Unbalanced DAT....Ahhh I Hate This Feeling Of Uncertainty

[Double Bonded]

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edit 7/20: Had a different question but I didn't want to make another thread

So I took my DAT and coming out of the test I felt good about my scores. But after a while it started to sink in that I have two sub-20 scores, one of which is RC.

AA: 22
TS: 23
Bio: 22
GC: 23
OC: 28
PAT: 20
RC: 18
QR: 17

I'm really worried about that Reading Comprehension score.

I applied broadly so hopefully I won't have to reapply next year but I was wondering how these scores are going to look in the eyes of adcoms for schools that have high DAT averages (UCSF, UCLA, UOP, Columbia, Penn, etc, etc.....basically the "Reach" school that I dream of going to but most likely won't show me any love).

Looking through the ADEA handbook and predents.com, my AA/TS/PAT all seem to be equal to, above, or slightly lower than the average of my goal schools but I can't find out too much about how adcoms interpret low RC and QR scores when everything else is acceptable (a lot of the predents.com accounts with stats similar to mine are abandoned which not a comforting sign ).

My major is psychology, overall AADSAS GPA is a 3.7 and science GPA is a 3.5. Even though these stats are okay, will the RC and QR scores kill my application for competitive schools?

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

Unfortunately... I must inform you that you've caught SDNitis.

Seriously... 17 RC is borderline. You should be safe with an 18.

 

[lmaozedong1]

Are you really going to call about a score verification?

Dude, it graded it right...don't wast your time. The scores are fine.

 

[Pennywisdom]

Is this even a question? Retake. Duh! There's no such thing as good DAT scores. You retake until you score over 30 and destroy the system.

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

Only Iowa has a minimum national average on each section.

 

[shiftypoptart]

Reading Comp score is really important in alot of schools because it shows your ability to read literature and understand it which in dental school reading will be done excessively. However, like the first post said, SDNitis is contagious. Your scores are all good to amazing so is your GPA. The only thing you have "Bad" is about at an average lvl your QR which is almost at zero importance to most schools unless you fail it. So don't worry you'll get interviews, just do well in those and you are in im sure.

 

[Osity]

So I took my DAT and coming out of the test I felt good about my scores. But after a while it started to sink in that I have two sub-20 scores, one of which is RC.

AA: 22 (98.9)
TS: 23 (99.7)
Bio: 22 (97.6)
GC: 23 (97.3)
OC: 28 (99.5)
PAT: 20 (81.0)
RC: 18 (52.2)
QR: 17 (76.6)

I'm really worried about that Reading Comprehension score.

I felt good about both RC and QR and I can't believe that my scores are that low. I finished with around 5 minutes left over in both sections and I felt like I had done really well. I'm seriously considering calling the ADA testing services and asking for an audit (or whatever the term for "score verification" is) even though there is a 99.9999% chance that there is no mistake.

But I was wondering how these scores are going to look in the eyes of adcoms and how they might play out during interviews/admissions.

My overall AADSAS GPA is a 3.7 and my science GPA is a 3.5. Even though these stats are okay, will the RC and QR scores kill my application for the certain schools?

I read about a guy on the DAT forum that had extremely high scores except RC. He got rejected from the 15+ schools that he applied to and when he called and asked why, they said it was because of that low RC score. Is RC really that important?

Are you being serious? You have a 22 and a 3.7 GPA. An 18 RC and 17 QR don't mean a thing. They are still at or above the national average.

If you don't get in, it will be because you tank your interviews, not because of your numbers.

 

[Double Bonded]

thanks for the responses guys.

I know I sound like I'm freaking out over nothing but from what I understand, the fiftieth percentile is considered extremely bad and RC is supposed to be really important.

Unfortunately... I must inform you that you've caught SDNitis.

Seriously... 17 RC is borderline. You should be safe with an 18.

Yeah you're right....I was just wondering if the 18 would put me out of contention for certain schools - specifically in CA (I really can't afford to move out of state...even though I would if I was only accepted oos).

Are you really going to call about a score verification?

Dude, it graded it right...don't wast your time. The scores are fine.

I think I am. I know it's like a 10000000 to 1 shot that the score is wrong but I honestly feel like I did awesome in both RC and QR.

lol, I don't have any real reason besides a gut feeling that I performed better than my scores show but I might as well make a phone call or write an e-mail for the 1/10000000 chance that my scores could go up.

Reading Comp score is really important in alot of schools because it shows your ability to read literature and understand it which in dental school reading will be done excessively. However, like the first post said, SDNitis is contagious. Your scores are all good to amazing so is your GPA. The only thing you have "Bad" is about at an average lvl your QR which is almost at zero importance to most schools unless you fail it. So don't worry you'll get interviews, just do well in those and you are in im sure.

Are you being serious? You have a 22 and a 3.7 GPA. An 18 RC and 17 QR don't mean a thing. They are still at or above the national average.

If you don't get in, it will be because you tank your interviews, not because of your numbers.

Thanks guys, I guess I'll have to hope that I don't suck at interviews. I'll check in on the interview review section of this site to prepare so hopefully having good answers to questions and being a likeable candidate will put me in the best position.

