Retake DAT before interview?

[ddshopeful2012]

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So I rarely post, but I need a little advice from the SDN community!

I took my DAT for the first time in September. I didn't do that well 19AA 18TS 17PAT. I applied to 4 schools, but due to my husband's job situation, I am really only interested in attending my state school. l have an interview at the state school (Tennessee) in February. Do you think it would make sense for me to retake the DAT at this time before my interview? Is this something I could call the school and ask about? The school has been fairly outspoken about their dislike for unsolicitated communication from applicants, so I have been hesitant to ask any questions.

I'm certain that with 4 or 5 weeks study I could do better on the retake. How much better? I'm not sure? I only studied about a week and a half the first time, so I feel confident I could improve with some effort. If I took the DAT in late January, the official scores would not arrive before my interview, but I could take my unofficial score report with me to the interview. I'm not sure how this would be perceived, though? Any thoughts?

For what it's worth, I have a pretty solid GPA (3.9 overall, 3.8 sci). I have a reasonable amount of shadowing/volunteer, but nothing extraordinary and no research, etc.

 

[Double Bonded]

So I rarely post, but I need a little advice from the SDN community!

I took my DAT for the first time in September. I didn't do that well 19AA 18TS 17PAT. I applied to 4 schools, but due to my husband's job situation, I am really only interested in attending my state school. l have an interview at the state school (Tennessee) in February. Do you think it would make sense for me to retake the DAT at this time before my interview? Is this something I could call the school and ask about? The school has been fairly outspoken about their dislike for unsolicitated communication from applicants, so I have been hesitant to ask any questions.

I'm certain that with 4 or 5 weeks study I could do better on the retake. How much better? I'm not sure? I only studied about a week and a half the first time, so I feel confident I could improve with some effort. If I took the DAT in late January, the official scores would not arrive before my interview, but I could take my unofficial score report with me to the interview. I'm not sure how this would be perceived, though? Any thoughts?

For what it's worth, I have a pretty solid GPA (3.9 overall, 3.8 sci). I have a reasonable amount of shadowing/volunteer, but nothing extraordinary and no research, etc.

I think it would be completely appropriate to call (or e-mail) the admissions office and ask them what they think. You're no longer just an applicant, you're an interviewee and a candidate to join their class of 2016.

I personally would retake if I felt that confident about doing better but make sure that the unofficial report would suffice.

PS I'm not sure what you used before to study for the DAT but this time around consider using Chad for the GC,OC, and QR, Destroyer for everything, and Crack the DAT PAT for the PAT, and AP Cliffs for Bio. They were invaluable to me. Also check out the DAT forum on SDN.

Good luck!

 

[jmukid]

So I rarely post, but I need a little advice from the SDN community!

I took my DAT for the first time in September. I didn't do that well 19AA 18TS 17PAT. I applied to 4 schools, but due to my husband's job situation, I am really only interested in attending my state school. l have an interview at the state school (Tennessee) in February. Do you think it would make sense for me to retake the DAT at this time before my interview? Is this something I could call the school and ask about? The school has been fairly outspoken about their dislike for unsolicitated communication from applicants, so I have been hesitant to ask any questions.

I'm certain that with 4 or 5 weeks study I could do better on the retake. How much better? I'm not sure? I only studied about a week and a half the first time, so I feel confident I could improve with some effort. If I took the DAT in late January, the official scores would not arrive before my interview, but I could take my unofficial score report with me to the interview. I'm not sure how this would be perceived, though? Any thoughts?

For what it's worth, I have a pretty solid GPA (3.9 overall, 3.8 sci). I have a reasonable amount of shadowing/volunteer, but nothing extraordinary and no research, etc.

Is the school your interviewing at Meharry or Tennessee?
The reason why im asking is because Meharry generally has a really low DAT average(i think a 17 the last time i checked). So if your interviewing at meharry then i think your dat score is fine. However, Tennessee's dat average is around a 19 i think, which is the same score that you have so i guess you could take a gamble and retake it but then again you already have an interview which means their fine with your stats.

 

[Canard]

So I rarely post, but I need a little advice from the SDN community!

I took my DAT for the first time in September. I didn't do that well 19AA 18TS 17PAT. I applied to 4 schools, but due to my husband's job situation, I am really only interested in attending my state school. l have an interview at the state school (Tennessee) in February. Do you think it would make sense for me to retake the DAT at this time before my interview? Is this something I could call the school and ask about? The school has been fairly outspoken about their dislike for unsolicitated communication from applicants, so I have been hesitant to ask any questions.

I'm certain that with 4 or 5 weeks study I could do better on the retake. How much better? I'm not sure? I only studied about a week and a half the first time, so I feel confident I could improve with some effort. If I took the DAT in late January, the official scores would not arrive before my interview, but I could take my unofficial score report with me to the interview. I'm not sure how this would be perceived, though? Any thoughts?

For what it's worth, I have a pretty solid GPA (3.9 overall, 3.8 sci). I have a reasonable amount of shadowing/volunteer, but nothing extraordinary and no research, etc.

I think your GPA is very very competitive and DAT is average which is a good combination (certainly not a GUARANTEE but it is good) in my opinion. I don't know when you applied but if you applied early (~ June) and you finally have interview, I think you should call the school (like double bonded said, it is very appropriate to call) and find out if they have anything to say regarding the situation. But if you applied late (~ September) then I think your DAT is enough.

The admission process is sometimes a myth and not sure what is the best since people's circumstance is different but it wouldn't hurt to call the school.

Big advice is NAIL THE INTERVIEW and I think you will be great.

Good luck!!

 

[preOMFS]

No need to call the school. No need to retake. You already have the interview, that's all the DAT/GPA does for you. All you need to do now is have a great interview.

 

[ddshopeful2012]

Thanks for the replies. I wouldn't be so nervous about it if 1) I had interview offers from other schools (since this would suggest to me that overall my application is not terribly weak) or 2) I knew that Tennessee accepted nearly everyone they interviewed. Unfortunately, neither is the case. I haven't heard from the other three schools I applied to (although I did apply late -- early October) and I think Tennessee only accepts about 60% of the instate people they interview. So, naturally, this makes me a bit nervous.

I know many people are of the school of thought that once you get the interview, you're basically on an even playing field with everyone else. But I just seriously doubt this is the case. I tend to think you are probably ranked in some way and then moved up or down on that list based on your interviewing skills. Of course, if you are entirely socially inept, then it might not matter if you were their number one candidate going in, but you get the idea. I think I will interview well, but then, is there ever anyone who thinks they won't?

So I guess I'm still not sure what I'm going to do. I really appreciate the comments, though. I've got to get through exams this week before I can even think about studying anyways. I may call the admissions office and see what sort of response I get. I just don't know. I wish I had studied a bit harder for the test the first time. That's where the mistake was really made....live and learn, I suppose.

 

[NguyenDDS]

I think you should ask the admissions counselor for the school 🙂 I am one of those people who strongly believe stats go into consideration for the final admission decision. Your GPA is excellent though. 🙂 I, myself, am retaking the DAT in January post-interview. I would retake the DAT if you know for sure you can improve. And I think you can improve because you said you didn't study hard enough. I made that same mistake too.