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Some of you may know this already, but I thought I would make a post for everyone to see. This may be kind of a long read, but I recommend you take the time.
I am applying to the only in-state dental school where I live as a third year student. My father got in as a third year, my sister was 2nd on the wait-list but got in as a 4th year and is now a junior. I completed all dental school required courses except 3 in my first 2 years of undergrad with a GPA of 3.85. This, along with good DAT scores would give me a shot of getting in as a 3rd year. So at the beginning of this summer I started studying for my DATs which I would take in the middle of June. I left myself only a month and a half because my sister told me she did not study much for her DATs. Her scores were relatively low in some areas (15/16 on ochem/bio - 22s on RC and PAT) and she almost got in in 3 years. I thought if I had scores similar to hers I would be fine (applying just 3 years after her) so a month and a half would be plenty of time. Well something major came up which cut my month and a half down to 3 weeks. I studied my ass off and memorized the Kaplan science and took some practice tests. I did not study for the PAT or QR because I had been getting 23+/19+ respectively and as low as 15 on some science parts. When I got to the test every section was slightly easier than the practice tests EXCEPT QR which was cake on all my practice tests and super hard on the real thing. So my scores were
Bio - 19
G Chem - 18
O CHem - 19
RC - 20
PAT - 23
QR - 15
TS - 19
AA - 18
Okay, I was happy with my overall scores but obviously a 15 in QR was a glaring concern. I knew I could have done atleast 2+ better in each section had I studied more (5+ in QR had I studied it at all). So here is where it gets complicated. Let me give you some background information on a family friend of ours who applied as a 3rd and 4th year with my sister. When he first took his DAT he had a 14 on O Chem, yet the dental school gave him an interview and put him on the wait list right up there with my sister. Had a few more people dropped, he would have been in as a 3rd year. The next year when he applies, they tell him they raised the standards and he was no longer CONSIDERED and his application was thrown out because of the 14. One year he almost makes it in, the next he isn't a consideration. So he takes it again and brings his O chem up but his Bio slips to a 15. He gets accepted just 2 years ago after 5 years of undergrad.
So I read on the school website that for this year the minimum requirements were RC = 18+ and AA/TS = 17+. Below that it said "however, to be realistically competitive scores of 18+ on all sections are needed." Well it looks like to me that MY scores meet the "requirements" although my QR is a concern. So once my test was over I had my sister run to the admissions office to ask them about my scores (would a 15 in QR be okay?). The lady at the front desk told her I would not likely recieve an interview with ANY score below an 18. I was shocked - my friend just got in with a 15, it said the requirements were 18-RC and 17TS/AA and I got those. I know I had one score slip but that means someone with all 23+ and one 17 would not be considered no matter their GPA or any other factors. I called the office back myself, and got the same response - retake your DATs.
So I decided I would suck it up (it was the first test I ever failed or had to re-take), take the rest of the summer off, and blow this test away with 20+ in every section. With 2 months to study, and the money to pump into Destroyer/CrackDAT/TopScore etc, I would tear the test up this time around. I did have a deep concern though. The soonest I could re-take the test was September 17, and my scores needed to be in before my interview date so that they would be seen by the board. So I talked to my sister and friend and they told me to e-mail the very kind head of admissions and request to have my interview date moved back behind my Test Date. In my e-mail to him I explained my situation. I told him I had 18+ in all sections but my QR was low so I was going to retake. I asked him to consider waiting until my new scores were in until giving me my interview. His response to me was jaw-dropping.
He said, "Thank you for your message. From what you say below, your only score below 18 occurred in the QR section, I emphatically encourage NOT to retake the DAT. Your scores are acceptable."
WHAT? They just told me I had almost no shot. Not only did he say I had a shot, but to definitely NOT retake. So I e-mail back giving my actual scores (maybe he thought I got a 17 in QR, since I only said "below 18")
The response this time was, "Now that I see all of your scores, I can be even more adamant, Mr. (Last Name), do not retake the DAT. Not only are the scores acceptable, some are very good (PAT, RC, & TS). Yes, the QR is low, but this particular measure proves NOT to be an indicator of success for (Insert School) students; therefore, we ignore it unless it is extremely low."
Well, now I am going to print off my e-mails and take them into the office. I will show them to every person there and make sure these people get their messages straight. Its good news that the head of admissions says my scores a good, but I want to make sure he is on the same page as the selections committees, because he is NOT on the same page as the front desk people. I am not trying to rip the admissions department of this school, they were all very kind to me. I just want everyone else to realize that you have to get your hands dirty sometimes to figure out what is really going on. If some one says your scores are acceptable, or not acceptable - dont take their word for granted. Go find out for yourself. Walk your interview through the process if you really want to get it.
Also, I guess this dental school does not care much about a low QR score. I know a lot of people have similar scores as me and are concerned about their QR. My advice to you is go talk to somebody and find out if your score is acceptable or too low. Don't talk to just one person, but talk to everyone you can. Another word of advice is to ask the school what the minimum scores are to get an interview. I never got a clear answer on this, the website said RC-18 and TS/AA-17, the ladies at the front desk said 18+ on ALL sections, and the head of admissions said my 15 was fine and they dont really care about it. Im leaning towards the head of admissions and website - I just hope the Selection Committee is going by those standards as well!
