To note previous DAT scores or not?

[tarheel85]

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Hey, I applied for last year's cycle, the end result being waitlisted at one school. I have about 3.55 sci and 3.65 total gpa but the thing that was perhaps keeping me down was my DAT score (18 AA, 18 TS). I'm planning on retaking in July but I want to make sure I do the right thing to give me the best chances possible for admission. Would it be wise to not note that I will be retaking in July, and just wait to see what kind of response I get - (see if I get any interviews) and then send 2nd scores to them in July, or just note from the get go when I am retaking. I'm planning on applying to more reasonable schools this time, and to schools that take higher scores instead of most recent.

And finally, when schools say they take the highest of the DAT scores, what does this generally mean?...highest of each section?...highest AA?
Thanks!

 

[THINKOFMYFUTURE]

Lol, I'm in the exact same boat as you although my GPA is a bit lower and my DAT a tad higher. I'm retaking in 3 days, for me, I'm going to submit my aadsas the night after the test. And then the next day, FAX my unofficial report to all the schools. Of course this means on the aadsas I'm going to note that I will be retaking. My biggest concern would be them to blow me off using my old scores! Either way, from what I hear on sdn as long as you note you are retaking, the schools won't consider you untill they receive your new scores.

 

[4thMolar]

I would indicate on your AADSAS application that you plan on re-taking the DAT sometime in July. They may not review your application until July, but there is no reason to think you have a better chance this year if none of your stats have improved. Also, if you don't indicate it now on your app and then send in your score report in July if you did better, the schools may wonder why you didnt indicate it before. You want to be honest in your app, b/c if you're not it may come back to bite you.

 

[nze82]

I don't think they care about whether or not you mention your future plans to them. The bottom line is that they want to see some decent scores. If I were you, I would mentioned that I will be taking the DAT for the 2nd time in July, because this way you're telling them too things:

1) You haven't been lazy doing nothing since the previous cycle & You have actually had a plan to improve your application--They hate to see applicants who just submit the same exact application from the previous cycle, without adding anything to it.

2) You're letting them know that better scores are on their way. So, if they look at your application with your previous scores on it, they're not gonna throw it aside, assuming that you've applied with the same low scores. They may wait to see your new set of scores, before making any decisions about your application.

About which set of scores they look at, I must say that I think most schools look for improvements. Obviously, if you take the DAT for the 2nd time and your scores drop dramatically, they're not gonna simply ignore the lower scores; it may even make them question your first set of scores. On the other hand, if you show improvement on your second test, you're showing them that your academic background is strong enough to do decent on the DAT, and that's what they really care about, so most likely they're gonna let your 1st set of scores (the lower ones) slide.

Good Luck!

 

[doc toothache]

I'm planning on retaking in July but I want to make sure I do the right thing to give me the best chances possible for admission. Would it be wise to not note that I will be retaking in July, and just wait to see what kind of response I get - (see if I get any interviews) and then send 2nd scores to them in July, or just note from the get go when I am retaking. I'm planning on applying to more reasonable schools this time, and to schools that take higher scores instead of most recent.

And finally, when schools say they take the highest of the DAT scores, what does this generally mean?...highest of each section?...highest AA?
Thanks!

Whether or not you notify them of future plans is not particularly important since you may or may not end up taking the test. However, once taken sending the results is no longer an option lest you want to give ds the option of deciding whether it is lying by omission or commission.

It may not make too much difference whether the highest scores considered are a composite or separate since they are just an indication on how well one does on a good/bad day.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527651

 

[dentalgrl1]

how many schools did you apply to last year?