No Chances huh?!

Started by Molarcule
DATBooster | The Ultimate DAT Resource
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
M

Molarcule

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
I just took my DAT's and I did horrible. AA:16 TS:16 PAT:19

I'm Asian and a chem major with a 3.4 GPA. Pretty much I have my sculpting and visual arts to back up my resume along with school activities such as T.Aing and about 50+ shadowing hours. I am hoping to apply early and see if they will give me a shot. What do you think?
 
Your scores are pretty bad and it's starting to get later than "early" unless you are talking about applying next year. I guess if you have money to throw away it's worth a shot, but your chances are slim.
 
Hey, your GPA isn't too low (for a chem major!). I would apply and retake the DAT at the end of August. Just watch the entire series of Chad's videos and your Gchem + orgo scores will drastically improve!! Chin up, you'll have a chance to get in somewhere with an improved DAT score! 😀
 
Sorry to say, but with a 16AA 16TS you've got as much chance as a snowflake on a hot plate. The application money would be better spent on DAT materials or even a DAT course.
 
Those scores won't get you in anywhere. 16 is way below average, and you're GPA is a bit below average. You also need to up your shadowing hours. Applying early will not help, and even though you have some extracurricular, schools look more on DAT scores and GPA. People overestimate the power of applying early. Just because you apply early doesn't mean it will overshadow your low GPA/DAT scores. Applying early is only a good idea because you don't want to screw yourself. Hypothetically, say you have a 30% chance of getting into dental school if you applied early. Your chance of getting in diminishes as the admissions process goes later into the cycle. This theoretical 30% is your ceiling, and is based on your GPA/DAT/LOR/other admissions factor. So applying early is only good if you had a good chance to begin with. For your DAT scores, your chance of getting in is low and applying early won't raise it any higher. Personally I believe having good GPA/DAT > applying early, but some do not agree.

Are you applying this cycle or next? If it is this cycle, I hope you haven't submitted yet, because I would be very surprised if a school offers you an acceptance. IF you already paid, then I would just wait to see what happens, because I know you have to wait 3 months to retake the test and by September, you're application will be pretty late. If you haven't submitted, then I would study for the DAT now until May to really get a good score and apply next cycle, while shadowing/volunteering/working. You could take some community college classes too. I'm not sure if a post bacc is needed with your GPA, but if you want to be a great applicant you can do that too.
 
Molarcule said:
I just took my DAT's and I did horrible. AA:16 TS:16 PAT:19

I'm Asian and a chem major with a 3.4 GPA. Pretty much I have my sculpting and visual arts to back up my resume along with school activities such as T.Aing and about 50+ shadowing hours. I am hoping to apply early and see if they will give me a shot. What do you think?
Click to expand...

Your GPA is just a tad below average. Your DAT is excessively below average. Both of these things don't go in your favour. You should study harder than you've ever studied before and rewrite DAT (aim for 20 score). Maybe get a Masters to make up for your GPA.

I don't think your application will even be looked at with those stats.
 
You DO have a chance. Let me tell you my story, I'm a white male.

I applied last year in June, took my first DAT in August. I made one point higher than you on AA and TS, and made a 17 on my PAT (17/17/17).

I retook on November 15th (2010) and made a 19/20/16 and got in.

My cumGPA and sciGPA were 3.46 and 3.32, respectively. I was a Bio major at a private university in the southeast.

I interviewed at Loma Linda on Oct. 28th, LSU on January 13th, and at ASDOH on February 1st. Got rejected from LSU and ASDOH, and accepted at Loma Linda on December 3rd.

Don't let this bad score get you down. Plan to retake your test, and study like you've never studied before for the next three months (whilst waiting on a retake). The one piece of advice I would give you is to make you story INTERESTING. Adcoms read thousands of apps and you have to make yourself standout. Life stories are a great way to do so, especially if you weren't born with a silver spoon...people love to hear how potential students struggle to obtain their goals.

Cheer up, man up, and do what needs to be done. You can do it!!! Best wishes and I'll have my fingers crossed for you!
 
