Hey guys so I am in need of advice, I have a 3.23 science and overall gpa, with upward trend going from a 2.7 first year, 3.3 second year, to a 3.68 third year, I have 2 years worth or research, Intramurals, shadowing all that stuff, but my concern is whether to retake my dat-20rc, 21pat, 19bio, 16 chem(ouch). So do I risk putting my application on hold until the Nov.1 for retake and also risk getting a lower mark because of studying while taking 5 courses or just wait and take the possible rejections to come. I am not sure what to do in this situation. I applied to VCU, Maryland, BU, Temple, Tufts, NYU, and USC. I need some advice
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To retake or not to retake
- Thread starter krnballa
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It's hard to say without knowing your AA and TS. Please list all your scores.
It's hard to say without knowing your AA and TS. Please list all your scores.
Hey TS-17, AA-18 I know it sucks, but I am concerned if one bad score means the end for me or not
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If you see my status, I have got one low score as well. Honestly, I don't know how that score is going to hurt me in this cycle, and I am not thinking to retake. However, if I were you, I would retake because TS-17/your gpa is a little bit below average. If you haven't submitted your application, I strongly recommend you to retake and improve your gpa, and apply early next cycle. 👍Hey TS-17, AA-18 I know it sucks, but I am concerned if one bad score means the end for me or not
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i think either way retake is probably a must and schools will tell you the same thing unless you indicate that you're retaking them.
DAT is used as another indicator of how you'll be able to handle difficult science courses along with your sGPA.
since your GPA falls in low category (don't worry mine is too), i would say you will need to back it up with a good DAT score at least across your science sections. 16 in any of categories is a red-flag for adcom and especially 16 in chemistry is a very bad sign (unless you had all A's in your chemistry courses which you can tell them that it is not the real indicator of your knowledge on chemistry). schools do look at biology and chemistry very importantly because they are two courses which will be used more frequently during your dental school
i think you should put that you're planning on retaking your DAT. if they were going to give you an interview with your current DAT, then they will give you interview either way and it's only going to help when you are acknowledging your low DAT score but you're going to re-take it to prove that it was not the right indicator of your ability.
best of luck to all of us
DAT is used as another indicator of how you'll be able to handle difficult science courses along with your sGPA.
since your GPA falls in low category (don't worry mine is too), i would say you will need to back it up with a good DAT score at least across your science sections. 16 in any of categories is a red-flag for adcom and especially 16 in chemistry is a very bad sign (unless you had all A's in your chemistry courses which you can tell them that it is not the real indicator of your knowledge on chemistry). schools do look at biology and chemistry very importantly because they are two courses which will be used more frequently during your dental school
i think you should put that you're planning on retaking your DAT. if they were going to give you an interview with your current DAT, then they will give you interview either way and it's only going to help when you are acknowledging your low DAT score but you're going to re-take it to prove that it was not the right indicator of your ability.
best of luck to all of us
Thanks guys but I was in the second batch for this cycle and I am worried that if I indicate a retake that I will be put on hold and by the time they get my scores the seats will be filled and chances may decrease more than before?
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in my opinion,
no matter whether you get an interview invite earlier or later, the adcom will thoroughly look at your application after your interview and if you are not retaking the DAT and still have those low scores, it'll be hard to be accepted.
So in overall success of getting into dental school, you'll need to retake the DAT to get in and I think sooner you re-take it, better you will have chance of getting in because sooner they will be able to see your new score and more seats will be open for you.
if your app was sent out in the second batch, then most of schools probably had time to at least start reviewing your application. so i think you will either hear good news or bad news sometime in near future so i think telling them retake will actually help from some schools telling you the bad news (they could say let's hold on to his file and make the final decision after his DAT).
Also, although it depends on schools but some schools will still invite you for an interview when you are indicating the retake so i dont think it'll hurt your chances as much as having low DAT score but again, this is assuming that you'll do better on your second try and it could completely back-fire.
that's my opinion but im just a guy who's been doing some research so don't take everything i said on here but do what you think would be the best for you.
also another option could be just retake the DAT w/o telling schools that you'll be retaking them, and once you get the score (and hopefully better) then send out the scores
no matter whether you get an interview invite earlier or later, the adcom will thoroughly look at your application after your interview and if you are not retaking the DAT and still have those low scores, it'll be hard to be accepted.
So in overall success of getting into dental school, you'll need to retake the DAT to get in and I think sooner you re-take it, better you will have chance of getting in because sooner they will be able to see your new score and more seats will be open for you.
if your app was sent out in the second batch, then most of schools probably had time to at least start reviewing your application. so i think you will either hear good news or bad news sometime in near future so i think telling them retake will actually help from some schools telling you the bad news (they could say let's hold on to his file and make the final decision after his DAT).
Also, although it depends on schools but some schools will still invite you for an interview when you are indicating the retake so i dont think it'll hurt your chances as much as having low DAT score but again, this is assuming that you'll do better on your second try and it could completely back-fire.
that's my opinion but im just a guy who's been doing some research so don't take everything i said on here but do what you think would be the best for you.
also another option could be just retake the DAT w/o telling schools that you'll be retaking them, and once you get the score (and hopefully better) then send out the scores
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Was it 16 for BOTH GenChem and OrgChem?? If it is, you should seriously consider a retake...
Was it 16 for BOTH GenChem and OrgChem?? If it is, you should seriously consider a retake...
No I am Canadian so there isn't a Ochem section
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