Should I Retake the DAT???

[punkito]

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I just took the DAT today.... I didnt do very well. Anyways, here are my scores:

PAT 18
QR 17
RC 17
Bio 20
GC 20
OC 20
Total Science 20
AcadAverage 19

Considering I took the test today, I would have to wait 90 days to retake...however, since I am applying this year (to get in next fall) i would have to wait until the end of August to retake....I heard that some schools, if not all schools, will not look at/consider a students application until they have the scores from the retake...(if i were to retake)...

so I dont know what to do. I either keep the score I got and get my application in early.....or risk not having my application considered until august/september BUT with the chance of getting a better DAT score....what should I do?

It is better to get the application in ASAP, but with these scores?? I dont know. But if I wait, then I also lower my chances.

Just some other background info....Im applying to 15 diff schools...I have a little over a 3.8 GPA....plenty of credits in sciences/upper level sciences....not too many EC's though...just volunteering 4hrs/week @ hospital and just started doing an internship + volunteer at an childrens welfare dental clinic.

Please give some advice!!

 

[BiomajorPreDent]

Relax man, I think with a 3.8 and 20's your fine

I am taking the DAT tommorow and praying I get 20 TS and AA 🙂

The word is alot of schools dont even care about QR, the reading may be another thing I do not know. You did well in the sciences though!

Apply this cycle and send these DAT scores in, you can put that you are retaking the DAT in August in your AADSAS

nice job

Whatd you think of the science sections? Whatd you use to study?

 

[4thMolar]

Your scores are fine. With your GPA, you will get into schools, especially if you are applying to 15.

 

[punkito]

I took the Kaplan cousre, which ended about 2 weeks ago, which really only gave me 8 weeks to study, since the course was 6 weeks. My Kaplan teacher suggested waiting at least 1 month before taking it AFTER the course ends...but my advisor told me to take it ASAP in case i needed to retake it. Kaplan helped, but even with studying non-stop I was not able to get through all of the material considering that for most of the cousre, i was still in school and had finals to deal with.

As far as the sciences go, they were not too bad. There weren't any difficult calculations. Many of the questions seemed alot easier than the practice quizes/section tests that come w/ Kaplan.

QR and RC were by far the hardest for me.... The thick expo markers that they give during the test did not really allow me to put together decent outlines for the RC essays...which really slowed me down.

 

[BiomajorPreDent]

Alot of people have trouble with the reading section

Im good with the reading section, and if your going to retake, my advice would be to def skip the outlining that kaplan suggests and do search and destroy instead

It may seem scary at first, but it works alot better without a doubt

 

[iwannabadentist]

needless to say, nothing harvard or columbia status. on a brighter note, with that GPA and a 20 AA, you DEFINITELY have a shot at a few interviews. the key here is to choose the schools you apply to wisely and more importantly apply EARLY! June 1st would be ideal if all your materials are ready! Gluck rest of the way

 

[punkito]

needless to say, nothing harvard or columbia status. on a brighter note, with that GPA and a 20 AA, you DEFINITELY have a shot at a few interviews. the key here is to choose the schools you apply to wisely and more importantly apply EARLY! June 1st would be ideal if all your materials are ready! Gluck rest of the way

my Total science was a 20, AA was a 19. i just noticed you said 20 AA.... hopefully i still have a shot....😕

 

[nze82]

Just relax and get some rest! I think you're scores are fine! It might be difficult to get into schools like UCLA, UoP, and other big names out there with these scores (still not impossible), but you definitely have a good chance at some other schools like USC.
At this point, start thinking about getting your application in as early as possible! Look at the bright side, at least you have a DAT score to include with your application. There are many applicants out there who won't be taking the DAT till late July. This means that as long as you complete your application and submit everything early your application will end up on top of the stack, which means you'll have a good chance even with these scores!

 

[punkito]

These are the schools that I am applying to (and had my scores sent to)..... with my scores (AA 19) , do you still think I have a good chance?

Case Western Reserve University
Indiana University
Loma Linda University
Marquette University
Midwestern University
Nova Southeastern University (#1 choice!!!)
Southern Illinois University
Temple University
University of Illinois
University of Louisville
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of North Carolina
University of Southern California
University of Tennessee
University of Texas, San Antonio


I am just so freaked out...because this is my 2nd time applying....I didnt get in the 1st time ( I only applied to 5 midwestern schools with an AA of 18, gpa 3.7-3.8) but now Im in a post bacc program (with a dental internship included), I have a pretty high GPA (3.84)....but people from school are telling me that if i dont have over a 20....I dont have a chance. but if i retake, then i wont be able to have my FULL application (scores included) in until my retake... im so stressed out!!! 😕

 

[nze82]

These are the schools that I am applying to (and had my scores sent to)..... with my scores (AA 19) , do you still think I have a good chance?

Case Western Reserve University
Indiana University
Loma Linda University
Marquette University
Midwestern University
Nova Southeastern University (#1 choice!!!)
Southern Illinois University
Temple University
University of Illinois
University of Louisville
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of North Carolina
University of Southern California
University of Tennessee
University of Texas, San Antonio


I am just so freaked out...because this is my 2nd time applying....I didnt get in the 1st time ( I only applied to 5 midwestern schools with an AA of 18, gpa 3.7-3.8) but now Im in a post bacc program (with a dental internship included), I have a pretty high GPA (3.84)....but people from school are telling me that if i dont have over a 20....I dont have a chance. but if i retake, then i wont be able to have my FULL application (scores included) in until my retake... im so stressed out!!! 😕

I'm not sure about any of the east coast schools, because I'm not very familiar with them. But I can assure you that you have a good chance at getting into schools such as UNLV and USC. If you're super religious, then you might even have a shot at Loma Linda. I've heard that you almost don't have a chance at any of TX schools, unless you're a resident.
But I really encourage you to relax! I think you have a decent chance of getting interviews this year. After that, it really depends on how well you can present yourself. Also, please keep in mind that all of us here on SDN are posting our personal opinions. None of us can tell you for sure whether or not you're gonna get in this year, because none of us is a member of the admission committee at any school. So, we don't really know the details of the selection process. The best thing for you to do is to submit your application and wait for interviews.
How many times have you taken the DAT so far? Twice or just once?