FeEDbAcK nEeDeD AsaP

[snaggletoof]

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so, im still waiting to hear from a few schools. below are my stats. do i retake the dat? please help.


aa/18 ts/19/ pat 21
GPA: Overall 3.20
GPA: Science 3.50
GPA: Post-Bac 4.00
i got a 15 qr which dragged down my aa. im torn between retaking the dat and just getting everything in early. i didnt have official dat scores until mid october last year and submitted mid july. the other option is to start studying again and retake in july. im so scared i wont do as well as last time.

 

[Skygrandpager]

so, im still waiting to hear from a few schools. below are my stats. do i retake the dat? please help.


aa/18 ts/19/ pat 21
GPA: Overall 3.20
GPA: Science 3.50
GPA: Post-Bac 4.00
i got a 15 qr which dragged down my aa. im torn between retaking the dat and just getting everything in early. i didnt have official dat scores until mid october last year and submitted mid july. the other option is to start studying again and retake in july. im so scared i wont do as well as last time.

retake the dat and you'll be good imo.

 

[lphiewok]

so, im still waiting to hear from a few schools. below are my stats. do i retake the dat? please help.


aa/18 ts/19/ pat 21
GPA: Overall 3.20
GPA: Science 3.50
GPA: Post-Bac 4.00
i got a 15 qr which dragged down my aa. im torn between retaking the dat and just getting everything in early. i didnt have official dat scores until mid october last year and submitted mid july. the other option is to start studying again and retake in july. im so scared i wont do as well as last time.

i would say, retake DAT but go ahead and apply when it opens up with your old score and indicate that you're retaking it.
since this is your second cycle, i would not want to risk of not getting in by not retaking DAT. i know you have gotten a really good post-bac GPA and competitive science GPA but because it's getting more competitive each year, I would take them to be safe.

also, your title = 👎

 

[dentaldawg32]

i would say, retake DAT but go ahead and apply when it opens up with your old score and indicate that you're retaking it.
since this is your second cycle, i would not want to risk of not getting in by not retaking DAT. i know you have gotten a really good post-bac GPA and competitive science GPA but because it's getting more competitive each year, I would take them to be safe.

also, your title = 👎

haha, what an incredible sentence.

 

[snaggletoof]

so, im still waiting to hear from a few schools. below are my stats. do i retake the dat? please help.


aa/18 ts/19/ pat 21
GPA: Overall 3.20
GPA: Science 3.50
GPA: Post-Bac 4.00
i got a 15 qr which dragged down my aa. im torn between retaking the dat and just getting everything in early. i didnt have official dat scores until mid october last year and submitted mid july. the other option is to start studying again and retake in july. im so scared i wont do as well as last time.

i have already taken the dat twice. i did awful the first time, didnt apply that cycle. thats why i am so worried that i wont do as well as the second time (scores i've posted). does any one think i could get in if i apply early with these scores?

 

[snaggletoof]

i have already taken the dat twice. i did awful the first time, didnt apply that cycle. thats why i am so worried that i wont do as well as the second time (scores i've posted). does any one think i could get in if i apply early with these scores?

anyone... other opinions!

 

[mylilpony]

your GPA is lower than avg. and your DAT is lower than avg. in my opinion, retake.

 

[civiapt]

What is the complete breakdown of your DAT? What kind of EC's do you have and dental experience?

 

[stlouisboi2002]

so, im still waiting to hear from a few schools. below are my stats. do i retake the dat? please help.


aa/18 ts/19/ pat 21
GPA: Overall 3.20
GPA: Science 3.50
GPA: Post-Bac 4.00
i got a 15 qr which dragged down my aa. im torn between retaking the dat and just getting everything in early. i didnt have official dat scores until mid october last year and submitted mid july. the other option is to start studying again and retake in july. im so scared i wont do as well as last time.

IMO, I think that that GPA is good enough to at least get an interview and from the interview you should be able to talk your way into the school if you REALLY wanna go...Especially at your state schools...If your EC's were good you should be ok to apply... I would definately call the schools and see what you should do, your GPA should out way the DAT in my opinon, everyones not great at taking test including myself. So, bottom line, GREAT EC's + GREAT GPA + O.K. DAT = ACCEPTANCE somewhere! GOOD LUCK!👍

 

[mylilpony]

IMO, I think that that GPA is good enough to at least get an interview and from the interview you should be able to talk your way into the school if you REALLY wanna go...Especially at your state schools...If your EC's were good you should be ok to apply... I would definately call the schools and see what you should do, your GPA should out way the DAT in my opinon, everyones not great at taking test including myself. So, bottom line, GREAT EC's + GREAT GPA + O.K. DAT = ACCEPTANCE somewhere! GOOD LUCK!👍

Did they finish a post-bacc degree? Or is that 4.0 a semester or two?? I mean, a 4.0 for a few months does not make up for 4 years of an undergrad GPA.

