Real dilemma

[dental2012]

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Hi all,
So I really need some help with my issue here: THANKS in advance.

So I am got my DAT scores they are: 20TS, 19AA, 17 RC, 15 PAT (ouch)
these are from my DAT taken in Canada. I am planning to take the American DAT on jan 14. I have already sent my scores to the schools I have applied to and basically told them that I would be retaking. I know Jan is already so late but I am considering pushing the date to feb 1. I am feeling like I am cramming. I have studied the material but I really think the American DAT is harder so I must put in some more time. What do you guys suggest? I have had a couple of interviews but been put on the waitlist, i know its cuz of the PAT.

Please HELP!

 

[dental2012]

bump
help

 

[fireblast713]

if you don't feel ready take em in Feb, even if you were to take it in Jan, your scores would be late enough that they're not really going to factor into your application till after they re-evaluate it so another month won't kill you in my opinion, better to take a month more and rock the test, then to take it early and show little/no improvement.

 

[SMCohen]

I agree - take them in February, if you don't feel you're going to be ready in mid-January. There's no point in rushing yourself and potentially doing poorly in January.

 

[tamkhan]

Hi all,
So I really need some help with my issue here: THANKS in advance.

So I am got my DAT scores they are: 20TS, 19AA, 17 RC, 15 PAT (ouch)
these are from my DAT taken in Canada. I am planning to take the American DAT on jan 14. I have already sent my scores to the schools I have applied to and basically told them that I would be retaking. I know Jan is already so late but I am considering pushing the date to feb 1. I am feeling like I am cramming. I have studied the material but I really think the American DAT is harder so I must put in some more time. What do you guys suggest? I have had a couple of interviews but been put on the waitlist, i know its cuz of the PAT.

Please HELP!

where have you interviewed?

 

[Cymbidium]

wait until you feel ready to take them. If you take them in Jan and do poorly, you'll just have to re-take them again.

 

[DrSmiles12]

1st off thanks for NOT saying you wrote the DAT but you took it!

Really a 19 AA and 20 TS aren't that bad. Sure a 15 PAT isn't the best but most schools PAT avgs are 17ish. It kinda depends on when you applied and you sGPA and cGPA. How is you cGPA/sGPA?

If you are dead set on getting in this cycle I might retake the DAT. I wouldn't retake it unless you were going to get at least a 20 AA with a 20 PAT or better so you could show some improvement. That might mean you want to study a lot and wait a little before you take it. One score you could work on is the RC, the 17 isn't to bad but if you improve that they would like that too.
Good luck

 

[dental2012]

1st off thanks for NOT saying you wrote the DAT but you took it!

Really a 19 AA and 20 TS aren't that bad. Sure a 15 PAT isn't the best but most schools PAT avgs are 17ish. It kinda depends on when you applied and you sGPA and cGPA. How is you cGPA/sGPA?

If you are dead set on getting in this cycle I might retake the DAT. I wouldn't retake it unless you were going to get at least a 20 AA with a 20 PAT or better so you could show some improvement. That might mean you want to study a lot and wait a little before you take it. One score you could work on is the RC, the 17 isn't to bad but if you improve that they would like that too.
Good luck

hey thanks for noticing that I said took the DAT. I learned, you guys get pissed off if we say write, so I was extra careful!
Yeah, I am very depressed about being waitlisted. I think you guys all gave really good advice. I want to kill that DAT, that DAT b**** has taken over my life, the only thing that is holding me back. My gpa is 3.59 cumulative/3.49 sciences. Lots of ECs/leadership/all that jazz.applied in may. I need to get down on my knees and pray for this. So please make a prayer for me that i get off the waitlist and get in.

thanks for the advice. I have postponed my DAT to feb 1 after the ADA updates the DAT for the next round of ppl ( no DAT is offered during 16-29 JAN)

 

[PickMe]

dont worry too much, some schools weigh the PAT far less than other schools. i know someone who got into penn with a 13 on the PAT so that goes to show you that some schools recognize how irrelevant this section of the DAT is.

 

[NismoDDS]

hey thanks for noticing that I said took the DAT. I learned, you guys get pissed off if we say write, so I was extra careful!
Yeah, I am very depressed about being waitlisted. I think you guys all gave really good advice. I want to kill that DAT, that DAT b**** has taken over my life, the only thing that is holding me back. My gpa is 3.59 cumulative/3.49 sciences. Lots of ECs/leadership/all that jazz.applied in may. I need to get down on my knees and pray for this. So please make a prayer for me that i get off the waitlist and get in.

thanks for the advice. I have postponed my DAT to feb 1 after the ADA updates the DAT for the next round of ppl ( no DAT is offered during 16-29 JAN)

You're in the same position i was last year. I applied late with average scores, I ended up taking the year off getting a job at a vet. lab. This year I made sure to apply early with the same exact stats, and it made a huge difference. I honestly dont think there's any point in applying to dental schools in February. Its so late in the process that they might not even look at your application unless you get like a 24 on the DAT. But just to be safe call up the schools and ask them, they might even tell you the same thing I did and you won't have to waste money applying to that school. Good luck to you.

 

[DrSmiles12]

hey thanks for noticing that I said took the DAT. I learned, you guys get pissed off if we say write, so I was extra careful!
Yeah, I am very depressed about being waitlisted. I think you guys all gave really good advice. I want to kill that DAT, that DAT b**** has taken over my life, the only thing that is holding me back. My gpa is 3.59 cumulative/3.49 sciences. Lots of ECs/leadership/all that jazz.applied in may. I need to get down on my knees and pray for this. So please make a prayer for me that i get off the waitlist and get in.

thanks for the advice. I have postponed my DAT to feb 1 after the ADA updates the DAT for the next round of ppl ( no DAT is offered during 16-29 JAN)

If it were me I really wouldn't retake the DAT, I don't think you did that bad. I am in now way a professional opinion giver... You obviously applied a little late which makes it a little harder because when schools look at late applicants they usually look for higher than avg ppl. Your GPA is good! I would just kick back and relax and at worst you will have to re-apply next year. If you apply early you'll be just fine and you won't need to retake. That's what I would probably do.