Old DAT scores vs. New DAT scores

[iLOVEsports]

So I'm going to be re-applying this year and I was planning on retaking my DATs, since it's one of the obvious ways to improve your application. Here are my scores from the first time I took the test:

AA: 20
TS: 20
Bio: 19
Ochem: 22
Gchem: 19
RC: 21
QR: 17
PAT: 19

I know that dental schools take your latest scores, even if they're worse than your previous ones. If I submitted my application, with my old scores, on June 1st and take the DATs afterwards (I'm thinking June 10th), if I end up doing worse, do I have to submit those scores, since I already had my first ones sent? Or can I just not have them sent, and let the schools see my first score only?

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[adizzle87]

Some schools will take your higher scores, others will only consider the latest ones. Your scores seem solid on their own but I would assume that it wasn't enough to compensate for the GPA (I could be totally wrong about your GPA being the problem of course).

I wouldn't try to hide it from schools, they might find out and what then?

 

[Waitlisted2009]

.

 

[iLOVEsports]

My GPA was really low (3.1 overall, 2.9 science), but with my post bacc grades included, my science GPA is probably 3.1 now (I took all science classes). So I think if I retake and get at least a 21 (hopefully 22) then it'll just compensate even more for my low GPA. But, I just want to make sure that IN CASE I don't do as well as I did the first time, it won't hurt me.

 

[iLOVEsports]

Also, one of the school I applied to calculated my DAT as a 19.6 (the average of all the sections), instead of a 20. So, getting even a solid 20 instead of a 19.6 is another reason why I think I should retake the test.

 

[klutzy1987]

I would choose which schools you apply to wisely. Apply to schools that heavily value DAT scores and do not consider gpa as strongly. I dont think you def have to retake. I would schdule the retake for like early october maybe that way you can see if interviews are coming in.

 

[iLOVEsports]

That's what I did this time around, but I got rejected from most the school's I applied to (I applied to 16 schools). I'm still waiting to hear back from Tufts and Boston, but at this point I'm pretty sure I got rejected. I'm going to re-apply in June and I'm also applying to some SMPs, so that in the next year, while I'm waiting to hear back from schools, I'll be in a program and hopefully schools look at that as a plus. But my other question is: should I wait to apply to dental school until after I finish my SMP or should I apply now and let schools see that I'm currently in one, and then update my application when grades come out?

 

[chober]

So I'm going to be re-applying this year and I was planning on retaking my DATs, since it's one of the obvious ways to improve your application. Here are my scores from the first time I took the test:

AA: 20
TS: 20
Bio: 19
Ochem: 22
Gchem: 19
RC: 21
QR: 17
PAT: 19

I know that dental schools take your latest scores, even if they're worse than your previous ones. If I submitted my application, with my old scores, on June 1st and take the DATs afterwards (I'm thinking June 10th), if I end up doing worse, do I have to submit those scores, since I already had my first ones sent? Or can I just not have them sent, and let the schools see my first score only?

I'm sitting around with really similar stats to you. How deep is your Extracurricular list?

 

[doc toothache]

So I'm going to be re-applying this year and I was planning on retaking my DATs, since it's one of the obvious ways to improve your application. Here are my scores from the first time I took the test:
AA: 20
TS: 20
I know that dental schools take your latest scores, even if they're worse than your previous ones. If I submitted my application, with my old scores, on June 1st and take the DATs afterwards (I'm thinking June 10th), if I end up doing worse, do I have to submit those scores, since I already had my first ones sent? Or can I just not have them sent, and let the schools see my first score only?

It may be "one of the obvious ways to improve application" in cases where the DAT scores are low and the gpa is at least average. Moreover, it may be an "obvious way" but it is presuming that you will improve the score. Incidentally, not all schools take the "latest scores" as you suggested. Why not put you B.S. and your post bac as a down payment for an M.S.? Playing the shell game with the scores has the aroma of deceit and it is hard to think of a single school anywhere in the world where that would be considered a quality ds are searching for.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=400209
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527651

 

[nhpham2]

How late did you apply?

 

[iLOVEsports]

It's not that I'm trying to find a sneaky way out of dental schools trying to figure out my latest scores in case I do bad. I'll have my first time scores sent anyways when I submit my application, and, if I do retake the DATs and don't do as well, then I just wanted to know if those scores would get sent too, even though I'm not paying for them to get sent. And if the new scores are sent after I pay again, if I do worse, I'd rather not pay the extra money to show that my scores were lower. I'm just confused as to how that would work.

I am applying to M.S. and SMP programs for the next term as well, so that I'm at least working toward a degree or certificate in the mean time to kind of boost my application even more. But I don't know if I should apply to dental schools now, before I complete an M.S. program, or if I should wait until I complete some coursework to do so. I'm taking some post bacc classes right now, so I do have something to add to my application (my GPA will probably be at a 3.3 once I'm done). Is that enough for now to show improvement in my application, with my concurrent enrollment in a M.S. or SMP?

And to nhpham2: I got my primary application in to AADSAS on June 28th and my file was supposed to be complete by mid August (with secondaries and everything) but in October I realized that my lettering service messed up and didn't send a couple of my letters in. And, even though the schools said it didn't affect my application, I'm sure it had to push the review of it back at least.

