The Old GPA vs DAT question

[lindell12a]

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Just wondering about your thoughts on this. Who has a better chance of getting in if both applicants applied in October:

Student A with GPA 2.7 and DAT 29 across the board

Student B with GPA 3.9 and DAT below 15

I know everything on an application is considered, but if you had to guess at who had a better shot, who would you pick?

 

[Danny0230]

Just wondering about your thoughts on this. Who has a better chance of getting in if both applicants applied in October:

Student A with GPA 2.7 and DAT 29 across the board

Student B with GPA 3.9 and DAT below 15

I know everything on an application is considered, but if you had to guess at who had a better shot, who would you pick?

-- to be honest, those are some pretty unrealistic extremes.... if someone worked hard enough to get 29's across the board on the DAT (does that ever happen????) they probably wouldnt have a 2.7......

and if someone has been intelligent enough over 4 years to amass a 3.9, i can't see a 14 AA or lower resulting. The worst I've seen here on SDN is AA 16.. and even those are pretty rare......

 

[lindell12a]

-- to be honest, those are some pretty unrealistic extremes.... if someone worked hard enough to get 29's across the board on the DAT (does that ever happen????) they probably wouldnt have a 2.7......

and if someone has been intelligent enough over 4 years to amass a 3.9, i can't see a 14 AA or lower resulting. The worst I've seen here on SDN is AA 16.. and even those are pretty rare......

Yeah, true. I guess the question would just then just be, more emphasis on GPA or DAT? I'm thinking DAT?

 

[jigabodo]

-- to be honest, those are some pretty unrealistic extremes.... if someone worked hard enough to get 29's across the board on the DAT (does that ever happen????) they probably wouldnt have a 2.7......

and if someone has been intelligent enough over 4 years to amass a 3.9, i can't see a 14 AA or lower resulting. The worst I've seen here on SDN is AA 16.. and even those are pretty rare......

Yea, those are pretty unrealistic examples.

I think a more plausible scenario would be:

GPA 3.0, DAT 26 v.s. GPA 3.9, DAT 15.

I would like to think that higher GPA shows your dedication and commitment, because it takes time to do so. A higher DAT, on the other hand, requires probably around 3 months of intense studying. Seeing how dentistry is all about dedication, thats why I said I would prefer the kiddo with a high GPA.

However, with such a low DAT score, I would also question the validity of his/her education. If you are getting a 3.9, you cant be possibly bad at taking exams since you must have scored well in them to get your 3.9. Furthermore, a 15 in AA is an extremely low percentile. All others being equal, 15 nowadays probably isnt enough to get an URM into dental schools. (Keep in mind that Meharry this year has a DAT cutogg at 17)

 

[lindell12a]

Yea, those are pretty unrealistic examples.

I think a more plausible scenario would be:

GPA 3.0, DAT 26 v.s. GPA 3.9, DAT 15.

I would like to think that higher GPA shows your dedication and commitment, because it takes time to do so. A higher DAT, on the other hand, requires probably around 3 months of intense studying. Seeing how dentistry is all about dedication, thats why I said I would prefer the kiddo with a high GPA.

However, with such a low DAT score, I would also question the validity of his/her education. If you are getting a 3.9, you cant be possibly bad at taking exams since you must have scored well in them to get your 3.9. Furthermore, a 15 in AA is an extremely low percentile. All others being equal, 15 nowadays probably isnt enough to get an URM into dental schools. (Keep in mind that Meharry this year has a DAT cutogg at 17)

Very true. I personally would consider the high DAT score with the low GPA, as it levels everyone's playing field. Well, somewhat.

 

[sacjumpman]

I would think that the high DAT numbers would be greatly preferred.

From what I've read and gathered, it really seems like GPA's are too inconsistent in the fact that some schools/teachers are of greatly varying difficulty.

 

[Montserrat]

Just a speculative point of view, but I think the person with the high GPA and below average DAT score raises more questions (and bad questions at that), than the applicant with the lower GPA and higher DAT scores. A high GPA and low DAT may give the impression of a less than rigorous undergraduate regimen, or someone who can't put a good deal of information together when it counts. This isn't a good foreshadowing for performances on NDBE I. Someone with a low GPA and higher DAT score might be seen as a late bloomer or a slacker in undergrad, but someone who is a risk with potentially good upside. Overall, I think being average on both is safer than either extreme (because dental schools know what they are going to get), but I'd take the higher DAT and lower GPA over a low DAT and high GPA (and that's why I'm retaking the DAT as well.)

Also, not everyone studies for 5-6 hours a day for 3 months when preparing for the DAT. That seems like an ungodly amount of time for such preparation. I was working full time when I was preparing for the DAT, and maybe got in a good 3+ hours a night for a little under 2 months. Other than being underprepared for the QR and not taking enough practice exams as I would have liked, I thought it was more than enough time to review the material.

 

[TheWiredNerv]

Adcoms probably favor higher DAT scores. a 23+ score jumps out at them and makes the applicant stand out more. Many applicants can have a 3.6+ but not nearly as many have a 23+ DAT.

 

[Flipper405]

Just wondering about your thoughts on this. Who has a better chance of getting in if both applicants applied in October:

Student A with GPA 2.7 and DAT 29 across the board

Student B with GPA 3.9 and DAT below 15

I know everything on an application is considered, but if you had to guess at who had a better shot, who would you pick?

I think if you get straight 29s, you're pretty much set regardless of your GPA (almost).

 

[xdianaax]

Adcoms probably favor higher DAT scores. a 23+ score jumps out at them and makes the applicant stand out more. Many applicants can have a 3.6+ but not nearly as many have a 23+ DAT.

You hit the nail right on the head. When I speak to dean's and such they almost always tell me that they would rather see a lower GPA and a higher DAT. This is for the sole purpose that every school is different and that the DAT is standardized.