I am about to have an epic fail. Can I do damage control?

[rebecca_chatul_tov]

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I have had the accelerator slammed to floor for about 18 months now. Knocked out 90% of my prereqs and maintained a 3.5ish GPA while working with two kids and pregnant. The hanging chad is my DAT. All my applications are in and complete pending my scores posting. I have a test date of OCT 23....

I pushed back my test date from 9/18 to 10/23 because of my due date and the need to have a scheduled cesarean. My score should post before the 11/15 deadline, and yes I am totally aware that I am applying QUITE late in the cycle.

I wanted to apply now because I am headed to the 1st Cav division beginning of December and possibly on to Afghanistan depending on the deployment cycle. I have been told that all interviews have to be in-person, so no idea how this will work out if I have to deploy in 2018 after re-applying.

Right now studying for the DAT has been bonkers with two special needs kids, work, and a newborn that is not digging this sleeping at night thing. I'm not expecting the upcoming test to be great and am already planning to retake the DAT in January/February. I believe that I can realistically be ready by then with two more months of maternity leave and Christmas/Winter break to get up to speed.

Will it matter if I send updated scores to the schools after the application close date or is this going to be a really expensive life lesson. Any advice on how to un-F@%K this? (Yes, I am aware that I am idiot)

 

[FeralisExtremum]

Honestly no. I don't think taking the DAT for the first time at the end of October, doing poorly, and then counting on re-evaluation of your application when you retake and (presumably) improve your scores in 3 months is a viable strategy. You'd be late as an applicant as it is when your scores are verified and submitted to dental schools - you'll be getting re-considered even later with retake scores, assuming your application isn't disregarded at that point entirely (every school is different).

I would aim to take the test once and do well, rather than forcing it to make an already late cycle so you can retake later. The concerns you bring up are valid and I understand the difficult decisions you need to make, but this plan is an extremely difficult one to make work.

Also, you're definitely not an idiot - you're working through a lot and getting this far alone is impressive. Just re-evaluate how you're going to finish the last part of the puzzle (the DAT) so you can apply successfully (and early) in one shot.

 

[amariesa]

I dont know your experience because it seems like you have to live it to really understand it but for me, I never felt ready. I pushed back my exams till after I graduate, then grad school, then again 3x in the same year. This was because I felt like I wasn't ready, I didnt know anything and there so much to learn. But the one thing that helped me was reading and hearing that you never feel 100% ready. No one going into the exam except for like maybe 10 out of 10,000 people feel like they know everything and will get every question right. It comes to a point where you cant delay it any further and it takes a good 3-4 weeks of studying to do decent in the DATs if you have a strong undergrad foundation.

anyways, only you know if you are ready but also, no one ever feels 100% ready.

 

[rebecca_chatul_tov]

Also, you're definitely not an idiot - you're working through a lot and getting this far alone is impressive. Just re-evaluate how you're going to finish the last part of the puzzle (the DAT) so you can apply successfully (and early) in one shot.

At this point I'm pretty much planning to just reapply next year. Will a re-take score on the DAT significantly disadvantage me?

 

[FeralisExtremum]

At this point I'm pretty much planning to just reapply next year. Will a re-take score on the DAT significantly disadvantage me?

Having a retake score is not a problem at all (only a few schools average scores, most will either except the latest scores or your highest scores) - the major issue here is how late into the current cycle you'll be retaking. If you do well on the retake and apply next cycle, you'd have nothing to worry about.

 

[perioxperiox999]

hi guys sorry if this is a dumb question but how do i sign up for the DAT second time around I cant seem to get around?

 

[rebecca_chatul_tov]

hi guys sorry if this is a dumb question but how do i sign up for the DAT second time around I cant seem to get around?

Has it been at least 90 days since the original test date?

 

[rebecca_chatul_tov]

I should have known the moderator would pull that post

 

[670206]

.

 

[schmoob]

You're not an idiot.

How long post-partum are you considered non-deployable? I doubt they would send you out the door within the first 12-18 months, but I've been wrong in the past.

 

[rebecca_chatul_tov]

You're not an idiot.

How long post-partum are you considered non-deployable? I doubt they would send you out the door within the first 12-18 months, but I've been wrong in the past.

1'm not deployable until September 2018. I get twelve months. It's been almost five years since I left Fort Hood, but it's deployment central there. We are supposed to be ramping back in Afghanistan with 4,000 more troops and we still have units going to Iraq, so I don't know what rotations are like these days even with the draw down since '13.

 

[2TH MVR]

Stay safe and good luck with your ambitions.

 

[Faefly]

Honestly, since you are late, you gotta take the test when you know you can score well.
You are an incredible woman and a mother!
You worked hard for this, now don't mess it up by taking the test when you are not ready!
I mean if you know you can score well, then take it later
if you think you can get over 20 on October the 23rd, then go for it.
If not, then why bother stressing yourself now?
You are pregnant now, don't stress yourself with the this!

Best of luck and hope you give birth to a beautiful and healthy baby!

 

[cometx3]

Wow you are pregnant and studying for the DAT. Mad props. I don't really have anything different to say than anyone else here but I wish you the best of luck!