My DAT Breakdown...looking for advice on my next steps...

[ddslove789]

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I just took my DAT and I ended up with quite a range of scores. I'm wondering what my next steps should be. I am planning on applying this upcoming June.

Here's my breakdown:

PAT - 21
AA - 19
TS - 19
Bio - 22
GChem - 19
OChem - 17 🙁
RC - 21
QR - 16 🙁

Clearly I was disappointed with the ochem and quant scores. Is it worth a second attempt? I know I can do better on the quant if I take it again...I had a minor mental breakdown during that section. :/

My questions are as follows:
1) Do many people retake the DAT?
2) Of those who do, do admissions committees look at your application differently after a second examination (specifically, are you at a disadvantage)?
3) What type of schools would I be able to get into based on my scores alone?
4) And my main concern: should I retake the exam??

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions/constructive criticism - any help is much appreciated! 🙂

 

[glo1984]

In order to answer your questions, give us a bigger picture of how strong your application might be.

What is your overall GPA, sGPA, bGPA (if sGPA is lower).
What research have you done?
EC activities?
Amount of time spent job-shadowing or volunteering?
Your expected major(s)?

And anything else that makes you a unique applicant...

 

[ddslove789]

I'm a third year at UCLA, overall GPA = 3.4, sGPA = 3.1.
I've just started research at the UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry.
EC: volunteering, officer in pre-dent/pre-med club, work as a composition tutor for UCLA tutoring, incoming student mentor, member of 3 honors societies, UCLA club taekwondo
Volunteer hours: 100+ at local clinics and on a mission's trip to Nicaragua
Shadowing hours in various specialties: 20+
Major: Physiology

I've decided to retake the DAT since my last post and have been studying since my last exam...I'm taking it in less than a month. Now that I list my stats out though, doesn't seem too impressive to me. Should I take a year off to build up my app and apply after that?

In order to answer your questions, give us a bigger picture of how strong your application might be.

What is your overall GPA, sGPA, bGPA (if sGPA is lower).
What research have you done?
EC activities?
Amount of time spent job-shadowing or volunteering?
Your expected major(s)?

And anything else that makes you a unique applicant...

 

[UCLAzy]

I'm a third year at UCLA, overall GPA = 3.4, sGPA = 3.1.
I've just started research at the UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry.
EC: volunteering, officer in pre-dent/pre-med club, work as a composition tutor for UCLA tutoring, incoming student mentor, member of 3 honors societies, UCLA club taekwondo
Volunteer hours: 100+ at local clinics and on a mission's trip to Nicaragua
Shadowing hours in various specialties: 20+
Major: Physiology

I've decided to retake the DAT since my last post and have been studying since my last exam...I'm taking it in less than a month. Now that I list my stats out though, doesn't seem too impressive to me. Should I take a year off to build up my app and apply after that?

your sGPA might be higher if you werent in a premed major. =\. i'm jealous of your nicaragua experience though, which club was that through?

 

[ddslove789]

Funny thing is that I've gotten As in my UD major requirements so far...I got kind of screwed with some of the pre-reqs (especially with physics professors). Unfortunately, my sGPA is looking pretty bleak, even if I get all As the next two quarters. Hopefully my DAT scores the second time around will make up for it. My Nicaragua experience was actually through my church, but I've heard of a number of clubs at UCLA who make trips down to Central America (GMT and ISL are some you may want to check out).

 

[Kahr]

I'm a third year at UCLA, overall GPA = 3.4, sGPA = 3.1.
I've just started research at the UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry.
EC: volunteering, officer in pre-dent/pre-med club, work as a composition tutor for UCLA tutoring, incoming student mentor, member of 3 honors societies, UCLA club taekwondo
Volunteer hours: 100+ at local clinics and on a mission's trip to Nicaragua
Shadowing hours in various specialties: 20+
Major: Physiology

I've decided to retake the DAT since my last post and have been studying since my last exam...I'm taking it in less than a month. Now that I list my stats out though, doesn't seem too impressive to me. Should I take a year off to build up my app and apply after that?

