Is there a difference in the type of AA: 20 you get?

[chocoholic790]

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Hi!

I took my DATs in August and got a AA:20...

PAT: 19 (69.4)
QR: 20 (95.1)
RC: 20 (78.5)
Bio: 19 (83.5)
GChem: 22 (95.2)
OChem: 21 (89.7)
TS: 20 (91.3)
AA: 20 (93.4)

I was just wondering if Dental Schools care about the type of 20 applicants get. Is it better to have an AA of 20 where all the scores are close to one another or is it better to have an AA of 20 where the range of scores on the individual sections is more spread out (i.e: 24 in OChem but a 16 in GChem)...

 

[LiteBear2011]

Based on things that I have read on this forum, I believe that it does matter the kind of 20 you get for the AA.

You don't want to "balance out" a less-than-average score of 16 with a high 24. I would imagine that it is better to average 20s across Bio, GC, OC, RC, and QR than it is to go 16, 24, 18, 22, 20. Besides, most schools (and again, this is based on what I have read since I am not personally involved with DS admissions) have cut-offs and 16 might be below that.

But seeing that you did well on your DAT, I wouldn't worry 🙂

 

[DoCt0rPeTe]

yea i agree. i think they like to see consistency- it ties into the whole "well-rounded" package thing. They would rather see you are smart all around, rather than just brilliant in one area and pretty less than stellar in another. That being said, I think they would compare the students GPAs before dissecting individual scores on the DAT.
There is a weighted average that combines sGPA, DAT score, and GPA cum into one number, and schools use that to compare students.

check here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=602109

 

[dentalWorks]

You question can only be based on opinions, rather than facts. Plus every dental school has a different way of evaluating DAT and GPA numbers.

I forgot which school it was, but there is a school that basically combines all your DAT numbers (Bio+Gc+Oc+reading+QR+PAT)... if theyr 113 or higher, its considered "competitive".

IMO though, a more "rounded" DAT score is better, say you get a solid 20 on EVERY section, it shows you've mastered all the sections fairly well VS someone who mastered a few sections (a few 25s here and there) but didn't do too hot on others (a few 16s here and there).

 

[erk005]

You question can only be based on opinions, rather than facts. Plus every dental school has a different way of evaluating DAT and GPA numbers.

I forgot which school it was, but there is a school that basically combines all your DAT numbers (Bio+Gc+Oc+reading+QR+PAT)... if theyr 113 or higher, its considered "competitive".

IMO though, a more "rounded" DAT score is better, say you get a solid 20 on EVERY section, it shows you've mastered all the sections fairly well VS someone who mastered a few sections (a few 25s here and there) but didn't do too hot on others (a few 16s here and there).

I think that is Midwestern that adds up all the scores.

 

[Dent001]

i did great on the sciences but medicore on the reading and math. How do you think that looks compared to someone with consistent 20's?
bio/gc/oc 23/21/21
rc/qr 18/17
TS 21

my friend on the other hand got a AA of 20 but her scores were 19's bio/oc, 20's qr/rc, and 21 gc. she only had a TS of 19

how do you think we compare??

 

[chocoholic790]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I really appreciate your help. 🙂