Should I apply? Should I Re-Take DAT?

[Kevin Cole]

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Hey guys, just wanted to see what my chances are for getting in to a dental school. I'm feeling pretty stressed:

DAT: 18.5 - PAT: 20
GPA: 3.56
GPA-S: 3.34

I'm a Bio-Anthro major from UCLA and have done lots of reaserch, have got published, have shadowed 6-8 doctors, and have amazing extracurricular activities. English as second language. (Not international though).

Applications open up in a kit 2 months and I have everything ready. Should I apply? I have no idea what my chances are for getting to a school!!

Should I not waste time and take the DAT again? 🙁

I will appreciate your responses.

 

[Kevin Cole]

Note: The reason why my GPA is low, is because I took 90% of my science classes at UCLA ( Pre Dental requisite + Micro bio & Bio-Chem)

and my overall DAT score is 18, because I got 45% on math.

You think they will notice these stuff?

 

[nikond600]

.

 

[segura11]

Note: The reason why my GPA is low, is because I took 90% of my science classes at UCLA ( Pre Dental requisite + Micro bio & Bio-Chem)

and my overall DAT score is 18, because I got 45% on math.

You think they will notice these stuff?

Your excuse for a low GPA would make sense if you rocked the dat. Some predents think that if they were average at such a competitive school such as UCLA, it is good enough. Implying that the reason their gps is low is because there are so many competitive students at the school they are attending. I would retake it. You can’t rely on the fact you got a decent gpa at a hard school to get you in. I learned that the hard way. This is in no way a knock on you. I just wish someone was real with me when I applied. I thought that a 3.5 from BYU (highest placement rate to dental schools of any university over 15k students) was as competitive as a 3.8-3.9 at UC schools back home. Truth is the DAT is the measuring stick to compare students that went to different schools. A low gpa is a low gpa, regardless of the school. Retake it, rock it, and you are golden! You got this!

 

[UCSFx2017]

You already have a DAT score even before the application cycle opened. If you take time to prepare for the DAT during May-June and take the test on June or July, I think you'll have a lot more doors open to you.

 

[Kevin Cole]

Thank you for all your great advices. I will have to go ahead and apply with all I have this June. I wont be able to Re-Take the dat and do better until i graduate, which is this Fall-2013. Hopefully I'll get in. I'm really excited about dental school and dont really want to wait 2 extra years.

 

[segura11]

Good luck boss! You got this!!!!

 

[UCSFx2017]

Thank you for all your great advices. I will have to go ahead and apply with all I have this June. I wont be able to Re-Take the dat and do better until i graduate, which is this Fall-2013. Hopefully I'll get in. I'm really excited about dental school and dont really want to wait 2 extra years.

FYI that's a really late DAT retake date. Anyways good luck!

 

[LogOff]

Why can't you retake the DAT during the summer? You only need 6 weeks. Taking a trip? Cancel it. Think you need a vacation? No, you don't.

I'm a firm believer in the suck it up and work mindset. There's so many predents around here who claim to really want dentistry and then balk as soon as the workload gets uncomfortable. 🙄

 

[ryansgs]

I agree with Logoff. Suck it up do whats necessary to beat the DAT. I was taking 3 upper division science courses while I was studying for my DAT. I ignored my friends and gf (who ended up leaving me) all so I can get A's in those courses and a 24AA. Was it hard for me to cut out my social life? Yes. But it was very worth it.

 

[Kevin Cole]

Very true. I think I will just apply with what I have and will take the DAT again if didn't see any results. The reason I can't re-take the DAT now is because I'm graduating and UCLA is making me take all my major courses and wrap everything up by the end of summer. I really hope I'll get in somewhere... I love dentistry and just don't want to wait!