Taking DAT Aug. 15th, sending app in late July - am I too late?

[VortexGreen]

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Hello, I'm a long-time SDN follower, but new to posting. I have searched the forums for late application advice, but was unable to find answers to some of my specific questions for people with stats similar to my own. I plan to apply this 2011-2012 application cycle, but will be late due to full-time work and family obligations. I'm scheduled to take my DAT August 15th and I'm hoping to submit my primary application by late July or early August, but my LORs will not be in until mid to late August. Am I going to be too late in the cycle to be competitive for pre-December interviews? My overall gpa is 3.6 and my sci gpa is 3.5. I don't have official DAT scores yet and I just started studying ~2 weeks ago, so I can't accurately guess what they will be either. However, I have always done well on standardized tests in the past. I have good extracurriculars (shadowing experience, leadership in a club, lots of volunteer hours, part-time and full-time work, etc.)

Is it worth rushing to get my application in by late July/early August assuming that my LORs won't be finished until mid-august? Will processing of my application begin without my LORs? Would it be to my advantage to get my app in even earlier (assuming the same time frame for my DAT and LORs)? Would getting my LORs in by early August help (assuming the same time frame for my DAT)?

Any advice and/or help is GREATLY appreciated! Thank you all very much! 😀

 

[toothfairyy]

Not too late. I sent in my application in July and took the DAT on the last available day in August. I ended up with three interviews. Just get ~20s on your DAT and you'll be fine. I studied only a few weeks but made sure I aced the DAT.
Good luck🙂

 

[VortexGreen]

Toothfairyy: what application cycle year did you apply during? If you don't mind, were you accepted? Did schools begin to send you secondaries or invite you to interview before they received your DAT scores? If you're willing to share, what was your gpa and DAT (feel free to pm me). Thanks! 🙂

 

[PreDental88]

Hello, I'm a long-time SDN follower, but new to posting. I have searched the forums for late application advice, but was unable to find answers to some of my specific questions for people with stats similar to my own. I plan to apply this 2011-2012 application cycle, but will be late due to full-time work and family obligations. I'm scheduled to take my DAT August 15th and I'm hoping to submit my primary application by late July or early August, but my LORs will not be in until mid to late August. Am I going to be too late in the cycle to be competitive for pre-December interviews? My overall gpa is 3.6 and my sci gpa is 3.5. I don't have official DAT scores yet and I just started studying ~2 weeks ago, so I can't accurately guess what they will be either. However, I have always done well on standardized tests in the past. I have good extracurriculars (shadowing experience, leadership in a club, lots of volunteer hours, part-time and full-time work, etc.)

Is it worth rushing to get my application in by late July/early August assuming that my LORs won't be finished until mid-august? Will processing of my application begin without my LORs? Would it be to my advantage to get my app in even earlier (assuming the same time frame for my DAT and LORs)? Would getting my LORs in by early August help (assuming the same time frame for my DAT)?

Any advice and/or help is GREATLY appreciated! Thank you all very much! 😀

You're not in bad shape at all. I took my DATs late August and received about 7 interviews, 4 pre-dec and 2 post-dec. Just make sure you ace the DAT, don't take it earlier unless you're confident in the material.

 

[art777]

I'm on a similar boat, I already e-submitted but I'm taking my DAT august 24th. 3.65cGPA 3.57sGPA.... Lots of shadowing, moderate amount of volunteering, working full times, etc... And I'm waiting on my LORs to be sent in (it takes forever -___-)

I was tripping out just like you, but at the end of the day u just have to apply and hope for the best

 

[VortexGreen]

You're not in bad shape at all. I took my DATs late August and received about 7 interviews, 4 pre-dec and 2 post-dec. Just make sure you ace the DAT, don't take it earlier unless you're confident in the material.

What do you mean by "ace" the DAT? I'm aiming for 20+ on each section. Would that be reasonable for a mid to late August app?

Thanks all you guys for responding to my post and to those of you who sent me PMs too. I'll plan on trying to finish and submit my app within the next two weeks while preparing to "ace" the DAT. 😎

Good luck to anyone else going through the same process right now!

 

[dantemac]

I wouldn't consider this late by any means. It hardly diminishes your chances!

 

[VortexGreen]

I wouldn't consider this late by any means. It hardly diminishes your chances!

Thanks for your optimism. Although I'm sending in my app in ~2 weeks, I'm taking my DAT mid-August and won't have my LORs in until mid to late August. That's why I'd consider it lateish. You're right though, it could be later..

 

[babypp2]

reallt late

 

[euphaire]

Hey, your situation sounds exactly like mine! (+/- a few days...)
I love the optimistic feedbacks on your post, but I'm really worried as well. I know that the 'first batch' interview decisions usually end up filling 50~70% of seats (some school official told me so), and I know many schools have their first batch decided in or before August. So using that logic, wouldn't we be severely handicapped by getting our app in by late August?

 

[eeek22]

Hey guys,
I'm in a similar situation right now and was hoping for some advice. I'm planning on taking my DAT in July and submitting my app after seeing my score. I am also hoping to have my LOR's in by the end of July/early August. I have a 3.41 cum, leadership, shadowing, and some volunteer experience. Also aiming for a 21+ on the DAT. Would I disadvantaged applying so late? Or should I wait til next year to submit?

Thanks!

 

[Glimmer1991]

Hey guys,
I'm in a similar situation right now and was hoping for some advice. I'm planning on taking my DAT in July and submitting my app after seeing my score. I am also hoping to have my LOR's in by the end of July/early August. I have a 3.41 cum, leadership, shadowing, and some volunteer experience. Also aiming for a 21+ on the DAT. Would I disadvantaged applying so late? Or should I wait til next year to submit?

Thanks!

Is this a retake? If so, it's probably best to wait to submit your entire app (like you're planning to do).

If it isn't a retake, I'd submit before you take your test--at least to a few schools--so you can go ahead and get your GPA verified. Then, the day you take your DAT, scan in your score report and send it to the schools you've applied to.

You'll be fine. You aren't "early," exactly, but definitely fine. You don't need to wait until next year!

 

[eeek22]

It's going to by my first time taking it! Thank you so much for the help!

 

[BrazilianRider]

You're not in bad shape at all. I took my DATs late August and received about 7 interviews, 4 pre-dec and 2 post-dec. Just make sure you ace the DAT, don't take it earlier unless you're confident in the material.

So... 6 interviews?