A 4.0 post-bacc degree might help you though. Just saying, I don't think GREAT GPA is really the case..

 

[stlouisboi2002]

Did they finish a post-bacc degree? Or is that 4.0 a semester or two?? I mean, a 4.0 for a few months does not make up for 4 years of an undergrad GPA.

A 4.0 post-bacc degree might help you though. Just saying, I don't think GREAT GPA is really the case..

Yea, mylilpony is right though, If its not a finished degree it probably wont hold any weight...You couldve just took a semester after graduation with 3 courses and called it 4.0 Thats just not going to do it lol but im interested in knowing...How were your EC's and did you finish your 4.0 postbac?

 

[snaggletoof]

Did they finish a post-bacc degree? Or is that 4.0 a semester or two?? I mean, a 4.0 for a few months does not make up for 4 years of an undergrad GPA.

A 4.0 post-bacc degree might help you though. Just saying, I don't think GREAT GPA is really the case..

i did an pre-med post-bacc at drexel med school. 4 semesters. got all a's. i know my stats are average. i mean, on predents they are considered below average, but if you look at the aadsas guide they are very average for a lot of schools.

 

[stlouisboi2002]

i did an pre-med post-bacc at drexel med school. 4 semesters. got all a's. i know my stats are average. i mean, on predents they are considered below average, but if you look at the aadsas guide they are very average for a lot of schools.

With that being said...That 4.0 is very accurate and I think with post bac your chances will be high but what are your EC's! You keep dodging the question!!!! lol

 

[mylilpony]

With that being said...That 4.0 is very accurate and I think with post bac your chances will be high but what are your EC's! You keep dodging the question!!!! lol

I agree. GREAT job finishing that Post-bacc!! 👍 Anyways, to me, I think if you apply early enough, you will have a shot somewhere. I took the DAT twice and I didn't really improve too much. I just scored higher in the section I needed to, QR. I think that going from an 18 to a 21 is not that easy...but it's do-able.

But a ton of people say, "4.0 in post bacc" and they are in their second semester. I feel like that's kind of misleading. But don't hate on the game.

I was trying to go from a AA 21 to a 23...which is pretty difficult as well.

 

[Maygyver]

Well, if you didn't get in you obviously need to change something and DAT is really the only thing you can change at this point. Also, make sure you don't write in alternating lowercase and uppercase letters in your personal statement. 😉

 

[snaggletoof]

With that being said...That 4.0 is very accurate and I think with post bac your chances will be high but what are your EC's! You keep dodging the question!!!! lol

2 years of emt work and over 60 hours shadowing. working with abused abandoned teens for 1 1/2 years. i know my dat is the only thing that CAN change at this point.

my question is however, if i apply early, like june 3rd, with the same dat scores, do you think my chances are better than last year because my application wasnt complete until mid oct. last year. im pretty sure this is considered a late entry.

 

[minotaur9]

2 years of emt work and over 60 hours shadowing. working with abused abandoned teens for 1 1/2 years. i know my dat is the only thing that CAN change at this point.

my question is however, if i apply early, like june 3rd, with the same dat scores, do you think my chances are better than last year because my application wasnt complete until mid oct. last year. im pretty sure this is considered a late entry.

What's your DAT breakdown for each category? How many schools did you apply to? What state do you live in? Where did you get interviews at?

 

[snaggletoof]

What's your DAT breakdown for each category? How many schools did you apply to? What state do you live in? Where did you get interviews at?

bio/18
chem/19
org/20
pat/21
qr/15
rc/20

interviewed at maryland (state school) and temple. still waiting.

 

[snaggletoof]

bump

 

[minotaur9]

bio/18
chem/19
org/20
pat/21
qr/15
rc/20

interviewed at maryland (state school) and temple. still waiting.

It looks like everything is in good shape, the only things I think held you back this cycle were submitting your DAT scores in October instead of June, and possibly your low QR score. Most schools care about this section the least, however as I'm sure you are aware, some have cut-offs like, you need to have a minimum of 16 in each section of the DAT. I'm not sure if Maryland has this requirement but I could look in my ADEA guidebook tonight for you. (Although I'm sure doc toothache has a post with this info in it.)