When you say "to build up my app", do you mean your GPA/DAT scores? Cause dude, your other than numbers stuff is awesome. I plan to apply with way less EC/volunteer stuff and zero research. Though I guess building up anywhere will be positive. 🙂

 

[ddslove789]

Yeah, I'm just way concerned about my GPA/DAT. I think that I'm pretty decent on the EC/volunteer front and am hoping that the research will help out a bit. I'm pretty confident that I can raise my DAT from my first time...but my GPA will be a lot tougher to raise within the next two quarters. Do dental schools take into account where you did your undergrad? Also, how big of a factor do letters of rec generally play?

PS. Kahr - love your quote.

 

[dentalWorks]

The thing that will give you trouble landing interviews isn't your DAT. 19/19 is good score. Its that sGPA. 3.1 is low. My suggestion would have been to spend more time working on your sGPA rather than retaking the DAT.

But you've already been studying for the retake. Good luck on that.

 

[ddslove789]

I was hoping that higher DAT scores could help offset the lower sGPA...is that not the case? Studying for the DAT actually didn't impact my sGPA at all since I was studying over summer and not taking any classes. It was basically bad luck getting one professor and 3 deaths in my family last year that made quite a blow to my sGPA. Do dental schools take into account where you did your undergrad though? I don't mean to be pretentious, but at 3.4 GPA at UCLA translates into a much higher GPA at other institutions. Isn't part of the point of the DAT to standardize that component of it so that the GPA disparity evens out?

 

[dentalWorks]

I was hoping that higher DAT scores could help offset the lower sGPA...is that not the case? Studying for the DAT actually didn't impact my sGPA at all since I was studying over summer and not taking any classes. It was basically bad luck getting one professor and 3 deaths in my family last year that made quite a blow to my sGPA. Do dental schools take into account where you did your undergrad though? I don't mean to be pretentious, but at 3.4 GPA at UCLA translates into a much higher GPA at other institutions. Isn't part of the point of the DAT to standardize that component of it so that the GPA disparity evens out?

I don't believe in the "higher DAT = offsets lower GPA" theory. Of course if your going to be one of the very rare individuals getting 25AA or higher, then it might. But generally speaking, high DAT (i.e 21-23 range) doesn't offset sub-3.0 GPA. I think the logic behind this is: GPA demonstrates your work ethic over a 4-5 year period, whereas DAT, is a 1-3 month studying process.

As far as where you've obtained your GPA from, I understand what you are saying, but it almost doesn't matter what university you went to. A 3.5 from a local state university will look better (on paper) than a 3.1 from MIT

 

[ddslove789]

So do I still try and apply then? Do I even have a chance or am I supposed to do like a post-bacc or something to bring my GPA up?

 

[dentalWorks]

So do I still try and apply then? Do I even have a chance or am I supposed to do like a post-bacc or something to bring my GPA up?

I can't really tell you what to do... this is your decision.

The most common advice I tell people is to ALWAYS prepare their application as best as they can before applying (i.e "putting all your ducks in a row before pulling the trigger"). This is a very expensive, and mentality taxing process that a person should only go through it once. Of course the downside to my advice is..... well, it isn't the fastest way to get into dental school, its just a more "guaranteed" way.

With a 3.1 sGPA, a strong performance in post-bacc will surely bring it up.

As far as you having a chance goes... of course you have a chance, everyone does.

 

[yappy]

Maybe after you retake your DAT and hopefully score above average you should look into the dental school you want to apply to... or rather, look at what ones have science gpa's on the lower end. Not every school has a sci gpa incoming average of 3.5+.

I say this because while a dat score may not help out 2.XX - maybe it will help you out - at school where you'll be marginally below their science gpa average yet have a high dat score.

But honestly I'm in a simular situation as you with a lower than competitive gpa trying to figure out if it's worth applying this cycle.

 

[ddslove789]

I totally know where you're coming from. I think that I will apply regardless, just because I don't think I could mentally wait another year knowing that I didn't even try. Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky. It just kills me because dental school has been my dream since I was 14 and I hate that working my butt off may not pay off just because I'm not as qualified numerically...

 

[yappy]

Work hard and long enough I can see you getting in. Just need to raise the sci GPA.