Should I re-take the DAT???

[gmen37]

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Hey guys, I really need some advice on whether I should re-take the DAT. I took it in mid-September of the application cycle and applied right after I got my scores (kinda late I know). I have a 3.84 overall GPA and a science GPA of 3.67.

I got a 19AA 21TS 19QR 16RC and 16PAT. Should I just re-apply for next cycle on the day it opens with these scores. I volunteered at a hospital and I have shadowing experience already. What should I do? I really don't want to take the DAT's over 🙁

 

[hamptongirl]

Hey guys, I really need some advice on whether I should re-take the DAT. I took it in mid-September of the application cycle and applied right after I got my scores (kinda late I know). I have a 3.84 overall GPA and a science GPA of 3.67.

I got a 19AA 21TS 19QR 16RC and 16PAT. Should I just re-apply for next cycle on the day it opens with these scores. I volunteered at a hospital and I have shadowing experience already. What should I do? I really don't want to take the DAT's over 🙁

Did you get any interviews? Schools have cut-offs... Contact the schools to which you applied to see if they recommend/require a retake. Are you a URM?

 

[crax]

do a post bacc

 

[gmen37]

I haven't received any interviews. Idk what URM means. I think I applied too late with these scores, I'm thinking about applying early in the cycle with these same scores, take biochem and do research, and find a dental assistant position somewhere if this year doesn't work out.

 

[Worried12345]

You may want to retake with those 16s... I have heard of schools having cut offs... If you don't mind me asking, with that high of a GPA, what happened on the DATs for you? did you study as hard as you could've? I don't mean to be rude or anything I just would've expected a higher score?

 

[Seamonkey Doc]

I haven't received any interviews. Idk what URM means. I think I applied too late with these scores, I'm thinking about applying early in the cycle with these same scores, take biochem and do research, and find a dental assistant position somewhere if this year doesn't work out.

URM - under represented minority in the health professions (black or hispanic or native american)

I think a retake would be beneficial. You may have been ok with a 16 on RC, but a 16 on the PAT does not look good. The three main scores everyone tends to look at is AA/TS/PAT.

Good luck

 

[Hope45]

you can get away with the 16 in PAT, but the 16 in rc is going to hurt you. I know a couple of people who received a 16 in reading, received interviews, but wasn't able to receive an acceptance due to their low reading score.

 

[thejamespark]

you can get away with the 16 in PAT, but the 16 in rc is going to hurt you. I know a couple of people who received a 16 in reading, received interviews, but wasn't able to receive an acceptance due to their low reading score.

if you don't mind me asking, do u know how those people did on the other sections??

 

[Hope45]

They did well. 20 & 19 total sci, AA 19/18, and both had gpa's around ~3.7.

 

[Tunaman]

Children,
Where does one get in with a 16PAT? Stop mis-informing this applicant, unless you personally got in with a 16PAT, dont give second-hand advice about your cousins friend, whos girlfriends cousins' step-grandmother got in with a 16, what a mockery. Retake the test, your PAT and RC are a serious concern....or, dont listen to anyone, and actually call the schools. The only excusable 16 can be in QR

 

[Seamonkey Doc]

Children,
Where does one get in with a 16PAT? Stop mis-informing this applicant, unless you personally got in with a 16PAT, dont give second-hand advice about your cousins friend, whos girlfriends cousins' step-grandmother got in with a 16, what a mockery. Retake the test, your PAT and RC are a serious concern....or, dont listen to anyone, and actually call the schools. The only excusable 16 can be in QR

Agreed. You might know "a few" people but the majority of people who score a 16 or below on the PAT will not stand a chance.

Once again, when people first look at the DAT, they look at AA/TS/PAT

 

[Hope45]

Children,
Where does one get in with a 16PAT? Stop mis-informing this applicant, unless you personally got in with a 16PAT, dont give second-hand advice about your cousins friend, whos girlfriends cousins' step-grandmother got in with a 16, what a mockery. Retake the test, your PAT and RC are a serious concern....or, dont listen to anyone, and actually call the schools. The only excusable 16 can be in QR

I got in with a 16 PAT to three schools. Tunaman- I think you need to stop informing people with your misguided information. Especially your opinion on thinking a 16 in qr is the only excusable section.

Also, when I interviewed at schools they never mentioned my PAT or when I did bring it up, they stated that it was not very important. The majority said that they have/had students who scored low on the PAT and never had issues in dental school.

