Should I retake my DAT for the 3rd time?

[blackwaltzyo]

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Hey guys I've been thinking about this for a while now and I just wanted to see what everyone else thought about this. This is my 2nd time applying.

I took my first DAT in 2009 and I scored
18 PAT
17 QR
21 RC
20 Bio
20 GC
20 OC
20 TS
20 AA

I later retook it in 2011 and got
19 PAT
19 QR
21 RC
20 Bio
22 GC
20 OC
21 TS
20 AA

(Not really that much of an improvement, was kind of expecting to hit at least 21AA with 20s across the board.. 🙁)

I was stupid/naive in college and graduated in 2010 with a BS in Biology with a GPA of 3.35 and sGPA of 3.21 which are pretty low for dental school. My question is should I try to take it my 3rd time and see if I can do significantly better? Or should I just go for a Masters and reapply after? I have hundreds of hours working at my college's dental clinic and a private practice back home. I also did 3 years of research in college. I'm also enrolled for 24 units next semester at a local community college where I'm planning on taking anatomy and all those other science classes I didn't take in college. If I end up getting As in all those units I will have an overall GPA of 3.5 and sGPA of 3.3

This is my second time applying and I've only had 1 pre-dec interview out of 10 schools. I'm currently wait listed for the school but I don't want to take any chances. So just in case I get rejected, I want to be ready to reapply the next cycle with improved stats.

Any feedback/advice would be greatly appreciated it!

 

[NguyenDDS]

I think your DAT is great! If I was in your shoes, I wouldn't retake 🙂 Your cGPA is pretty good and your sGPA isn't that bad but could use a little improvement. You said you're enrolled in some classes at, so make all A's in the rest of your classes and I think you're set! Some say to take upper-sciences at a university instead, but IMO I would take the classes wherever I have a better chance of good grades. Good luck! 🙂

 

[DrRoyal Pains]

Did you call the DS's your interested in applying to and telling them your taking sciences at a CC? Just a head's up because some school's don't accept science courses from a CC (that may be just for pre-reqs though). Also, I agree with NguyenDDS. I don't know how good it will look to take upper level sciences at a CC. Out of curiosity, how did you graduate with a BS in Biology without taking anatomy? Anyway's I think your 2011 DAT is good. I really don't see any need for a retake. I would just take those extra's classes. Good luck!

 

[blackwaltzyo]

Did you call the DS's your interested in applying to and telling them your taking sciences at a CC? Just a head's up because some school's don't accept science courses from a CC (that may be just for pre-reqs though). Also, I agree with NguyenDDS. I don't know how good it will look to take upper level sciences at a CC. Out of curiosity, how did you graduate with a BS in Biology without taking anatomy? Anyway's I think your 2011 DAT is good. I really don't see any need for a retake. I would just take those extra's classes. Good luck!

Thanks for your input, to answer your question, for some reason anatomy wasn't a required class for our biology department and I believe it's not a pre-req for a lot of dental schools. Some dental schools do require anatomy though. I'm mainly taking science classes at a CC because of financial reasons. 24 units at a CC costs about the same as 4 units at the university. I know taking science classes at a CC doesn't look that great but I don't really have any other options at the moment 🙁

 

[DrRoyal Pains]

Thats so weird that anatomy wasn't a requirement for a BS in bio. Yes, I am aware that anatomy is not a pre-req, although it is highly recommended. I think most dental schools allow 2 years at a CC. I am in the same situation as you, except I am writing my DAT next month. Im stuck taking three courses at 3 different schools! Anyway, I would call the school's your interested in applying to just to be safe. You don't want to spend that money and find out your top choice school doesn't accept credits from a CC.

 

[blackwaltzyo]

Thats so weird that anatomy wasn't a requirement for a BS in bio. Yes, I am aware that anatomy is not a pre-req, although it is highly recommended. I think most dental schools allow 2 years at a CC. I am in the same situation as you, except I am writing my DAT next month. Im stuck taking three courses at 3 different schools! Anyway, I would call the school's your interested in applying to just to be safe. You don't want to spend that money and find out your top choice school doesn't accept credits from a CC.

Yeah good idea, i will call to double check. Good luck on your DAT, hopefully you won't have to take it more than once. It's a pain to re-study for.