How much pull does a high AA on DAT have

[baronen26]

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Very quick stats rundown:
3.46 gpa, with a somewhat upward trend. Science GPA should be similar if not a bit higher because I was not too good at calc.
25AA 24 TS 26RC but 18PAT -- this PAT score bugs the hell out of me

These stats are an enigma. I'll be honest as to why. I never 100% pushed myself in college, I did OK, but never got involved too much and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Freshman year I also had a NON-ACADEMIC hiccup. I don't want to go into too much detail but it was party related. Im sure you all can deduce what I'm hinting at. I made ammends as best as possible for this. I took a year off, shadowed my dad (this was not a fall back plan, I started to really enjoy myself in the office) and worked as an assistant (80 hrs total) am starting to do some more community service (did like 40 throughout college) and will hope to have 160 hrs shadowing and 100 hrs service by June first. Also applying to teach at Kaplan (just interviewed). This year off has been fulfilling to say the least and i feel a lot more centered

How will this final "push" be looked at by admissions offices?

 

[jjdd]

Killer DAT score. I wouldn't worry that much about your PAT score. 18 is a bit low but with a DAT score you will get looked at. Calc will not factor into your science GPA which should help. Based on your stats you will get accepted somewhere. If you are looking for one particular school it might be tough but I have no doubt that you will get plenty of interviews and a handful of acceptances. Keep up the work on community service and get a few more shadow hours (shouldn't be hard for you) and you will be golden.

Again nice work on the day and don't let the PAT get to you. Appears you didn't study very much for that section but killed the others enough that it shouldn't effect you in the long run

 

[FeralisExtremum]

Calc will not factor into your science GPA which should help.

It won't appear in his BCP but I'm pretty sure Calc (and math courses in general) are counted towards the science GPA.

 

[Ollivander]

Calculus most certainly effects your science GPA. I know this because math based courses are single-handedly what's pulling mine down.

 

[rev_rend]

Calculus most certainly effects your science GPA. I know this because math based courses are single-handedly what's pulling mine down.

Solidarity. Me too.

 

[baronen26]

Okay than my sGPA will be a around a 3.3 and my BCP will be greater than a 3.5

 

[SXCoronado]

.

 

[SCDP]

Speaking of calc and sGPA's... what do dental schools put more emphasis on BCP or sGPA??? Because I have 2 A's in calc so I really hope schools care more about sGPA versus BCP.

 

[baronen26]

I've heard BCP. QR is usually the least important section on the DAT so I would imagine math grades are looked at less intensely than core science classes.

Anybody have more insight into the original question?

 

[customx]

A high DAT helps, but I think GPA is weighted much more than an exam that can be studied for over a couple of months.

 

[baronen26]

A high DAT helps, but I think GPA is weighted much more than an exam that can be studied for over a couple of months.

Ehh I'm not sure. Saying "much more" is kind of unfair to either category. I feel like its closer to 50/50 or 60/40 either way based on the school. I may be biased because I did well on the DAT and have a kinda decent gpa, but the DAT levels the playing field and takes out grade inflation and any possible university bias. Hell I struggled to get a B in second semester gen chem but got a perfect score on the DAT.

 

[customx]

A good GPA shows consistency over 4 years, which I believe schools value more than the DAT. Yes, the DAT levels the playing field, but I was rejected from my state school after I interviewed and was told that my academic inconsistency was the main reason I wasn't accepted. I got a 22 AA and TS with a 3.4 GPA. My interview went well too, but my GPA was what held me back. I believe my C in ochem 3 and B- in biochem killed it for me, even though I got a 23 for the OC section

 

[baronen26]

A good GPA shows consistency over 4 years, which I believe schools value more than the DAT. Yes, the DAT levels the playing field, but I was rejected from my state school after I interviewed and was told that my academic inconsistency was the main reason I wasn't accepted. I got a 22 AA and TS with a 3.4 GPA. My interview went well too, but my GPA was what held me back. I believe my C in ochem 3 and B- in biochem killed it for me, even though I got a 23 for the OC section

Okay we seem to be almost in the same boat then.

How did the rest of your app cycle go if you don't mind me asking? Also in terms core BCP:
bio1: A
bio2: B+ (solid A's in anatomy, phys, immunology and anthrobio classes)
DAT:22

gen chem 1: A
gen chem 2: b- (B in biochem)
DAT:29

orgo 1: c+
orgo 2: A-
DAT:27

physics 1: b-
physics 2:A

So in terms of core bcp classes I showed improvement (minus gen chem)

 

[customx]

6 interviews at UW, Michigan, UNLV, MWU, lecom and Nova. Accepted to lecom and MWU, waitlisted at Nova.

 

[baronen26]

6 interviews at UW, Michigan, UNLV, MWU, lecom and Nova. Accepted to lecom and MWU, waitlisted at Nova.

Where else did you apply... Im from michigan and went to umich, same with you??

 

[customx]

Seattle, and UW. Applied to 9 other schools, many of which are on the west coast

 

[baronen26]

Seattle, and UW. Applied to 9 other schools, many of which are on the west coast

Okay, its relieving that you got so many interviews with similar academic stats

congrats on the acceptances!

 

[baronen26]

Just calculated GPAs based on ADA standards

3.5-3.55 BCP (based on if one or two courses end up in here)
3.46 sGPA

A bit higher than i thought! A few random courses I forgot about added some beef to the sGPA

So with a 25AA how competitive am I with my non-academic side a bit lacking?