 

[Ninster]

It's not that I'm trying to find a sneaky way out of dental schools trying to figure out my latest scores in case I do bad. I'll have my first time scores sent anyways when I submit my application, and, if I do retake the DATs and don't do as well, then I just wanted to know if those scores would get sent too, even though I'm not paying for them to get sent. And if the new scores are sent after I pay again, if I do worse, I'd rather not pay the extra money to show that my scores were lower. I'm just confused as to how that would work.

I am applying to M.S. and SMP programs for the next term as well, so that I'm at least working toward a degree or certificate in the mean time to kind of boost my application even more. But I don't know if I should apply to dental schools now, before I complete an M.S. program, or if I should wait until I complete some coursework to do so. I'm taking some post bacc classes right now, so I do have something to add to my application (my GPA will probably be at a 3.3 once I'm done). Is that enough for now to show improvement in my application, with my concurrent enrollment in a M.S. or SMP?

And to nhpham2: I got my primary application in to AADSAS on June 28th and my file was supposed to be complete by mid August (with secondaries and everything) but in October I realized that my lettering service messed up and didn't send a couple of my letters in. And, even though the schools said it didn't affect my application, I'm sure it had to push the review of it back at least.

Hey did you get any interviews this cycle? I have similar stats as you and was wondering the exact same thing! My old DAT scores:

TS: 19
GC: 20
Bio: 20
VR: 20
Orgo: 18
PAT: 18
QR: 18

...I'm Canadian so I was thinking of writing my DAT in July for American schools and if it goes really bad, of writing the Canadian DAT in November...I dunno what happens if I do worse though :S?

Also the limit of 'can only write the DAT 3x' does that apply to both Canadian and American DAT together? Is there even such a limit?

I got two interviews this cycle, BU and USC...rejected from BU after an interview I thought went amazing...still waiting on USC (but it's QUITE far from Toronto, Canada!!)

 

[nhpham2]

With those scores you are quite competitive and applying early really should have guarantee you an interview. I am still in awe that you didn't? My application didn't get in till end of Nov. and got interviews from Dec. to Feb. and with lower stats then you did. Well Good Luck next cycle and I don't think need to retake but you might as well since you have time.

 

[doc toothache]

It's not that I'm trying to find a sneaky way out of dental schools trying to figure out my latest scores in case I do bad. I'll have my first time scores sent anyways when I submit my application, and, if I do retake the DATs and don't do as well, then I just wanted to know if those scores would get sent too, even though I'm not paying for them to get sent. And if the new scores are sent after I pay again, if I do worse, I'd rather not pay the extra money to show that my scores were lower. I'm just confused as to how that would work.

It sure has the sound of trying "to find a sneaky way out". You have an obligation to send any and all information that may have an impact on your application. Not sending in the scores, should they be lower, is no different than failure to send your academic record that may have unflattering grades.

 

[iLOVEsports]

ninster: no I didn't get any interviews this year and I'm pretty sure it's because of my GPA, but I applied to a lot of schools that weighed DAT more than GPA. But still no success 🙁 And I think if you want to take the DATs more than 3 times, you have to petition for it (this info's just based on what I've read on this forum, so I'm not sure. You should contact the schools or the testing administrators)

nhpham2: Yeah, I was hoping for at least one or two interviews, considering that I applied to a lot of schools, but I didn't get any. But this time around, I'm just going to have to makes sure that EVERYTHING is in really early. And hopefully my GPA will be raised enough to make to at least get some interviews this time around.

I'm really confused as to whether or not I should retake, because a lot of people are telling me that my scores as good. If I do retake, I'm hoping to get at least a 21, but then I'm also risking not doing as well as I did the first time. I don't know what to do! 🙁

 

[Ninster]

ninster: no I didn't get any interviews this year and I'm pretty sure it's because of my GPA, but I applied to a lot of schools that weighed DAT more than GPA. But still no success 🙁 And I think if you want to take the DATs more than 3 times, you have to petition for it (this info's just based on what I've read on this forum, so I'm not sure. You should contact the schools or the testing administrators)

nhpham2: Yeah, I was hoping for at least one or two interviews, considering that I applied to a lot of schools, but I didn't get any. But this time around, I'm just going to have to makes sure that EVERYTHING is in really early. And hopefully my GPA will be raised enough to make to at least get some interviews this time around.

I'm really confused as to whether or not I should retake, because a lot of people are telling me that my scores as good. If I do retake, I'm hoping to get at least a 21, but then I'm also risking not doing as well as I did the first time. I don't know what to do! 🙁

Thanks, will look into it!

 

[Danny289]

My GPA was really low (3.1 overall, 2.9 science), but with my post bacc grades included, my science GPA is probably 3.1 now (I took all science classes). So I think if I retake and get at least a 21 (hopefully 22) then it'll just compensate even more for my low GPA. But, I just want to make sure that IN CASE I don't do as well as I did the first time, it won't hurt me.

IMO, your problem is your GPA not your DAT scores.
Good luck 👍