My DAT scores are weird, what can I expect?

[irishpint]

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I applied for the 2006 cycle and had 3 interviews and 3 waiting lists and didn't get in. I didn't apply in 2007 so I took some more classes. My GPA is about a 3.2 still.

My first DAT scores were
B:18
C:17
Oc:16
PAT:17
Reading:20
Math:17

I have taken 3 full length practice tests in the past 3 weeks to get ready for my DAT next week and these are the ranges of my score
B:16-18
C:17-18
Oc:17-18
Pat:20-22
Reading:21-29
Math:19-21

So basically my science scores haven't moved at all, but everything else appears to have improved pretty nicely. Is that even going to matter though? My stupid science scores need to improve and they aren't and that's frustrating. If I get a 29 in reading no one cares, they'll just tell me to be a teacher or something (lol).

??

 

[Flyguy]

where did you get the 3 interviews at?

 

[SugarNaCl]

I applied for the 2006 cycle and had 3 interviews and 3 waiting lists and didn't get in. I didn't apply in 2007 so I took some more classes. My GPA is about a 3.2 still.

My first DAT scores were
B:18
C:17
Oc:16
PAT:17
Reading:20
Math:17

I have taken 3 full length practice tests in the past 3 weeks to get ready for my DAT next week and these are the ranges of my score
B:16-18
C:17-18
Oc:17-18
Pat:20-22
Reading:21-29
Math:19-21

So basically my science scores haven't moved at all, but everything else appears to have improved pretty nicely. Is that even going to matter though? My stupid science scores need to improve and they aren't and that's frustrating. If I get a 29 in reading no one cares, they'll just tell me to be a teacher or something (lol).

??

What brand were the practice tests? If they were topscore, you are DEFINITELY on the right track. If they were Kaplan, keep plugging away. If they were Barrons, you have some more work to do on science. Your PAT, RC and QR are good, but you already know that. Oh, and don't downplay the RC, even though I question the authenticity, turns out RC score on some study correlates with overall success in dental school.

 

[djeffreyt]

Some schools place a strong emphasis on the importance of a good RC score. Pacific and UNLV I know for sure, and as mentioned above, it has been stated by the deans of more than a few dental schools how RC tends to correlate with dental school success in the didactics.

 

[smec]

I heard biology is getting tougher. You may want to pay more attention to that.

 

[irishpint]

I applied for the 2006 cycle and had 3 interviews and 3 waiting lists and didn't get in. I didn't apply in 2007 so I took some more classes. My GPA is about a 3.2 still.

My first DAT scores were
B:18
C:17
Oc:16
PAT:17
Reading:20
Math:17

I have taken 3 full length practice tests in the past 3 weeks to get ready for my DAT next week and these are the ranges of my score
B:16-18
C:17-18
Oc:17-18
Pat:20-22
Reading:21-29
Math:19-21

So basically my science scores haven't moved at all, but everything else appears to have improved pretty nicely. Is that even going to matter though? My stupid science scores need to improve and they aren't and that's frustrating. If I get a 29 in reading no one cares, they'll just tell me to be a teacher or something (lol).

??

😡 end life! Just got done my scores....

Bio:18
Chem:18
Ochem:18
PAY:20
RC:22

quant...15!!!!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

the computers at this place were so amazing- has anyone ever complained after the fact? mine lagged about 2 seconds between hitting 'next' and getting a new question, which meant everything was that much tougher since i had less time. i also couldn't make out the differences between dotted and solid lines in the PAT, and some of the numbers from the quant were illegible (whatever, i didn't even answer the last 6 thus the low score)

also i'm left handed and having to use a whiteboard and marker instead of a paper and pencil was impossible since everything i wrote immediately got wiped off so i had to hold the pen different and stick my elbow up. wtf?!?!

so now my deal is
3/5/3.2/3/3.5 nonscience/total/science/post-bac

Bio 18/18
Chem 17/18
Ochem 16/18
Reading 20/22
Pat 17/20
Quant 17/15

wtf this is so lame, what's the point? arughhhhhhhh

THOMPSON PROMETRIC PLEASE BURN TO THE GROUND!!!

 

[Resonance]

😡 end life! Just got done my scores....

