What Grades Do Schools Look At/Competitive DAT?

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Hi everyone,

I was wondering which grades dental schools look at? That is, do they look at your cumulative GPA? Or do they look at your best 2 or 3 years?

I'm not sure if there is a hard and fast rule, or if they all look at something different.

Also, I am wondering what would be a competitive score in each section on the DAT? And do different schools look at different sections of the DAT, or they all look at all sections and weight them equally?

Thanks!

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[toothfairy85]

Predents.com will have the average GPAs and DAT scores for each school. That might be a good place to start. And as far as the DAT is concerned, the sections are not looked at equally among the schools. You will find that some schools emphasize PAT and others do not. Some look at AA mainly, and others the TS. I think it is pretty safe to say that RC tends to be one of the most important, if not the most important section that all schools look at. As far as GPA is concerned, it's different from person to person and from school to school, and even from year to year. It all depends on the applicant pool, when you apply, etc.

 

[wigglytooth]

Predents.com will have the average GPAs and DAT scores for each school. That might be a good place to start. And as far as the DAT is concerned, the sections are not looked at equally among the schools. You will find that some schools emphasize PAT and others do not. Some look at AA mainly, and others the TS. I think it is pretty safe to say that RC tends to be one of the most important, if not the most important section that all schools look at. As far as GPA is concerned, it's different from person to person and from school to school, and even from year to year. It all depends on the applicant pool, when you apply, etc.

very true... the name of the game is to just try to do your best with your GPAs and your DAT. then, when you apply, you can ask schools what they look at most critically. not all will tell you, but you might get some response. there are a couple of past posts on which schools like the PAT and which do not and posts on schools that emphasize a certain GPA over the other.

when the time comes, i suggest searching the forum for what people have been saying about the schools you're interested in. even if you find, say, a school reputed to love RC but you don't have the best RC, you shouldn't discount that school if you really like said school. that just means it'll be a reach for you. the whole process is slightly mysterious, so if there was ever a time to take a chance, it's when you apply.