I Need Advice!

[DrRoyal Pains]

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Alright, heres the deal. I am graduating this December and I am taking the DAT on August 25th. I feel somewhat prepared, but not FULLY prepared. How bad does it look when you take the DAT after you graduate? Also, is it common for US students to apply to Dental Schools in other countries (e.g. Puerto Rico, Phillipines, etc.), then transfer to a school in the US after a year? In addition to this, how bad would it look if you take a year off to work, study, etc.? I heard it looks bad to schools. Let me know what you think, thanks!

 

[wantVCUdental]

Alright, heres the deal. I am graduating this December and I am taking the DAT on August 25th. I feel somewhat prepared, but not FULLY prepared. How bad does it look when you take the DAT after you graduate? Also, is it common for US students to apply to Dental Schools in other countries (e.g. Puerto Rico, Phillipines, etc.), then transfer to a school in the US after a year? In addition to this, how bad would it look if you take a year off to work, study, etc.? I heard it looks bad to schools. Let me know what you think, thanks!

Are you thinking about taking DAT after december? that would mean you eliminate yourself from this application cycle... unless you develop some kind of teeth growing formula to replace the needs for dentures 🙂.

I think it's very hard to transfer. Taking a year off isn't a bad idea, many people do it.

 

[4thMolar]

If you are applying next cycle, then delaying the DAT until after graduation will not be looked down upon. But since you say you feel prepared, I would go ahead and take it now, and if you don't do as well as you like, you can always re-take it after graduation.

I don't think it's very common for students to transfer to a dental school from one country to another. It seems hard enough just to transfer from one dental school to another within the US alone. You would need a very good reason to do so.

If you spend your year off productively (taking additional classes, volunteering, etc), it would not be a problem. Plenty of people do this.

 

[DrRoyal Pains]

I know I would eliminate myself from this application cycle, even though I am currently concluding my application. I am worried my DAT score will not be good enough. I still have 2 weeks or so of studying left, but I dont feel FULLY prepared yet 🙁. Also, if I do have to retake the DAT (hopefully not!), wont it be a little to late in the application process due to the 90 day wait inbetween tests?

 

[iluvdentistry]

I know I would eliminate myself from this application cycle, even though I am currently concluding my application. I am worried my DAT score will not be good enough. I still have 2 weeks or so of studying left, but I dont feel FULLY prepared yet 🙁. Also, if I do have to retake the DAT (hopefully not!), wont it be a little to late in the application process due to the 90 day wait inbetween tests?

You know, I had the same mentality about the DAT. I took it at the end of June and because I had a very hectic May/June (those were the two months I studied for it) I felt very unprepared. However, I did a little bit better than I thought (still not that good) but I decided to go with the scores I got and if I don't get in this cycle I am pretty sure it will be because of the scores. I wish someone would have told me to have a more optimistic attitude going into it because I really think that I psyched myself out because I didn't believe I would do that well. If you have to retake it again, no big deal. Yes, it is wasted time/money, but at this point I am going to do anything in my power to get into d-school. Have faith in yourself!

 

[DrRoyal Pains]

Yea. I just ordered the DAT Destroyer and its comming tomorrow, so hopefully that does a lot. Also, I think a lot of it comes from the fact that I dont want to spend a year after I graduate working, shadowing more, volunteering more, and studying. I think its more common than what I beleive it to be?

 

[Huskk]

If you're like me, you'll never feel totally prepared. I'd keep with the August test date.

 

[Bolts]

Alright, heres the deal. I am graduating this December and I am taking the DAT on August 25th. I feel somewhat prepared, but not FULLY prepared. How bad does it look when you take the DAT after you graduate? Also, is it common for US students to apply to Dental Schools in other countries (e.g. Puerto Rico, Phillipines, etc.), then transfer to a school in the US after a year? In addition to this, how bad would it look if you take a year off to work, study, etc.? I heard it looks bad to schools. Let me know what you think, thanks!

FYI...Puerto Rico is not another country. It is a US territory and therefore fully accredited by the ADA.