The DAT: The 2nd Time Around.....

[Nismoboy]

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I would like to start a thread for those of us who have taken, or will be taking, the DAT a second time. I did fairly well in all the sections except Organic, that is the reason I'm taking it over again. I plan on taking it in mid-August. I have been studying for the natural sciences section since early June. I need to see some examples that I can, God willingly, follow so that way I won't be discouraged. My question is, for those of you who took the DAT twice, how much better did you do the second time and how did you prepare for the DAT the second time around? All suggestions/comments/advice are welcome.

 

[BAJackson16]

I am in your shoes also. I took the DAT in christmas, didnt score what i wanted , so im retaking in august. i enrolled in the kaplan class this summer, it has helped tons, hopefully i will get what i need. ive been studying since may, surely i can increase a few points!

 

[DrTacoElf]

what did you guys score?

 

[BAJackson16]

i only studied for 3 weeks the first time i took it, i didnt have time b/c i played baseball for my school and that was the only time to take it. so i took it in christmas.
and made a...
16AA /15 PA
now im in the kaplan course and have been studying all summer and plan to retake aug. 9th. i know alot more than i did in christmas so i feel confident this time around. im shooting for a 20 , is this out of reach?
ive been making on avg. 17AA /21 PA on the kaplan tests. my most recent practice test i took this week i made
AA 17
BIO 17
C 18
OC 12 !!
RC 18
QR 18
PA 23
how much should i expect to improve?

 

[Dr_Oh_DMD]

work on the organic.

I was scoring in the 18's and 19's on the kaplan practice tests and I ended up with a 17 on the actual one.

 

[Nismoboy]

Hey all,

I also took the DAT blinded, unfortunately, back in Febuary. The only reason was because I wanted to see if I could apply for the last cycle just for the hell of it and maybe save one year. Either way, now I'm still on track. I scored a 16AA and a 19 PAT. I feel the same way as you BAJackson....I feel much more comfortable now that I have studied since May. God willingly, with all of this studying, I hope to break between 18-20.

 

[bdahl12]

Nismoboy,

To answer your original post - 1st time around I score 17/17/18 AA/TS/PAT; I only put in about three weeks of studying about 2-3 hrs. using only the kaplan book

2nd time around I took it a year later scored 20/20/20; Studied for two months (weekends off) 6-8 hours a day. Memorized as much of the material in the kaplan book that my brain would allow and used the kaplan library material and topscore

With the time you have put in you easily will hit the 18-20 mark!

 

[Dr. Steve Brule]

Nismoboy,

To answer your original post - 1st time around I score 17/17/18 AA/TS/PAT; I only put in about three weeks of studying about 2-3 hrs. using only the kaplan book

2nd time around I took it a year later scored 20/20/20; Studied for two months (weekends off) 6-8 hours a day. Memorized as much of the material in the kaplan book that my brain would allow and used the kaplan library material and topscore

With the time you have put in you easily will hit the 18-20 mark!

that's excellent! for biology did u use any other resources? did u see any weird questions u weren't expecting that weren't in the kaplan book?

 

[SloppyJoe]

I am too taking the DAT over again. I received AA of 21, but a PAT of 17.

Don't you guys feel a lot less motivated the second time? Maybe its just me. It so hard to study now.

 

[Regi]

Nismoboy,

To answer your original post - 1st time around I score 17/17/18 AA/TS/PAT; I only put in about three weeks of studying about 2-3 hrs. using only the kaplan book

2nd time around I took it a year later scored 20/20/20; Studied for two months (weekends off) 6-8 hours a day. Memorized as much of the material in the kaplan book that my brain would allow and used the kaplan library material and topscore

With the time you have put in you easily will hit the 18-20 mark!

Hi Nismoboy🙂
I actually did the same thing as you i been study all this summer and I'm palnning ontaking DAT in August. Do you think it is better to study from Kaplan or Shaumus? Also, does reall DAT has a lot questions about plants and genetics? becasue this is my weak part.Thank you for your time, Sincerely,R.

 

[Regi]

Guys!
It is not to late to submit the application to adea.org right?
Also, on the application, is is true that we need to put as much as possible of extracullicular activiteis we had and privious work experience?
Last question!
What is REALLY REALLY BEST score fro the DAT?
Thank you, Sincerely,R.