Molarcule said:
Well I didn't want to take up everyone's time with jargon. I think I'll apply next year.
Click to expand...

I want to add, I thought you'd already paid all the fees and such. I agree with most of the people above...you chances will be better next year after you retake the DAT. But to say that it's "almost impossible" is a bit extreme. Best of luck to you.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
No way! Dont get a masters unless you choose to do it for some special interest. I think the OP needs a 20+ DAT & apply to 15 schools for some interview opportunities.

More shadowing would not hurt either.

I suggest chad's, destroyer, and AP biology for the sciences.



AlbinoPolarBear said:
Your GPA is just a tad below average. Your DAT is excessively below average. Both of these things don't go in your favour. You should study harder than you've ever studied before and rewrite DAT (aim for 20 score). Maybe get a Masters to make up for your GPA.

I don't think your application will even be looked at with those stats.
Click to expand...
 
Chemboy😱!


whodat4life said:
You DO have a chance. Let me tell you my story, I'm a white male.

I applied last year in June, took my first DAT in August. I made one point higher than you on AA and TS, and made a 17 on my PAT (17/17/17).

I retook on November 15th (2010) and made a 19/20/16 and got in.

My cumGPA and sciGPA were 3.46 and 3.32, respectively. I was a Bio major at a private university in the southeast.

I interviewed at Loma Linda on Oct. 28th, LSU on January 13th, and at ASDOH on February 1st. Got rejected from LSU and ASDOH, and accepted at Loma Linda on December 3rd.

Don't let this bad score get you down. Plan to retake your test, and study like you've never studied before for the next three months (whilst waiting on a retake). The one piece of advice I would give you is to make you story INTERESTING. Adcoms read thousands of apps and you have to make yourself standout. Life stories are a great way to do so, especially if you weren't born with a silver spoon...people love to hear how potential students struggle to obtain their goals.

Cheer up, man up, and do what needs to be done. You can do it!!! Best wishes and I'll have my fingers crossed for you!
Click to expand...
 
17 DAT is a cut off for most schools, so they won't even look at your app past your numbers. Just study hard and re-take the DAT. I wouldn't rush taking it as soon as you can unless you really think you can nail it. YOur GPA is only a little below average but people get accepted with a 3.4. I have a 3.4 too I asked a dentist on the admissions board if I should do a post bac and he said no. If you're not going to apply until next year you have a lot of time to get a great score on your DAT and really bulk up your app. They say if you have 600+ volunteer hours, you have a good chance at asdoh with lower scores.
 
In my opinion start studying right now and retake the DAT once you're good and ready, then apply next year.
 
Molarcule said:
I just took my DAT's and I did horrible. AA:16 TS:16 PAT:19

I'm Asian and a chem major with a 3.4 GPA. Pretty much I have my sculpting and visual arts to back up my resume along with school activities such as T.Aing and about 50+ shadowing hours. I am hoping to apply early and see if they will give me a shot. What do you think?
Click to expand...


Chem was your major you should have killed the TS via GCHEM & OCHEM. 16 is pretty bad. I recommend taking 2 months and take the DAT seriously.
 
tpwelie34 said:
3.4 sGPA is below average? Aren't there many schools that start accepting at around 3.00 gpa already?
Click to expand...

yep. 3.4 sgpa is below average.

it starts accepting at 3.0 doesn't mean that the average is 3.0.

buy the adea handbook. best 40$ investment you can make.
 
So even with a 3.5 GPA, an average 18 DAT, decent shadowing hours, 4 LORs, and some EC's, my chances of getting into a school like USC which has a mean accepted GPA of 3.2 is still not that good?
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Stop using logic. It's much more popular to be pessimistic and only use logic when it supports pessimistic POV's.

tpwelie34 said:
So even with a 3.5 GPA, an average 18 DAT, decent shadowing hours, 4 LORs, and some EC's, my chances of getting into a school like USC which has a mean accepted GPA of 3.2 is still not that good?
Click to expand...
 