I am applying to the only in-state dental school where I live as a third year student. My father got in as a third year, my sister was 2nd on the wait-list but got in as a 4th year and is now a junior. I completed all dental school required courses except 3 in my first 2 years of undergrad with a GPA of 3.85. This, along with good DAT scores would give me a shot of getting in as a 3rd year. So at the beginning of this summer I started studying for my DATs which I would take in the middle of June. I left myself only a month and a half because my sister told me she did not study much for her DATs. Her scores were relatively low in some areas (15/16 on ochem/bio - 22s on RC and PAT) and she almost got in in 3 years. I thought if I had scores similar to hers I would be fine (applying just 3 years after her) so a month and a half would be plenty of time. Well something major came up which cut my month and a half down to 3 weeks. I studied my ass off and memorized the Kaplan science and took some practice tests. I did not study for the PAT or QR because I had been getting 23+/19+ respectively and as low as 15 on some science parts. When I got to the test every section was slightly easier than the practice tests EXCEPT QR which was cake on all my practice tests and super hard on the real thing. So my scores were
Bio - 19
G Chem - 18
O CHem - 19
RC - 20
PAT - 23
QR - 15
TS - 19
AA - 18
Okay, I was happy with my overall scores but obviously a 15 in QR was a glaring concern. I knew I could have done atleast 2+ better in each section had I studied more (5+ in QR had I studied it at all). So here is where it gets complicated. Let me give you some background information on a family friend of ours who applied as a 3rd and 4th year with my sister. When he first took his DAT he had a 14 on O Chem, yet the dental school gave him an interview and put him on the wait list right up there with my sister. Had a few more people dropped, he would have been in as a 3rd year. The next year when he applies, they tell him they raised the standards and he was no longer CONSIDERED and his application was thrown out because of the 14. One year he almost makes it in, the next he isn't a consideration. So he takes it again and brings his O chem up but his Bio slips to a 15. He gets accepted just 2 years ago after 5 years of undergrad.
So I read on the school website that for this year the minimum requirements were RC = 18+ and AA/TS = 17+. Below that it said "however, to be realistically competitive scores of 18+ on all sections are needed." Well it looks like to me that MY scores meet the "requirements" although my QR is a concern. So once my test was over I had my sister run to the admissions office to ask them about my scores (would a 15 in QR be okay?). The lady at the front desk told her I would not likely recieve an interview with ANY score below an 18. I was shocked - my friend just got in with a 15, it said the requirements were 18-RC and 17TS/AA and I got those. I know I had one score slip but that means someone with all 23+ and one 17 would not be considered no matter their GPA or any other factors. I called the office back myself, and got the same response - retake your DATs.
So I decided I would suck it up (it was the first test I ever failed or had to re-take), take the rest of the summer off, and blow this test away with 20+ in every section. With 2 months to study, and the money to pump into Destroyer/CrackDAT/TopScore etc, I would tear the test up this time around. I did have a deep concern though. The soonest I could re-take the test was September 17, and my scores needed to be in before my interview date so that they would be seen by the board. So I talked to my sister and friend and they told me to e-mail the very kind head of admissions and request to have my interview date moved back behind my Test Date. In my e-mail to him I explained my situation. I told him I had 18+ in all sections but my QR was low so I was going to retake. I asked him to consider waiting until my new scores were in until giving me my interview. His response to me was jaw-dropping.
He said, "Thank you for your message. From what you say below, your only score below 18 occurred in the QR section, I emphatically encourage NOT to retake the DAT. Your scores are acceptable."
WHAT? They just told me I had almost no shot. Not only did he say I had a shot, but to definitely NOT retake. So I e-mail back giving my actual scores (maybe he thought I got a 17 in QR, since I only said "below 18")
The response this time was, "Now that I see all of your scores, I can be even more adamant, Mr. (Last Name), do not retake the DAT. Not only are the scores acceptable, some are very good (PAT, RC, & TS). Yes, the QR is low, but this particular measure proves NOT to be an indicator of success for (Insert School) students; therefore, we ignore it unless it is extremely low."
Well, now I am going to print off my e-mails and take them into the office. I will show them to every person there and make sure these people get their messages straight. Its good news that the head of admissions says my scores a good, but I want to make sure he is on the same page as the selections committees, because he is NOT on the same page as the front desk people. I am not trying to rip the admissions department of this school, they were all very kind to me. I just want everyone else to realize that you have to get your hands dirty sometimes to figure out what is really going on. If some one says your scores are acceptable, or not acceptable - dont take their word for granted. Go find out for yourself. Walk your interview through the process if you really want to get it.
Also, I guess this dental school does not care much about a low QR score. I know a lot of people have similar scores as me and are concerned about their QR. My advice to you is go talk to somebody and find out if your score is acceptable or too low. Don't talk to just one person, but talk to everyone you can. Another word of advice is to ask the school what the minimum scores are to get an interview. I never got a clear answer on this, the website said RC-18 and TS/AA-17, the ladies at the front desk said 18+ on ALL sections, and the head of admissions said my 15 was fine and they dont really care about it. Im leaning towards the head of admissions and website - I just hope the Selection Committee is going by those standards as well!
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