How am I looking so far?

[smatic]

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Hello everyone 😀

My info:
Bio major
Health Minor
3.726 GPA
Senior (last semester before graduating)
255 Shadowing/Volunteering hours
130 Non-dental volunteering hours
Looking to apply this upcoming cycle.

So here's the situation with me. I took the DAT for the first time today. I've been a nervous wreck for the last few months while studying for this test. Standardized testing is not my forté and I studied like crazy to try and get the highest possible score I could. Below are my scores:

Bio 20
Gen Chem 18
Orgo 20
PAT 19
RC 19
QR 19
AA 19

Yup, I know....not good enough. And I will almost certainly take it again probably sometime in June.
My question is, first of all, is my overall situation ok? Do I need to be worried? My second question is, have people been known to get acceptances with DAT scores similar to mine? I'm asking because I'm really not sure if I've hit my ceiling with a 19 AA. The prospect of studying my butt of for another few months to yield the same score on my second attempt is frightening and depressing.

I'm open to any advice or information anyone can provide for me.

Thank you! 😀

 

[deleted738762]

Im not an expert, but based on what I see on SDN, you can get into schools with those stats. If you want a better chance just retake the DAT, before the cycle opens up. Everything else looks fine, just DAT is average.

 

[JLT223]

Your DAT is fine.

 

[Jbrowndds]

If you don't yet yo.... Your stats are fine!!

 

[smatic]

Thanks for the replies! Well it's been a few months since I posted this. My GPA has gone up to a 3.728, I have received my bachelors degree. Ever since school ended, I studied for the DAT in an attempt to take it again. I'm a week and a half away from my test day and I really don't think my score is going to improve. I'm scoring quite well in my bootcamp sciences but it may be because I remember some of the questions from past studying. I dont think my PAT/Math/Reading are going to improve. I really don't feel different or more confident going into this test.

So I'm thinking of applying with this 19AA. I have my application ready to go, just need to press send. Anybody with some last minute advice? Am I making the right choice? I'm a Texas resident applying to all three Texas schools. My out-0f-state schools are ASDOH, Tufts, Boston Univ, Midwestern, Western, Nova, Connecticut. Still finalizing schools.

Thank you!

 

[confidentandgood]

I'm a week and a half away from my test day and I really don't think my score is going to improve. I'm scoring quite well in my bootcamp sciences but it may be because I remember some of the questions from past studying. I dont think my PAT/Math/Reading are going to improve. I really don't feel different or more confident going into this test.

I obviously can't make the final choice for you, but if you don't feel like you'll do better on this retake, you should cancel the test. You wouldn't want to risk a lower score (schools will see both) and especially considering your good GPA, 19AA is not a score to be frowned upon.

I'm a Texas resident applying to all three Texas schools.

👍

 

[fogorvostan]

If you truly think that you will do better on the DAT, then I would take it. If you think that you won't, then I wouldn't risk getting a lower score.
However, only you know how prepared you really feel! Your GPA is great and your DAT score is average for accepted applicants, so there isn't any reason that you MUST retake.

 

[Roy Williams]

Thanks for the replies! Well it's been a few months since I posted this. My GPA has gone up to a 3.728, I have received my bachelors degree. Ever since school ended, I studied for the DAT in an attempt to take it again. I'm a week and a half away from my test day and I really don't think my score is going to improve. I'm scoring quite well in my bootcamp sciences but it may be because I remember some of the questions from past studying. I dont think my PAT/Math/Reading are going to improve. I really don't feel different or more confident going into this test.

So I'm thinking of applying with this 19AA. I have my application ready to go, just need to press send. Anybody with some last minute advice? Am I making the right choice? I'm a Texas resident applying to all three Texas schools. My out-0f-state schools are ASDOH, Tufts, Boston Univ, Midwestern, Western, Nova, Connecticut. Still finalizing schools.

Thank you!

Is the only downside of not taking it having wasted over 400 dollars?

 

[Mascota]

I know a lot of people who got in with 19AA and much lower GPAs than yours. SDN is a terrible place to deduce average DAT scores since pretty much the only people who post are those who's scores are overkill.

 

[smatic]

I obviously can't make the final choice for you, but if you don't feel like you'll do better on this retake, you should cancel the test. You wouldn't want to risk a lower score (schools will see both) and especially considering your good GPA, 19AA is not a score to be frowned upon.



👍

My thoughts exactly.

 

[smatic]

Is the only downside of not taking it having wasted over 400 dollars?

