Took DAT, what should I do?

[The_Office990]

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Hey guys, I have been lurking for a while and so I just took my DAT on Thursday. This is my second time taking it and even though I improved, I still didn't do so hot.

My scores were

Bio 19
Chem 19
Ochem20
PAT 20
RC 19
QR 18

AA 19
TS 19

My GPA is a 2.85

I really want to do dentistry. I was planning on overloading on classes this summer along with the following semester to raise my GPA. Do You guys think I should take this summer off again and improve DAT or GPA?

 

[pete6277]

You Deff need to improve your DAT score to atleast 22+ to offset your GPA. But even with a 2.85, it'll be very hard to gain interviews and acceptances. I'd highly recommend that you do something to bring up both your gpa and DAT score. Good luck.

 

[schmoob]

Hey guys, I have been lurking for a while and so I just took my DAT on Thursday. This is my second time taking it and even though I improved, I still didn't do so hot.

My scores were

Bio 19
Chem 19
Ochem20
PAT 20
RC 19
QR 18

AA 19
TS 19

My GPA is a 2.85

I really want to do dentistry. I was planning on overloading on classes this summer along with the following semester to raise my GPA. Do You guys think I should take this summer off again and improve DAT or GPA?

You've got an uphill battle, but not impossible. Take some classes but do not overload! Give yourself enough breathing room to do well in all of them. Raise that GPA and then try the DAT again. The advanced sciences should give you a better foundation.
Do not rush this process. Slow and steady will win the race for you. Best of luck!

 

[Incis0r]

Hey guys, I have been lurking for a while and so I just took my DAT on Thursday. This is my second time taking it and even though I improved, I still didn't do so hot.

My scores were

Bio 19
Chem 19
Ochem20
PAT 20
RC 19
QR 18

AA 19
TS 19

My GPA is a 2.85

I really want to do dentistry. I was planning on overloading on classes this summer along with the following semester to raise my GPA. Do You guys think I should take this summer off again and improve DAT or GPA?

Yes, you need more credits to raise your GPA, but summer courses are already condensed and if you take tons of credits and "overload" your summer, then you may find yourself stretched thin and see only marginal gains on your GPA. So only take a course load that is doable.

I would also recommend a DAT retake and I second @pete6277 's suggestion to aim for at least a 22.

Have you thought about post-bac/master's programs? They may be what you're looking for.

 

[SmileItsLife]

How many semesters have you been in school?

 

[smile matters]

Are you trying to apply this cycle?

 

[The_Office990]

thank you for the fast response. I graduated with a bachelors in biology. Have taken 4 post bac courses which equal to 16 credit hours. Received a 4.0 in post Bac. My undergrad gpa is really low because I started college without taking school seriously. I retook most the science classes and the last two semesters before I graduated I had a 3.5 GPA. The way the GPA is averaged out didn't favor my situation either. Do y'all think some type of masters or more post bac? Also most masters deadlines already past, should I do one in biology?

 

[The_Office990]

Are you trying to apply this cycle?

Yes! I really want to, my biggest problem is that I have taken so much credit hours and averaging the bad and the good has made my GPA low

 

[Master Yoda]

You need to take a year of postbacc to improve your GPA. Also, you might want to think about taking the DAT again and scoring 20+
How are your EC/Volunteering?

 

[The_Office990]

You need to take a year of postbacc to improve your GPA. Also, you might want to think about taking the DAT again and scoring 20+
How are your EC/Volunteering?

I am a dental assistant with hundreds of volunteer hours. I went for a week to Jamaica for a dental mission trip.

 

[Master Yoda]

Outstanding. So If I were you I would try to bring that GPA up by doing a year of postbacc.

 

[The_Office990]

Outstanding. So If I were you I would try to bring that GPA up by doing a year of postbacc.

I am planning on retaking DAT In June. I am going to do post bac regardless so do u think I should apply and give updates or apply next year?

 

[Master Yoda]

I would apply next year. I think it is better to have courses done instead of having coursework in progress and updating schools.
Try to study your butt off for the DAT and score above 20. Check the DAT section of SDN and see what materials other are using.

 

[Alcancia]

Looks like you're on the right track for sure. Boosting GPA and retaking for a better DAT would definitely give you better choices. That's the path I would take if I were you.

If you're dead set on applying this cycle, just know about the schools you're applying to. One of the private schools that recruited on my campus claimed they only look at grades for the last 30 credit hours. Who knows if they really do. I'm sure it's only a handful of schools that look at grades that way, but it may be beneficial to you if they really do.

 

[The_Office990]

Looks like you're on the right track for sure. Boosting GPA and retaking for a better DAT would definitely give you better choices. That's the path I would take if I were you.

If you're dead set on applying this cycle, just know about the schools you're applying to. One of the private schools that recruited on my campus claimed they only look at grades for the last 30 credit hours. Who knows if they really do. I'm sure it's only a handful of schools that look at grades that way, but it may be beneficial to you if they really do.

That's awesome, do you call them individually to find out?

 

[tyjacobs]

Hey guys, I have been lurking for a while and so I just took my DAT on Thursday. This is my second time taking it and even though I improved, I still didn't do so hot.

My scores were

Bio 19
Chem 19
Ochem20
PAT 20
RC 19
QR 18

AA 19
TS 19

My GPA is a 2.85

I really want to do dentistry. I was planning on overloading on classes this summer along with the following semester to raise my GPA. Do You guys think I should take this summer off again and improve DAT or GPA?

Improve your science GPA first
Then retake DAT. Youll want to score 22+

 

[jsm458]

Applying to dental school is not cheap. If I were you, I'd take a year off to raise your stats and then apply the next cycle. I think this would prevent you from spending more money than you have to in the event you don't get in this upcoming cycle.

 

[The_Office990]

Applying to dental school is not cheap. If I were you, I'd take a year off to raise your stats and then apply the next cycle. I think this would prevent you from spending more money than you have to in the event you don't get in this upcoming cycle.

Do y'all think I should do a masters in biology or post bac?

 

[Faefly]

Overloading classes to improve your gpa, since when that helps, in best scenario, you'll end up with B's
Time to be realistic
take 1 years or 2 of your life to irmpove your gpa and make it reach 3.3 or more without taking extra amounts of credits that make things worse.
Declare another major in business, and take all A's or sociology or phycology or whatever that is kinda easy. Retake your pre-requisites
As for your dat, you need to retake that as well, not that what you got is bad, but it is not going to help you right now.

 

[Faefly]

Do y'all think I should do masters in biology or post-bac?

Master in Biology at my school requires a gpa of 3.00
Here is another example:
American university minimum requirement for Grad school
Graduate Program Admissions Requirements | American University School of Communication, Washington, DC

But I hope there are schools that accept lower than 3 gpa for master program