Should I retake DAT?

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dtran95

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Hi all!
I need some advices here. Please!!! I got waitlisted from all the schools that I interviewed which are UCSF, UOM and Western U. Here is my stat for this cycle:
Cumulative GPA: 3.42
Science GPA: 3.35
O Chem: 20
G Chem: 21
Biology:20
RC: 17
QR: 17
AA/TS/PAT: 19/20/19

I worked as a dental assistant for 9 months, have volunteer and some leadership experiences. I also did some research at UCLA. Right now I have a full time job so I don't have time to do shadowing and volunteer any more. I turned in my application to AADSAS in 04Aug this year.

I am thinking of retaking DAt but not sure whether it's necessary. For those who reapply, please let me know what you did to improve your application.

Any input would be really appreciated. Thanks
 
I would schedule an appointment with the dean at one of the schools and ask him/her what you need to do to improve your application. You can always volunteer/shadow on the weekend or on your day off to increase your hours. Personal statement rewrite, request additional letter of recommendation, etc.
 
dtran95 said:
Hi all!
I need some advices here. Please!!! I got waitlisted from all the schools that I interviewed which are UCSF, UOM and Western U.
Cumulative GPA: 3.42
Science GPA: 3.35
AA/TS/PAT: 19/20/19

For those who reapply, please let me know what you did to improve your application.
Click to expand...

The ds in question would be a better choice for inquiring on how to improve your application, but improving your gpa/dat are probably going to be mentioned.
 
your science scores are good and your GPA is good enough to get into dental school maybe not the UC schools. I think if you were to retake the DAT, brush up on the sciences, but focus mainly on the RC and QR because I think most schools would prefer scores of 18 or higher on all sections.
 
Thank you for all of your input. I'll think more about it
 
Overall it is decent, but the QR and RC could be higher.
 
I think your stat is quite competative...
I've seen many many other guys w/ lower stat than yours getting in...
But somehow if you don't make it this year I would suggest to retake...
Coz I think DAT is THE most important & distinguishing single factor on your application (I know the rest of application is still important)...
And if you reapply adcom will try to point out where you improve on your application...
If you get better score than you've got right now, I'm 100% sure you'll get in...

Actually I have friend who applied a year before w/ 3.5 GPA & 19 DAT...
He interviewed 9 schools & didn't get in anywhere...
Reapplied... didn't retake DAT... He thought his stat's fine...
I think It's fine too...
He's got 3 interviews this time & hasn't heard any good news yet...

So my point is if you wanna reapply, if you eager to go to D-school, why don't you retake & get better score & put yourself in better spot w/ better chance to get in...
If you get 19 first try, getting over 20 wouldn't be that tough...
I believe you can do it...
 
If you're getting interviews, you're obviously competitive--though I agree with the others that your QR and RC could be bumped up at least a 19 easily. I really would make those appts. because clearly you've got the stats to get the interview--maybe you need to practice interviewing?
 
DO NOT retake, I had 3.3 overall and 3.1 science, TS21,PAT16, AA19 and I got into 3 dental schools (Thank God)....
I would say just work on your interviews, do not take interviews lightly, as another sdner put it, if you get invited to an interview it means that you have the #s so you just need to work on the person....
at your interviews, be attentive, watch what other interviewees are doing, how are they behaving, what kinds of questions are they asking and derive your own good questions or ask the same good questions other inteviewees asked at your next interview, look up interview tips online, pray alot....don't Give Up 🙂

Oh...guess what, I also had a 13 on my QR
 
Last edited:
sony102 said:
DO NOT retake, I had 3.3 overall and 3.1 science, TS21,PAT16, AA19 and I got into 3 dental schools (Thank God)....
I would say just work on your interviews, do not take interviews lightly, as another sdner put it, if you get invited to an interview it means that you have the #s so you just need to work on the person....
at your interviews, be attentive, watch what other interviewees are doing, how are they behaving, what kinds of questions are they asking and derive your own good questions or ask the same good questions other inteviewees asked at your next interview, look up interview tips online, pray alot....don't Give Up 🙂

Oh...guess what, I also had a 13 on my QR
Click to expand...

How does that work? 😕 What happened the cutoffs with the QR and even the PAT? You must have have some crazy ECs. Also just out of curiosity, are you a minority?
 
yes, I am a minority but I didn't get into Howard or meharry, actually one of the schools I got into was San Antonio (which has an avg 3.8 gpa)....that's why I wrote this message to dtran95...don't get discouraged by your #s
I didn't even have 2 science LOR's...I only turned in 1 science, 1 from boss, 1 from dentist LORs
I applied to 18 schools, only one of them (southern California) told me to retake the dat because of "cut off"
and I am not a reapplicant...this is my first time taking the dat and applying to d-school.
but when I really think of it,...I did a LOT of praying and helping others ONLY for the sake of God and because he knows my situation, he helped me (I think that was my ultimate secret)

stay positive and NEVER give up 🙂
 
Lulu2809 said:
If you're getting interviews, you're obviously competitive--though I agree with the others that your QR and RC could be bumped up at least a 19 easily. I really would make those appts. because clearly you've got the stats to get the interview--maybe you need to practice interviewing?
Click to expand...
yeah, I think maybe because my interview didn't go well. I am an immigrant so I have accent while I'm talking. I afraid that my accent made it hard for the interviewer to understand me but I practiced a few time with my friend to prep for it. Oh well! it's over now, there's nothing I can do for those interviews...GOT WAITLISTED for all 3 =(
The reason I'm scare to retake DAT is because I afraid what if I do worse on RC since English is not my first language and I'm always suck at verbal. YES!!! I know you would say need more practice but for RC, it's hard to practice and it's matter of luck when it come to RC, whether you get an easy passage or not.
Well!! thank you for all your input. Congratulation to your acceptance =)
 
dtran95 said:
yeah, I think maybe because my interview didn't go well. I am an immigrant so I have accent while I'm talking. I afraid that my accent made it hard for the interviewer to understand me but I practiced a few time with my friend to prep for it. Oh well! it's over now, there's nothing I can do for those interviews...GOT WAITLISTED for all 3 =(
The reason I'm scare to retake DAT is because I afraid what if I do worse on RC since English is not my first language and I'm always suck at verbal. YES!!! I know you would say need more practice but for RC, it's hard to practice and it's matter of luck when it come to RC, whether you get an easy passage or not.
Well!! thank you for all your input. Congratulation to your acceptance =)
Click to expand...


Did you get accepted off the waiting list?
 
I'd wait until younger accepted off one of those waiting lists
 
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