Question about GPA & DAT

[Simply_Unique]

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I recently spoke to someone and they told me that it if someone has a high GPA (especially BCP) and low or below average DAT scores that it would not look good...the DAT would have to be above average. Is this true?

 

[CMistry]

A lot of people say that here... that a high GPA needs a similarly high DAT. Is it true? I have no idea. Do I believe it? Not at all.

-Cyrus

 

[bodiddely]

A high GPA and low DAT *might* be a sign of grade inflation, whereas a low GPA and high DAT *might* be a sign of a tough undergrad grading environment. This doesn't mean that if your DAT is low it's better for your GPA to be low as well

But it's for this reason I think that some people say that if one of them is gonna be on the lower range of competitive, it's better that it be your GPA.

 

[rdhdds1]

I applied to and was rejected by every dental school I applied to this cycle (2008). However, I took it upon myself and called a few of the schools to find out what it was in my application that sent them running for the hills. What I was told be the admissions officer at the University of KY was that if
"your grade in a particular subject (i.e chemistry) was a "B" or even an "A" then your DAT score in that subject area should be a resemblence of that achievement; at least an 18 or 19."

Pretty much every admissions officer that I spoke to stated the same thing or something very similar. Does that mean I am a *******? No. All that means in my case is that I did not spend enough time studying for the DAT.

Word of advise. Opinions vary and you can only make the proper decision for your unique situation. If you have any questions call the school directly and ask the admissions people.

 

[blankguy]

I applied to and was rejected by every dental school I applied to this cycle (2008). However, I took it upon myself and called a few of the schools to find out what it was in my application that sent them running for the hills. What I was told be the admissions officer at the University of KY was that if
"your grade in a particular subject (i.e chemistry) was a "B" or even an "A" then your DAT score in that subject area should be a resemblence of that achievement; at least an 18 or 19."

Pretty much every admissions officer that I spoke to stated the same thing or something very similar. Does that mean I am a *******? No. All that means in my case is that I did not spend enough time studying for the DAT.

Word of advise. Opinions vary and you can only make the proper decision for your unique situation. If you have any questions call the school directly and ask the admissions people.

I agree. If your grade is an A then 18 or 19 is consistent with the grade. Getting say a 15 might be a red flag on that A grade.

 

[Slacker24]

.

 

[bigasianpianist]

hahahah a green light for you to go apply again next year

 

[iwannabadentist]

Well, if you're a non-traditional applicant who has been out of school for several years, than of course you are given leeway as far as your DAT scores go! Why would it be any other way? All the schools do it (except for Howard and Meharry). It's like Affirmative Action, but for old people, mature applicants who are too "mature" to do well on a standardized test designed for sprightly young college kids. Why would you be held to the same academic standards if you've been out of school for a few years?? That's absurd. Go ahead and score lower than average on the DAT if you've been out of school for two, three, or more years, everyone will understand!! Your 15 isn't a red flag, it's a green light!!

🤣

 

[tizom]

say if someone has a 3.8 gpa/3.8 sci gpa from a respectable undergrad but got a
19 bio/18gchem/18ochem/18aa/20 pat/20 qr/17rc... do they have a shot?

 

[flying rider]

Do schools see the individual scores for bio, gen chem, ochem or do they just see the total science score?

 

[bigasianpianist]

say if someone has a 3.8 gpa/3.8 sci gpa from a respectable undergrad but got a
19 bio/18gchem/18ochem/18aa/20 pat/20 qr/17rc... do they have a shot?

they have a shot, but its not gonna look great because its contradictory to what their gpa is. Normally an applicant's gpa is used as a predeterminant for what their DAT will be.

 

[bigasianpianist]

Do schools see the individual scores for bio, gen chem, ochem or do they just see the total science score?

they..see...everything....

 

[doc3232]

Schools see individual science scores.
Yes, it does look bad when you have a 4.0 with a low DAT score.

And this thread is old. OP probably got accepted after making this thread. Hence the UM 2013.