Is 22 really good score?

[purplepanda]

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I don't know what DAT score you got and got rejected in 2009.
But I think your current DAT score is definitely very competitive.
GPA is ok~ but not bad and your DAT score will back you up.


Let's say people in SDN say your DAT score is low. what are you going to do?
You already took it 3 times so you can't take it anymore.
So basically it's not like we can stop you even if your DAT is bad.(your DAT score is very good in my view).

Well said 👍

 

[doc toothache]

I'm sure VCU accepts 23's from Virginia, because they'll actually go to get in-state tuition.

Bottomline, the kid has a 22, chose to apply to the bottom tier schools, and didn't get into a single school. Does he want to get into a dental school? Time to apply to the more competitive schools.

In this case, other than the probable reason for lack of acceptance, there can be a number of reasons an applicant with high DAT scores is not successful, but applying to "bottom tier schools" is unlikely to be one of them.

 

[dentstd]

In this case, other than the probable reason for lack of acceptance, there can be a number of reasons an applicant with high DAT scores is not successful, but applying to "bottom tier schools" is unlikely to be one of them.

Then it may be the case that you didn't apply to dental schools with top notch credentials. You haven't experienced the anomaly of getting into Columbia but ignored by Nova. Getting into UCLA but ignored by VCU. Lots of schools openly admit that they don't bother to interview students they think won't go there if accepted. There are only a handful of bottom tier schools that make the effort to recruit top students. Buffalo and Tufts are the prime examples. They don't preferentially accept bottom students.

 

[Doctor McLovin]

I'm a huge dentstd fan but I'm gonna have to disagree with him. OP's DAT is good but his GPA is weak as hell. He shouldn't have to bother applying to garbage schools like Western or Howard but he shouldn't only focus on the top tier schools like Columbia, Harvard, or UCLA. His stats match schools like Michigan, BU, Casw Western or Maryland much better.

 

[dentstd]

I'm a huge dentstd fan but I'm gonna have to disagree with him. OP's DAT is good but his GPA is weak as hell. He shouldn't have to bother applying to garbage schools like Western or Howard but he shouldn't only focus on the top tier schools like Columbia, Harvard, or UCLA. His stats match schools like Michigan, BU, Casw Western or Maryland much better.

Well, I didn't say he should only focus on top school. Just that he should add more top schools to have a strong fighting chance at getting in. He'll get in next year, because his application won't be complete in Feb. I personally think he should apply to a broad range of schools, in terms of reputation, location, AND cost. Apply to 1-3 bottom schools as safety. The rest should be what you consider to be the best combo of reputation, location, cost, misc.

 

[doc toothache]

Then it may be the case that you didn't apply to dental schools with top notch credentials. You haven't experienced the anomaly of getting into Columbia but ignored by Nova. Getting into UCLA but ignored by VCU. Lots of schools openly admit that they don't bother to interview students they think won't go there if accepted. There are only a handful of bottom tier schools that make the effort to recruit top students. Buffalo and Tufts are the prime examples. They don't preferentially accept bottom students.

It is hard to claim an elite position among applicants when the gpa is below the mean scores for 52 ds in overall and 43 for science. The DAT score is exceptional, in spite of some of the luster being lost considering the 3rd attempt. There is no doubt that acceptance will be forthcoming either to an "elite" school or to one that caters to "bottom feeders", unless there is an overwhelming display of arrogance.

 

[dentstd]

It is hard to claim an elite position among applicants when the gpa is below the mean scores for 52 ds in overall and 43 for science. The DAT score is exceptional, in spite of some of the luster being lost considering the 3rd attempt. There is no doubt that acceptance will be forthcoming either to an "elite" school or to one that caters to "bottom feeders", unless there is an overwhelming display of arrogance.

A clarification is due so that we're referring to the same thing. When I'm referring to the top student, I'm referring to the top student, generally. Not this applicant. A 22/3.9 will have an easier time getting into Columbia than Nova.

There's no useful predictive value for this applicant, because his app was completed in Feb. He would have a very difficult time getting into any school at all.

 

[Jongho Yoon]

You probably know about this. Your biggest problem was that you applied extremely late. By the time they received your new scores, probably all the spots had been taken already. Just let you know, according to predents' statistics, 22 is the highest average dat score any dental schools have except Harvard (24). Also, if you are interested, apply Lomalinda (they love to see church activities).

 

[AirborneDentist]

In 2007 there were 136 (1.6%) with a score of 22, 47 (0.5%) with 23, 20 (0.2%) with 24 and 5 (0.1%) with 25 out of 8897 and if that's "many" than you are right. While a little bit of thunder may have been lost considering the 3rd attempt, the lack of success may lie elsewhere.

http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/dat_score_frequency.pdf


There are ds that do like upper division science courses, however, it is unlikely that there are many applicants with those qualifications outside of biology majors and since these represent about one half of the applicants the statement that "upper level sciences are a must" may be a little overstated.

It is absolutely amazing how the scores have changed over the years...when I took my DAT in 1999, my AA score was a 21, which was the 99.9th%ile...now...that wouldn't even float...additionally, I didn't take any upper level science classes, and still got acceptance at Columbia, Penn, and UConn...some of the schools that are "competitive" according to this site...I am not bragging by any means.....just amazed at how the scores have climbed over the years...when I scored, 21 was "very, very high," but now, you need a 24 or so to be in that category...

 

[dentspring]

You should be proud of your score. Your GPA isn't perfect, but it's not awful. You worked hard and it paid off. Just be confident in what you have going for you and continue to improve your application day by day. 😀

I couldn't agree more, a 22AA is excellent, and your GPA is averge....but that should all you will need for most schools
congrats!