RC is overrated......a necessary vent session

[y0ssarian]

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Apparently you didnt get the piano passage. The answers there all have to be derived from a prior knowledge of physics and piano. I can read, im not stupid yet that passage is frigging rediculous.

You don't need either. All the answers are in the passage, some just require you to read closely to find the answer. I agree that the piano passage is harder than the other two, but it's not nearly as bad as you or other people make it out to be. You're right that having a piano background potentially helps, but the questions are being asked based on the text, not your prior knowledge. Any discrepancies between the two will leave you with a wrong answer, and you always use your outside knowledge at your own risk with reading comprehension passages.

Also, I believe that the reading comprehension passages are grouped together. Whenever people list their passage topics, you see the piano passage grouped with the same other two, so when you get your RC score back, it's measured against everyone else who had the same three passages. If these passages are really as hard as you say, then other people taking the same test would face the same problems, and the score curves would adjust for that.

 

[Shunwei]

I am pretty sure you stated most of the same things I was talking about, just in a different way.

No one said the system isn't working. I was merely providing an extreme example if we listened to everyones complaints about scores/experience etc... Interviews are awesome, and a great way to show who you really are, which ultimately I would think schools look favorably on candidates with good personalities. Going back to the original argument, while it's ok for the OP to vent, you must realize your own strengths/weaknesses, and there is nothing to blame for your own weaknesses except yourself.



Your description of passion (you first brought the term into play in your original post) is clearly an overstatement. Obviously Michaelangelo has some serious natural ability. For the rest of us aspiring to careers in Dentistry, if we can have the stats to gain acceptance to school and enjoy what we do in our careers, and still at the end of the day have time to pursue our favorite hobbies...........how is that not a great balance? Passion for me is the ambition to succeed in a field that I enjoy working in. If you have no ambition or any "passion" for your career, then why pursue it?? Dreams? Dreams start when you realize you DO have the "tools" to succeed in something. Ambition is drive toward achievement. "Passion".............thats what keeps you going. (keep in mind this is not applicable to aspiring dental students.............but
anything you would like to pursue....hobbies included)

Your story of the Marine was exactly what I described in my original post as an "outlier". And like you said yourself, people shouldn't take those circumstances/stories straight to their head. They should try to make themselves better applicants by improving their weaknesses. But in order to do that, as I think we both agree, you need to realize your own limits, and by working hard you'll open the door for yourself. Those who want it, will eventually get it. I hope one day I can look back as a dental student.

Problem is, I am not sure what you are arguing here at all. You go back and forth and seem to be so wordy that I can't understand what you are saying. Not that it matters, I will make mine here very concise and clear.

* Dentistry is not for everyone. Some people simply do not have the skills or academic aptitude for this. Passion will not overcome this

* At the end of the day, Dentistry is still a job. I like it, but it is a vocation for me to bring in the money and pay the bills. My passion for it simply is a liking for the work. I do a good job at taking care of my patients, and want to get paid well. It's that simple.

* "Passion" as a description is vastly overused here. People have different definitions for it. I don't "drool" when I have passion; I am focused.

* People have talents for different things. Understanding what you can do and can't do is critical for realizing your highest potential. Some people who want to become dentists really shouldn't be one, passion or not.

Not trying to get into a pissing match with you here. Just stating my thoughts.

 

[thethethe]

no, i read the first few sentences and commented

 

[tinman831]

Please remember that you're not allowed to discuss specific details of questions appearing on the exam. Thanks. 🙂

 

[Aceofspades]

You don't need either. All the answers are in the passage, some just require you to read closely to find the answer. I agree that the piano passage is harder than the other two, but it's not nearly as bad as you or other people make it out to be. You're right that having a piano background potentially helps, but the questions are being asked based on the text, not your prior knowledge. Any discrepancies between the two will leave you with a wrong answer, and you always use your outside knowledge at your own risk with reading comprehension passages.

Also, I believe that the reading comprehension passages are grouped together. Whenever people list their passage topics, you see the piano passage grouped with the same other two, so when you get your RC score back, it's measured against everyone else who had the same three passages. If these passages are really as hard as you say, then other people taking the same test would face the same problems, and the score curves would adjust for that.

I do not believe the part in bold is true. Your scores are not weighed against others with the same reading passage, they are weighted by number correct/total. In addition, the passage groupings are not always the same. I had the ethics passage (and frap question) but did not have the same other 2 passages that other people had. In fact, I thought my last passage was just as hard as the ethics!

In addition, the difficulty is amplified by the low amount of time. If I was in dental school and reading something critical that could affect the well-being of my patients I would slow down and read it, instead of blazing through it in 20 minutes and answering 17 questions on it. Just my 2 cents.

 

[mddang]

grow up, i was giving my personal example. Myself, and 12 or 15 other students became very close friends while taking and studing for GB, Gchem, Ochem, Physics, Biochem... Giving my example of how it was for myself and my friends, who did not want to go to dental or med school

LOL, Why so serious??

 

[needa20]

LOL, Why so serious??

the guy before you made it sound like i was saying all asians only do this because of thier parents, then your comment. Glad you were joking

 

[DRHOYA]

Problem is, I am not sure what you are arguing here at all. You go back and forth and seem to be so wordy that I can't understand what you are saying. Not that it matters, I will make mine here very concise and clear.

