Highest Retake Jump on the DAT?

[J10sstar]

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I recently had an interview at Maryland. The admissions committee wants me to retake the DAT before they review my application. I've heard that is difficult to improve your score the second time. So I was wondering if anyone has heard of someone doing a lot better the second time around.

 

[DrTacoElf]

I recently had an interview at Maryland. The admissions committee wants me to retake the DAT before they review my application. I've heard that is difficult to improve your score the second time. So I was wondering if anyone has heard of someone doing a lot better the second time around.

What are you scores right now? That will help determine the odds.

 

[ranark]

I recently had an interview at Maryland. The admissions committee wants me to retake the DAT before they review my application. I've heard that is difficult to improve your score the second time. So I was wondering if anyone has heard of someone doing a lot better the second time around.

They interviewed you to tell you to retake it? What is your GPA?

 

[J10sstar]

First of all I'm a MD resident, that helps tremendously because last year about 1600 applicants applied to MD; only 150 were residents, of which 80 received interviews and 60 were accepted.

Here are my stats:
DAT #1
AA: 17
PAT: 19

Overall GPA: 3.0
Science GPA: 2.8

My GPA is a little misleading, the first 2 years of undergrad. I partied a lot and never did any studying and inturn my gpa suffered. My last 2.5 yrs I've actually studying and put forth effort in school and I have held a 3.5+ overall GPA and 3.4 science gpa in my second major. It's just so damn hard to pull your gpa up once you've screwed up and you have a lot of credits.

5 + yrs of dental lab tech.
shadowed oral surgeon, orthodontists, gen. dentist
100+ hrs of volunteer work
numerous academic honors/club memberships
Coauthored research papers with scientists from USDA
5 recommendations

No connections, no one in my family is in any health professional field.
I'd love to hear (actually read) everyone's opinion. Basically the adcom wants me to get an 18 or 19 I believe. They did ask me numerous questions regarding my AA of 17, so I figure that is what they want. I know for a fact that my PAT is fine, but most schools don't really scrutinize the PAT like the AA.

 

[vasco]

a good friend of mine got a 17 the first time he took the DAT. He didn't get into dental school that year. He just barely retook the DAT and got a 22. So if you study hard and the right way....the second time can be much better.

 

[SoCalDentist]

I took the DAT last summer and had scored a 16 and 17 one for academic and one for TS (I don't remember which). I really cracked down on studying and ended up with a 21AA and a 20 TS, and my quant score jumped 9 points.

So if you didn't put in what you were capable of the first time, I think you have a chance. But if your not going to take it seriously, and you score the same or similar, then you'll just be solidifying the idea that you deserve the scores you got.

Good Luck

 

[luder98]

IMO, re-taking should give you higher scores if you are serious about it. First time taking was almost like "shooting in the dark". Although you have seen practice tests, heard people talking, but you had not personally seen it for once. Now that you took it, you should have a better idea about the test and how to better prepare for it. If I retake, I'm sure I'll improve my scores, esp the math portion and bio. Good luck.

 

[hockeydentist]

I increased my overall avg by two points. 17 to a 19. I took the kaplan class when I took it the second time. studying, about the same. Less nervous the second time around.

Anybody else read the statement from ADA, states that people tend to do worse on the DAT the second time around. It was just motivation for me to kick arse on the DAT the second time. Nothin like proving someone wrong.

HD

 

[dmd2be]

My Academic went from a 20 to 23, with perceptual going up from a 16 to 18. I didn't really study much more, just stayed calm. I think relaxing helped me more....Anyways, improving signifigantly is possible, good luck.

 

[Sprgrover]

I too knew someone that first scored a 17, retook it six months later in January, and scored a 22. UOP called him in early summer and offered him a seat (very lucky).