Should I be nervous?

[ohcdn]

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Is it just me or does it seem like there are tons of people with extremely high gpas and even higher DAT scores this year. especially on the 2004 stats page, everyone has +20 scores consistently. I remember seeing a mix of stats for 2003. It's gonna be my second time applying this year and i guess im getting kinda nervous with my average scores. Am i right to assume tough competition this year?

 

[NewNameForGoogleBot]

One good thing I noticed on the stats forum is that everyone seems to be applying to different schools, so that will be benificial for us all.

 

[ItsGavinC]

ohcdn,

I wouldn't be nervous, but it goes without saying that the scores are going up every year. This is especially true with dentistry, as many of our pre-med friends are now viewing dentistry as a viable (and better!) career option.

I think that the average matriculant for the 2004 cycle will have a 20 DAT average.

 

[arns51]

I could be wrong, but I feel that many of the people on this site with average to below average stats do not feel comfortable posting. Also, I really dont think the SDN crowd is typical of the average person who applies or even matriculates. In my opinion, a majority of people who frequent SDN do so because they are very driven and serious about their future career (not to imply that not knowing what SDN is/not posting on it means a person is not driven/serious about a career in dentistry), which could account for the generally higher stats. People reading SDN also get all the good studying tips/info about the DAT that other people wouldnt know.

 

[Bickle]

I agree with Gavin. I was talking with a Temple admin officer and she told me that they are expecting more applicants than last year, and higher standards for admssion. Their avg GPA and Dat scores have been increasing and they excpect for this trend to continue. She even told me that she wouldn't be surprised if the academic average on the dat for next year's class would be above 22.

Long story short, every year the numbers keep going up.

 

[Bickle]

Originally posted by Dentaldream
I agree with Gavin. I was talking with a Temple admin officer and she told me that they are expecting more applicants than last year, and higher standards for admssion. Their avg GPA and Dat scores have been increasing and they excpect for this trend to continue. She even told me that she wouldn't be surprised if the academic average on the dat for next year's class would be above 22.

Long story short, every year the numbers keep going up.

Minor correction, that 22 should be a 20.

 

[grettlin2]

First of all, I do not mean to against anyone.

I agree with arns51. Not everyone with average DAT or near average DAT would post their grades. If I did not do well (my satisfied score) on DAT, I wouldn't post it. I know at least 3 pre-dental students who visit SDN quite often and their average DAT are 18, 17, 17, respectively. None of them post their scores.
Based on this applying some sampling concept, only 1/4 people post their grades on SDN.
As I know based on sending email to USC, NYU, and U of L, they said the average GPA and DAT might be the same as previous years. In my opinion, if you do not mind private or state schools, students could be accepted to schools with 18/18 and >3.3 GPA.
>20 DAT menas at least >86%!!!!!! If 8,000 people take DAT (should be more; not every DAT taker applies this year), then
14% X 8000 = 1120. However, there are around 4,500 positions opened every year...... So, for popular schools, definitely, the criteria would increase, and for average schools, I think they won't change too much.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by grettlin2

>20 DAT menas at least >86%!!!!!!

Sorry, but that is where your logic goes wrong!

If the DAT average indeed goes up, then those percentiles don't hold true anymore!

In 2 or 3 years the 20 might be a 70%ile.

I promise you that the average is going up for popular schools as well as average schools.

Remember, those average schools get more applicants as the popular schools see their applicant number increase also.

There really isn't any stopping the GPA/DAT score trend, until it levels off. I'm sure it will level off the same way it has for med. schools: somewhere around a 3.6 and a 22 DAT score.

 

[arns51]

ohcdn, do not worry, do not look too much into the SDN stats post. Because I should be doing homework I took the time and figured out the average Academic DAT score from the stats post and came up with 21.3. Even IF the DAT average this year is around a 20, that is still considerabley lower than the average of people posting on the stats page of SDN. I definetly believe that the average DAT/gpa is climbing and probably will for some time. But not to the degree indicated by the numbers posted on the stats page.

 

[Bickle]

Originally posted by grettlin2
As I know based on sending email to USC, NYU, and U of L, they said the average GPA and DAT might be the same as previous years. In my opinion, if you do not mind private or state schools, students could be accepted to schools with 18/18 and >3.3 GPA.
>

I would take this info with a grain of salt. Dental schools make ALOT of money from their application process (with all of the application fees). Thus, they may not be totally honest in what they expect in the future (so applicants aren't scared off by higher future stats).

I was told about the +20 DAT trend only after I told the Temple admin staff that I have been accepted to Tufts. So it was obvious that they didn't want everyone to know that info. Take it from Gavin (he knows his stuff), dental admissions are going to be harder and harder to achieve as the applicant pool gets more and more competitive.

 

[PERFECT3434]

i totally agree with grettlin2 about people not posting their stats here when they are low.

i honestly try to do anything i could to help someone else and its very unfortunate that people won't post their stats.

they want to get the help and see other people's info but again i am very sorry that we have poeple like those in this forum.

i hope people who haven't posted their stats do so!!

 

[Bickle]

Originally posted by PERFECT3434
i totally agree with grettlin2 about people not posting their stats here when they are low.

i honestly try to do anything i could to help someone else and its very unfortunate that people won't post their stats.

they want to get the help and see other people's info but again i am very sorry that we have poeple like those in this forum.

i hope people who haven't posted their stats do so!!

Perfect,

Although I understand your reasoning, its more of a freedom of choice. Some people may feel uncomfortable disclosing information like that (even if they remain anonymous). I know alot of students in my undergrad who openly discuss their latest grades on an exam, and those who prefer to keep it private.

Good luck in your applications!