I applied to and got rejected by Maryland the last 2 years but they aren't really my top choice so I didn't contact them to ask them for many specifics, but I know last year they just sent me out a list of things most of their applicants do to improve their competitiveness. They were vague and everything you would expect, increase your academic credentials, do EC's, show continued interest in dentistry throughout the year....

I would hate to just say "retake the DAT" because I know what a daunting task that is, QR was my lowest score too at 17, and I would hate to retake just because of that, but I'm afraid you might have to re-take (also schools love to see a high Bio score), it's kind of on the fence right now. Call the schools you're serious about (I know Maryland prefers email) and ask their opinion. Let us know what they say and what you end up deciding.

I hope this helps. Good luck for getting accepted this cycle still!

 

[angelnyc89]

Retake the DAT, thats the only thing holding you back! Good Luck! 🙂

 

[Lethstang]

youre scores and gpa are good enough to be well over average at some schools. It depends on where you apply. For example. AT nyu you are above average, and you hit their dat. So on numbers alone Id say you are strong.

 

[snaggletoof]

youre scores and gpa are good enough to be well over average at some schools. It depends on where you apply. For example. AT nyu you are above average, and you hit their dat. So on numbers alone Id say you are strong.

its been said, that those on sdn and predents have above average scores. i really want to get in to maryland or temple. that being said, i would definitely go to nyu or tufts because they are private schools and are softer on their stats, and i know my chances are better there. i know the 15 qr is going to hurt me at alot of schools. im just hoping that the early submission will do it this cycle.

 

[Lethstang]

i agree snaggle. when asking for advice on sdn we must all remember the type that come here are the obsessive over acheiver type, so theyre standards are higher than the average dent. Its good that youre stressing, it will push you - just do yourself a favor and apply to the pricey private schools that accept lower GPA's. A few grand in extra applications is more than worth a YEAR of rejection.

 

[snaggletoof]

thanks lethstang. so your opinion is that if i do apply early this cycle i wont have to retake the dat?

 

[Maygyver]

Honestly, your best chances are if you do take your DAT but if you got interviews at those schools you must have a shot at getting in somewhere if you actually apply on time. It seems like you are pretty much not going to retake the DAT or you would have just done it, so just go ahead and apply early and hope for the best. That 15 QR might mess you over though.

 

[Lethstang]

snaggle,

just simply based on doc toothaches spreadsheets I think you are golden. HOWEVER your worry about being below the cutoff point in qr is a valid concern. The only solution to this is to call your schools one by one and ask their opinion. Anything anyone says here is most likely pure conjecture.

 

[dentalWorks]

my question is however, if i apply early, like june 3rd, with the same dat scores, do you think my chances are better than last year because my application wasnt complete until mid oct. last year. im pretty sure this is considered a late entry.

This is a VERY difficult question to answer.... One on hand, I am a risk taker and would recommend you take your 3rd try at the DAT, but then again, what if your current stats are "good enuff" to get you in without the retake?

How would ANYONE possibly know the answer or to even suggest anything....

I say its 50/50... If your application did NOT change/improve (ECs or GPA wise) since last application cycle and you want to show that you've done something to improve, then yes, I'd say retake cause that is the ONLY thing that you can improve within this short period of time..... But on the other hand.... I dunno.

18AA with 19TS is almost average borderline but your GPA (upward trend) is huge..... Its your call

If you decide to not retake (and I don't blame you), I STRONGLY suggest you aim at 20+ schools

Good luck to ya

 

[snaggletoof]

This is a VERY difficult question to answer.... One on hand, I am a risk taker and would recommend you take your 3rd try at the DAT, but then again, what if your current stats are "good enuff" to get you in without the retake?

How would ANYONE possibly know the answer or to even suggest anything....

I say its 50/50... If your application did NOT change/improve (ECs or GPA wise) since last application cycle and you want to show that you've done something to improve, then yes, I'd say retake cause that is the ONLY thing that you can improve within this short period of time..... But on the other hand.... I dunno.

18AA with 19TS is almost average borderline but your GPA (upward trend) is huge..... Its your call

If you decide to not retake (and I don't blame you), I STRONGLY suggest you aim at 20+ schools

Good luck to ya

thanks for the input dentalworks.