Is a retake necessary?

[Dentitguy123]

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I took the DAT on August 8th and got my results today. I studied for 4 months and used booster. I did better on the real test than on any of my practice tests. I studied close to 500 hours and improved all my scores drastically before plateauing in the last week or two. I am going into my junior year, so I have time to retake if absolutely necessary.

For more context I currently have a 3.64 GPA and a 3.51sGPA with a upward trend. I am a D1 Athlete, I tutor Organic Chem, have research experience and publication, I am a member of several science clubs on campus, and I am a Alabama resident. I plan to apply broadly (12-15 schools) and to mostly schools with lower DAT averages. Some of the schools I wish to apply are UAB, Roseman, New England, Tufts, Boston, U Tennesse, A.T. Still University of Arizona, South Carolina, LECOM.

 

[BikiniBottomBaller]

I would personally retake.

 

[DAT Destroyer]

For more context I currently have a 3.64 GPA and a 3.51sGPA with a upward trend. I am a D1 Athlete, I tutor Organic Chem, have research experience and publication, I am a member of several science clubs on campus, and I am a Alabama resident. I plan to apply broadly (12-15 schools) and to mostly schools with lower DAT averages. Some of the schools I wish to apply are UAB, Roseman, New England, Tufts, Boston, U Tennesse, A.T. Still University of Arizona, South Carolina, LECOM.

Hang in there—you’re in a great spot!

First off, a huge congrats on pushing through the DAT and improving your scores. That kind of perseverance and growth matters so much, and it really does get noticed by admissions committees.

On the new scale, your scores put you right in the national average range (and even above in sections like PAT and Reading!). You’ve got a strong GPA trend, D1 athletics (adcoms love this!), research, tutoring, and leadership—honestly, you’ve checked all the right boxes.

Applying broadly is the way to go, and schools like UAB, Roseman, and LECOM absolutely consider applicants with scores in this range—especially when you’ve got such a well-rounded profile.

My advice: Apply with confidence, see how the cycle goes, and only consider a retake if you really feel you can bump those scores higher and you’re not getting the traction you want. (But I’ve seen many students in your exact shoes get multiple interviews and acceptances!)

Bottom line: You’re more competitive than you might think, and you’ve already done the hard part. Wishing you the best—and if you ever need a pep talk or some extra tips, you know where to find us! 💙🦷

(—Nancy, DAT Destroyer)

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