Latest date to take the DAT and still have a good chance of being accepted?

[chr1chan]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am applying for the upcoming 2007-2008 admission cycle, but have not taken my DATs yet. But at the same time, I am suppose to go on a family vacation from July 1-July 30. My current plan is to submit my app before I go on vacation and then come back and take the Kaplan course from August 1 to September 14. Then I was planning on taking the DATS at the end of September/beginning of October. Do you guys think it would be too late by then to have a good chance of getting accepted? I've heard conflicting reports that you just need to turn in your app first and can submit the DAT later. But others have said that end of September is too late to have a good chance. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


Chris
4th year undergraduate, UCLA

 

[djeffreyt]

I say it is a bad idea.

Your file will be on hold until your DAT scores come in. If you wait until late September/early october, and then 2 weeks for your DAT scores to actually get to the schools officially, then you're already in mid october.

Most schools will start reviewing in August. By October, they will have such a huge backlog of applications, your application would be lucky to get reviewed in October. I'm not saying you don't stand a chance, I'm just saying it is late and your chances decrease quite a bit. Interviews already begin in late august/early october, so by the time you are reviewed for an interview, all the pre-december interviews may already be full at most schools...pre-december is a good slot to shoot for, but you are already killing that possibility in my book.

sorry...you'll have to decide which is of more value to you, the added chance at acceptance or your 1 month family vacation.

 

[Fonz]

Yeah that's quite late. If you can do it before the vacation that would be better. They will have your app but it wont be considered complete until you submit everything.

 

[DentalBoston]

The others are right - they won't look at your app until all parts are submitted. Personally I didn't take my DAT until late October (I was traveling in a foreign country for 2 months prior) and so I didn't get interviews until January. But I did get interviews and accepted to 3 out of the 4 schools I interviewed at (I canceled my other interviews once I had a few acceptance letters). I wasn't stellar in my undergrad years (3.7 overall) and I hadn't been doing anything grand in my post grad years before applying either.

If it were me, I'd ask myself where my values are and if spending 1 month with my family is worth possibly delaying school. I'd say yes -- there's always another year for school, but then again that's me.

 

[diane07]

What's worse than applying late is rushing and getting a score that is not competitive. That right there would knock you out of the running.

If you can take the DAT earlier and be ready, that's one thing, But wait until you know you can do well.

 

[polf]

when do you finish school? It seems to me you should have mid-May til June 30th to study. 1.5 month studying full time is plenty of time in my opinion. I studied 4hr/day for 1 month while in school and still managed 19/19/21.

 

[ATLATLATL]

so taking it in early august is not a good idea either? like say for instance i wanted to retake the dat in august but had already submitted everything early on..do they delay applications if that's the case😕

 

[dreamerofdmd]

I know people who have taken the DAT in October... two of them will be at UCONN in the Fall 07 class.... and one of them is debating acceptances between NYU, Detroit Mercy, Stony Brook, and Columbia. I'd say.... if you can get stellar scores... it's better to be prepared.

Oh, and the girl who has to pick between schools.... her scores are 26/24/22.