Took the DAT (Scores) any advice/ Please!!!

[Highhopes]

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Well, I just took the big test a few days ago and I decided it was high time I started contributing to this awesome resource. I also need a bit of advice. I know some people don't like these types of threads so I appologize if you don't approve of those of us who worry about getting into dental school. I would however appreciate any advice, encouragement, or whatever else you have to say about my scores, my post, and anything else except my mom! 😉

So, enough of the bs... here they are
AA 18
TS 18
Bio 18
Chem 17
o.chem 19
Reading 19
Math 16
PAT 19

GPA 3.56, Scienc GPA 3.45

So, here's the deal, I need a little advice on weather or not I should take the test again. I am applying to quite a few schools this summer (early) and I am an out of stater. I have been in school for three years, I will not however, have a B.degree after next year. I am pretty close but I am trying to get in w/out a degree...I'm Curious to know what everyone thinks/// what schools do I have a shot at, I don't really care where I go. Or, do I need to take the dat again in a few months? I appreciate your comments!!! 🙂

Just in case you were wondering, I did take the Kaplan course. I studdied like crazy for about a month. It seemed to me that the real test is much easier than any Kaplan or Topscore test that I encountered. Except for the PAT of course. If you have any questions for me I would be happy to answer them. Please just let me know what you think...
😀

 

[Highhopes]

sorry I posted this thread two times!!! oops 😱

 

[Tooth Fixer]

What resources did you use to study or was kaplan the only source you used i haven't started studying yet. But i'm taking kaplan soon an they have those subject exams for like bio chem and ochem online which i have access to now, are all those subject exams harder than the actual test especially the biology one? I really would like to know if those are easier or harder than the actual test. Thanks a lot

I'm not too familiar with DAT scores and stuff but with that gpa your in somewhere for sure. Gluck

 

[dWiz]

Get your B.S. first. I think the only time students w/o a bachelors are even considered is if they are the cream of the crop or exceptional like 4.0 GPA, really high DAT scores, letter or recommendations awards etc. You could certainly give it a shot, but if I were you I would consider taking the DAT again and try scoring atleast 2-3 points higher in each section. peace

 

[bpenly]

Get your B.S. first. I think the only time students w/o a bachelors are even considered is if they are the cream of the crop or exceptional like 4.0 GPA, really high DAT scores, letter or recommendations awards etc. You could certainly give it a shot, but if I were you I would consider taking the DAT again and try scoring atleast 2-3 points higher in each section. peace

I was once like you. A non-believer. My lab partner in Physics is a Junior (Biology) and took the DAT last fall in September. He hadn't really studied much, had taken the Kaplan course that summer as a part of the UT Houston summer dental program, but didn't give it much attention. He took the DAT, scored a pretty average (in some cases below average) scores (i.e. Bio 16, Chem 17, TS 17) but had one really nice score of QR=26. He will be joining the class at UT Houston this fall.

Maybe you could do it if you tried to get into a summer program or something. It seemed to help his cause. His GPA is probably pretty similiar to the OP.

 

[Gulch]

So, enough of the bs... here they are
AA 18
TS 18
Bio 18
Chem 17
o.chem 19
Reading 19
Math 16
PAT 19

GPA 3.56, Scienc GPA 3.45

... Or, do I need to take the dat again in a few months? I appreciate your comments!!! 🙂 Just in case you were wondering, I did take the Kaplan course. I studdied like crazy for about a month.
😀

People with your stats get into D-school all the time, but most of them have a degree or are on target to get it. So, to answer your question: should you retake the DAT? That depends on where you want to go, and if you want to gamble your application money (applying is pretty expensive) when you know most schools prefer grads. If I were you, I'd probably just apply, but call up the specific schools I wanted to go to and make sure they were going to be cool with my situation before I started writing the checks and maxing out the credit cards. 😉 Just my two cents for free.

 

[Gulch]

The other thing about retaking the DAT after studying with Kaplan is the Higher Score Guarantee policy. Did you do all the assignments/ exams? If so, you can keep your access to all the subject tests/ other resources, and even take the class again for free. If not, you'll have to pay another $200 like I did to retake the course. (I only took the DAT once, but the class twice...didn't take it seriously the first time).

Anyway, I'll bet you could bring your scores up from avg. to impressive if you studied again and retook it. Because right now-especially as someone not intending to graduate, your DAT scores do not speak for themselves. Its up to you man. Your call.

 

[Highhopes]

I was once like you. A non-believer. My lab partner in Physics is a Junior (Biology) and took the DAT last fall in September. He hadn't really studied much, had taken the Kaplan course that summer as a part of the UT Houston summer dental program, but didn't give it much attention. He took the DAT, scored a pretty average (in some cases below average) scores (i.e. Bio 16, Chem 17, TS 17) but had one really nice score of QR=26. He will be joining the class at UT Houston this fall.

Maybe you could do it if you tried to get into a summer program or something. It seemed to help his cause. His GPA is probably pretty similiar to the OP.

How can I figure out more about the summer program that you mentioned? I have never heard of such a thing. Thanks for your help! 😳

 

[Highhopes]

The other thing about retaking the DAT after studying with Kaplan is the Higher Score Guarantee policy. Did you do all the assignments/ exams? If so, you can keep your access to all the subject tests/ other resources, and even take the class again for free. If not, you'll have to pay another $200 like I did to retake the course. (I only took the DAT once, but the class twice...didn't take it seriously the first time).