I'm also not URM

 

[Seamonkey Doc]

OP: Regardless of what section you scored a 16, most people here think you need a retake.

The choice is yours.

 

[gmen37]

It's a tough decision. I spoke with the director of admissions in NYU today and she didn't even mention the PAT (i guess they don't care about that section). She loved my gpa but said the 16 RC is killing me. She also said retaking the DAT is risky because my sciences can drop. Truthfully I'm going to apply as soon as the cycle opens with the same DAT scores in June and study throughout the summer, and if I don't hear anything by August, I'll take retake the test in early september. What you guys think?

 

[hamptongirl]

It's a tough decision. I spoke with the director of admissions in NYU today and she didn't even mention the PAT (i guess they don't care about that section). She loved my gpa but said the 16 RC is killing me. She also said retaking the DAT is risky because my sciences can drop. Truthfully I'm going to apply as soon as the cycle opens with the same DAT scores in June and study throughout the summer, and if I don't hear anything by August, I'll take retake the test in early september. What you guys think?

That's a good plan if the school you apply to give out interview by Aug.

Ques: How;d you study for the sciences?

 

[ushaseos]

If you think there is even a chance for a retake in september or something, don't risk it, take it now before the cycle starts.

Yes your sciences can drop, but if you study hard, they'll probably go up or even stay the same. If the sciences go up and your PAT/RC is increased then you are completely in the clear. The only thing you need to consider is this: if you retake, you will have to study really hard to make sure your other scores stay as excellent as they are now.

Personally, If I were you I'd be doing risk analysis:
- Best Case Scenario: I apply early claw my way into dental school in dramatic fashion
- Worst Case Scenario: I apply early, don't get in. Retake in September but then that makes schools take noticeof my scores late or I don't get as many interviews as I should have gotten. If I don't get in still because of these new "late issues" then I am back to square one.

People have gotten in with lower scores, but that is the exception to the rule, not the norm. You can probably get in somewhere because of that excellent GPA, but do you want to play it safe or risky?

 

[gmen37]

This is honestly the hardest decision of my life, I really want to apply in June with these scores and add more letters of recommendation considering I only sent a committee letter. Anyone know what schools would be the best shot to apply with these scores and gpa?

 

[menouski]

I didn't read all the comments so I might be repeating some stuff, but here's my two cents: I would retake if I were you. Your scores are alright and you gpa is average for what I've heard (from deans that I've talked to or admission advisers).

I got a 15 in QR and was told by a few different admissions advisers from different schools not to retake because of that section, but they did mention that QR is generally the least important section they look at. I don't really have any information of the weight of the other sections besides that they are more important than QR. All that being said, I'm getting ready to apply myself so I'm no authority on the matter.

If you do retake just relax, and your experience from the first time around will come through. Best of luck in your decision!

 

[FanOfCostco]

I would do a retake. Not only do some schools have a cut off, but some look real heavily on RC and PAT.

 

[ushaseos]

Apply to in-state schools that aren't too competitive. Besides that if you are an under represented minority (i.e. Black or Hispanic or Native American) your chances are much higher than if you are say White or Asian or Indian. I am not trying to start a flame war about URM, just stating the obvious.

Besides that if you are loaded and/or don't care much about expenses, check out this article: http://toptennation.blogspot.com/2008/02/top-10-easiest-us-dental-schools-to-get.html

Not from ADEA or anything but gives you some options. Also look in the ADEA guide and you'll see that even these guys have cutoffs so again I'd very much encourage a retake.

 

[gmen37]

I did the re-take and here are my scores:
AA/TS/PAT/RC/QR
21/23/18/21/18

Thanks to everyone from the SDN community!!!! Good luck to all of you!

 

[stillincollege]

I did the re-take and here are my scores:
AA/TS/PAT/RC/QR
21/23/18/21/18

Thanks to everyone from the SDN community!!!! Good luck to all of you!

That's very impressive! Good Job! My DAT is approaching soon so I wonder if you can share some tips about RC and BIO. What you did this time that increased your score so much? Thx.

 

[biomolecmed]

I would retake. One 16 you can get away with, but not 2 of them. Your GPA is good. Just study a bit harder and you will get in.

 

[gmen37]

That's very impressive! Good Job! My DAT is approaching soon so I wonder if you can share some tips about RC and BIO. What you did this time that increased your score so much? Thx.

