Low QR, competitive AA. Retake DAT?

Started by KarmaMarmalade
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

Browse articles Compare schools My application plan Read Interview Feedback
Practice for interviews Ask an Advisor
K

KarmaMarmalade

New Member
10+ Year Member
Should I retake the DAT, I have a 3.49 oGPA, 3.48 sGPA, and finished my last 3 semesters on Dean's list.

DAT results

AA 19
TS 19
Bio 20
OC 19
GC 17
RC 22
PA 21
QR 15
 
QR is the last section on the test (i.e. you're tired), and it's nearly impossible to do quickly with the dry-erase markers. hopefully admissions committees have figured that out by now.:xf:
 
qp208 said:
QR is the last section on the test (i.e. you're tired), and it's nearly impossible to do quickly with the dry-erase markers. hopefully admissions committees have figured that out by now.:xf:
Click to expand...

Yeah seems the ADA has too...they're allowing calculators now
 
I really screwed up on QR (stupidly didn't study it assuming I could wing-it) and ended up with a 13. Luckily I had a 21ts and 20aa, though, and I decided not to re-take. I ended up with interviews at Marquette, Louisville, Creighton, UCSF, Midwestern and UNLV. You're fine.
 
I am look at that Gen Chem score (17)! I would certainly retake. Unless you have a 4.0...but then a 17 in GC doesn't really back up a 4.0 in science.
 
I had a 14 QR, 17 gen chem and was accepted to two schools. Given those were my weak points, but apparently they aren't deal breakers.
 
If you KNOW you could do better, I would try and raise the GC score.

Other than that, I think you'll be alright.
 
don't bother, DATs and GPA are overrated, most dental schools could care less. Just get above a 3.2 and 18, its all the same(for most).
 
vlct0ria said:
Yeah seems the ADA has too...they're allowing calculators now
Click to expand...

WTF are you kidding me, thats not fair...how can you compare scores b/w ppl who had this luxury and others that didn't. I guess it doesn't matter QR is pointless anyways.
 
justwu86 said:
WTF are you kidding me, thats not fair...how can you compare scores b/w ppl who had this luxury and others that didn't. I guess it doesn't matter QR is pointless anyways.
Click to expand...

it probably guarantees more difficulty, mind you
 
justwu86 said:
you sure about that? QR seemed pretty damn hard when I took it.
Click to expand...
Not hard, but this was **** we haven't seen since 4th grade. Let's face it, 4th graders are pretty smart!!

:laugh:

I only say that because I tutor on the side. Trust me, helping out kids is tougher than you'd think. 15 is fine. I got a 16 and I'm in. No biggy. If math is not your strong suit, then it's a good thing we are in the computer age!

👍
 
I got a 15 QR, i got into a few schools.

I'd be more worried about the GC than the QR though.

But i think your still good to go.
 
justwu86 said:
you sure about that? QR seemed pretty damn hard when I took it.
Click to expand...

right but what i can tell from my experience (practice tests👎), is that alot of the problems are difficult simply because you do not have a calculator...thats pretty much WHY the section is there...so if you get a calculator, then i would guess these problems go bye-bye since all ur doing is plugging in numbers and getting an answer...id expect to see alot more of the more difficult problems replacing the plug-and-go problems unless they are trying to raise the average competitive QR (which I can't imagine is any higher than 16-18)
 
KarmaMarmalade said:
Should I retake the DAT, I have a 3.49 oGPA, 3.48 sGPA, and finished my last 3 semesters on Dean's list.

DAT results

AA 19
TS 19
Bio 20
OC 19
GC 17
RC 22
PA 21
QR 15
Click to expand...

I would definitely retake.
I had 3.8 GPA and 19AA, 19TS, 23PAT and got accepted to only 1 school.
I was aiming 21+ on DAT when I was thinking about retaking and reapplying this year so you might need higher DAT with your GPA.

Edit: I have a very smart friend who has 3.7 GPA and great EC.
He got 19 last year but 21 this year. He got 3 interviews but only got accepted at NYU.
 
I wouldn't retake. I had similar scores at got 6 interviews, and have already been accepted. Just make sure you apply in June and everything else is solid (like GPAs +3.5 in science and overall).
 
justwu86 said:
WTF are you kidding me, thats not fair...how can you compare scores b/w ppl who had this luxury and others that didn't. I guess it doesn't matter QR is pointless anyways.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but your score is based on percentile of how many people get it right or wrong on a particular question. So now with a calculator the percentage of people getting it right will go up, therefore if you miss a question your score will go down more.

For example, before if you missed a problem which a lot of people missed, your score may only go down one point. Now, since more people will get it right with the calculator, if you miss that same problem your score may go down by 2 points. I made up the numbers but you can see what I'm getting at. If you took the test before the calculator was given, you had less pressure I think of getting more problems right for a decent QR score.
 
you dont need to retake i had a 16QR interviewed at one school and got in but i didnt have my app done until december... your score is not based on a percentile of how many people get the questions right. go to the ada website and look on how the scoring goes. you get a score based on how many questions you answer correctly no matter how many other people get the same number correct. the percentile is there to show how you performed against other people who took the test. on that matter, dental schools don't see the percentile you score in unless you fax them your unofficial score report. other than that they just see your score.
 
Besides 15QR, your 17GC can also hurt you.
One of the interviewier asked me why my BIO was so low and it was 18.

Even if I am wrong and say your score is competitive, it would still better to retake and have higher score than keeping your current score.

Retaking DAT won't hurt your chance. It will either stay the same or make your chance higher.

And if you think taking DAT will cost you another hundred dollars, think about how much you would end up spending when you have to reapply next year.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.