Right Time to Take DAT?

[briansle]

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Hi, Right now I just finished my sophmore year at college and have completed chem, bio, o-chem, biochem, and mobio. I plan on taking the DAT this coming august before my junior year starts, and then apply spring of 2005 for the 2006 class.
Is this appropriate timing? Am i taking the DAT way too early? Will my DAT scores still count, by the time I apply? And do I still check which schools I want my scores sent to, even though I haven't registered with that AADAS service?
Thanks

 

[UBTom]

Back during my second attempt at applying to dental school in 1999, my DAT scores were already 5 years old and it did not pose a problem.

I don't know if schools these days have restrictions on the age of DAT scores, so it might be a good idea to check with the schools you are thinking of applying to.

Other than that, you can indeed take the DATs anytime, even before submitting your AADSAS application. You can simply contact the testing service to have them send official score reports to the schools you are applying to when time comes to submit your AADSAS.

HTH!

 

[Thaxil]

Briansles

I think you have a good plan. You may want to extend your study time to really kick some a$$. But, a year or two year old DAT is not a problem. I think when the DAT is 3 years of more is a problem. Plus if you screw up, you have plenty of time to retake.

 

[Typo]

What Thaxil said is right on - schools require scores to be within three years. Like he said, too, you might want to consider taking extra time to study like crazy so you can whoop some A on the test.

If you do well, I think taking it early will be beneficial since when you apply in 2005, if you apply nice and early, schools will not only have your transcript but will have your DAT scores in hand while many other applicants are still putting the test off until 2-3 months after applications have started. You'll probably be more likely to get interviews early, which is a good thing. I'm in a similar situation right now - I took the DAT last September, just applied for the 2005 cycle, and my DAT scores should be helpful in getting early interviews (I hope).

So, good plan - just be sure to take the advice in the DAT forum here on SDN, and to study like a beast and practice like crazy on perceptual.

As for timing of when to send it to schools, I'm not sure. If you take it that early, you might want to wait to have them sent until you apply. You can do that on the web, and it's $10 a school. Not too bad unless you're applying to tons of schools.