My DAT disaster

[duho.O]

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today, i took my DATs for the second time. the first time i took it, i only studied for 2 weeks and got:
AA 18
TS 19
Bio 18
GC 18
OC 20
RC 18
QR 16
PAT 19

i wasn't satisfied with my first scores, so i studied for 3 months straight, 6-8 hours everyday....i this is what i got:

AA 16
TS 16
Bio 16
GC 17
OC 17
RC 17
QR 15
PAT 19

i couldn't believe my eyes when i saw my scores....i was about to cry right there, but i held it in.....unfortunately i couldn't hold it in any longer and ended up crying on my drive home. i didn't think the test was that bad....but i guess i was wrong. what upset me so much was that i sacrificed so much these past 3 months....never going out or doing anything except studying. i did 7 different kaplan exams, 3 achiever exams...and i went over the solutions to each exam TWICE. i ended up delaying my application because i wanted to re-take the test. so now not only am i a late applicant.....but my chances are slimmer now that my DAT scores suck. plus my gpa is a 3.30cum and 3.27sci. so that doesn't help either. i don't know what to do. are dental schools gonna take my most recent scores or the highest? if they take my new scores....i'm screwed. i'm starting to lose faith in myself.

 

[Uracil]

I think you should relax and take a deep breath. Of course the schools will get your new scores, but they will only look at the highest scores. I think you did a good job on your first DAT 👍

 

[RE4]

I think you should relax and take a deep breath. Of course the schools will get your new scores, but they will only look at the highest scores. I think you did a good job on your first DAT 👍

Nope, schools dont look at highest scores since Op got lower score the second time.
OP needs to contact schools for advising.


good lcuk

 

[Uracil]

oh wow...didnt know that...

 

[DDS:)]

I hate to tell you this, most schools will look at ur most recent scores, not which one is higher. Call few schools, ask them what u should do.

Good luck to u.

 

[busdent]

It could just be that you had a bad day and maybe things got mixed up. Be determined and you will get into a dental school.

 

[crewcutDMD]

Relax..if the schools invite you for an interview, you stand a pretty good chance. if they reject you within a few weeks after you send in your
application, then you dont have to lose any sleep over that either....
anyway, on the day of the interviews, just relax and be yourself.

 

[crewcutDMD]

btw, one of the top student in my class only got a 14 on the PAT. he ended up in a 6 yr. OMFS/MD program when he graduated with us. that tells you
the DAT scores cant necessarily predict how good or bad you will be as a dental student later.

 

[duho.O]

thanks everyone for your comments....and for cheering me up. that really means a lot to me.

 

[You]

I guess you just have to call all teh schools. I was wondering about this too. And I guess worse case scenario...or last resort is have a really 3rd killer score to negate all last 2 previous scores (but I think wouldn't try it again unless you are really ready to get killer scores or it'll be a wasted last resort). Like LOTR, one ring to rule them all. hehe. Anyway, that's just my 2 cents.

 

[joonkimdds]

AA 18
TS 19
Bio 18
GC 18
OC 20
RC 18
QR 16
PAT 19
i wasn't satisfied with my first scores, so i studied for 3 months straight, 6-8 hours everyday....i this is what i got:
AA 16
TS 16
Bio 16
GC 17
OC 17
RC 17
QR 15
PAT 19

I think ur first DAT was very high and I don't understand why u took it again. I am pretty sure u didn't cry when u took it first time, right? I know that u know that u did very well in ur first DAT and maybe u were thinking of getting even better score than what's already really good.

so don't cry. U already have higher DAT than my dentist
there is no way to deny that ur 2nd score is better than 1st but that's becuz ur 1st DAT was just so good 🙂

I think taking it one last time will be a good idea.
even if u do bad or even worse on ur 3rd DAT, don't worry u already have really good 1st DAT.
if u do better? then that's even better 🙂

if i were u, i would apply with ur 1st DAT score.

if they reject u, then just take it one more time.

