Need Advice Please! DAT Retake? PAT:20 AA: 18 want to apply for 2017

[futuredentiste]

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Hi! I am hoping to apply as a much stronger applicant when the cycle opens this summer for acceptance in 2017. I did apply once before, following graduation (with a B.S. in neurosciencce and a minor in studio art) in the summer of 2014 but I knew my chances were slim to none with very weak DAT scores. I have definitely strengthened my application and had amazing experiences but I'm wondering if I should take the DAT for a third time. I am hoping to apply to NYU, Tufts, Columbia (I know that's a reach), and UOP at the moment that is all I'm considering. Any insight/advice would be welcome! Thank you!

Overall GPA: 3.45
Science GPA: 3.17

Graduated May 2014

I originally took the DAT following graduation and did not prepare properly or fully understand the scope of the test itself, my scores reflected this:
PAT 16
QR 17
RC 18
Bio 17
GC 16
OC 14
SNS 16
AA 16

I have completed enormous amounts of volunteer work (around 400 hours during college) including creating a student organization to provide outreach opportunities to students and received a $10,000 scholarship to do so. In terms of dental shadowing I interned at the Healthcare for the Homeless dental clinic (60 hours) I have also shadowed several dentists for various amounts of time (around 40 hours). Following my failed first attempt at the DAT I moved to France and during my time there shadowed a French dentist in Paris (80 hours). Currently, I work as a dental assistant part time and am taking anatomy and physiology (got an A for the first semester) and two more courses this semester. I'm also currently helping an implantologist to write/compile/hopefully publish some of his clinical research.

I just retook the DAT and improved but not as much as I had hoped:
PAT 20
QR 18
RC 22
Bio 18
GC 17
OC 16
SNS 17
AA 18

I took the DAT February 2nd and want to know if I should retake before the application cycle. As I am working, and taking courses, I feel if I did decide to retake, it would mean applying later in the cycle (I would wait until the two courses end in may so I can decrease that pressure and focus - it is in part why I underperformed). I wonder if it's worth it or not?


If you need anymore information I would be happy to give more details.

Thank you again!

 

[kami_us07]

.

 

[plumerias]

I believe the average DAT of accepted students is creeping towards 20AA so you should certainly retake it, especially with your average/low GPA. Look at the materials suggested on this forum and buckle down.

I think you can submit your application indicating that you are going to retake your DAT. You should probably apply as early as possible. Also, UOP looks for particularly higher DAT scores so I would maybe reconsider applying there unless you get 21+ across the board. Apply broadly!

 

[futuredentiste]

I believe the average DAT of accepted students is creeping towards 20AA so you should certainly retake it, especially with your average/low GPA. Look at the materials suggested on this forum and buckle down.

I think you can submit your application indicating that you are going to retake your DAT. You should probably apply as early as possible. Also, UOP looks for particularly higher DAT scores so I would maybe reconsider applying there unless you get 21+ across the board. Apply broadly!

You're right about the average being more towards a 20AA, I think I will apply early right when the cycle opens with the committee letter from my university and then retake in the middle of June.

 

[JLT223]

Retake the DAT. Also, I wouldn't limit yourself to 4 schools. That really doesn't give you many options considering how random the application process can be.

 

[ajj70]

If you apply, I would apply to 10-15 schools. One thing that stands out is that everything you have done, listed, focuses on being a dentist, and I think that is actually a negative for most dental schools. They want more well rounded candidates. Also, unless you are applying to Harvard, dental schools don't focus on research like medical schools do, so while it's great that you have done that, it's not really an application boost to compensate for the lower GPA and DAT. I would say you have zero chance getting into the schools you listed but I think you might have a chance at some of the newer schools like LECOM, etc.

 

[futuredentiste]

If you apply, I would apply to 10-15 schools. One thing that stands out is that everything you have done, listed, focuses on being a dentist, and I think that is actually a negative for most dental schools. They want more well rounded candidates. Also, unless you are applying to Harvard, dental schools don't focus on research like medical schools do, so while it's great that you have done that, it's not really an application boost to compensate for the lower GPA and DAT. I would say you have zero chance getting into the schools you listed but I think you might have a chance at some of the newer schools like LECOM, etc.

