Whats the difference between a 20 and 24?

[Tunaman]

Answer: Come interview time, I bet the kid with the 20 knocks his interview out of the park while the bookworm with the 24 fumbles for answers and panics because he can't find the answers in a book. Street smarts beat book smarts any day of the week....social skills are invaluable.

To all those who keep seeing the high DAT posts, don't get discouraged...you'll end up at the interview next to the kid with the 24...and at that point his/her #'s won't matter. Keep your chin up and head up even higher. Rock you interviews- Good luck!

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[NDPitch]

What's funny is that even percentage wise, there's not much differennce between the two. The scale gets so small as you approach 30, that even 1 or 2 questions will throw the score a lot. A 20 is probably in the 90th percentile on something like bio, and a 24 is probably 95th, but you only got 1 or 2 more questions right. What's the difference at that point? Like you said, probably not all that much.

 

[cschoet]

Answer: Come interview time, I bet the kid with the 20 knocks his interview out of the park while the bookworm with the 24 fumbles for answers and panics because he can't find the answers in a book. Street smarts beat book smarts any day of the week....social skills are invaluable.

To all those who keep seeing the high DAT posts, don't get discouraged...you'll end up at the interview next to the kid with the 24...and at that point his/her #'s won't matter. Keep your chin up and head up even higher. Rock you interviews- Good luck!

What leads you to believe that people who score a 24 on the DAT can't hold a conversation? I've worked for years as a bartender, have many friends, and can hold a conversation just fine. Oh, and I scored a 24AA/25TS.

Edit: If the point you were trying to make was that rocking your interview can improve your profile, and that doing poorly on an interview will do the opposite, you are correct. However, your wording came across as insulting.

 

[Kingsta2426]

what leads you to believe that people who score a 24 on the dat can't hold a conversation? I've worked for years as a bartender, have many friends, and can hold a conversation just fine. Oh, and i scored a 24aa/25ts.

Edit: If the point you were trying to make was that rocking your interview can improve your profile, and that doing poorly on an interview will do the opposite, you are correct. However, you're wording came across as insulting.

truth

 

[Kingsta2426]

Answer: Come interview time, I bet the kid with the 20 knocks his interview out of the park while the bookworm with the 24 fumbles for answers and panics because he can't find the answers in a book. Street smarts beat book smarts any day of the week....social skills are invaluable.

To all those who keep seeing the high DAT posts, don't get discouraged...you'll end up at the interview next to the kid with the 24...and at that point his/her #'s won't matter. Keep your chin up and head up even higher. Rock you interviews- Good luck!

sounds like someone is a little jealous... don't hate on others success

 

[spikers220]

Hey guys/girls,

Hate to break it to you but when you take the boards and miss it by one question....don't come crying on the forums about what one or two questions can do for you.

That is the whole theory of standardized exams and the Gaussian curve.

 

[Tunaman]

Hey guys/girls,

Hate to break it to you but when you take the boards and miss it by one question....don't come crying on the forums about what one or two questions can do for you.

That is the whole theory of standardized exams and the Gaussian curve.

Agreed. The point here is that the kid with the 20 has the same shot as the kid with the 24 come interview day. I have friends that have gotten perfect 30's and am certainly proud of them! Good luck to all who are applying this cycle!

 

[theleatherwalle]

Really! You have friends who have gotten 30s. Where can I meet this magical people.

(Take plenty of offense to this) your attitude and and lack of maturity show me that you won't survive dental school and you won't interview well.

Don't randomly assume that someone lacks social skills due to their smarts, and no you don't have the same chance. The person with a 24 has a higher chance. You may interview at a school, and they may like both of you. If there is only one spot left in the class, They'll open your file compare your stats and see the 24 vs a 20. Who do you think will get the spot.

I think you owe blanket apology to several of forum members.

 

[drill-and-fill]

 

[vlaura0214]

haha@the post above^^

But in all seriousness, your post is probably going to offend several people. Dat scores do not correlate with charisma or articulation.

I understand you're trying to motivate others, and there's no problem with encouraging others to put forth their best effort. No one should be discouraged by some of the higher scores on here. But realize that not every person who scores high are "nerds" who don't get enough sunlight or etc. Several people just study hard for whatever time period and ace the DAT. Some people hardly study at all. Everyone's different. If anything higher scores should be encouraging (or that's how I thought of them). Strive for that high score goal--don't demean others who did.

 

[NDPitch]

I don't think there was any insult intended here. Just a pep talk for those that are bumming out, thinking that they can't score as well as some of the other people on here.

 

[diene]

Really! You have friends who have gotten 30s. Where can I meet this magical people.

(Take plenty of offense to this) your attitude and and lack of maturity show me that you won't survive dental school and you won't interview well.

Don't randomly assume that someone lacks social skills due to their smarts, and no you don't have the same chance. The person with a 24 has a higher chance. You may interview at a school, and they may like both of you. If there is only one spot left in the class, They'll open your file compare your stats and see the 24 vs a 20. Who do you think will get the spot.

I think you owe blanket apology to several of forum members.

