FInished 3rd TIme, not HaPPy, what You THInk????? Also ADvice??

[urDDS]

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So is this exam going to keep me from dental school, Im a good student I know im am I do good in school nothing less a B. So i took the first exam last year and scored really low now that was my fault I prepared 4 weeks and had a surgery and stayed home a week and after that I thought I remeber it and did so bad. Now This July I took the DAT and got bad scores too and this time I did prepare alot, I think that Im not good at standarized exams piano by the way. I talked to myslef and said that I can do better. So I took it today and was running through bio like so easy until I saw that frap q then my mentallaty changed. So I dont know why after I finished the science my eyes were tired, cuz i slept only 3 hours and took the exam 7 pm, I couldnt goo to sleep its scary thinking about the exam. So I totally messed up the nonsciences here are my scores:
Bio 21
Gen 17
Orgo 19
reading 14
PAT 14(line counting doesnt work on the exam)
Math 12
Total sci 19
ACAd 17

GPA 3.6, and was a member of Americoprs( national community service) for one year, and recently recieved the community service Award by the community along with our Mayor and Congress and several others! I workd for a year with a dentists, and shadowed alot.

Do you think I have a shot at dentistary this year?? I took DAT 3 times and as im writing this I feel like crying
the schools:
Case
Temple
Mercy
Boston
Howard
Lousevile
Buffalo
NYU
Tufts
Creighton
please be honest! IF you have q's about DAT please ask! In the end we are all here to help each other!
God bless you all!

 

[206127]

I would never tell anyone they do not have a shot, let the dental schools decide that. You never know...
I would say the odds are against you, your pat, math, and reading are way below average. Just pray for the best this cycle and start studying those 3 sections now in case you have to retake and reapply. Practice makes perfect for those 3 sections. It seems like you really want this. Best advice I can give you... DONT GIVE UP! good luck!

 

[Andrew324]

Yeah dont give up, add some other schools also, get the ADEA book and look over other schools. Oklahoma is one.

 

[ddsbruin]

if money isn't an issue, i would apply and see what happens. but to be honest, the scores are a bit low. i don't know if you can even retake it for a fourth time? just hope that the adcoms see potential in you through your overall application.

it sounds like you have the gpa and know how to study. your science seems fine. the areas you did bad on are hard to study for though. pat, rc, and qr can only be improved through practice. im sure you've seen all the recommended study materials for that on these forums. if the ada lets you retake it again, try them out! if you can bring them up, then you should be in good shape. good luck 🙂

 

[annguyen293]

Sorry to hear it. I understand your feeling because I'm in the same situation. However, I have a little bit luckier than you that I still have the third time. I was shocked after 2 time with low scores even though I spent time to study. This time I quit my part time job, stay home and spend half year to study seriously. Don't give up. God bless us.

 

[creative8401]

Hi urDDS. Congratulations on going through the exam 3 times, it is a very difficult one indeed, mentally and physically draining. Here is my view, take it for what its worth. So first you have a high gpa, which is a good thing, but combined with those DAT scores, it makes you chances very slim.

Let me be honest, if the 1st and 2nd time you scored the same, how did you study for the third time. You must have kept you studying approach the same for the you to have scored the same or very little higher. Anyways, I believe that you should continue with applying this year and be prepared for the worst. Expect the best (hope is a good thing), but be prepared for the worse. If you don’t get in this year, will you petition and study for the final time for the exam? If so, what change in materials can you make? New books, no methods, etc. See your gpa is high, but its this f***** exam that is killing your chances. If your scores were on national average level, you would have a chance, maybe not at your top school, but you would have A chance at A school. However, your scores are so below average, and even the cutoffs to schools as they have a must 15 on all sections. I cannot predict the future nor am I in the admission committee for any school to say you have a chance. You have to wait it out and see what happens.

Now, don’t spend your money. Do research about those schools because you don’t want to fill out supplementals if they have cut offs. Save that money.

As for now buddy, just chill. Get up on Sunday, what the heck, take Saturday off too, let things clear up and do your research on those schools. Think about what you have to do. See the thing is your gpa is high, so you don’t need that masters s*** to boost your gpa, you need to work on this exam and work the right away. There are many threads on DAT discussions that talk about students experiences and materials they used. No one can say you have a chance or not, realize that, and be prepared for what to do if it does not work out.

I hope this response helps you, I feel it is like a lecture, but if you have questions, you can PM or write here. Take care

 

[bustedgrill]

Isn't there a program in Georgia or some southern D school with a special program for people with low dat scores. I think they have to take the first year of D school and they pass with at least B's they get accepted. Chck it out. Good Luck!

 

[somethinpositiv]

OP, if you don't mind us asking, what is your ethnicity? To be honest, you don't have much of a chance unless you are URM, sorry...

 

[annguyen293]

Really, but they accept only instate or outstate as well? And the first year is the 1st professional year or pre-dental? Anyone knows the answer?