Help!!!!

[faith615]

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Hello:

I just applied to several dental schools and just got my DAT scores back. It is absolutely horrible. I got a 18 on academic average and 14 on PAT, which was worse than my first time on the PAT which was a 15. I don't know what happened. Anyway, I am not sure if I should even fill out secondaries because if there is no chance of getting in then no sense in wasting money and time. The schools I applied to include Temple, NYU, Washington, Howard, Meharry, Boston, and Creighton. I have a very strong research background with several grants, shadowed doctors and dentists, and some volunteering hours as well. My GPA is 3.2 overall. Any suggestions will be very, very much appreicated. Thanks

 

[xxxTheDonxxx]

Hello:

I just applied to several dental schools and just got my DAT scores back. It is absolutely horrible. I got a 18 on academic average and 14 on PAT, which was worse than my first time on the PAT which was a 15. I don't know what happened. Anyway, I am not sure if I should even fill out secondaries because if there is no chance of getting in then no sense in wasting money and time. The schools I applied to include Temple, NYU, Washington, Howard, Meharry, Boston, and Creighton. I have a very strong research background with several grants, shadowed doctors and dentists, and some volunteering hours as well. My GPA is 3.2 overall. Any suggestions will be very, very much appreicated. Thanks

Other people might disagree with me, but with a 18DAT and a 3.2 GPA I think you might have a shot at some of the less competitive schools. I don't know how they will look at a 14 on the PAT though. If you don't get in this time, study harder and get in next time. That's just my opinion

 

[apaul]

have you thought about med school?

 

[byorkie]

I am still applying and I made 17/18/14. Cum gpa 3.57, science gpa 3.4. Applying to Louisville, Kentucky, Meharry, Illinois, Tennessee, UNC

 

[xxxTheDonxxx]

have you thought about med school?

lol

~doctors or dentists....don't forget the meaning of service.

 

[OSUDDS]

Dood, that sucks. Sorry to hear it. Good luck next year.... 🙁

 

[ecuajedi]

You probably could have gotten in last year since the competition wasnt what it is this year.

 

[docnimster]

It never hurts to apply (if you have the scrilla.) However, your chances are low with a PAT of 14. That needs to be raised. i would reccommend finding which schools put more empahsis on GPA and applying to those.

 

[laelialudisia]

You probably could have gotten in last year since the competition wasnt what it is this year.

yes, but it will probably be even more competitive next year, so they will have a better chance of getting in this year than next year 😉

if i were you, i would apply to my state school and to any schools i thought i would have a REALISTIC shot at (look at the stats at each school you were planning on applying to and see if you have a shot at getting an interview), and i would start studying to retake the dat in the spring and get your COMPLETED (LOR's, transcripts, dat scores) app. in EARLY next cycle if you don't get in this year.

 

[faith615]

have you thought about med school?

I have thought about med school, but isn't that even more competitve? Thanks to all for ideas, it was greatly appreciated.

 

[faith615]

Good luck to you, let me know how it turns out and I will do so likewise.

 

[rupkaur]

Hello:

I just applied to several dental schools and just got my DAT scores back. It is absolutely horrible. I got a 18 on academic average and 14 on PAT, which was worse than my first time on the PAT which was a 15. I don't know what happened. Anyway, I am not sure if I should even fill out secondaries because if there is no chance of getting in then no sense in wasting money and time. The schools I applied to include Temple, NYU, Washington, Howard, Meharry, Boston, and Creighton. I have a very strong research background with several grants, shadowed doctors and dentists, and some volunteering hours as well. My GPA is 3.2 overall. Any suggestions will be very, very much appreicated. Thanks

hey,
Apply to Arizona if you can bcz they don't look at the PAT scores at all. I called them a day before yesterday and they told me that they look at only aa of dat. I m going to apply there bcz I also have 15 on pat. Besides, it is a new school, probably they will take more students.............Good luck...

 

[laelialudisia]

I have thought about med school, but isn't that even more competitve? Thanks to all for ideas, it was greatly appreciated.

no (at least not in NC)--- it is MORE competitive to get into dental school than med school (4 med schools, 1 dental school)--- i think it is like that most places (hence the joke 😉 )

 

[in her drawer]

hey,
Apply to Arizona if you can bcz they don't look at the PAT scores at all. I called them a day before yesterday and they told me that they look at only aa of dat. I m going to apply there bcz I also have 15 on pat. Besides, it is a new school, probably they will take more students.............Good luck...

It's because of the fact that ASDOH is not yet established that I wouldn't go there. Unless of course, it was the only school that accepted me.

 

[Da Bomb]

I have thought about med school, but isn't that even more competitve? Thanks to all for ideas, it was greatly appreciated.

and you wonder why you scored so poorly....j/k

look...you have a decent gpa but you need to study a bit harder. Maybe do a ton of practice exams this time and take the exam again. I would continue with the process and see what happens.

 

[DentalBoarder]

i would start studying again right now, retake it in three months, and then look for post bacc programs, and just apply to them. if u get in this yr, it wont hurt that u did all that other stuff anyway. plus, u wont lose more time.

 

[in her drawer]

Also, the title of this thread is making me think of The Beatles. I think it has something to do with the fact that I am taking an Internet course on them right now . . . 🙄

 

[faith615]

i would start studying again right now, retake it in three months, and then look for post bacc programs, and just apply to them. if u get in this yr, it wont hurt that u did all that other stuff anyway. plus, u wont lose more time.

Thanks for your suggestion, but I don't understand that by going to a post bacc program won't lose time. As far as I understand, isn't that an additional year on top of the 4 years of dental school. Thanks

 

[QuackDentist]

i think he means apply now just in case u get in... and if you don't, use the time wisely.

 

[DMD to Be]

I have a good friend who took her dat in June and got 17/17/14. She has an interview at the University of Tennessee next month. (and she's NOT a TN resident) Some schools really don't care about pat. Call the schools and ask them. They will tell you. Good luck!

 

[Mackchops]

I think NOT continuing your application this year is BAD advice. You can retake in 3 months so I would go ahead and book a date for that. Next, you need to boost those scores -- just taking it again and scoring the same won't do anything for you. I would recommend INVESTING in some serious study guides like a kaplan class (if it's available) DAT acheiver (closest thing to the real PAT from what I've heard) and anything else you can get your hands on. Go over to the DAT discussion thread and figure out what people are using -- the hot guide right now is DAT destroyer. Read up on things and then commit yourself to three serious months of studying. Do questions and then LEARN the material you've gotten wrong.

Next, call each school you've applied to and ask if they have minimum cutoff scores. I wouldn't submit secondaries to those who say they you're too low and go ahead and complete the rest. When you get your awesome DAT scores in December, fax the score report to each school THAT DAY and mail out the rest of your completed and waiting secondaries (to schools that would have rejected you before based on their score cutoffs -- Maybe they won't reject you if your app isn't complete and you can sneak in your higher scores!). You will get at least one interview if you can raise your PAT to a 17 or 18 but shoot for 20 across the board. Your gpa isn't too bad and it sounds like the rest of your application is solid. Worst case scenario, you have to reapply next year ANYWAY, but at least you'll be viewed as a reapplicant which shows dedication. Plus you'll have those killer DAT scores from December. Good luck and you can do this!

Mack