I thought at that stage they really do look at all your other stuff? This is the one time stuff like LORS and stuff come into play? While a person with a 24 is initially more attractive and has a higher chance of getting interviews, I am curious as to how much of a role that 24 plays during the rest of the process. .

I think the point of this post was to say that once you are invited for an interview, there won't be any royal treatment for people with 24s, so even if you have a "lower" DAT, let yourself shine in interviews because a higher score doesn't ALWAYS mean better communication skills. It just seems like a pep talk for those who do not have super high DAT scores feeding their confidence =)

 

[Tunaman]

I thought at that stage they really do look at all your other stuff? This is the one time stuff like LORS and stuff come into play? While a person with a 24 is initially more attractive and has a higher chance of getting interviews, I am curious as to how much of a role that 24 plays during the rest of the process. .

I think the point of this post was to say that once you are invited for an interview, there won't be any royal treatment for people with 24s, so even if you have a "lower" DAT, let yourself shine in interviews because a higher score doesn't ALWAYS mean better communication skills. It just seems like a pep talk for those who do not have super high DAT scores feeding their confidence =)

Point exactly Diene...and to some of the other posters above- there won't be any apologies

 

[foreveros]

I thought at that stage they really do look at all your other stuff? This is the one time stuff like LORS and stuff come into play? While a person with a 24 is initially more attractive and has a higher chance of getting interviews, I am curious as to how much of a role that 24 plays during the rest of the process. .

I think the point of this post was to say that once you are invited for an interview, there won't be any royal treatment for people with 24s, so even if you have a "lower" DAT, let yourself shine in interviews because a higher score doesn't ALWAYS mean better communication skills. It just seems like a pep talk for those who do not have super high DAT scores feeding their confidence =)

that part is completely true. You are invited for an interview FOR A REASON. because they are interested in you. and you have gone though the initial committee screening process. Atleast at the schools i know they have committee screening. Which means they are interested and now its your job at the interview to speak exactly whawt they want to hear and it does not matter if you have a 24 or 20 at that point, if the person who interviews you can defend you at the committee meeting, YOU will get in 🙂 simple as that.

But initial screening process which i believe is like plays is very imp, in a sense that it lands you an interview. so in that case a 20 compared to 24 matters.

 

[Tunaman]

I don't think there was any insult intended here. Just a pep talk for those that are bumming out, thinking that they can't score as well as some of the other people on here.

Exactly👍

 

[theleatherwalle]

I will tell you right now schools go back and open your files and yes they will compare LORS, EC, GPA, DAT and so on.

many schools will tell you before hand if your interview is open file or closed file.

I'll tell you how our school does it according to what I know. So they have DAT and GPA calculator. If you pass the initial screening process, they will invite you to an interview if you are instate. During the interview, all they will see is your GPA, personal statement, and DAT score. Now once the interview is over, they will go back and read LORs if they are wondering more about you. LORs are probably the least important thing in your ap. (No I won't tell you the school that takes the fun out of it). At the end of the day, all things being equal the person with the higher DAT will get the spot. Try not to fret though a 20 is a good score, and these 24s may appear common on sdn, but I think only a handful of people at my school at higher than 22.

I still think you should apologize or at least edit what you have written. You are embarrassing yourself. My DAT wasn't even high, but I have respect for people who sat down, studied, and pulled off those scores.

 

[drill-and-fill]

What Tunaman has stated may have come across the wrong way for a few people, but I think at this point it's pretty clear what he wanted to say... No need for apologies in my opinion, and what he said wasnt even THAT offensive.

 

[Dgeorg6]

I can see that he meant to give encouragement to those who think they don't have a chance because it seems all of the people on this site have 4.0s and make 23+ on DAT, but it came off as "I'm mad I didnt make those scores so I'm going to try and put them down and say they are nerds who have no social skills". No apologies are warranted but he should probably edit his 1st post to not seem like such a dick.

 

[Tunaman]

I am in no way mad at anyone who has killed the DAT lol, we all have different abilities, I pulled my DAT up from 15AA;15TS;16PAT to a 19AA;20TS;21PAT, so I am from off from those 24's, but again, thats ok! Take the sticks out of your rears and relax a little, we are all trying to get to the same destination

 

[ToBeDDSS]

The difference between 20 and 24 is 4 😛
Just trying to break the tension 🙂

 

[Tunaman]

The difference between 20 and 24 is 4 😛
Just trying to break the tension 🙂

I was waiting for that lol, I'm sure someones going to get technical and break down exactly how many questions set apart the 2 scores

 

[Davermz450]

Well to really put all this in perspective....everyone on here who got a 22+ go retake your DAT on aug 25th and do bad so it will make my score higher and I can take your spot in dental school..... You all are selfish you hear me!

 

[BRZ24]

Answer: Come interview time, I bet the kid with the 20 knocks his interview out of the park while the bookworm with the 24 fumbles for answers and panics because he can't find the answers in a book. Street smarts beat book smarts any day of the week....social skills are invaluable.

To all those who keep seeing the high DAT posts, don't get discouraged...you'll end up at the interview next to the kid with the 24...and at that point his/her #'s won't matter. Keep your chin up and head up even higher. Rock you interviews- Good luck!

Not much unless your GPA sucks really bad.