceptances, that is a sweet score though, and a 3.2 is really not that bad, there are some real bastards on this SDN I must say.

 

[Mysteree]

I can't imagine your DAT score being a hinderance, and while a gpa of 3.2 is not stellar, by no means is it poor either. I've known people in the past who had a GPA lower than yours, and DAT scores, same or higher than you, and they got tons of interviews and acceptances, based solely on their DAT scores. I think the advisor latched on to whatever came to mind. I wouldn't take what he said too seriously.

Another thing, I don't think schools really care where you went to school, they care more about the end result..i.e your GPA. So a B at a competitive school, isn't as good as an A at a so so school. I'd go w/what the others have suggested, boost that GPA, cause your DAT is solid. I'm assuming that you had all the regular extracurricular etc going for you. Good luck.

 

[NoBraces]

I just spoke with an admissions committee advisor at a dental school today about why i didn't get accepted. They said I scored too high on the dat and that my grades didnt justify my dat score. I had a 24 on the dat and a 3.2 gpa at an undergrad college that is, by the advisors own admission, one of the toughest undergrad schools in the country for getting a high gpa. The advisor made me feel like i would have had a better chance of getting in if i had scored a 20 on the dat given my gpa. By the way, i applied to 13 schools, and applied early (june 1st), and only interviewed at 2 schools and wasn't accepted anywhere.

I'd call B.S. on what that admissions committee advisor told you. First of all, universities and colleges have different grading scales (A, B, C, D, F vs. A+/-, B+/-. C+/-. etc) so any individual's GPA could be higher or lower depending on where they went to school for their undergrad. Also, a person may not have been a serious undergrad or encountered difficult times as an undergrad which could adversely effect his/her GPA. However, when the time comes to study for the DAT he/she goes all out and really gives it his/her best and end up with a really, really, REALLY high DAT score that doesn't "match" their crappy GPA. Finally, I was told that a high DAT score can "make up for" a crappy GPA and vice versa.

Everyone work hard on getting a great score on the DAT! 🙂

 

[Rezdawg]

Similar situation...my DAT was much better than my gpa (3.1, 2.9 science)...When I interviewed at NYU, the guy told me that my DAT score shows that Im intelligent, but that it also shows that my work ethic is not good (because of my low gpa). Therefore, I have what it takes to get good grades, but I dont put forth the effort to make it happen.

 

[NoBraces]

Similar situation...my DAT was much better than my gpa (3.1, 2.9 science)...When I interviewed at NYU, the guy told me that my DAT score shows that Im intelligent, but that it also shows that my work ethic is not good (because of my low gpa). Therefore, I have what it takes to get good grades, but I dont put forth the effort to make it happen.

This guy at NYU surmised that by comparing your DAT score to your GPA? 😱

I hope you don't mind me asking but has your work ethic changed now that you are in dental school?

 

[HermeytheElf]

I just spoke with an admissions committee advisor at a dental school today about why i didn't get accepted. They said I scored too high on the dat and that my grades didnt justify my dat score. I had a 24 on the dat and a 3.2 gpa at an undergrad college that is, by the advisors own admission, one of the toughest undergrad schools in the country for getting a high gpa. The advisor made me feel like i would have had a better chance of getting in if i had scored a 20 on the dat given my gpa. By the way, i applied to 13 schools, and applied early (june 1st), and only interviewed at 2 schools and wasn't accepted anywhere.

Congratulations on your Webby award nomination for "Worst Post on a Pre-Professional Message Board". It's quite an accomplishment considering the number of idiots with access to the information superhighway, but your dedication to misinformation has made you the clear favorite for this years award.

 

[Rezdawg]

I hope you don't mind me asking but has your work ethic changed now that you are in dental school?

Definitely...there is such an overwhelming amount of information that you really dont have much time to mess around. You are kinda forced into this state of consistent studying.

 

[NoBraces]

Definitely...there is such an overwhelming amount of information that you really dont have much time to mess around. You are kinda forced into this state of consistent studying.

My years as a professional slacker is coming to a close

 

[RozhonDDS]

Congratulations on your Webby award nomination for "Worst Post on a Pre-Professional Message Board". It's quite an accomplishment considering the number of idiots with access to the information superhighway, but your dedication to misinformation has made you the clear favorite for this years award.

hahahahahahaha

 

[teefRcool]

Congratulations on your Webby award nomination for "Worst Post on a Pre-Professional Message Board". It's quite an accomplishment considering the number of idiots with access to the information superhighway, but your dedication to misinformation has made you the clear favorite for this years award.

ahahaah why don't you lower your gpa at the same time to like a 2.0 that will make your more competitive. Harvard will definitely knock on your door 😉

 

[rlk58]

I have to say that there are some real bastards on this site and the dental profession will suffer if any of these dinguses get accepted to dental school. teefRcool, RozhonDDS, HermeytheElf, whiskeysour, KAP and food4thots are a bunch of dicks and should be kicked off the site. The OP was just repeating what an advisor told him about his situation and these asses feel they need to put him down or mock him. I'd be ashamed to go to any dental school that would accept scum like these guys

 

[mlle]

Similar situation...my DAT was much better than my gpa (3.1, 2.9 science)...When I interviewed at NYU, the guy told me that my DAT score shows that Im intelligent, but that it also shows that my work ethic is not good (because of my low gpa). Therefore, I have what it takes to get good grades, but I dont put forth the effort to make it happen.

so if you don't mind me asking, did you get accepted or did they deny you at nyu?

