First DAT vs Second DAT attempt

[RS2224]

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Hello guys, this has been a lingering question in my mind. I just wanted to hear your opinions! I was genuinely curious to hear people's thoughts and takes on this. If you were an adcom, and saw two people with the same GPA, relatively similar intensities of EC's, decent LORs, and etc.. but one took their DAT and got a 21AA (for example) first attempt and the other person got a low first attempt but a 23AA second attempt, which one would you choose to give the interview invite to? Would you think that the 23AA had some experience the second time going in and therefore, may better manage their time and what not?

Curious to know your thoughts.

 

[Viva Terlingua]

Some schools consider the highest take, some consider the most recent take, some look down on retakes...according to everything I've read there is no general rule about this scenario.

Though I will say that a 23AA is a massive improvement over a 21AA, so if I had to guess getting the high score on a retake will grant more success during application season. Its the difference between like ~90th percentile and ~98th percentile.

Edit: While taking the DAT again may make a test-taker more comfortable with the process, familiarity with taking the test won't be enough for a 2 point difference on your AA. The test still covers a large amount of material and it goes at light speed. That shows a big improvement in understanding.

 

[Henry Killinger]

This really depends on the school. Some will only look at the most recent, or the highest, or average them out, etc. I would check the policies of the schools you are most interested in and go from there.

 

[RS2224]

This really depends on the school. Some will only look at the most recent, or the highest, or average them out, etc. I would check the policies of the schools you are most interested in and go from there.

I didn't do a retake! Haha I definitely am done with the exam with my first try. Not doing it again. But I was curious as an adcom what you would think

 

[Dasaniii]

I got a 21 AA/ 22 TS/ 23 PAT, but I'm thinking about retaking it next year if I don't get in this cycle. I want to go to an ivy league.. and gap year sounds nice because I'm so worn out by school atm 🙁

 

[DC206R]

Dude don't bother. 21AA, 23 PAT is great!

 

[DMikes]

I would highly recommend against retaking a 21 AA.

 

[ysp2918tx]

Unless over 25, 23 is nothing to boast about.

 

[RS2224]

I got a 21 AA/ 22 TS/ 23 PAT, but I'm thinking about retaking it next year if I don't get in this cycle. I want to go to an ivy league.. and gap year sounds nice because I'm so worn out by school atm 🙁

Don't!!!! Your score is so good

 

[DMikes]

Unless over 25, 23 is nothing to boast about.

Saying a 23 is "nothing to boast about" is ludicrous. A 23 AA is 99th percentile.

source: http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Education and Careers/Files/dat_users_manual.ashx

 

[Viva Terlingua]

Saying a 23 is "nothing to boast about" is ludicrous. A 23 AA is 99th percentile.

source: http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Education and Careers/Files/dat_users_manual.ashx

Pretty impressed by the person who got a 1 in 1999.