Need Advice after DAT!

[eventualOMFS]

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Hey Everyone,

I took the DATs for the first time on Monday, 01/14. I posted this in the DAT discussion forum, but I thought I would post here for some more advice. I really appreciate it. My scores are as follows:

Bio 19
Gen Chem 23
Organic Chem 19
Quant. Reasoning 18
Reading Comp. 27
Perceptual Ability 16

(Academic Avg) 21
(Total Science) 20

I was disappointed in my quantitative reasoning score. Math comes easily to me, but I just worked WAY too slowly. I could definitely improve that score.

I obviously struggled with the PAT. I didn't prepare enough for it. I only used Kaplan, and I found out the hard way that the Kaplan questions are much easier than the real PAT questions. Admittedly, this section is really tough for me.

Do you guys have any suggestions? I will be applying this coming cycle (entering class of fall 2009). My GPA is about a 3.30 (science: 3.10). That includes a D- and F in Organic Chemistry I & II and a D- in Physics II during what proved to be a very rough sophomore year. I re-took those 3 classes and got an A in all three of them. I am a senior and will be graduating in May. I wanted to take a year off before entering dental school because I am getting married in August and want to focus first on that.

For what it is worth, I have worked well over 1,000 hours as a surgical assistant in a full-scope oral & maxillofacial surgery practice. I will also most likely be working as a surgical assistant during my year off.

I am deciding whether I should retake the DAT to improve my PAT score. Are there any schools that might not care too much about the PAT? I want to make sure my PAT score doesn't automatically disqualify me. I would certainly appreciate any advice that you guys could give me. I have learned a lot from SDN and have been very encouraged by all of you and your hard work.

Thanks and best of luck to all of you!

 

[andyjl]

your scores are awesome except your PAT. YOu shouldn't have to worry about QR as that is good enough for most schools. But I believe your low PAT score would in fact disqualify you from almost any school. You should definitely retake it because it is a good indicator of your spatial skills. Don't study from kaplan, it is junk. Use crackthedat for the pat section, I used it and it really helped me. Topscore and Achiever also have good PAT practice in it.

 

[jigabodo]

If you have a better GPA I'd say you are set. Otherwise, I agree on the poster above me and use Achiever for more DAT practice.

 

[jdoc04]

But I believe your low PAT score would in fact disqualify you from almost any school.

Not true at all. Some schools hold the PAT with high regard and some could care less. SA did a study that show no correlation between PAT score and performance in d-school. I would not worry to much you PAT too much since your other scores are solid. Do your homework on which schools to apply and you should get some interviews. Your RC is awesome!!! That is one section all most all schools look at heavily.

 

[dentstd]

Some schools won't care about the PAT. But for that statement to be meaningful, you would have to know which schools those are. In fact, you would have to know of up to 10-15 schools where you reasonably have a chance to get in at. If you end up applying and 80% of the schools DID in fact care about PAT, you strongly risk falling flat on your face for that cycle.

Retaking a test isn't hard. And if you retake, improve everything.

 

[dentstd]

Not true at all. Some schools hold the PAT with high regard and some could care less. SA did a study that show no correlation between PAT score and performance in d-school. I would not worry to much you PAT too much since your other scores are solid. Do your homework on which schools to apply and you should get some interviews. Your RC is awesome!!! That is one section all most all schools look at heavily.

There's little correlation btwn PAT and D school success. But the correlation's in PAT and clinical abilities!!!! 😱 Succeed in school but fail in practice. Charming.

 

[lindsey122]

I would just say apply to lots of schools because they all look at such different things. Don't worry about math at all. I got a 16 on math but did well on everything else and got plenty of interviews. IT is the least important section on the entire test. At Barnes and Noble there is a dental guide book that lists how important each aspect of the test is to certain schools.

 

[blankguy]

Just apply. You have a shot at getting into a dental school. People here have gotten in with worse blemishes. If anything adversity makes people more mature once they overcome it. Your DAT scores are fantastic. If a school has issues with certain low scores obviously they are not going to take you seriously. Apply to at least 10 but more like 10-15 schools. It's just a matter of who will take you. Just went to Tufts I don't think Tufts weighs PAT too much.

 

[Frederico Albin]

man your rc score is killer!!! good job.

 

[jdoc04]

There's little correlation btwn PAT and D school success.

That is exactly what they found to be true. You can do well on the PAT without using any 3-D thinking by utilizing tricks and shortcuts from various test prep companies.

But the correlation's in PAT and clinical abilities!!!! 😱 Succeed in school but fail in practice. Charming.

So your saying if you do well on the PAT you will succeed in practice?
I don't agree with you if that is what your saying. Being able to count lines in a 3-D drawing or unfold a pattern cut out does not mean you have hand skills. To very different skills, visual & motor. Skills that are developed through practice. Becoming a good clinician is all about how much you practice during pre-clinical and clinic. It's all about effort. I'm sure there are tons of people who performed bad on the PAT and are good dentists.

 

[eventualOMFS]

I got a few PMs following up so I figured I'd post here.

I have heard from other SDN'ers that Case, UNLV, and Harvard like high RC scores. I have also heard that UNC does not mind low PAT scores.

I have heard that UoP really prefers high PAT scores.

Hope this helps!

 

[Danny0230]

But I believe your low PAT score would in fact disqualify you from almost any school. You should definitely retake it because it is a good indicator of your spatial skills.

This is completely not true. Definitely dont retake. A few schools love PAT, most schools dont put much emphasis on it. Your RC should open a lot of doors for you, thats one of the highest I've seen. Definitely do not retake though, that would be a huge mistake. AA 21 is excellent.

 

[lillieflower]

studies have only shown the RC to be at all correlated with your future success. People with high RCs tended to do better on the NBDE part 1 than their counterparts who scored lower in RC. Your DAT is great. I would definitely NOT retake it. apply to tons of schools though, you are bound to get it! congrats on your engagement and i hope you have the wedding of your dreams!

 

[eventualOMFS]

Thanks for the replies.

I have heard so much conflicting advice, but the advice most important to me is from people who have actually gotten into dental school.

It looks like I'll be mass applying (12-20 schools) on May 15th. Thanks for your help!