 

[bdahl12]

Mitch,

I only used Kaplan for bio and and went back to some of my text for clarification on some concepts (genetics, cell bio, biochem). My bio did bring my TS down a bit. I got a 19. But if you know everything in kaplan I think this is the lowest one would score, bio was my weak area, aside from QR. Nothing too out of the ordinary, I actually thought I did much better on this section. Suppose I got unlucky or something.

 

[mg777]

I am too taking the DAT over again. I received AA of 21, but a PAT of 17.

Sloppy, why would u take the DAT over again with that score. 17 on PAT is not great, but its acceptable. Where are u applying? was your gpa below the norm?

 

[Yah-E]

I, too, took the DAT twice. First time, I even enrolled in the Kaplan course, attended about 1/4 of the lectures and didn't really use the materials religously. I was starting my 5th year of college and I was hoping that if I can get good DAT scores, I will then apply with my substandarded undergrad GPA. My results were:

August 30, 1999

AA: 17
PAT: 24
QR: 18
RC: 19
BIO: 16
GC: 16
OC: 18
TS: 17

As you can see, these DAT scores would've been fine IF I had a 3.3 or a 3.4 GPA, but guess what, with my 2.4 GPA, these scores don't help with a sh1t! With a 17/24, I didn't apply to dental school and decided to take more upper division science courses and complete my bachelor's degree.

Two and a half years later, after completing my undergrad BS degree and enrolled in a Post-Bac program, I've decided that I should take the DAT over again. I didn't want to because who wants to take these standardized exam more than once, right? I decided to retake the exam for two reasons. One, if I wanted to impress and persuade the dental adcoms, I figures that I better suck it up and retake the exam. Two, many U.S. dental schools only take DAT scores up to 3 years old, by the time that I would've submitted my AADSAS application, my DAT scores would either already be expired or on the verge of being expired. Second time around, I used the same Kaplan materials that I had back in 1999 and used/studied it religiously. I knew that Kaplan book back to front and I only studied the BIO, OC and GC sections. My goals were 20/20, "perfect vision club"! My results were:

January 2, 2002

AA: 20
PAT: 23
QR: 17
RC: 23
BIO: 22
GC: 18
OC: 21
TS: 20

As you can see, I acheived my goal of getting the "perfect vision club"! All subsections of my DAT scores increased from my first DAT except for two subsections, PAT and QR, -1 and -1 respectively. The second DAT, I had a +3 in AA, +4 in RC, +6 in BIO, +2 in GC, +3 in OC, and +3 in TS from my 1st attempt! Why did I improve so much, I believe it's my:

1) exposure of upper division science courses that I had after my 1st DAT at my undergraduate university (I stated another academic year after I graduated to take more upper division science courses)
2) my Post-Bac basic science courses (graduate/medical school level course materials)
3) my determination to succeed
4) the amount of time I invested into studying for the DAT

What you put in is what you will get out. Study your butts off and it will show! Good luck to you all who are attempting the DAT for the 2nd or 3rd time around!

👍

 

[msbean]

hey yah-e,

now i know what you mean when you say that the upper-level science classes will help with taking the DAT's - did you study the kaplan again before the 2nd time taking the DAT's? does the knowledge you gain in the advanced classes help you to merely "skim" the dat subject materials and yet know it better?

your scores are awesome!

 

[Dr. Steve Brule]

Mitch,

I only used Kaplan for bio and and went back to some of my text for clarification on some concepts (genetics, cell bio, biochem). My bio did bring my TS down a bit. I got a 19. But if you know everything in kaplan I think this is the lowest one would score, bio was my weak area, aside from QR. Nothing too out of the ordinary, I actually thought I did much better on this section. Suppose I got unlucky or something.

thanks for the info..out of curiosity when did u take it?

 

[SloppyJoe]

Sloppy, why would u take the DAT over again with that score. 17 on PAT is not great, but its acceptable. Where are u applying? was your gpa below the norm?

I am applying to California schools, and my GPA is around around 3.1.

