Should I take retake DAT? (AA22 RC17 PAT 23)

[jhan17]

Hi guys,

I just took my DAT this past Friday and got these scores: 22AA 24TS (21OC,23BIO,27GC) 22QR, 17RC, 23PAT

I know my scores aren't bad except my really low RC, but I am really hoping to go Ivy League (Harvard, Columbia, UPENN) or California (UCSF or UCLA) schools. I want to blame my low RC to the fact that I was born in Korea and was naturalized by joining the US Army, but I don't know whether this is a minus or plus when applying for dental school. I normally do get around 19-20..

My GPA is 3.9(BCP3.8), and I am a ROTC cadet attending the University of Alabama under Army Green to Gold Program, so I am an Active Duty soldier finishing up my undergraduate so I can commission this May as 2nd Lt. I will be working as an Active Duty Medical Service officer until I go to dental school next Fall.

My experience is that when I was Enlisted my job in the Army was Dental Specialist, so I worked in different dental clinics for about 18 months, and then I got picked up to come here. Also, I have done research for almost two years.

Anyway, given my background and excellent LORs (2 from professors and 3 from Army dentists), what are my chances and do you think I should retake my DAT?

Thank you reading and any input will be appreciated!!!!

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[DAT Destroyer]

Hi guys,

I just took my DAT this past Friday and got these scores: 22AA 24TS (21OC,23BIO,27GC) 22QR, 17RC, 23PAT

I know my scores aren't bad except my really low RC, but I am really hoping to go Ivy League (Harvard, Columbia, UPENN) or California (UCSF or UCLA) schools. I want to blame my low RC to the fact that I was born in Korea and was naturalized by joining the US Army, but I don't know whether this is a minus or plus when applying for dental school. I normally do get around 19-20..

My GPA is 3.9(BCP3.8), and I am a ROTC cadet attending the University of Alabama under Army Green to Gold Program, so I am an Active Duty soldier finishing up my undergraduate so I can commission this May as 2nd Lt. I will be working as an Active Duty Medical Service officer until I go to dental school next Fall.

My experience is that when I was Enlisted my job in the Army was Dental Specialist, so I worked in different dental clinics for about 18 months, and then I got picked up to come here. Also, I have done research for almost two years.

Anyway, given my background and excellent LORs (2 from professors and 3 from Army dentists), what are my chances and do you think I should retake my DAT?

Thank you reading and any input will be appreciated!!!!

First I want to say thank you for service to our country!

Congratulations on your DAT scores and excellent GPA. Your reading score is of concern for the schools you mentioned but because of your excellent resume and scores in other sections you might get an interview. I highly suggest you contact those schools with your unique situation and get advice from them.

I don't think anyone on this forum will be able to give you a guaranteed answer to your question.

Wishing you the best..Nancy

 

[htorres89]

I wouldn't retake the DAT. I have seen a student with a 22 AA and a 17 in RC get in! It was a good school too.


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[WheatLom]

I don't think a retake is 100% necessary. However, some schools might auto-reject based on having below their requirement. There is a thread someone made with all the DAT minimums. Research the schools that won't care as much about being in a 17 for RC ( I believe most schools usually rank it high as some do say they like a higher RC).

Otherwise you got a really good score!

 

[jhan17]

First I want to say thank you for service to our country!

Congratulations on your DAT scores and excellent GPA. Your reading score is of concern for the schools you mentioned but because of your excellent resume and scores in other sections you might get an interview. I highly suggest you contact those schools with your unique situation and get advice from them.

I don't think anyone on this forum will be able to give you a guaranteed answer to your question.

Wishing you the best..Nancy

Will they be able to answer these kinds of specific questions, though?

Thank you for always helping students out and giving good advises!

 

[tyjacobs]

Hi guys,

I just took my DAT this past Friday and got these scores: 22AA 24TS (21OC,23BIO,27GC) 22QR, 17RC, 23PAT

I know my scores aren't bad except my really low RC, but I am really hoping to go Ivy League (Harvard, Columbia, UPENN) or California (UCSF or UCLA) schools. I want to blame my low RC to the fact that I was born in Korea and was naturalized by joining the US Army, but I don't know whether this is a minus or plus when applying for dental school. I normally do get around 19-20..

