Low DAT scores AGAIN!

[charmingdds]

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Hello everyone
I just wanted to get some opinions on my chances for interviews next cycle. I already took DAT several times and my pre-health advisor finally said "Maybe you have a chance this time for some interviews somewhere" and he smiled. I had low AA14 TS14 PAT19, AA15 TS15 PAT19 -->NOW AA17 TS18 PAT21 (November 18,2012). My undergraduate GPA3.4 , sGPA3.1 now undergoing Master Biology and so far I have cGPA 4.0... I think my total science GPA is going to get higher after spring semester. Do you guys think i can get interviews or my pre health advisor was just being sorry for me by saying that? I have a lot of experience in field of dentistry and good Ec's.. Please give your honest opinion. Taking DAT again for fourth time according to my advisor is "not recommended" since some schools only accept up to three times. Thank you

 

[Rootz90]

Hello everyone
I just wanted to get some opinions on my chances for interviews next cycle. I already took DAT several times and my pre-health advisor finally said "Maybe you have a chance this time for some interviews somewhere" and he smiled. I had low AA14 TS14 PAT19, AA15 TS15 PAT19 -->NOW AA17 TS18 PAT21 (November 18,2012). My undergraduate GPA3.4 , sGPA3.1 now undergoing Master Biology and so far I have cGPA 4.0... I think my total science GPA is going to get higher after spring semester. Do you guys think i can get interviews or my pre health advisor was just being sorry for me by saying that? I have a lot of experience in field of dentistry and good Ec's.. Please give your honest opinion. Taking DAT again for fourth time according to my advisor is "not recommended" since some schools only accept up to three times. Thank you

If this was your third time taking the test, DO NOT take it again. You should apply to 15+ schools

 

[two thirty]

How long did you study and what materials did you use?

 

[Davermz450]

If you have good ECs become best friends with the people at ASDOH and MOSDOH. They love volunteering. Go look at the pre dent threads, people have been arguing over DATscores and acceptance. Check it out! It's fun. Another thing is call the schools! This website is a all opinion, I was super bummed on my scores, than I called the schools and they said work on the other parts of my app. I got an 18/19/23

 

[charmingdds]

Thank you..i am so confused!! I dont know what else to do..its up to my gpa now to help me get interviews..i guess 🙁

 

[kmcw]

Getting interviews is based on not just GPA and DAT scores. Your third time around you got solid scores, but they will still see your first two tries.

Apply early in June, that will help you a lot. Have your personal statement ready before June and your letters of recommendation put together so your application will be at the top of the pack

Be sure you have a lot of volunteer and shadowing hours too. Just continue to make your application as solid as possible. Also keep in mind that if you are in a Masters program, no dental school will "steal" you from the program, and will not accept you until you have completed it.

 

[charmingdds]

T

Getting interviews is based on not just GPA and DAT scores. Your third time around you got solid scores, but they will still see your first two tries.

Apply early in June, that will help you a lot. Have your personal statement ready before June and your letters of recommendation put together so your application will be at the top of the pack

Be sure you have a lot of volunteer and shadowing hours too. Just continue to make your application as solid as possible. Also keep in mind that if you are in a Masters program, no dental school will "steal" you from the program, and will not accept you until you have completed it.

thank you. What do you mean they will not steal me from program? one more year to accomplish but i was thinking if i get in ds maybe i dont need to finish or skip last semester..do i really need to finish master if i am already accepted to ds? I think depends on schools since none of the schools really requires a master..I am paying cash for my tuition and if i can i would like to skip finishing master if not necessary

 

[ERicci8996]

charmingdds, CONGRATULATIONS!!! You should be extremely proud of yourself. You improved your DAT scores by 3+ points. To improve your scores that much between retakes is very very very special. Many people don't improve, they actually drop about a point when they retake.
See this ADA stat about DAT retakes: http://www.ada.org/sections/educationAndCareers/pdfs/dat_users_manual.pdf

Be proud of your improvement, and keep your GPA up. If you don't get in this year, I suggest contacting the schools, and also enrolling in a Master's program. I would not re-take the DAT's. Prove you can do it (and you have the dedication to take MA/MS and keep re-applying), by enrolling in upper level biology coursework. Try to get research opportunities and shadow shadow shadow a few dentists!

You've already proved once that you can do something many others cannot (dramatically improve your DAT scores), so do it again!

How do I know you can? I did all of the above steps (3x DAT retake, improved 4+ points) and I got acceptances into two schools with more interviews to come.

Good luck!