Don't want to retake DAT.. but should I do it?

[nicole2]

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I took my first DAT last month and my scores are:

AA 20
TS 20
GC 21
OC 20
BIO 19
RC 20
PAT 19

I know that my score is well-balanced and is the average accepted score for dental schools..

But my overall gpa and science gpa is 3.35 ish with and I have a lot of C's (including C+s) in science courses that I feel like I should do a retake and aim for 22+ to show that I am capable of doing science. (I have a lot of other science courses that are not BCP that I've done well in that boosts my science gpa upto at least 3.3). I think I have a little over average EC's: 2 research labs for 4 years in college (both writing me a strong LORs), 100+ shadowing hours, 500+ community service hours, scholarships in college.

I'm just scared even if I do a retake, I wouldn't be able to score up higher 🙁
I was going to register for another test and pay the $460 but I thought I would ask for your opinions first..

For the first time, I studied for 1 month, in which I reviewed + learned new materials for 20 days and did practice exams for 10 days.
If I do a retake, I will not be learning new things, instead just doing reviews every day. I would have 3 full weeks to do so. I'm planning to start reviewing around end of march and put 12+ hours on studying after school ends for 3 weeks and take the test. (I have to go abroad afterwards.. so I don't have much time this time again).

I feel like if I manage to get higher score in DAT, my chance goes up immensely with my low gpa. I have about 20 schools in my list across the country.

 

[artist2022]

I'd say apply right when the cycle opens, and schedule a retake for the summer. I'm sure you'll get a few interviews w/o the retake, as long as you do have a solid PS and strong LORs (as you say you do), but just incase, you'd have a backup test day in the summer should schools want a higher score. Keep in mind, though, you have to wait 90 days/3 months between retakes, so since you took it last month, the earliest you could take it would be mid-May. Look through the breakdowns here: DAT Breakdown Compilation Thread (future test takers, look here!) to find tips so that you do score better your second time around (should you decide to do so). Best of luck 🙂

 

[sobertiger]

Your score is nice and even across the board. Also, 20 is a great score and gives you a good shot at getting in. In 2016, 40.9% of the matriculants had 19-20 while 41.1% had 21+.

In short, I don't think you need to retake it. Focus more on your SOP and LORs.

 

[nicole2]

I'd say apply right when the cycle opens, and schedule a retake for the summer. I'm sure you'll get a few interviews w/o the retake, as long as you do have a solid PS and strong LORs (as you say you do), but just incase, you'd have a backup test day in the summer should schools want a higher score. Keep in mind, though, you have to wait 90 days/3 months between retakes, so since you took it last month, the earliest you could take it would be mid-May. Look through the breakdowns here: DAT Breakdown Compilation Thread (future test takers, look here!) to find tips so that you do score better your second time around (should you decide to do so). Best of luck 🙂

Hey! Thanks for the link. I needed that. Yes, I am planning to start my application on May 15th, when they open the app, and will submit it when they allow it on June 5th! I will be abroad starting in June, so that is why I was thinking about the retake in June. Thanks thou!

 

[nicole2]

Your score is nice and even across the board. Also, 20 is a great score and gives you a good shot at getting in. In 2016, 40.9% of the matriculants had 19-20 while 41.1% had 21+.

In short, I don't think you need to retake it. Focus more on your SOP and LORs.

Thanks for the input.. the only reason I’m thinking about the retake is because of my low grades in science 🙁 I have so many Cs....

 

[sobertiger]

Thanks for the input.. the only reason I’m thinking about the retake is because of my low grades in science 🙁 I have so many Cs....

In which classes?

 

[nicole2]

In which classes?

Bcp classes.. both physics got C+, Anatomy and physiology 1&2 got C and C+, retook orgo 1 and got B(got C- first time), retaking orgo 2 and might get something in the C range(got D+ first time).
Other classes are fine.. just my science classes 🙁
I got A in microbiology and looking for an A in biochhem and advanced bio class this semester thou.. if thats going to help at all..

 

[predent2151]

Bcp classes.. both physics got C+, Anatomy and physiology 1&2 got C and C+, retook orgo 1 and got B(got C- first time), retaking orgo 2 and might get something in the C range(got D+ first time).
Other classes are fine.. just my science classes 🙁
I got A in microbiology and looking for an A in biochhem and advanced bio class this semester thou.. if thats going to help at all..

Do you know what your BCP gpa is, that’s a little more important than overall science.

 

[sobertiger]

Bcp classes.. both physics got C+, Anatomy and physiology 1&2 got C and C+, retook orgo 1 and got B(got C- first time), retaking orgo 2 and might get something in the C range(got D+ first time).
Other classes are fine.. just my science classes 🙁
I got A in microbiology and looking for an A in biochhem and advanced bio class this semester thou.. if thats going to help at all..