Bio:18
Chem:18
Ochem:18
PAY:20
RC:22

quant...15!!!!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

the computers at this place were so amazing- has anyone ever complained after the fact? mine lagged about 2 seconds between hitting 'next' and getting a new question, which meant everything was that much tougher since i had less time. i also couldn't make out the differences between dotted and solid lines in the PAT, and some of the numbers from the quant were illegible (whatever, i didn't even answer the last 6 thus the low score)

also i'm left handed and having to use a whiteboard and marker instead of a paper and pencil was impossible since everything i wrote immediately got wiped off so i had to hold the pen different and stick my elbow up. wtf?!?!

so now my deal is
3/5/3.2/3/3.5 nonscience/total/science/post-bac

Bio 18/18
Chem 17/18
Ochem 16/18
Reading 20/22
Pat 17/20
Quant 17/15

wtf this is so lame, what's the point? arughhhhhhhh

THOMPSON PROMETRIC PLEASE BURN TO THE GROUND!!!

You improved six of eight scores (assuming the 15 does not drag down your AA). So it may not be what you had hoped for, but all is not lost. I am stunned that you left questions unanswered. All in all though the time between now and your last application you have done nothing but improve your overall stats, which should sit well with the AdComs. So stay positive and good luck.

 

[blasterx]

Don't beat yourself up too bad. You improved your scores in nearly every section. Adcoms will notice that. I wouldn't worry too much about QR. From what I've heard, QR is the one section dental schools don't care that much about.

 

[OceanBlue]

Don't beat yourself up too bad. You improved your scores in nearly every section. Adcoms will notice that. I wouldn't worry too much about QR. From what I've heard, QR is the one section dental schools don't care that much about.

yup!

 

[OceanBlue]

I heard biology is getting tougher. You may want to pay more attention to that.

That was what people were saying when i was taking my DAT a while back. I don't think it is getting harder...that section is just random. I remember guessing a lot for bio, but for some reason I did very well in it.

 

[Superhuntress]

I would worry about your scores. My DAT scores and GPA are identical to yours (except I had a 23 in RC), and I was accepted. The QR reasoning doesn't matter hardly at all, but RC matters a lot, so congratulations!

 

[irishpint]

I would worry about your scores. My DAT scores and GPA are identical to yours (except I had a 23 in RC), and I was accepted. The QR reasoning doesn't matter hardly at all, but RC matters a lot, so congratulations!

i hope you meant to say you WOULDNT worry...otherwise yikes!

congrats- where? i'm trying to get really excited about applying since i was so devastated last time after not getting in 🙁

 

[z3u2]

the computers at this place were so amazing- has anyone ever complained after the fact? mine lagged about 2 seconds between hitting 'next' and getting a new question, which meant everything was that much tougher since i had less time. i also couldn't make out the differences between dotted and solid lines in the PAT, and some of the numbers from the quant were illegible (whatever, i didn't even answer the last 6 thus the low score)

yeah when i took it in march the computer i used lagged as well
and there's couple characters i don't quite understand for chem, like "17 8 28 O" as a possible answer, it's some radio active stuff..but the numbers are just lined up horizontally and the three numbers doesn't make too much sense to me

btw since we are on the subject, i've got a question about RC
when I tried topscore, whenever i chose an answer and click "next" button
the paragraph I was reading "stayed" there

when I was taking the real test, whenever i hit "next", the article "jumps" back to the first paragraph and I have to spend some time to search for where I was reading

is this such a case for everyone?

 

[rupkaur]

yeah when i took it in march the computer i used lagged as well
and there's couple characters i don't quite understand for chem, like "17 8 28 O" as a possible answer, it's some radio active stuff..but the numbers are just lined up horizontally and the three numbers doesn't make too much sense to me

btw since we are on the subject, i've got a question about RC
when I tried topscore, whenever i chose an answer and click "next" button
the paragraph I was reading "stayed" there

when I was taking the real test, whenever i hit "next", the article "jumps" back to the first paragraph and I have to spend some time to search for where I was reading

is this such a case for everyone?

i experienced the same when I took my test back in August.. i left 5 math questions unanswered and in pat, it was so hard to distinguish betw. dotted n solid lines..Besides, my time clock was working backwards; so it was a horrible experience.