If I do bad on DAT.

[joonkimdds]

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I didn't take DAT yet, but some people say i need to have back up plan just in case i don't get accepted. But i really wanna become a doctor.
so...if i do bad on DAT all 3 times, do u think taking MCAT for another kind of doctor instead of dentist is good idea?
i mean... MCAT is basically the same type of test, right?

 

[nd7]

um...no. while *somewhat* similiar in regards to content, the MCAT is a whole different kind of test! the big differences are:

on the DAT:
no physics
content based questions
PAT
4 hours long

on the MCAT:
physics
comprehensive questions-meaning...they give you a paragraph and you figure it out from there
essay writing
8 hours long

i'm not saying either one is harder, but i believe the MCAT is not as straight forward as the DAT, you really have to think about your answers.

 

[pudge123]

As a person who took both the MCATs and DATs, I would recommend preparing for the MCATs b/c the sciences go into a lot more detail. If you excel on the MCAT verbal section than you should have no problem with the DAT verbal section, you just have to read a lot faster.

I, personally, think the MCATs are more difficult because it is exhausting. Its just constant reading even on the sciences and the questions are very vague at times. (if you know your sciences really well, it doesnt guarantee you a good score from my perspective). But my advice would be to study for the MCATs Sciences and the QR and PAT (because thats not on the MCATs). Just pick up practice tests and you will see the difference. Oh, and the MCATs have a writing section, which is a b*tch!

 

[RaiderNation]

You could go to Podiatry school. Also, Chiropractic school doesn't even require a standardized test! But, if you really want to be a dentist and not just "any" doctor, why not do a masters or something to make yourself more marketable?