Thanks again guys...I'll update this for anyone interested after I find out if I can get an audit.

 

[thewobblytooth]

yeah, just remember that there are others in worse positions than you. i wouldn't trip about your scores, hopefully your E.C. are just as awesome and they'll overlook those scores :]

 

[txlonghorn]

Dude, chill out. I got a 19 (60 something percentile) and got into schools that weigh the DAT heavily. Enjoy your interviews and be sure to have fun when visiting the schools/cities this fall 🙂

 

[dentalWorks]

People with 23s and 3.5s shouldn't be worried about their chances... especially since none of their individual scores are below 17 🙄

 

[rp37]

57867980

 

[Double Bonded]

Dude, chill out. I got a 19 (60 something percentile) and got into schools that weigh the DAT heavily. Enjoy your interviews and be sure to have fun when visiting the schools/cities this fall 🙂

People with 23s and 3.5s shouldn't be worried about their chances... especially since none of their individual scores are below 17 🙄

haha thanks guys, this makes me fell better.

yeah, just remember that there are others in worse positions than you. i wouldn't trip about your scores, hopefully your E.C. are just as awesome and they'll overlook those scores :]

Thanks a2ndragoon, if you wouldn't mind me asking...I had a quick question for you.

I was looking at your breakdown and you killed it in Bio, G-chem, and O-chem. Your scores are pretty similar to mine but how come your Total Science is higher? (just curious, not implying anything)

 

[Double Bonded]

I updated the original post so that I don't litter the boards with a thread asking almost the same thing but I was wondering...Do low/mediocre RC and QR scores kill an applicants chance at competitive schools even if other stats in the application are acceptable?

 

[T for Teeth]

Anyone has a link for this interview review thread? This is my second day on SND, so im still not sure how to navigate here. Thanks 🙂

 

[dantemac]

People with 23s and 3.5s shouldn't be worried about their chances... especially since none of their individual scores are below 17 🙄

Exactly.

 

[Double Bonded]

Aren't those kind of stats pretty common at competitive schools?. I know RC is really important at places like Penn, Case, UOP, etc and I was just wondering if an unbalanced DAT could be the thing that makes or breaks me at the dream school.

 

[invictusx]

People with 23s and 3.5s shouldn't be worried about their chances... especially since none of their individual scores are below 17 🙄

Hahahahaha. I believe you are partially referring to me!

@OP: I'm in your shoes. I felt pretty decent after the DATs (you can look at the breakdown of my scores) but I got a 17 in RC. It didn't really sink in until later, like you. It's not the fact that I couldn't read 🙁 I was sick that day because my January test fell on a day of a snowstorm and I wasn't taking care of my health from all the studying. At the end of the day, to echo most of the posters, I believe you're in firm shape for the cycle. I'm a bit more concerned than you are since I applied to 8 schools [I'm under the impression that you applied to more]

 

[Double Bonded]

@OP: I'm in your shoes. I felt pretty decent after the DATs (you can look at the breakdown of my scores) but I got a 17 in RC. It didn't really sink in until later, like you. It's not the fact that I couldn't read 🙁 I was sick that day because my January test fell on a day of a snowstorm and I wasn't taking care of my health from all the studying. At the end of the day, to echo most of the posters, I believe you're in firm shape for the cycle. I'm a bit more concerned than you are since I applied to 8 schools [I'm under the impression that you applied to more]

I hear what you're saying. I was super excited about my scores after the survey and getting the printout (it must have been from seeing four 98-99 percentiles) but when I took a look at my ADEA book, ADA section importance survey, SDN, and predents I started to realize that it's probably going to be a big hole in my application.

I took a look at your breakdown....nice scores! I'd think 8 schools would be enough considering your total science (awesome score on that btw). At least you only messed up on one section. I also got a 17 in QR which I fear is going to put me out of contention for the competitive programs.

It would be a privilege to get in anywhere, but I really hope my top choices can overlook an 18 on RC and 17 on QR.

 

[invictusx]

I hear what you're saying. I was super excited about my scores after the survey and getting the printout (it must have been from seeing four 98-99 percentiles) but when I took a look at my ADEA book, ADA section importance survey, SDN, and predents I started to realize that it's probably going to be a big hole in my application.

I took a look at your breakdown....nice scores! I'd think 8 schools would be enough considering your total science (awesome score on that btw). At least you only messed up on one section. I also got a 17 in QR which I fear is going to put me out of contention for the competitive programs.

It would be a privilege to get in anywhere, but I really hope my top choices can overlook an 18 on RC and 17 on QR.

QR is the least looked at part of the DAT. I wouldn't sweat it. Thanks for the compliments. Hopefully we'll land some interviews! Fingers crossed.

 

[Double Bonded]

QR is the least looked at part of the DAT. I wouldn't sweat it. Thanks for the compliments. Hopefully we'll land some interviews! Fingers crossed.

Hopefully. For right now I just need to figure out if I should get rid of all my DAT prep stuff or not.

 

[invictusx]

Hopefully. For right now I just need to figure out if I should get rid of all my DAT prep stuff or not.

Ditto. Everything has been sitting here in my room untouched.