Anyway, I'll bet you could bring your scores up from avg. to impressive if you studied again and retook it. Because right now-especially as someone not intending to graduate, your DAT scores do not speak for themselves. Its up to you man. Your call.

Yes, I did apply the higher score guarantee from Kaplan. I am signed up for their summer course but here is the thing. The classroom course is not that helpful for me. The materials are great. I think they are a little extensive but.... I guess they probably know what they are doing. I wish I would have spent less time with kaplan and more time with my old text books. Kaplan concentrated on the little tiny specifics about details. That is great but the test didn't test me on details. I could have answered any question on any hormone, any structure of the ear, eye, digestive system, and for that matter, any anatomy or physiology question that they could have thrown at me and I got questions like " Which of the following is involved in celullar respiration?
a. mitochondria (choose this one)
b. hair cells
c. toenails
d. lysesomes
e. none of the above

I did have my share of detail questions, (thus the lower scores) but they are the kind of questions that no one can predict, not even Kaplan. 😕 thanks for the advice!!!

 

[Highhopes]

People with your stats get into D-school all the time, but most of them have a degree or are on target to get it. So, to answer your question: should you retake the DAT? That depends on where you want to go, and if you want to gamble your application money (applying is pretty expensive) when you know most schools prefer grads. If I were you, I'd probably just apply, but call up the specific schools I wanted to go to and make sure they were going to be cool with my situation before I started writing the checks and maxing out the credit cards. 😉 Just my two cents for free.

Will the dental schools advise me on weather or not to retake the dat? I hear of people getting in with out their B.S. all the time but I only know one personally. Does anyone know which schools are likely to accept students w/out a B.S degree?

 

[Highhopes]

What resources did you use to study or was kaplan the only source you used i haven't started studying yet. But i'm taking kaplan soon an they have those subject exams for like bio chem and ochem online which i have access to now, are all those subject exams harder than the actual test especially the biology one? I really would like to know if those are easier or harder than the actual test. Thanks a lot

I'm not too familiar with DAT scores and stuff but with that gpa your in somewhere for sure. Gluck

For the most part, I just used Kaplan, I am in O.Chem right now so I didn't even need to study that section. In fact I thought I did a lot better than 19. As far as the subject tests go, I went over pretty much all of them at least once and I thought they were quite difficult. Much harder than anything I actually saw on the test and even much harder than Kaplan's practice tests. I guess if you master those then you will do pretty good. Good luck, I think there are like a gazillion questions... 😴

 

[Gulch]

Will the dental schools advise me on weather or not to retake the dat? I hear of people getting in with out their B.S. all the time but I only know one personally. Does anyone know which schools are likely to accept students w/out a B.S degree?

call the schools and find out. It's not like they will hold your questions against you since they don't know who you are. Just go ahead and be proactive.

 

[elz787]

Well, I just took the big test a few days ago and I decided it was high time I started contributing to this awesome resource. I also need a bit of advice. I know some people don't like these types of threads so I appologize if you don't approve of those of us who worry about getting into dental school. I would however appreciate any advice, encouragement, or whatever else you have to say about my scores, my post, and anything else except my mom! 😉

So, enough of the bs... here they are
AA 18
TS 18
Bio 18
Chem 17
o.chem 19
Reading 19
Math 16
PAT 19

GPA 3.56, Scienc GPA 3.45

So, here's the deal, I need a little advice on weather or not I should take the test again. I am applying to quite a few schools this summer (early) and I am an out of stater. I have been in school for three years, I will not however, have a B.degree after next year. I am pretty close but I am trying to get in w/out a degree...I'm Curious to know what everyone thinks/// what schools do I have a shot at, I don't really care where I go. Or, do I need to take the dat again in a few months? I appreciate your comments!!! 🙂

Just in case you were wondering, I did take the Kaplan course. I studdied like crazy for about a month. It seemed to me that the real test is much easier than any Kaplan or Topscore test that I encountered. Except for the PAT of course. If you have any questions for me I would be happy to answer them. Please just let me know what you think...
😀

Hey, so i'm planning to take the test but due to a busy summer, i'm only gonna have about 1.5 months to study for it. What i'm wondering is while you were studying, did you devote your whole time? or were you doing other extra stuff also?

 

[Highhopes]

Hey, so i'm planning to take the test but due to a busy summer, i'm only gonna have about 1.5 months to study for it. What i'm wondering is while you were studying, did you devote your whole time? or were you doing other extra stuff also?

Well, I have been in school full time and working. I would try to spend a few hours a day on it. However I didn't do all that great so I guess I should have studied more huh? Anyways, as for me if I study like 8 hours a day it is about the same as if I study for 3-4 hours a day. I find that it is not constructive. I tend to waste time. 1.5 months should be plenty. There is really not that much info on the test and if you can't review it in 1.5 months (depending on ammount of time/day) I worry about what will happen in D school. You will be fine. Go get em!!!

 

[ItsGavinC]

Duplicate thread, please contribute to the one in the predental forum. Thanks.