I did the destroyer three times. Destroyer is $$$$$$ for the natural science section. dont listen to anyone if they say otherwise. Pat i used crack dat pat (i got really good at hole punching and cube counting because of it). Okay for RC, i probably had the most difficult time with this section because I just sucked at reading before and the only way to get good is practice! i bought crack dat reading (10 test version), and i also bought the datqvault package for $100 which includes all the sections including 7 RC practice tests. So before in total i took 17 practice RC exams (51 passages!!) before i took the actual DAT. the datqvault passages were way longer and dense with information than the actual DAT so if you can score 19's on those you will def score at least a 19 on the DAT. I also read an hour a day of random journal articles on scientific american and discover to boost my reading stamina and speed. With that being said I preferred the map passage method but only wrote key words down (3-4 words max per paragraph). This is how you map a passage in under 5 minutes:

Read first paragraph,
read first and last sentence of each body paragraph,
read the last paragraph (actively reading meaning asking yourself questions about what you just read and what is most likely to be a question).

The DAT is 90% recall questions so mapping is an amazing approach and with enough practice time will not be an issue. I had 10 minutes left in this section because of all the practice. Math I used destroyer as well and its identical to the DAT, actually the QR on the DAT is way easier, I just didn't care about the section because its the least important out of all the sections, but be sure to get an 18 at least just to be safe.

 

[gmen37]

That's very impressive! Good Job! My DAT is approaching soon so I wonder if you can share some tips about RC and BIO. What you did this time that increased your score so much? Thx.

I did the destroyer three times. Destroyer is $$$$$$ for the natural science section. dont listen to anyone if they say otherwise. Pat i used crack dat pat (i got really good at hole punching and cube counting because of it). Okay for RC, i probably had the most difficult time with this section because I just sucked at reading before and the only way to get good is practice! i bought crack dat reading (10 test version), and i also bought the datqvault package for $100 which includes all the sections including 7 RC practice tests. So before in total i took 17 practice RC exams (51 passages!!) before i took the actual DAT. the datqvault passages were way longer and dense with information than the actual DAT so if you can score 19's on those you will def score at least a 19 on the DAT. I also read an hour a day of random journal articles on scientific american and discover to boost my reading stamina and speed. With that being said I preferred the map passage method but only wrote key words down (3-4 words max per paragraph). This is how you map a passage in under 5 minutes:

Read first paragraph,
read first and last sentence of each body paragraph,
read the last paragraph (actively reading meaning asking yourself questions about what you just read and what is most likely to be a question).

The DAT is 90% recall questions so mapping is an amazing approach and with enough practice time will not be an issue. I had 10 minutes left in this section because of all the practice. Math I used destroyer as well and its identical to the DAT, actually the QR on the DAT is way easier, I just didn't care about the section because its the least important out of all the sections, but be sure to get an 18 at least just to be safe.

 

[stillincollege]

I did the destroyer three times. Destroyer is $$$$$$ for the natural science section. dont listen to anyone if they say otherwise. Pat i used crack dat pat (i got really good at hole punching and cube counting because of it). Okay for RC, i probably had the most difficult time with this section because I just sucked at reading before and the only way to get good is practice! i bought crack dat reading (10 test version), and i also bought the datqvault package for $100 which includes all the sections including 7 RC practice tests. So before in total i took 17 practice RC exams (51 passages!!) before i took the actual DAT. the datqvault passages were way longer and dense with information than the actual DAT so if you can score 19's on those you will def score at least a 19 on the DAT. I also read an hour a day of random journal articles on scientific american and discover to boost my reading stamina and speed. With that being said I preferred the map passage method but only wrote key words down (3-4 words max per paragraph). This is how you map a passage in under 5 minutes:

Read first paragraph,
read first and last sentence of each body paragraph,
read the last paragraph (actively reading meaning asking yourself questions about what you just read and what is most likely to be a question).

The DAT is 90% recall questions so mapping is an amazing approach and with enough practice time will not be an issue. I had 10 minutes left in this section because of all the practice. Math I used destroyer as well and its identical to the DAT, actually the QR on the DAT is way easier, I just didn't care about the section because its the least important out of all the sections, but be sure to get an 18 at least just to be safe.

Thanks. I will make sure I go over destroyer again. : ) Congratz again.