 

[HermeytheElf]

I have to say that there are some real bastards on this site and the dental profession will suffer if any of these dinguses get accepted to dental school. teefRcool, RozhonDDS, HermeytheElf, whiskeysour, KAP and food4thots are a bunch of dicks and should be kicked off the site. The OP was just repeating what an advisor told him about his situation and these asses feel they need to put him down or mock him. I'd be ashamed to go to any dental school that would accept scum like these guys

rlk58: join date is May 11th. only post is the one above.

I'd say the only logical conclusion from this is that the OP was a little upset over several of us calling him out on his ridiculous assertion that a high DAT score would hurt an application. Since he obviously did not have the stones to confront us or the intelligence to offer a cogent defense of his statement, he created a new account so that he could verbally abuse those who had offended him in an attempt to offer some credibility to his original post.

To rlk58/jpj52byu: grow a pair troll.

 

[absurdhippo]

Similar situation...my DAT was much better than my gpa (3.1, 2.9 science)...When I interviewed at NYU, the guy told me that my DAT score shows that Im intelligent, but that it also shows that my work ethic is not good (because of my low gpa). Therefore, I have what it takes to get good grades, but I dont put forth the effort to make it happen.

Before I read Rezdawg's post, this was the only logical explanation I could think of myself. So, it is possible and in a way it does make sense - just not very good sense. Definitely not good enough to say "Don't do too well on your DAT."

 

[Rezdawg]

so if you don't mind me asking, did you get accepted or did they deny you at nyu?

Waitlisted...and then accepted the following application cycle.

That interview was horrible, the dude just ripped on me for 40 minutes telling me Im not cut out for dentistry and that I should look into another profession.

 

[fightingspirit]

I just spoke with an admissions committee advisor at a dental school today about why i didn't get accepted. They said I scored too high on the dat and that my grades didnt justify my dat score.

what was that admissions committee advisor smokin?

 

[sumozmom]

I just spoke with an admissions committee advisor at a dental school today about why i didn't get accepted. They said I scored too high on the dat and that my grades didnt justify my dat score. I had a 24 on the dat and a 3.2 gpa at an undergrad college that is, by the advisors own admission, one of the toughest undergrad schools in the country for getting a high gpa. The advisor made me feel like i would have had a better chance of getting in if i had scored a 20 on the dat given my gpa. By the way, i applied to 13 schools, and applied early (june 1st), and only interviewed at 2 schools and wasn't accepted anywhere.

thats too bad...i was told by a dentist ishadow that i should not foucus soo much on my crappy GPA...but to kik butt on the DAT....
so what you said is really disheartning

 

[L8DYV]

I just spoke with an admissions committee advisor at a dental school today about why i didn't get accepted. They said I scored too high on the dat and that my grades didnt justify my dat score. I had a 24 on the dat and a 3.2 gpa at an undergrad college that is, by the advisors own admission, one of the toughest undergrad schools in the country for getting a high gpa. The advisor made me feel like i would have had a better chance of getting in if i had scored a 20 on the dat given my gpa. By the way, i applied to 13 schools, and applied early (june 1st), and only interviewed at 2 schools and wasn't accepted anywhere.

From my experience, many advisors are not very knowledgeable enough to give advice unless they have done it themselves. Your best bet is to get information from all spectrums: different people and sources so you can make your own assessment. And by the way, my experience tells me that your advisor is wrong and that high scores--the better.

 

[Envision]

I just spoke with an admissions committee advisor at a dental school today about why i didn't get accepted. They said I scored too high on the dat and that my grades didnt justify my dat score. I had a 24 on the dat and a 3.2 gpa at an undergrad college that is, by the advisors own admission, one of the toughest undergrad schools in the country for getting a high gpa. The advisor made me feel like i would have had a better chance of getting in if i had scored a 20 on the dat given my gpa. By the way, i applied to 13 schools, and applied early (june 1st), and only interviewed at 2 schools and wasn't accepted anywhere.

How about the rest of your application? EC, LOR, PS etc. Your GPA isn't super but it certainly isnt bad and along with your DAT score and very early submission date, i don't understand why you were passed up. Also, what schools did you apply too? is 3.2 your sci gpa or overal? if you applied to the IVY leagues or what not, then ya, a 3.2 is a little low.

 

[groundhog]

Folks have speculated here that the op just got the brush off from a busy ad com rep or that the story is fabricated. All possible. One other possibilty is that this particular school's adcom is leary of folks who may have taken a prep course like Kaplan to boost up their DAT score but who may have been sort of slackards when it came to fullfilling their undergrad requirements on a day to day long term basis. Maybe this school has had a few bad experiences when accepting folks with such stats in the past. You never know.