Plus the $60 for canceling the test date lol. Hopefully "not being accepted" is not going to be a downside.

 

[smatic]

I know a lot of people who got in with 19AA and much lower GPAs than yours. SDN is a terrible place to deduce average DAT scores since pretty much the only people who post are those who's scores are overkill.

I've definitely learned that as I've surfed through the forum haha. People with 23AA's asking if they're in good shape always make me laugh.

Thanks for the replies guys!

 

[Alikhan9]

For individuals like myself who have yet to take the dat what was the problem your first time around like was ot the amount of time used to study also what materials did you use? Also what are you doing differently on the second run?

 

[smatic]

For individuals like myself who have yet to take the dat what was the problem your first time around like was ot the amount of time used to study also what materials did you use? Also what are you doing differently on the second run?

I really don't know what the problem was. I studied adequately on and off from Summer 2015 to January 2016. All in all, I think I studied a solid 2.5 months. (All of June, December and most of January. And a little bit in all the other months to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything major). I used all the typical resources: datbootcamp, destroyer, feralis, cliffs, datqvaultBio, topscore. It's possible a 19AA is my ceiling, who knows. I didn't really make any adjustments in my studying because I honestly didn't know what to change. The only thing that I can think of is: I did destroyer for genchem in November 2015 and took my test January 2016 so there was a month gap where I didn't look at destroyer for a while. Maybe that's what led to my 18 in genchem.

 

[beachbum627]

Thanks for the replies! Well it's been a few months since I posted this. My GPA has gone up to a 3.728, I have received my bachelors degree. Ever since school ended, I studied for the DAT in an attempt to take it again. I'm a week and a half away from my test day and I really don't think my score is going to improve. I'm scoring quite well in my bootcamp sciences but it may be because I remember some of the questions from past studying. I dont think my PAT/Math/Reading are going to improve. I really don't feel different or more confident going into this test.

So I'm thinking of applying with this 19AA. I have my application ready to go, just need to press send. Anybody with some last minute advice? Am I making the right choice? I'm a Texas resident applying to all three Texas schools. My out-0f-state schools are ASDOH, Tufts, Boston Univ, Midwestern, Western, Nova, Connecticut. Still finalizing schools.

Thank you!

I don't think you need to retake!!! I had your exact scores and a 3.79 Gpa and I got 7 interview invites and multiple acceptances on December 1st, and most importantly, from my in-state school! The problem with retaking is that you will need to show significant improvement (i.e. 22+), otherwise some admissions committees may wonder what went wrong if you studied, took the DAT again, and got a similar score.

 

[Likkriue]

Add me to the "You are just fine" bandwagon.

 

[Alikhan9]

I don't think you need to retake!!! I had your exact scores and a 3.79 Gpa and I got 7 interview invites and multiple acceptances on December 1st, and most importantly, from my in-state school! The problem with retaking is that you will need to show significant improvement (i.e. 22+), otherwise some admissions committees may wonder what went wrong if you studied, took the DAT again, and got a similar score.

Wouldnt you say admissions are getting more competitive?

 

[yaya97]

How exactly did you study during the school year? I'm applying next cycle and don't really know what studying is going to look like with school and work!

 

[MahiMahi]

I think you're more than fine with those stats.

 

[1passbbsSHAVE]

Plus the $60 for canceling the test date lol. Hopefully "not being accepted" is not going to be a downside.

sounds like a bs. can't you just not show up instead ?

 

[smatic]

How exactly did you study during the school year? I'm applying next cycle and don't really know what studying is going to look like with school and work!

To be honest, during the school year, the only subject I really focused on was biology. I studied feralis notes for the whole semester. Then I did DATQVaultBio and bootcampBio to test my knowledge. Anything I would get wrong I would go back to feralis and learn that topic. All the other sections, I had enough practice in during the summer so I left those alone till about a month before test day in January.

 

[smatic]

sounds like a bs. can't you just not show up instead ?

Not exactly sure to be honest. But the safest bet is to cancel it. Always hurts to lose money but oh well.

 

[beachbum627]

Wouldnt you say admissions are getting more competitive?

Definitely, I would say it is getting more competitive.
I think the most important thing is how the OP's application looks overall.....is this his/her only weak point or are there other weak points as well? The OP has a competitive GPA, strong shadowing and volunteering hours, and if the OP has other impressive components of his/her application (like research, employment, leadership, etc etc), then an average/subaverage DAT score likely won't be a huge issue. Everything is relative in the evaluation process.