NEED APPLICATION ADVICE! thanks

[wort]

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Hi everyone,

This is my first thread on student doctor, so I apologize if I am breaching some sort of forum etiquette policy (wrong forum, already in the FAQ, etc.).

I only decided to apply to dental school this April. Since doing so I have completed Organic Chemistry, and shadowed for 100 hours and am working full time. I just finished writing my personal statement today. I know that it is considered a good idea to apply as early in the cycle as possible and that you can apply before submitting your DAT score.

My current plan: study for the DAT for a week and take a practice test, if I do well(ish) then submit my apps next week and register for a DAT date around August 22nd.

My fears: Applying this cycle and then doing horribly on the DAT. Dental schools will see what a ****ty job I have done and then hate me if I need to apply again next year. Do schools only "look" at your top score or do all attempts at the DAT count.

My questions: When is the latest I can take the DAT for this cycle? What would you do if you were in my shoes?


Thanks to anyone who has any advice to share!

 

[slm266]

If you bomb it and want to retake you have to wait 90 days. Go ahead and apply, it's not a deal breaker if you don't get in and have to reapply next year.

If you don't do well you'll be looking at late nov/ early December. Chances of getting an interview (this cycle) will drop significantly. Study hard, sign up for Aug DAT, and wait until august to take the computer TOPSCORE PRO DAT. If in Aug you do not score 19/20+ on topscore I would postpone your first DAT attempt. It's not a big deal if you have to reapply, but it's less ideal if you bomb the DAT and have to retake.

I could have rushed my DAT and applied a cycle earlier but decided to wait until I had a solid background and time off to study. Only had to take the DAT once and got in my first cycle applying. My DAT score (21 AA/ 22 TS/ 22 PA) compensated somewhat for my lower GPA (3.48 cGPA /3.29 sGPA).

What's your GPA?

 

[wort]

Wow, thanks for the quick response (and cool avatar)! My GPA is 3.6 and my Science GPA probably around 3.3.

If I sign up to take the DAT in August and then my Topscore score sucks and I decide not to take it am I just out $450 dollars (or however much it costs to take) or am I stuck with a 0,0,0 because I didn't show up? Will dental schools see that I didn't show up? Can I reschedule my timeslot?

I know that it takes 4-8 weeks from the time your application is submitted to the time that schools actually see it. Can I start submitting it before I have my DAT score and if I do submit it then never give them a DAT score because I decided not to take it this cycle (if my TOPSCORE score is terrible) what happens???

 

[slm266]

It only costs 25$ to reschedule. You just have to reschedule more than 24 hrs in advance.

You can withdraw an application.

 

[wort]

Thank you! screw dental school, you should be a pre-health advisor

 

[dentalWorks]

Hi everyone,

This is my first thread on student doctor, so I apologize if I am breaching some sort of forum etiquette policy (wrong forum, already in the FAQ, etc.).

I only decided to apply to dental school this April. Since doing so I have completed Organic Chemistry, and shadowed for 100 hours and am working full time. I just finished writing my personal statement today. I know that it is considered a good idea to apply as early in the cycle as possible and that you can apply before submitting your DAT score.

My current plan: study for the DAT for a week and take a practice test, if I do well(ish) then submit my apps next week and register for a DAT date around August 22nd.

My fears: Applying this cycle and then doing horribly on the DAT. Dental schools will see what a ****ty job I have done and then hate me if I need to apply again next year. Do schools only "look" at your top score or do all attempts at the DAT count.

My questions: When is the latest I can take the DAT for this cycle? What would you do if you were in my shoes?


Thanks to anyone who has any advice to share!

If you spend long enough (*hint* 4500+ posts) around SDN, you'll quickly realize that what many people get on practice tests isn't very indicative of what they'll get on the real deal.

And studying for 1 week (FOR MOST OF US) isn't going to help us accomplish anything. If you want to take the DAT seriously, start preparing hard now, and take it by end of August (or whenever you feel comfortable). You can start doing your practice tests when you get closer to D-day, but certainly not 1 week after preparation.

 

[slm266]

Thank you! screw dental school, you should be a pre-health advisor

Please dont insult my intelligence 🙂

 

[doc toothache]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=774287

 

[wort]

you guys are great! do you just browse this site and answer questions because you are nice people?

doc toothache, any chance you are in the mood to review my personal statement?

 

[slm266]

For every 5 nice comments I make I get to give someone a real zinger

 

[theconfusedone]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=774287

Hey doc, if a school takes the HIGHEST, is it that they only see the highest of EACH section of the DAT
For example (all made up numbers for comparison):
First DAT: Bio 17, Chem 16, Orgo 16, QR 18, PAT 16
Second DAT: Bio 15, Chem 18, Orgo 16, QR 17, PAT 18)
Then would the schools that are listed as looking at the HIGHEST see this:
Bio 17, Chem 18, Orgo 16, QR 18, PAT 18)

Aso, if you did worse a 2nd time around, and the schools look at the RECENT DAT, how would you go about take on this matter? Thanks ^_^

 

[doc toothache]

Hey doc, if a school takes the HIGHEST, is it that they only see the highest of EACH section of the DAT
For example (all made up numbers for comparison):
First DAT: Bio 17, Chem 16, Orgo 16, QR 18, PAT 16
Second DAT: Bio 15, Chem 18, Orgo 16, QR 17, PAT 18)
Then would the schools that are listed as looking at the HIGHEST see this:
Bio 17, Chem 18, Orgo 16, QR 18, PAT 18)

Aso, if you did worse a 2nd time around, and the schools look at the RECENT DAT, how would you go about take on this matter? Thanks ^_^

Only your neighborly adcoms know for sure. It probably doesn't really make any difference unless they are using a formula for some real numbers. Logically, the different sets of scores simply indicate how well/poorly you can do on a particular day.