Retook DAT today. feeling defeated with 16 in bio...

[whitefram]

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I retook dat today and i'm mad at myself..

first of all, here's breakdown of the score:

AA: 19
PA: 18
QR: 18
RC: 22
BIO: 16
GC: 20
OC: 18
TS: 18

My goal was over 20 in AA. gosh, i'm so disappointed at myself b/c if it wasn't 16 in bio AA would have been higher.
but it doesn't really matter, does it?

Anyway, I had a picture of some organ or whatever and was asked what part of body it would be found. I had no idea what it was. I never expected any pictures on DAT besides PAT but.. whatever.

I'm not applying this cycle so I do have enough time to improve my weaknesses..
But after today;s DAT, I feel like I'll never be prepared for bio section. it was just too much for me.

Okay. I'm gonna stop whining. 😉 do you all think I should apply with this score or should I re-retake for one last time?

Thanks all!

 

[harjay]

If your GPA is good and you apply early in the cycle, you still stand a good chance of getting in somewhere. If you don't feel prepared, you're going to have a to spend a lot of time studying for that last test...

 

[JMJRDH1]

Your scores are solid otherwise, but if you are applying next cycle then I would definitely retake. Given your scores, I don't think you will have too much trouble rocking your next DAT, especially now that you know to watch for those random pictures!

Good Luck!

 

[swtcatastrophe]

i have very similar scores to you and i only took them once. (AA19 B17 GC21 OC17 TS18 PAT18 QR18 RC22). i wanted 21+. i am applying this cycle but i haven't heard anything yet. i decided not to retake them b/c i thought the shadowing/internships i have in the dental field and my gpa at a top university would mean more. if i don't get in this cycle, i am definitely retaking them b/c i don't want there to be anything holding me back next time. it's definitely up to you and how you evaluate the rest of your application.

it seems as if you've already retaken them; you may want to see how schools feel about you taking them multiple times and how they'll treat your scores. will they average them, take the highest in each subject area, or simply look at the most recent one? that may help you make your decision.

 

[whitefram]

Hi harjay, JMJRDH1 and swtcatastrophe,

Thanks you guys for the advices!!

I felt prepared when I retook it last Saturday but maybe I wasn’t really.. Yeap, I really really need to study harder for the next DAT.

I have a question for swtcatastrophe. You said you haven’t heard anything yet. Do you mean you haven’t gotten any interviews yet?
It’s only November and it is early to get admissions. So You probably meant interviews.. right?

Also, do dental schools average out the dat scores? I have taken twice now and next time is going to be my third and last one. I thought I could take DAT without any penalty for three times. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

Again, thank you all~

 

[Lurchdubious]

Hi harjay, JMJRDH1 and swtcatastrophe,

Thanks you guys for the advices!!

I felt prepared when I retook it last Saturday but maybe I wasn’t really.. Yeap, I really really need to study harder for the next DAT.

I have a question for swtcatastrophe. You said you haven’t heard anything yet. Do you mean you haven’t gotten any interviews yet?
It’s only November and it is early to get admissions. So You probably meant interviews.. right?

Also, do dental schools average out the dat scores? I have taken twice now and next time is going to be my third and last one. I thought I could take DAT without any penalty for three times. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

Again, thank you all~

depends on the school as far as multiple dat scores. some take only the highest scores from the 2-3 times you took it, and some take only the most recent test scores.

how did you prepare for the dat? my scores are similar, but my bio was a few points higher. i used the DAT Destroyer and i know that it helped me on the bio section. good luck.

 

[ibeflossin]

If it makes you feel better, I know a couple of people with scores of 13's in some areas that have gotten multiple interviews to great schools (UW, LLU, UoP, and UNLV) so I think it depends on what else you have to offer.

Your scores look very good to make up for the bio. Also, if you did well in your bio classes, you can always use that to help you out. IE "I was also disappointed with my BIO portion of the DAT, but having gotten good grades in my biology classes, I know that I am capable of doing better next time."

 

[swtcatastrophe]

right, no interviews. even though i submitted my AADSAS online on 8/30, the schools have only had the hard copy since ~10/10. that's what i'm attributing it to mainly. hopefully, i'll get an email soon. i'm starting to go a bit crazy.

i would call the schools to find out how they feel about taking it multiple times. i really don't have an answer for you on that one.

 

[yourbuddy]

Just a word of encouragement, I'm also kind of in your shoes. I have very similar DAT scores, except I got a 15 in bio. 🙁 (My AA was still a 19 and TS was still a 18). I have interviews at 3 schools. I interviewed with BU and they didn't ask about that low score at all. I guess your GPA, LOR, and Extracurricular Acitivities & Shadowing Experiences also come into play.

However, if you're not applying this cycle, you might want to consider taking it a second time ONLY if you feel you CAN do better (at least 2-3 points better in at least bio) and not drop in your other sections.

Good luck!

 

[whitefram]

Lurchdubious,

I did use Destroyer too. I actually went over three times before the exam. Maybe I depended on Destroyer too much. I think I’m going to use Kaplan and bio textbook that I have for next DAT.

Ibeflossin and yourbuddy,

Thank you so much for encouraging words. My GPA is 3.5 and Science GPA is 3.3. And I do have research experience and shadowing experience. I know each year, students with stronger stats are applying so I guess I have to try harder on my next DAT.

swtcatastrophe,

Thank you again for your reply. Good luck with everything and I’ll definitely call them and find out what they think. Thanks again!