I know that it's gonna give u pressure since 3rd will be the last time.

most people think that 3 months are long enough but I disagree and ur result also proved that 3months of studying wasn't good enough.

since ur 3rd DAT will be very very important, be sure to focus more, and take more time. Don't just gamble that ppl r saying 3 months r good! no, it's diff for diff person. I think 2 years r still not long enough(that's just me i guess).

 

[Envision]

I think ur first DAT was very high and I don't understand why u took it again. I am pretty sure u didn't cry when u took it first time, right? I know that u know that u did very well in ur first DAT and maybe u were thinking of getting even better score than what's already really good.

so don't cry. U already have higher DAT than my dentist
there is no way to deny that ur 2nd score is better than 1st but that's becuz ur 1st DAT was just so good 🙂

I think taking it one last time will be a good idea.
even if u do bad or even worse on ur 3rd DAT, don't worry u already have really good 1st DAT.
if u do better? then that's even better 🙂

if i were u, i would apply with ur 1st DAT score.

if they reject u, then just take it one more time.

I know that it's gonna give u pressure since 3rd will be the last time.

most people think that 3 months are long enough but I disagree and ur result also proved that 3months of studying wasn't good enough.

since ur 3rd DAT will be very very important, be sure to focus more, and take more time. Don't just gamble that ppl r saying 3 months r good! no, it's diff for diff person. I think 2 years r still not long enough(that's just me i guess).

the OPs result does not support your claim that it takes more than 3 month to study for the DATs...unless of course the OP studied for 2 years+...took the DAT for the first time and scored well...and then waited a period of time to forget everything...and then retake it after a seperate 3 month period of studying. sometimes you make no sense joon. 🙄 anyway, i agree thats its probably best to take the test the third time. gl to the OP.

 

[RozhonDDS]

I took the DAT twice and the first time i studied for 6 months and the last time i studied for 3 months, I scored higher my second time. Basically, it all depends on the quality of your studying during the time interval allowed. I would apply with your scores they seem average, if not above (first scores). I know when i took my DAT the second time I called all my schools (12 of them) and they all reassured me that they look at the HIGHEST score. I would take that into consideration because I couldn't see why they would frown upon a lower score when you already did good the first time. Not sure if it made sense but DON'T sweat it and keep the faith, I did!

 

[Ething]

Your first scores look pretty solid, above the national avg. I have no idea why you decided to take em again. That said...I think they will look at your higher scores, if not, for sure take them into consideration. I just hope you have (or can think of) a good excuse to explain your second scores. I mean cmon...anybody on this thread with their 20+ scores would definately not hit those scores again if someone made them take a random DAT tomorrow. Those 20+ scores, for the most part, came immidiately after some intense studying.

 

[duho.O]

I took the DAT twice and the first time i studied for 6 months and the last time i studied for 3 months, I scored higher my second time. Basically, it all depends on the quality of your studying during the time interval allowed. I would apply with your scores they seem average, if not above (first scores). I know when i took my DAT the second time I called all my schools (12 of them) and they all reassured me that they look at the HIGHEST score. I would take that into consideration because I couldn't see why they would frown upon a lower score when you already did good the first time. Not sure if it made sense but DON'T sweat it and keep the faith, I did!

thanks for your advice....that really helps and makes me feel a whole lot better.

 

[issa]

I took the DAT twice and the first time i studied for 6 months and the last time i studied for 3 months, I scored higher my second time. Basically, it all depends on the quality of your studying during the time interval allowed. I would apply with your scores they seem average, if not above (first scores). I know when i took my DAT the second time I called all my schools (12 of them) and they all reassured me that they look at the HIGHEST score. I would take that into consideration because I couldn't see why they would frown upon a lower score when you already did good the first time. Not sure if it made sense but DON'T sweat it and keep the faith, I did!

wow, so you studied for 9 months to get that 19. i am lucky i got 18TS studying for one month while working and i should have done better in the orgo section.

 

[jwilson02]

i would say studying hard at most a month before is key. this way it is fresh knowledge...i studied 3 weeks before and got a TS:24 and AA:23