Need advice! Please!

[healthcaree]

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So I'm a re-applicant who took the DAT for the second time and here are my scores..

PAT: 22 (96.2)
QR: 20 (89.3)
RC: 21 (84.5)
BIO: 22 (95.7)
GC: 20 (81.3)
OC: 19 (73.1)

TS: 21 (92.4)
AA: 20 (87.1)

I got a 21 for OC on my 1st test.. do you think they will take that number into consideration also? my 1st test was 19AA/20TS/21PAT. I'm currently still waitlisted at Pittsburgh and Tufts. but giving up my hopes now that it's almost beginning of the school year.

My scores of academic average, total science, and PAT only went up by one point and I'm a bit concerned whether I need to pull up by like 2-3 points to show an improvement. My cGPA is 3.3 and sGPA 3.2. Extracurricular activities = 2000+ hrs of research (two papers published), 500+ hrs volunteer, 100+ hrs dental assistant experience (still going).

I already submitted my application in mid-June and my mailing date was 7/2. I just need my second DAT score to be sent now.

Should I consider about a re-take at all? (my bio was the biggest improvement of 18 ---> 22.. Reading comprehension went from 18 to 21. but this percentile was from like 40 to 84.5.. official reports don't have this percentile, do they? oh and Math went from 17 --> 20. I didn't get that many 20's last time, but did well on my GC which pulled up my AA)

I have many friends who got over 23+ AA and I'm a bit concerned that I might not be a competitive candidate 🙁 BUT they all are international students (I'm a citizen), and from reading previous posts, I see that they should score higher than citizens/permanent residents. Do I have a chance this year??

 

[i4everpaki]

i think you do, and i hope you do. if you dont then i am screwed

 

[sfrice80]

Of course, your application looks good, you were able to up it a few points which tells schools you are serious about this and willing to put in the work for a re-take. I think you will net a decent amount of interviews this year. Oh and to answer your question above, they will only take into consideration your latest DAT. So I really doubt they will look at your last DAT and say oh well she/he got a 21 the first time, I really doubt that. Good luck though, if you were competitive to land a couple of interviews this last cycle, you should snag a couple more this cycle. Don't worry.

 

[healthcaree]

Of course, your application looks good, you were able to up it a few points which tells schools you are serious about this and willing to put in the work for a re-take. I think you will net a decent amount of interviews this year. Oh and to answer your question above, they will only take into consideration your latest DAT. So I really doubt they will look at your last DAT and say oh well she/he got a 21 the first time, I really doubt that. Good luck though, if you were competitive to land a couple of interviews this last cycle, you should snag a couple more this cycle. Don't worry.

Thanks for the encouragement! It just seemed like so many people (SDN especially!) have been getting 22AA+ and GREAT cGPA/sGPAs.. and dental school is getting more competitive to get in compared to several years ago, so I was just thinking that my point boost is part of the trend where people tend to do better as years pass by..