Took the DAT, Need advice, what are my chances?

[toothteethtooth]

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Dear SDN Community,

I am non-traditional applicant really interested in applying to dental schools this cycle. My stats are as follows: undergrad 3.5, Graduate 3.8. DAT 20AA. Specific scores are written below!. I have about 100 dental shadowing hours. I am also planning to take additional science courses this summer and next semester.
I currently hold a full time job in education and am working on several research+ publication projects that are going to be completed and published in 2018. I have about a 1000 volunteer hours and have held several leadership position during college and also in the professional world. I am highly interested in applying to Texas schools and I have to ask the bottom line question- am I competitive enough for Texas dental programs?

What are my chances? Any suggestion or advice would be really helpful?

FYI- I retook the exam and got a 20 AA. I know that's not too high, and I am not sure if I should retake? What are your thoughts SDN community?

 

[WolfsBane]

Dear SDN Community,

I am non-traditional applicant really interested in applying to dental schools this cycle. My stats are as follows: undergrad 3.5, Graduate 3.8. DAT 20AA. Specific scores are written below!. I have about 100 dental shadowing hours. I am also planning to take additional science courses this summer and next semester.
I currently hold a full time job in education and am working on several research+ publication projects that are going to be completed and published in 2018. I have about a 1000 volunteer hours and have held several leadership position during college and also in the professional world. I am highly interested in applying to Texas schools and I have to ask the bottom line question- am I competitive enough for Texas dental programs?

What are my chances? Any suggestion or advice would be really helpful?

FYI- I retook the exam and got a 20 AA. I know that's not too high, and I am not sure if I should retake? What are your thoughts SDN community?
Scores
BIO: 18
G-CHEM: 19
O-CHEM: 28
PAT: 17
RC: 17
QR: 16
TS: 20
AA: 20

The issue with your dat is that you really got a 17 with one really high score. Schools will have a hard time looking past that in my opinion. I think you have to retake it and even if you get the same overall score as long as its more even you will be just fine. Your gpa looks perfectly fine as well, and schools will like your graduate gpa as well.

You being a non-trad makes you stand out and you actually look like a very interesting applicant. Schools will see that and I am sure that if you retook and got more evenly distributed scores you will get interviews. The rest relies on you and your personality. Good luck!

 

[toothteethtooth]

WolfsBane, Thank you for your reply! Do you think it would be better to apply and than re-take in July so that my application is out on time. My thought process is that I use the rest of the semester to refine my application and study for my week areas? Once I send in applications in May/June- I get my game together for retake!
What are your thoughts?

 

[michaelcimba]

WolfsBane, Thank you for your reply! Do you think it would be better to apply and than re-take in July so that my application is out on time. My thought process is that I use the rest of the semester to refine my application and study for my week areas? Once I send in applications in May/June- I get my game together for retake!
What are your thoughts?

I think that is your best bet. Start the applications now and try to finish your personal statement before April comes around. I studied my ass off from mid may to end of july and got into school this last cycle and scored a 21AA. Be sure to use Ari's Study Guide!

 

[Tommyjj]

EDIT:
Anyhow, 20 is an above average. Who knows what schools want nowadays, so many variables.

 

[artist2022]

TS/AA 20 but no area's over 20

OC was a 28, extremely high!
Also, AA is a true average of everything except PAT:
18 + 19 + 28 + 17 + 16 = 19.6, rounds up to 20.

OP, you got great advice here! Apply when the cycle opens, and schedule a retake in the summer. Best of luck 🙂

 

[toothteethtooth]

Thank you for the input all! My plans for the summer were to take a couple of science classes at local CC and finish my publications (a book and indp. research project). Is there any chance to get in with the current stats?

 

[pf1996]

Thank you for the input all! My plans for the summer were to take a couple of science classes at local CC and finish my publications (a book and indp. research project). Is there any chance to get in with the current stats?

Yeah! Your dat is great! I don’t see the issue!

 

[Tommyjj]

OC was a 28, extremely high!
Also, AA is a true average of everything except PAT:
18 + 19 + 28 + 17 + 16 = 19.6, rounds up to 20.

OP, you got great advice here! Apply when the cycle opens, and schedule a retake in the summer. Best of luck 🙂

Shoooot my bad. I read 18.

 

[toothteethtooth]

Update: I got into two dental schools! UNE AND MOSDOH. Currently waitlisted for UDM with few other interviews! I never knew I would be in this position. Thank you so much SDN and everyone who posted. You all have no idea how much this support meant. Now, the sweet battle of picking and choosing between two schools: UNE and MOSDOH?

What are your thoughts SDN community?

 

[liquidblue123]

ZZ


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