what to do...

[qwerty00]

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Hi guys!

I need your advice.
I took the DAT in September and didn't really get good scores... 👎

17 (TS)
18 (AA)
19 (PAT)

My overall GPA is 3.45 and my total science GPA is 3.26 👎
(I double majored, so I have a BS in biology, and now I'm wrapping up my BS in biological engineering)

I have a lot of community service, 1000+ hours of dental observation/job shadowing, and I'm a teaching assistant for a freshman engineering class.

I applied to 8 dental schools already. There are 3 schools that have a late deadlines (February and March).. So I am wondering... Will I be okay with those DAT scores? OR should I retake the DAT in December? Or will that be really TOO late 🙁
I need your honest opinions.

Thanks!!!!

 

[yuppers]

I would say retake, but I sorry to say it might be too late for that.
1000+ hrs of shadowing.. seriously.... wow.... did you just set up camp in the office or something? You should have definitely spent about 900 hours of that time studying for the DAT.

 

[lphiewok]

yeah i would definitely recommend retaking and adding more schools if you want to increase your chance at all.

i have very similar gpas (3.4 o/3.2 s) and i have gotten 3 interviews but also 3 rejections (applied to 18 schools total).
my interviews were probably due to my DAT (21/20/21) but all the schools rejected explained to me that my sGPA is too low and that's why im rejected.
i have been working as dental assistant for 3 years now (so i also have about 1000 hours but by working not shadowing. i donno how you could have shadowed for 1000 hours, it is very hard to meet that number even when you're getting paid for your work)

our gpa is considered not competitive enough in some of schools even with decent DAT so only way to increase your chance is high DAT, ECs, and applying to lots of schools.

i applied to 18 schools this year b/c i didn't get in last year when i applied to 7 schools (only had 2 interviews). so with almost same stats, but by increasing from 7 to 18 schools, i was able to have 1 more interview than last year already and i'm hoping for some more in the future.

i say apply to those schools and retake DAT (indicate that you're planning on re-taking them to schools you have applied to by calling / emailing them).

good luck!

 

[qwerty00]

sad 🙁

 

[yuppers]

sad 🙁

I was just thinking that taking it in again this year say in October .... then adding 3 weeks for schools to get scores and you end up around November which is pretty late. You can always study up, take it again, and just apply next year.