 

[mg777]

I see. Im not applying to any Ca schools. If i got your score i dont think id take it over. Im taking my DAT Aug14, and id rather get hit by the rear tire of a bus then take it over. Are u a resident of CA?

 

[demonicr]

Yah-E, how the hell you score a 24 on the PAT... thats gotta be the highest i've seen anyone get....very impressive 🙂

 

[bdahl12]

Mitch
First time was 6/03, 2nd 6/04

 

[SloppyJoe]

I am a Cali resident. Yes, I am dreading to take the DAT over again, it sucks. But with everything in cali being so competitve, I had to take it over again and raise my score.

 

[Yah-E]

MSBean:

Although I had many upper division science courses and post-bac/medical school courses under my belt, I STILL used the Kaplan materials religiously! No skimming here, I read and read and read and memorized. Use everything to your disposal.

Demonicr:

My 24 on PAT is nothing to brag about, if you look in the STATS threads, you'll see many with PATs higher than mine. What's funny is that you either have it or your don't have it for the PAT. I never really studied the PAT section or practiced, I simply read the instructions and did couple of problems and was able to figure out the patterns. I found the KEY HOLES and the TOP/SIDE/FRONT view problems where I spend most of my time with, but I was able to figure it out. For the 2nd DAT, I didn't even look at one PAT problem because I knew that I can do well in that section and by reviewing that section, it would be a waste of my time.

I never reviewed for the Reading Comprehension or the Quantitative Reasoning sections either. I studied hard for BIO, OC, and GC only for my 2nd time of DAT.

 

[Dr. Steve Brule]

Mitch
First time was 6/03, 2nd 6/04

cool..thanks

 

[BeachLuvr]

With a 17/18/17...AA/TS/PAT I have decided to take the exam again to be on the safe side. The soonest I can take the exam is in September because of the 90 day waiting period. What I was wondering, in anyone's opinion...is it better to tell the schools you will be taking the exam a second time and hope that things go much better the second time around? Or wait to see what scores look like, and then submit after I've seen the results? I know September is getting on in the fall and I don't want things to be too late...Not sure which is better. I don't know if the schools look at your application the first time and then put it in the "pile," never to be seen again 🙂 or what. The schools I am applying to is Baylor, UTHOuston, UTSan Antonio, NYU and Meharry. The two favorites are UTHouston and then probably NYU...not sure what the acceptance fluctuations are on this. Any thoughts...
Beachluvr

 

[coodoo]

With a 17/18/17...AA/TS/PAT I have decided to take the exam again to be on the safe side. The soonest I can take the exam is in September because of the 90 day waiting period. What I was wondering, in anyone's opinion...is it better to tell the schools you will be taking the exam a second time and hope that things go much better the second time around? Or wait to see what scores look like, and then submit after I've seen the results? I know September is getting on in the fall and I don't want things to be too late...Not sure which is better. I don't know if the schools look at your application the first time and then put it in the "pile," never to be seen again 🙂 or what. The schools I am applying to is Baylor, UTHOuston, UTSan Antonio, NYU and Meharry. The two favorites are UTHouston and then probably NYU...not sure what the acceptance fluctuations are on this. Any thoughts...
Beachluvr

beach I made a 22AA/18pat on the DAT when I took it last year (september 9th) and I got in 👍

UT Houston 😀😀😀😀

 

[RachMSU]

Beach,
I wouldn't worry about September being late. I have to re-take my DAT at the very end of October and it freaks me out everyday that this is so late in the application process. I know so many people will have interviews by then.

 

[Nismoboy]

Come on people, your stories are very inspiring...

 

[Rezdawg]

Im retaking the DAT on Aug. 19th....

First time around was last September. I got...

AA 19
PAT 18
Bio 16
GChem 17
Orgo 19
TS 17
Math 21
R.C. 21

Im hoping to raise Bio to 18, GChem to 18 or 19, and Orgo to 20.

That should push my AA to 20 with a TS of about 18 or 19. Maybe, just maybe, one dental school will take me at that point. 🙂

 

[Nismoboy]

keep them coming...

 

[SloppyJoe]

I am taking my on Aug. 19th for the second time. It's getting close.

 

[hockeydentist]

Starting to get anxious, as you can see, I have a little less than a week.