That's not that bad. It should be fine if you get those As on the upper division classes.

 

[Medin2017]

Just depends on your level of risk taking. Obviously the higher the DAT the safer you would feel. I wouldn't be comfortable with a 3.35 and a 20 flat ( I think 3.6/20 is relatively safe).

 

[DocDoom]

If you're serious and confident that you can obtain a better DAT score, I would suggest getting the DAT done before June. If you indicate that you will be taking the DAT again on your AADSAS app, schools will automatically set your application aside for later review and thus this would defeat the purpose of applying early. You can also gamble and apply with your current scores and not indicate that you will be taking the DAT again but unofficially you would be preparing to do so. This carries a risk as schools would evaluate your application based on your current DAT scores and you risk getting rejected.

 

[nicole2]

If you're serious and confident that you can obtain a better DAT score, I would suggest getting the DAT done before June. If you indicate that you will be taking the DAT again on your AADSAS app, schools will automatically set your application aside for later review and thus this would defeat the purpose of applying early. You can also gamble and apply with your current scores and not indicate that you will be taking the DAT again but unofficially you would be preparing to do so. This carries a risk as schools would evaluate your application based on your current DAT scores and you risk getting rejected.

If I do a retake, I will be taking it before June 5th. But then I wouldn’t have an official score by June 5th, when I submit the application. I was going to apply with my current score and update the new score. I didn’t know that there is a box I can click whether I will be retaking or not.

 

[nicole2]

Just depends on your level of risk taking. Obviously the higher the DAT the safer you would feel. I wouldn't be comfortable with a 3.35 and a 20 flat ( I think 3.6/20 is relatively safe).

I agree wth what you said. If my gpa was higher, I wouldn’t consider the retake.. but with my low gpa..🙁

 

[Medin2017]

I agree wth what you said. If my gpa was higher, I wouldn’t consider the retake.. but with my low gpa..🙁

I would consider it carefully. 400 dollars and a few months of moderate studying is much better than waiting a year and losing a year of income, which would very likely be 250+ times costlier than a DAT. .

 

[nicole2]

I would consider it carefully. 400 dollars and a few months of moderate studying is much better than waiting a year and losing a year of income, which would very likely be 250+ times costlier than a DAT. .

Right. I think I'm going to do the retake. Just couple weeks of intense studying might change my life.. so..

 

[caffeine jitters]

Right. I think I'm going to do the retake. Just couple weeks of intense studying might change my life.. so..

Acing the DAT and getting accepted to dental school would change your life

 

[sobertiger]

Right. I think I'm going to do the retake. Just couple weeks of intense studying might change my life.. so..

You should only retake if you're 100% sure you'll get a higher score. Do you really think 2-3 weeks of studying will be enough? What if your score drops? Do you really want to take that risk?

Your GPA really isn't that low and as I've said, your DAT is good enough.

If you really must retake, take it a bit later. I took mine on June 13 but I heard of plenty of people taking it later and doing just fine.

 

[Sweet_Tooth]

I applied in June 2017 with basically the same DAT (I had 20 AA, 20 TS, 19 GC and OC, 19 PAT, 22 RC and 17 QR!) and same GPA (I had 3.27 sGPA and 3.47 oGPA) as you and got 4 interviews! I really do know how you feel, that was my retake and I was bummed out cause I had been hoping for at least a 21. I contemplated retaking it for a third time but I didn't because I honestly did not feel that I could improve my score anymore because I felt that I had studied my hardest and put in the most effort into that second attempt. There is an element of uncertainty in the sense that no matter how much you prepare, you won't necessarily be able to anticipate the types of questions you'll get, so there's a point after which time spent studying does not necessarily equate to a higher score.

I think what really helped me is applying EARLY (like within June), applying BROADLY (I applied to 15 schools), having a strong PS (I talked about my own experience with dentistry, my own experience with my bed-ridden grandmother who lives with us and who needed a mobile dentist team to treat her, and I emphasized how and why dentistry is a good fit for me), a good upwards grade trend (I applied in my third year of undergrad and submitted a 3.8 GPA for my fall semester academic update!), strong letters of recommendation, and a good variety of EC's that show your ability to take initiative and be a leader. Honestly, your EC's are even better than mine's, I applied with no research experience and I am almost certain that if I had had some research I could've gotten even more interviews.

So my point is that I don't think you need to retake, just because the DAT is one portion of the entire application and because you did pretty good. Sure, a 21+ is better, but it's not really guaranteed. It might be better to use that time to focus on the other aspects of your application that I mentioned above. You could even take more upper level biology courses over the summer to improve your GPA rather than retake the DAT. The fact is that you can continuously be increasing your GPA even after you apply. I applied with the 3.27 sGPA/3.47sGPA and bumped it up to a 3.38sGPA/3.52oGPA throughout the application cycle.