Hi! Thanks for your input. I just wanted to clarify a bit. I have always had strong ties to dentistry because I love it and try to find meaningful ways to take part in the field while I'm on my way to becoming a dentist myself. However, my EC have been more broad. During my undergraduate career my focus was on community outreach. I have always been involved in working with the community in various capacities. In the summer of my junior year I lived in Dharamsala, India where I worked with a Tibetan refugee one on one every day teaching her English. During junior year, I was a part of creating two murals and carrying them out in two schools in New Orleans (where I went to school - one of my recommendation letters is from my mentor who is the art professor I worked with to carry out the murals). As part of the organization that I created to help connect University students to the New Orleans community I partnered with a small program called Miracle League (its awesome, in several cities you should check it out!) and provided them with student volunteers for 5 consecutive seasons. As a studio art minor, I was selected for an exhibition my senior year. Following graduation, I moved to France which was not based on dentistry at all. However, after I had spent months there (working in an art gallery, singing in a band with three French guys, working as a social media strategist for a small rental company, and working as an au pair) and was fluent in French I reached out to the dentist to shadow him.

That's just a few of the other things I was involved in. So I would have to disagree that my experiences revolve around dentistry though it has been a consistent part of my life. I'm not sure how much it matters in terms of getting in. Bottom line is I need to get to the interview and I think I'll need those numbers to be higher to get there. Thoughts?

 

[ajj70]

With that further information, add both AT STill's to your application--Arizona and Missouri for sure!

 

[BatmanX]

With that further information, add both AT STill's to your application--Arizona and Missouri for sure!

Apply early. I applied in August with a 19AA and I have a Masters with near 4.0 GPA and lots of research and got rejected to AT Still and Missouri. I'm still waiting on Midwestern.

 

[BatmanX]

Hi! I am hoping to apply as a much stronger applicant when the cycle opens this summer for acceptance in 2017. I did apply once before, following graduation (with a B.S. in neurosciencce and a minor in studio art) in the summer of 2014 but I knew my chances were slim to none with very weak DAT scores. I have definitely strengthened my application and had amazing experiences but I'm wondering if I should take the DAT for a third time. I am hoping to apply to NYU, Tufts, Columbia (I know that's a reach), and UOP at the moment that is all I'm considering. Any insight/advice would be welcome! Thank you!

Overall GPA: 3.45
Science GPA: 3.17

Graduated May 2014

I originally took the DAT following graduation and did not prepare properly or fully understand the scope of the test itself, my scores reflected this:
PAT 16
QR 17
RC 18
Bio 17
GC 16
OC 14
SNS 16
AA 16

I have completed enormous amounts of volunteer work (around 400 hours during college) including creating a student organization to provide outreach opportunities to students and received a $10,000 scholarship to do so. In terms of dental shadowing I interned at the Healthcare for the Homeless dental clinic (60 hours) I have also shadowed several dentists for various amounts of time (around 40 hours). Following my failed first attempt at the DAT I moved to France and during my time there shadowed a French dentist in Paris (80 hours). Currently, I work as a dental assistant part time and am taking anatomy and physiology (got an A for the first semester) and two more courses this semester. I'm also currently helping an implantologist to write/compile/hopefully publish some of his clinical research.

I just retook the DAT and improved but not as much as I had hoped:
PAT 20
QR 18
RC 22
Bio 18
GC 17
OC 16
SNS 17
AA 18

I took the DAT February 2nd and want to know if I should retake before the application cycle. As I am working, and taking courses, I feel if I did decide to retake, it would mean applying later in the cycle (I would wait until the two courses end in may so I can decrease that pressure and focus - it is in part why I underperformed). I wonder if it's worth it or not?


If you need anymore information I would be happy to give more details.

Thank you again!

If you believe you will do better than yes. If not, then no. Some schools have cutoffs no matter. Some are 16, 17, or 18. Just apply early and to a lot of schools and hopefully you'll get something. I think your applications has a great story from shadowing in France to volunteering. I would start making friends at the admissions offices of the schools that you're interested in.

 

[acesofseven]

I don't think you should waste your money applying to UOP and Columbia. They're both DAT heavy schools.

 

[Astatedental]

just so you know I got an interview with the below scores. Most of your sections are really good! If you haven't used Chads videos I assure you if you know his videos your Chem scores will go up 4 points. study Feralis notes on DATbootcamp and I think your retake will be solid! ( if you don't get in, you still have a good chance!) good luck

18AA
TS 20
Bio 21
GC 20
OC 19
PAT 18
RC 17
QR 14

3.8 science GPA