Take DAT early and do average or take DAT later and do better?

[Socolaphile]

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Hi,

I'm having my DAT on 7/25, but thinking of rescheduling because I'm not feeling ready.

What would be better? Having an average DAT score in early so committee can look at my application or aim for a better score by taking DAT later?

Extra info: My GPA is not great, btw. Rescheduling to the first week of Aug.

Thank you.

 

[super frank]

You want to score as high as possible on the DAT. Reschedule if you think you will benefit from a few more weeks of studying.
What's your GPA?

 

[DC206R]

If you think the extra 10 days will help you, then definitely reschedule. If it is just nerves, then put to the side and get the DAT over with.

 

[BeaverLover]

You're talking about a 1-2 we delay? I would reschedule if so

 

[Polkadotfan]

I agree with DC206R. If it's just nerves then dont reschedule. I was so nervous beforehand. Had to rip off the band aid so to speak. Take a practice test, see how you do. I think you never really feel ready for the DAT lol

 

[Charles_Darwin]

I was just in your situation, planned to take it July 21st, rescheduled to August 2nd. I feel like i'd do okay (maybe a 20AA), but my GPA is also on the low side so I decided an extra 10 days to review all the material i've used wouldn't hurt.

 

[Socolaphile]

You want to score as high as possible on the DAT. Reschedule if you think you will benefit from a few more weeks of studying.
What's your GPA?

My sGPA is ~3.0.

By not ready I meant the scores that I performed on DAT problems are not look great or not what I want.
Thank you for all your answers.

 

[JLT223]

My sGPA is ~3.0.

By not ready I meant the scores that I performed on DAT problems are not look great or not what I want.
Thank you for all your answers.

Things don't really start to come together up until the last 2 weeks before your scheduled test date. You have the time, study hard. If you aren't feeling prepared two weeks out (gauged by practice test scores) then reschedule. You have a lot of prep time left, you're not supposed to "feel great" yet.

 

[schmoob]

Push it back. You will gave more time to prepare, and more importantly you will have more CONFIDENCE which is key for the exam.
Nerves got the better of me on my first try. I studied less my second time; in fact, I felt less prepared. But I went in with a different attitude and it paid off.
You'll do great! Good luck!

 

[Alikhan9]

Push it back. You will gave more time to prepare, and more importantly you will have more CONFIDENCE which is key for the exam.
Nerves got the better of me on my first try. I studied less my second time; in fact, I felt less prepared. But I went in with a different attitude and it paid off.
You'll do great! Good luck!

How dp you think woth less prepartion did you do better any advice on how to try to score well on your first try maybe on the second try you used better materials

 

[iloveadentist]

I was just in your situation, planned to take it July 21st, rescheduled to August 2nd. I feel like i'd do okay (maybe a 20AA), but my GPA is also on the low side so I decided an extra 10 days to review all the material i've used wouldn't hurt.

You definitely made a good choice! That's exactly what I would have done. The more time you have the better you can do. Good luck

 

[Charles_Darwin]

You definitely made a good choice! That's exactly what I would have done. The more time you have the better you can do. Good luck

Thanks! I appreciate the good vibes 🙂

 

[schmoob]

Nope. Same material. I spent less time on my 2nd try.
It was all about attitude. My first time I went in there so nervous. I second guessed myself a lot. I didn't have the confidence.
The 2nd time I went in there with a "screw it, it's just a test attitude." It really helped ME. I knew what I knew, and I guessed ans marked what I didn't know and moved on. If I had time left, I went back and reviewed my guessed answers.
The confidence helped. If I would've had that attitude my first time, I would've done EVEN BETTER.

It's really just a test. No matter what, you will go home and the sun will come up the next day.

 

[iloveadentist]

I am so loving the confidence vibes! Remember everyone confidence is key, we've all worked our asses off for this test. At the end of the day if more time helps you be more confident then you do that! Positive mindset and you can do anything 🙂

 

[irishmom]

The sumer I applied to DDS school I was originally scheduled to take the DAT at the end of June. When the day before the test rolled around I knew I was not ready, so I rescheduled it for the bedinning of August. That 6 weeks proved to be the best thing I needed. I got a 22 on the DAT and was still accepted that year to 2 different schools, and waitlisted at 2 others (I only interviewed at 4, but applied to 8). So in my opinion do not take it until you are ready. As long as you have taken it by the middle to end of August, you should be ok.

Also, from today forward I would suggest doing the DAT Bootcamp every day. What I did was to do a test every day (not a whole DAT, just one test) and then copy and paste any of the questions I messed and go over them again and again until I understood them and why I missed them. I also did the PAT sections that you can just do individually each day until I had mastered that particular part and could do it in the reccommended tie for that section.

Good luck!