Should I retake DAT?

[bchoi4]

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Hi I just took The DAT. and my scores were
PA26
QR22
RC14
BIO21
GC26
OC29
TC23
AC22
Since I had horrible RC score, many of my friends suggested me to retake it. What do you guys think about it? thanks a lot

 

[doc3232]

Afraid so...unless you think you won't do better. RC is very hard to raise.
You might lose that 26 in PAT and all those other sections in which you barely got any wrong (or none wrong).

 

[brightsmiles9]

CONGRATS!! Amazing scores, I think your fine!! can you do a breakdown of how you studied?

 

[paul2pr]

i think ur good man. you can only go down from there on every subject and only up from 1 subject. i would keep it if i were you. congrats!

 

[smurf528]

I think your scores are dreamworthy.

Not to sound rude or anything, but were you born in the U.S.? One of my friends took the MCAT and she did okay but her RC score was not good at all. I do believe that you will be fine, but if you have a good explanation for your RC score you'll be perfect.

 

[bchoi4]

Thanks guys..
Since I am an international student, it is hard to get good RC score...
well.. when I e-mail admissions of some dental schools, they replied that they need better RC score(at least 17). Otherwise they said I will be rejected.(case western, tufts, etc..) So I don't know what should I do

 

[smurf528]

well, if you really want to get into these schools then I think you should brush up on your RC and retake the DAT. And if you're gpa is good then I believe for sure that you will get in to those schools.

 

[bchoi4]

Thanks a lot smurf528...
I got 3.75 out of 4.0 (University of Rochester)
and I have 500hrs volunteer works, 200hrs dental shadowing, and other activities.
do you think then I will be fine?
Thanks

 

[cyrano]

Congrats on nailing all the other sections, but I got to say if the admission committee's told you to retake to improve RC then you should probably retake to improve RC. Maybe try a new strategy and take a ton of practice tests. Or even pick up some SAT books or something. Best of luck!

 

[smurf528]

Thanks a lot smurf528...
I got 3.75 out of 4.0 (University of Rochester)
and I have 500hrs volunteer works, 200hrs dental shadowing, and other activities.
do you think then I will be fine?
Thanks

Let me just say that I wish my GPA was that high. Your EC's are also a plus.

 

[potbelly]

Hi I just took The DAT. and my scores were
PA26
QR22
RC14
BIO21
GC26
OC29
TC23
AC22
Since I had horrible RC score, many of my friends suggested me to retake it. What do you guys think about it? thanks a lot

Nice scores..except RC... Hey, how did you do on RC when you did practice tests (like Topscore, Kaplan, etc ) Can you explain little about how other sections were like?

Other than RC, they're great scores!
GD Luck!🙂

 

[eldirty]

I think youre fine ... your scores are very nice

 

[dentist707]

Thanks guys..
Since I am an international student, it is hard to get good RC score...
well.. when I e-mail admissions of some dental schools, they replied that they need better RC score(at least 17). Otherwise they said I will be rejected.(case western, tufts, etc..) So I don't know what should I do

Hi, first of all, you did really good on DAT... Congrat!!!
But sorry for your RC score...
If I were you, I'd just apply w/ what you have & see what happens...
It's kinda tough situation & hard to say what's gonna happen...
Many schools have cut-off & no matter how good your AA, TS, PAT are, they might reject you...
Other schools might look at your rest of scores & consider you as competative applicant but because you're international, the LOW RC is still HUGE RED FLAG...
I myself am an international student as well & I had to go through kinda same thing last year...
I took DAT twice...
I didn't get as high as your score but all sections were low 20's except RC(I got 14 too when I applied first time).
I was invited for interview by few schools but even at interview they told me to retake & get better RC score... Got rejected by all...
So, i retook it & did little better in RC & got in this year...
I've seen few american getting in w/ low RC score's like 14 or 15 but for international it's different...
Sorry if this has disappointed you but i wish you the best luck & hope you dont have to retake it...

 

[Waitlisted2009]

.

 

[adizzle87]

Your scores are stellar. However with a 14 on the RC, you will automatically get cut out of some schools admissions process. I know Tufts raised their minimum to 17 for RC, many others have set 16 as their minimum. Don't mean to be a downer because 22/23/26 is simply amazing, I would just be sure to contact the school to double check.

 

[marscole]

apply earlier... i think some schools will look at the whole... not just magnify your RC score... also, GOOD JOB!!!😉

 

[UCfan]

Seriously I felt so sorry for you, because all your scores are truly exceptional (except RC).I wish that you got at least 17 which would put you top 1 percent of candidate pool with your amazing PAT score. I am sorry to inform you that you need to be very picky to choose right schools for yourself (if you do not think about retaking). If I were you I definitely write something about ESL situation in my personel statement (maybe it can help). Maybe you may try to retake DAT (I know it is painful), since you are ready for all sections except RC.
Talk with the school(s) you will apply (I know UCSF (has 17 cutoff for each section) and I heard that UCLA does it too(I am not 100 percent sure)). Try to apply early. Furthermore, make sure that you are ready for interviews because that will be your chance to prove that your effluency in English. I still think that you may get a lot acceptances( look for schools those do not apply cutoffs). Good luck with your application 👍.

 

[dentist707]

Talk with the school(s) you will apply (I know UCSF (has 17 cutoff for each section) and I heard that UCLA does it too(I am not 100 percent sure)). Try to apply early. Furthermore, make sure that you are ready for interviews because that will be your chance to prove that your effluency in English. I still think that you may get a lot acceptances( look for schools those do not apply cutoffs). Good luck with your application 👍.

There is always exception though...
When I applied w/ 14RC, I interviewed Indiana & they had 18RC cutoff... But I didn't get in though...
It all depends on the rest of your application...

 

[sayilohyee]

well....you already have a definate answer for your question.
I mean...if the admission committee said that you need a better RC score, you must retake it..right?