To Dat or Not To Dat

[yappy]

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Hey guys,

I was hoping to get a little advice on a situation i'm finding my self in. I'm planning on applying NEXT application cycle - but my goal was to take the DAT this aug/sept before my fall term started in school just to have it done. Basically my scores are not where I want them to be.
Kaplan: 20 aa 19 pat
Top score: 19 aa 19 pat

Having said that I feel like I have alot more to go as far as learning / practicing. My gpa is around 3.3 so i wanted to score really well on this test. Do you think I should give it a shot or wait till next year... in which case what would be best time to take considering I want to apply "early".

thanks and GL.

 

[casper22]

I am yet to take the DAT but from my reading.. ur scores are on par with what people had scored on their practice exams...and ended up scoring 20+ on the real DAT...

Assuming u meant you want to start dental school in 2012...here is what I think..

Since ur have taken practice tests..(I should start taking it too...my DAT is in 2.5 weeks) I am assuming u have already spend some time studying... and so if I were u I would give myself another 2-3 weeks (depending on ur schedule) to work my weakness and take the DAT... worst case if you are not happy with your scores you can always take it again after 90 days..

If you do not take now.. u might stop studying to restart everything after few months....

If u meant u want to start dental school in 2011... dude.. we are already late to take the exam... dont think of anything and just study and schedule ur test..

Good Luck..

 

[yappy]

Casper, Thanks for your advice. No I'm not applying this cycle - I meant I wanted to start D school in 2012. I guess i'm just afraid of not doing well. I have spend alot of time studing but judging by the way I learn - the more time I have with material the better I get. I'm not a crammer... I forget everything when the pressure is on. I feel most comfortable when I have time to know info inside and out, recitie it without prompts, and know every exception. I dont feel @ that point yet.

GL on your test.

 

[casper22]

Thanks Dude..

If u dont feel ready..DONT TAKE IT....my point was dont delay it just because ur scared...

Did u see someone posted his/her score and has a TS of 30... how the hell do they do it...

 

[yappy]

maybe they dont? lol. It is the internet.

 

[ncmucla]

Hey

I think you should take it this summer. I'm applying this year. I wanted to take the DAT last summer, but I was too lazy to study and postponed it for spring. I REGRET MY DECISION EVERYDAY.
I was taking classes during spring so it was even harder to study for DAT, so I postponed it for July 28th, and then again for Aug 16.
I think its really hard to study while taking classes in college. Since you've been practicing a lot just study few more weeks and take the test.
Also study HARD, try to tell yourself that this is the only chance you have to take the test. If you be like I still have all the next 9 months to study and retake the test you won't study as hard.

Good luck

 

[FurmanGal]

I believe you are more ready than you think you are 👍. Your kaplan and topscore scores are good... I think you should go ahead and take it this summer! I am not applying until the 2011 cycle either but am taking the DAT in a couple weeks. I know that once classes start back and i start focusing on getting that 4.0, I will forget alot of the stuff i have studied for the DAT and it will be a whole summer of intense studying down the drain. Don't let all the hard work go to waste - take it now! And if you don't do as well as you were hoping, there is always next summer to study even harder. That's better than waiting until next summer and stressing the 90 day wait period if you don't do well the first time. Just my opinion... good luck! 🙂

 

[Cofo]

Tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous patience.
Take arms against the sea of DAT, And by opposing it, score a 20+ this August/September.

....It sounded a lot more cool in my head. 😎