My GPA is 3.9(BCP3.8), and I am a ROTC cadet attending the University of Alabama under Army Green to Gold Program, so I am an Active Duty soldier finishing up my undergraduate so I can commission this May as 2nd Lt. I will be working as an Active Duty Medical Service officer until I go to dental school next Fall.

My experience is that when I was Enlisted my job in the Army was Dental Specialist, so I worked in different dental clinics for about 18 months, and then I got picked up to come here. Also, I have done research for almost two years.

Anyway, given my background and excellent LORs (2 from professors and 3 from Army dentists), what are my chances and do you think I should retake my DAT?

Thank you reading and any input will be appreciated!!!!

you should call admissions offices and see what they have to say

 

[DAT Destroyer]

I wouldn't retake the DAT. I have seen a student with a 22 AA and a 17 in RC get in! It was a good school too.


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Yes, but he wants IVY League, (Harvard, Columbia, UPENN), that is why I am not totally confident they will be happy with a 17 in Reading, he needs to make the inquiry.

 

[DAT Destroyer]

Will they be able to answer these kinds of specific questions, though?

Thank you for always helping students out and giving good advises!

Yes they should be able to answer those question, be persistent. If you are in the area of any of the schools go in person.

 

[DAT Destroyer]

I don't think a retake is 100% necessary. However, some schools might auto-reject based on having below their requirement. There is a thread someone made with all the DAT minimums. Research the schools that won't care as much about being in a 17 for RC ( I believe most schools usually rank it high as some do say they like a higher RC).

Otherwise you got a really good score!

Harvard, Columbia, UPENN, those 3 schools are stricter than most. But he has a lot of positives in his application and that can go a long way.

Will they be able to answer these kinds of specific questions, though?

Thank you for always helping students out and giving good advises!

Another suggestion would be to have an excellent personal statement, that could be the door opener to an interview.

 

[tyjacobs]

Harvard, Columbia, UPENN, those 3 schools are stricter than most. But he has a lot of positives in his application and that can go a long way. A

Another suggestion would be to have an excellent personal statement, that could be the door opener to an interview.

good points by orgoman.

I know for a fact columbia weighs DAT scores very heavily, so this is why I still maintian what i said in my original post --> call admissions offices and explain the situation, ask them if you should retake it. Then make the decision based on what they say.

Why do you want to go to an ivy league school? Just curious

 

[jhan17]

good points by orgoman.

I know for a fact columbia weighs DAT scores very heavily, so this is why I still maintian what i said in my original post --> call admissions offices and explain the situation, ask them if you should retake it. Then make the decision based on what they say.

Why do you want to go to an ivy league school? Just curious

In future, I don't know exactly when but years later, when I decided to go back to my mother country to be a professor or something, it would be very helpful for me to have a degree from a very well-known university since Koreans put a high emphasis on names. This is one of the reasons.

Another is that I have always dreamed of attending one of those schools ever since I moved to the US, I guess.

 

[DAT Destroyer]

In future, I don't know exactly when but years later, when I decided to go back to my mother country to be a professor or something, it would be very helpful for me to have a degree from a very well-known university since Koreans put a high emphasis on names. This is one of the reasons.

Another is that I have always dreamed of attending one of those schools ever since I moved to the US, I guess.

Do not give up on your dream, you just need to put in some time calling schools, etc. I think you have an excellent chance to get an interview. I understand completely because I work with students from all over the world, and I have also found Koreans do put a lot of emphasis on names and excellence. That is why most Korean students have high GPA's and DAT scores. Just a general observation and do want to cross any politically incorrect lines, LOL..I was just agreeing with what you stated.

 

[jhan17]

Do not give up on your dream, you just need to put in some time calling schools, etc. I think you have an excellent chance to get an interview. I understand completely because I work with students from all over the world, and I have also found Koreans do put a lot of emphasis on names and excellence. That is why most Korean students have high GPA's and DAT scores. Just a general observation and do want to cross any politically incorrect lines, LOL..I was just agreeing with what you stated.

Thank you for the encouraging words! Like now would be a good time to give them calls, and I feel like they will give a very generic answer, wouldn't they?

 

[DAT Destroyer]

Thank you for the encouraging words! Like now would be a good time to give them calls, and I feel like they will give a very generic answer, wouldn't they?

Not necessarily but you won't know until you call. The sooner you call the sooner you will have an answer.

 

[wengerout]

I know someone who got into Columbia with a 17RC so it's possible, honestly I wouldn't retake unless you REALLY want to go to an Ivy.