 

[adamlc18]

I just spoke with an admissions committee advisor at a dental school today about why i didn't get accepted. They said I scored too high on the dat and that my grades didnt justify my dat score. I had a 24 on the dat and a 3.2 gpa at an undergrad college that is, by the advisors own admission, one of the toughest undergrad schools in the country for getting a high gpa. The advisor made me feel like i would have had a better chance of getting in if i had scored a 20 on the dat given my gpa. By the way, i applied to 13 schools, and applied early (june 1st), and only interviewed at 2 schools and wasn't accepted anywhere.

From my experience, Dr. B doesn't really know much about dental school or its admissions. Sure, BYU sends like 300+ to dental school a year, but it isn't because of anything he did or knows. I think he knows about med school applications but not dental school. Talk to whoever is the predent advisor in the office there....by that I mean the student helper they hire who is applying to dental school. They usually hire someone who knows something.

 

[EyeAmCommi]

Waitlisted...and then accepted the following application cycle.

That interview was horrible, the dude just ripped on me for 40 minutes telling me Im not cut out for dentistry and that I should look into another profession.

Did you have Hittelman? He's a psychologist and he tried to convince me that dentistry is a horrible profession. He's just tryin to get inside your head 😛

 

[EyeAmCommi]

One other possibilty is that this particular school's adcom is leary of folks who may have taken a prep course like Kaplan to boost up their DAT score but who may have been sort of slackards when it came to fullfilling their undergrad requirements on a day to day long term basis. Maybe this school has had a few bad experiences when accepting folks with such stats in the past. You never know.

You bring up a very good point.

However, lets consider a person who slacks off completely through college, gets a ~2.8-3.0, and graduates without learning much in terms of sciences and such. If all this person needs is 3 months of preparation through Kaplan to compensate for 2 years of undergraduate work to score really high on the DATs, then this person is a genius and should do pretty damn well on the NDBE and any school (especially Columbia, UoP) would be happy to take them.

You can also say that a hard working person can earn a 4.0, but if they can't take one test or if they're naturally poor at standardized test taking, then who's to say they'll do well on the boards or even be able to pass it.

In either case, both hypothetical individuals might still make great dentists, even the ones with a not-so-great work ethic who is super intelligent.

 

[polarnut]

im having a hard time believing your story...you are either

a) a troll who wants to give unnecessary jitters to applying pre-dents

b) a troll who wants to make a random excuse for not getting into school

 

[12YearOldKid]

Just a thought, but do you think it has anything to do with the fact that schools are sorting through a boatload of incredible apps from BYU and then when they get your fairly average application they are not really interested? Maybe they've already filled their Mormon quota. 😀

I mean, a 3.2 is kind of underachieving for a mormon, right?

 

[Yeyyy]

maybe the admissions persion said that because they expected/were looking for a higher GPA and the high DAT score by itself didnt make the cut

 

[lisat]

It can only help to do well on your DAT's. It definitely helped me.

My stats:

GPA: 3.3 from "one of the toughest undergrad schools in the country for getting a high gpa"

DAT: 24 AA

Applied Oct. 1st to 10 schools

Acceptances: NYU (w/o interview), Tufts (merit scholarship), UNLV, UCLA

 

[EyeAmCommi]

It can only help to do well on your DAT's. It definitely helped me.

My stats:

GPA: 3.3 from "one of the toughest undergrad schools in the country for getting a high gpa"

DAT: 24 AA

Applied Oct. 1st to 10 schools

Acceptances: NYU (w/o interview), Tufts (merit scholarship), UNLV, UCLA

So you going to Tufts?

 

[Rezdawg]

Did you have Hittelman? He's a psychologist and he tried to convince me that dentistry is a horrible profession. He's just tryin to get inside your head 😛

Yeah, thats the name...I couldnt think of it. Bastard 😀 .

 

[groundhog]

You bring up a very good point.

However, lets consider a person who slacks off completely through college, gets a ~2.8-3.0, and graduates without learning much in terms of sciences and such. If all this person needs is 3 months of preparation through Kaplan to compensate for 2 years of undergraduate work to score really high on the DATs, then this person is a genius and should do pretty damn well on the NDBE and any school (especially Columbia, UoP) would be happy to take them.

You are correct. Which brings up the point that folks have to go through a subjective door as well as an objective door in order to get accepted into dental school. Folks way at the bottom end (<2.0 GPA & < 13 DAT) will never get past the objective door. However, even the folks at the top end (>3.8 GPA & >26 DAT )will have to get past the subjective door. Of course, every thing else being equal, the higher the stats, the greater the chances of getting through both doors.

Bottom line, like you imply, is that some folks who would make great dentists may never get into dental school while others who get into dental school prove to be real disasters for the profession (read some of the states' dental licensing board investigative reports). It is not a perfect world. So the operative rule for those wanting to go to dental school is "do all you can to present a quality package to the adcoms and keep your fingers crossed."