HD
I hate this type of pressure, in my case it will make or break me. plan and simple.

 

[SloppyJoe]

For people taking the DAT the second time, I want to encourage you. If you put the time in you will do better. It's easier the second time around, because you know what to expect.

I just took mine.

My first DAT 21/17
Second 23/19 - 100% in Bio!


Keep studying hard, and good luck all. I know how you guys feel, and it will be so much better afterwards.

 

[LadyxJC]

1st time (3 weeks ago)
AA: 21
Bio: 20
OC: 25
GC: 25
RC: 18
PAT: 21
QR: 16

I'm taking it again soon, because of technical problems with my computer during the QR, which is why my score for QR is so low... argh~ A section of the answers I entered right before it crashed were cleared. So annoyed~

 

[SloppyJoe]

1st time (3 weeks ago)
AA: 21
Bio: 20
OC: 25
GC: 25
RC: 18
PAT: 21
QR: 16

I'm taking it again soon, because of technical problems with my computer during the QR, which is why my score for QR is so low... argh~ A section of the answers I entered right before it crashed were cleared. So annoyed~

Hey lady, DO NOT RE TAKE IT. IT IS NOT WORTH IT. With you score, no school will care what u got in the QR section.
I know people who got 15, 16, and 17s with similar school get into school no problem. Most school will tell you QR doesn't really matter, unless it really bring down your AA. (Your AA is fine.)

 

[Nismoboy]

Im retaking the DAT on Aug. 19th....

First time around was last September. I got...

AA 19
PAT 18
Bio 16
GChem 17
Orgo 19
TS 17
Math 21
R.C. 21

Im hoping to raise Bio to 18, GChem to 18 or 19, and Orgo to 20.

That should push my AA to 20 with a TS of about 18 or 19. Maybe, just maybe, one dental school will take me at that point. 🙂

Rezdawg, I am very surprised to hear that you want to take your DAT's over again. Those scores are good in my eyes...what schools did you apply to last year?

 

[savvysearch]

1st time (3 weeks ago)
AA: 21
Bio: 20
OC: 25
GC: 25
RC: 18
PAT: 21
QR: 16

I'm taking it again soon, because of technical problems with my computer during the QR, which is why my score for QR is so low... argh~ A section of the answers I entered right before it crashed were cleared. So annoyed~

Oh, my god. I would have been in hysterics. Good thing you still have great scores to offset that.Did you make a phone call? I would complain. They need to do something about that.

 

[savvysearch]

My first time I studied for 5 months reading Kaplan about 5 or 6 times front to back. I got (to my recollection)

aa:18
total science 18
bio:18
Ochem:19
Chem:17
math:17
Pat:18.
reading:18

second time, I studied for 3 months, but this time with topscore mainly for the math and chem/ochem.

I got
aa:19
total science:20
bio:18
Ochem:21
Chem:20
math:17
pat:19
reading:21

Ehh. I wish I got one more point on math so I could have gotten a 20 AA. Oh well, I'm sort of satisfied.

 

[LadyxJC]

Oh, my god. I would have been in hysterics. Good thing you still have great scores to offset that.Did you make a phone call? I would complain. They need to do something about that.

I've made MANY phone calls and even wrote multiple letters to the ADA, with very little results. Gosh, I really think that ADA is very irresponsible in the way they handle situations like mine. After their system failed on me, they make it sound like I'm trying to get away with blaming the computer for my low score. Very frustrating~ They're willing to let me retake the entire exam over, free of charge... but my first scores will remain permanent. And when dental schools get my score report, they will have no knowledge of the technical problems I had with the computer during my first exam. How fair is that? Not very. But I'm moving on... lol... slowing but moving on. Just waiting for them to contact me concerning retaking the exam

 

[Pevi]

I just took my DATs for the first time an got a surprised 17/17/17.

Unfortunately, I have to wait until end of November to take them again. I'm going to write to all the schools I applied for and request them to put my app on hold till they come in as well as my grades in December.

This time around, I'm taking Kaplan for the sake of having something to practice with. I want nothing below a 21 in anything. Especially, since the Dean wants that.

You really think Kaplan is worth it and will help???