* Dentistry is not for everyone. Some people simply do not have the skills or academic aptitude for this. Passion will not overcome this

* At the end of the day, Dentistry is still a job. I like it, but it is a vocation for me to bring in the money and pay the bills. My passion for it simply is a liking for the work. I do a good job at taking care of my patients, and want to get paid well. It's that simple.

* "Passion" as a description is vastly overused here. People have different definitions for it. I don't "drool" when I have passion; I am focused.

* People have talents for different things. Understanding what you can do and can't do is critical for realizing your highest potential. Some people who want to become dentists really shouldn't be one, passion or not.

Not trying to get into a pissing match with you here. Just stating my thoughts.

There isn't an argument, just a discussion.......two different things. I like to discuss things because you can learn alot. I will also be concise and clear. To respond:

1. True, nothing will overcome that.
2. I also feel in a similar way, however I feel ambitious enough to try to make a difference and improve healthcare.
3. No one is drooling here. I am driven to succeed plain and simple..........driven.
4. Yes, everyone has different talents. How you apply those talents, and until you apply those talents, you will not reach your highest achievements.

Relax, I'm not trying to get in a "contest" with you. In fact, I enjoy hearing what you have to say, and learn alot. Listening is learning.

 

[sajjy]

RC....i had my interview at UConn today, and they didnt ask or even mention anything about my RC score.

 

[Shunwei]

There isn't an argument, just a discussion.......two different things. I like to discuss things because you can learn alot. I will also be concise and clear. To respond:

1. True, nothing will overcome that.
2. I also feel in a similar way, however I feel ambitious enough to try to make a difference and improve healthcare.
3. No one is drooling here. I am driven to succeed plain and simple..........driven.
4. Yes, everyone has different talents. How you apply those talents, and until you apply those talents, you will not reach your highest achievements.

Relax, I'm not trying to get in a "contest" with you. In fact, I enjoy hearing what you have to say, and learn alot. Listening is learning.

i used the term argument as a metaphorical description. i certainly think it's healthy to agree to disagree. i just prefer to think in pragmatic ways. in graduate school we heard so much bs about 'passion' that it was ridiculous.

 

[Ruthless]

dramatic/emotional people make a bad doctors... 😛

 

[219122]

How about you all be glad that carving a 10cm long block of soap 1cm in diameter in 30 min is not part of your DAT? RC was by far the easiest part of the DAT for me, carving was....not. That's how we measure manual dexterity up here in Canada.

 

[oreoson]

How about you all be glad that carving a 10cm long block of soap 1cm in diameter in 30 min is not part of your DAT? RC was by far the easiest part of the DAT for me, carving was....not. That's how we measure manual dexterity up here in Canada.

I know what you mean, I find the US DAT more humane haha,
I remember one of the cdn passage was a totally irrevant excerpt about some philosophical definition of freedom

 

[DanNuch]

YEHHHHHH

I was scoring 21-25 on topscore achiever and kaplan. The real thing was 18!!! and I got rejected by CASE because of this! I wish I got the floating bridge passage.

was this one supposed to be easy... haha, i had it and still got totally dominated, i had completely forgot what my passage was about until now...

none the less, i did bad on RC and totally see it as an important section, mainly because i am naturally a slow reader and give mad props to those who score good. i have a few interviews but cant say anymore than that

 

[klutzy1987]

was this one supposed to be easy... haha, i had it and still got totally dominated, i had completely forgot what my passage was about until now...

none the less, i did bad on RC and totally see it as an important section, mainly because i am naturally a slow reader and give mad props to those who score good. i have a few interviews but cant say anymore than that

Yeah that floating bridge spinal cord combo is supposed to be the easiest passage. Your lucky that you got that passage.

 

[ZoriBor]

It is so interesting to read opinions and have discussions even arguements. Having an arguement is not a bad thing just like not having the last word in an argument. You can observe different views and different levels of intelligence. FUN!!
My opinion, the most dysfunctional system in the US is its tax system and insurance, also the mortgage market and level of Bureaucracy in addition to few other things but I don't think DAT is part of that. A dentist must be sharp, mentally, emotionally and manually. I don't think they are expecting too much from their future dentists on DAT and GPA areas. And you can't really standardize the acceptance process. So as said before, learn to play the game. Good luck ev one.

 

[klutzy1987]

It is so interesting to read opinions and have discussions even arguements. Having an arguement is not a bad thing just like not having the last word in an argument. You can observe different views and different levels of intelligence. FUN!!
My opinion, the most dysfunctional system in the US is its tax system and insurance, also the mortgage market and level of Bureaucracy in addition to few other things but I don't think DAT is part of that. A dentist must be sharp, mentally, emotionally and manually. I don't think they are expecting too much from their future dentists on DAT and GPA areas. And you can't really standardize the acceptance process. So as said before, learn to play the game. Good luck ev one.

Lost me as soon as you mentioned bureaucracy.

 

[ZoriBor]

Lost me as soon as you mentioned bureaucracy.

LOL , it was one of the rare occassion that i mentioned it.