High GPA, low DAT (2014)

[tifffanie]

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Hi!
I took my DAT today and I am not sure if my scores are good enough to get into dental school. I am planning on sending in my application today to get a better chance of acceptance (about 10 schools so far). I don't think I have enough time to do a retake. What do you guys think? Did anyone else get into dental school with stats like this? Do you guys have any school recommendations?

PAT 23
QR 19
RC 17 🙁
BIO 15🙁🙁
GC 17 🙁
OC 22
TS 17
AA 18

My Science GPA is 3.742 and my Overall GPA is 3.788. I have 100+ shadowing and 100+volunteer work plus 4 jobs (not all at once, seasonal jobs) during my college career. Great LOE (1 from a bio prof, 1 chem prof, 1 gen. dentist and an employer). I haven't graduated yet but I will May 2015! I am in the dental club, softball club and part of the PHI KAPPA PHI honor society. I am a female Asian (I hope this works in my favor).
Thanks for you help.

 

[dbd]

That's a really low Bio score. If you have a chance you should retake it, otherwise just apply and hope for the best. Also, sorry but being an asian female in no way helps.

 

[tnguyendo]

Definitely retake! but I also suggest you contact the schools you are applying to see if they have any minimum score requirement on each section of DAT. As far as I know, most of schools require an 17/18 or higher on each section.

 

[dauntless123]

How did you study for the DAT? Just wondering. Also, yeah I would retake it and study harder. But, I would still apply to lots of schools.

 

[tifffanie]

I used the DAT destroyer but did not have enough time to go through all the materials, I also used crack the dat for everything except the science portions and did all of the dat bootcamp tests. For the reading portion, I have tried every method you could think of from just reading the passage then answering the questions to search and destroy to the vicviper method to the read the first couple of paragraphs then answers the questions and the kaplan method, overall I am not sure if I could fix my reading score I averaged a 16 on all test and got a 17 and 19 once. I studied the most for the biology portion, from dat bootcamp test reviews to making note cards on quizlet and the destroyer, I felt like on the test, I wasn't very lucky and many questions that I didn't go over. Most of my studying took place from mid May to June 30th, about 9 hour days until my eyes couldn't handle the computer screen anymore.

I think I will just go ahead and apply and hope for the best, the main reason I don't want to retake is that my family doesn't have the money for another test. The first test was already heavy on us plus all the application fees and supplement fees. I already go to school on a full scholarship to help out my family and another reason is that I can't take my next test til Oct 1st and I feel like it is too late in the cycle. Do you guys have any school recommendations for low DAT and a pretty high gpa?

 

[Faux]

i personally don't think oct is too late. Try and take your exam in sept. Apply for a credit card if you have to.

 

[dentalWorks]

Throughout history, I am sure people have gotten in with scores lower than yours. The problem is, the occurrence rate is few and far between.

Its not about who has gotten in, but rather WHAT ARE THE ODDS of getting in with such scores.

I recommend a retake be done within the next 10 weeks.

 

[shyfox9p]

A 15 on the bio is gonna be frowned upon. You'll need to retake it.

 

[toothshine]

You should definitely retake your DATs. Everything else on your app looks really strong. Would you rather shell out more money for the DATs now, or chance having to reapply next year and spend over $1000+ for reapplication? (Look, I'm not saying you can't get in with those scores and your great GPA and really solid ECs/work experience; I'm just saying with higher DAT scores - aka at least an 18 in each section - you would probably have a good chance of getting in somewhere.)