Molarcule said:
I just took my DAT's and I did horrible. AA:16 TS:16 PAT:19

I'm Asian and a chem major with a 3.4 GPA. Pretty much I have my sculpting and visual arts to back up my resume along with school activities such as T.Aing and about 50+ shadowing hours. I am hoping to apply early and see if they will give me a shot. What do you think?
Click to expand...

My cumGPA and sciGPA were 4.00 and 4.00 but my DAT is just (17/18/21 - May2011) with a 16 on the bio portion. I am a Justice Administration Major and extremely worried about my chances at getting in. I served 10 years in the military but am unsure if that helps my chances at all. I can try and take the DAT again but am attempting to beef up my shadowing time. I get out of the military on Jul 18. I am not quitting. You shouldn't either. I finally took bio this summer and will take ochem and biochem next year. Don't give up!!! Let's do it!
 
tpwelie34 said:
So even with a 3.5 GPA, an average 18 DAT, decent shadowing hours, 4 LORs, and some EC's, my chances of getting into a school like USC which has a mean accepted GPA of 3.2 is still not that good?
Click to expand...

18 DAT is not the average of accepted students. YOu really need at least a 19 in all sections unless you have a 3.7 gpa or higher and even then... Pretty much everyone applying has 4 LORs, ECs, and shadowing hours. I have a 3.4 gpa TS/19 AA/19 PAT/24 and didn't get in. I didn't even get an interview to USC.
 
mckenna87 said:
18 DAT is not the average of accepted students. YOu really need at least a 19 in all sections unless you have a 3.7 gpa or higher and even then... Pretty much everyone applying has 4 LORs, ECs, and shadowing hours. I have a 3.4 gpa TS/19 AA/19 PAT/24 and didn't get in. I didn't even get an interview to USC.
Click to expand...

Wow, if that is the case then all the people in the "below 3.0 club" have like a 0.001% of acceptance? You guys are starting to scare me 🙁
 
tpwelie34 said:
Wow, if that is the case then all the people in the "below 3.0 club" have like a 0.001% of acceptance? You guys are starting to scare me 🙁
Click to expand...

The idea is that the people in the under 3.0 didn't just apply as-is and hope for the best (well, if they knew what they were doing...). Those of us who had a gpa below 3.0 at some point typically had to do something to get it high enough to then apply and get in, i.e. either post-bac or SMP.
 
camshaft said:
The idea is that the people in the under 3.0 didn't just apply as-is and hope for the best (well, if they knew what they were doing...). Those of us who had a gpa below 3.0 at some point typically had to do something to get it high enough to then apply and get in, i.e. either post-bac or SMP.
Click to expand...

Hmm I'm starting to get scared. I thought that my 3.55 sGPA that I am still trying to bring up would at least give me a fairly decent chance of netting at least one acceptance seeing as the national avg gpa was 3.5. This is of course factoring in LORs, EC's, and an avg 19 DAT score that I hopefully will score higher on when I take it.
 
I wish I had taken the easy route in terms of my GPA. A couple of science classes here and there in conjunction with some easy major classes. I realize that my shadowing hours are pretty lackluster. I'll be doing some more and try to boost it up to the upper 1-200's. I will be sending my application for 2013. However, I'll jump back into studying on Tuesday once I have my mind clear in hopes to retake this exam sometime in Fall. It's just going to suck because I'll be taking PChem, Advance Orgo and advance nutrition and corresponding labs. Oh well, tomorrow is another day and you just need to man up and do it.
 
bro how hard did you study for your exam? maybe try to come up with a good study plan or use the 8 week one. I think your GPA is decent though.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Does Fee Waiver Affect Interview Chances?
Replies
5
Views
1K
Lemillion
Lemillion
emilia112
classification problem? shadowing yes or no
Replies
2
Views
1K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
bkthmusic
Scholarship chances
Replies
13
Views
2K
bkthmusic
bkthmusic
W
Chances of dental school after failing out of medical school
Replies
2
Views
207
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
emilia112
how does withdrawing my application after interview affect chances?
Replies
6
Views
2K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12