When to take the DAT?

[td_g]

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I would like some advice from those who have already been though the application cycle. I will be applying for 2006 and would like to get my application in ASAP (because I am one of those non-traditional 30+ yrs old applicants).

I am a U of Texas degree holder who has been finishing up pre-reqs in O-chem II, Physics II, and Genetics. I just started studying for the PAT part on my own, but I also plan on taking a 4 week Kaplan course in March. Ideally, I would like to be able to spend at least a few weeks after this semester ends to focus solely on studying for the DAT, but that means I wouldn't be ready to take it until June or July. Since my goal is to get my application in early, is this too late? Does taking the DAT late in the summer negate the early application? It is my understanding that it can take 3-5 weeks for scores to be reported to the schools that I applied to.

Your response is appreciated.

 

[airvent]

Some schools let you fax your unofficial DAT scores to speed evaluation if your ADSAS application has already arrived.

I submitted ADSAS app around June14. For the DAT I would aim for mid July, or earlier if you feel confident. I took the DAT Aug 8. and had interviews in November.

 

[Generallee]

If you take it in June or July, I would say that you are still pretty early. I know of people who took it in Sept and Oct and still got in, no problem. I plan on doing the same thing. I'm going to apply right at May 16 or so. Then, take the DAT in late July. When you submit your application to AADSAS, it could take about 8 weeks or so before your info goes to the schools in which you are applying. When you take your DAT, alot of schools will accept a fax copy until the official document comes in. That is what I plan on doing. The most important thing is doing well on the DAT. In my opinion, as long as you do well, you can even submit it as late as October and still be in serious contention with applicants that may have taken it earlier.

Best regards

 

[Sweeti8286]

It takes AADSAS 4-6 weeks to get everything together to send off to schools- so the earlier you take the DAT, the better. This way, if anything happens like...ex. you didn't score as high in the gen chem portion as you'd like, you will have another chance during the cycle. Since DAT score is not required when you apply, you can send in your application on the first day the online application website opens. Get your letters of recommendations (LOR) and personal essay ready to go. Since LOR takes time, I'd suggest you mention something to your science professors and give them a month or so time to prepare your letter. So- if you don't know any person who can be a good resource for LOR, between now and maybe April will be a great time to go to office hours and get to know them/let them know you. If you have any other questions, I'd be happy to help as much as I can 🙂 just send me a message via PM.

 

[JohnDoeDDS]

Guys. I plan on applying for fall '07. I plan to submit my apps jun of '06 and take the DAT Sept. '06

Now here is my question. If I do badly on the DAT and decide to reatke it in Jan or something. How will that effect my admission? Also I know that for LSATs schools take the average of your grades, is it the same for DATs or do they simply take your highest grade like the SAT?

In addition, if I do poorly, and decide to tkae it in the summer again and apply for the '08 year (I hope this doesnt happen!) How will this effect my admission since the schools would have already recieved my previous low DAT score? And also if I do take it in jan if I do poorly in september. Is there any way I can stop the schools from recieving my poor dat score so I can retake in JAN? Thanks and sorry about the long post.

 

[Sweeti8286]

I believe your most recent score replaces your current one. They don't average it or anything. And you can't stop the scores going to the schools...however, you can forfeit during the test before it's over...THEN nothing gets sent to the schools. If your second try is better than first, then you showed signs of improvments. HOwever, if you do about the same or worse, the odds aren't in your favor.

 

[JohnDoeDDS]

okay thanks. How about this scenario. Say I apply in jun, take the DAT in sept, doo poorly, then do about the same again in jan, and get rejected....

If I apply again the next june, and take the DAT again in sept. Can I apply to the same schools I applied before? And will the fact that they already saw my 2 bad scores affect their decision this next time that Im applying? Thanks,.

 

[mochafreak]

I believe certain schools will also pick and choose between the scores of multiple test attempts and use the highest score you attained for each section. Of course, you should still study to take it only once, because multiple attempts look bad.

 

[PERFECT3435]

td_g,

i think that you have a very good plan in hand. however, i think that i would start Kaplan as soon as your current semester is over. if your semester finishes in May and you study 2 full months (may, June) you would be ready to take the DAT at the end of June. you send in your AADSAS on the 1st day possible. what happens is that your app would be processed in schools but pending your DAT scores. once you take your DAT's you fax the schools a copy of you scores. believe me, if you do these you will be waaaaaaaaay ahead of everyone else. the thing that matters the most is getting in your AADSAS.

one thing i do want you to know is that if you decide to take my suggestion, you would have to study hardcore for those 2 months. i did it this way but i had to study 8 hrs/day evereyday no matter what. you just have to be dedicated and just DO it.


good luck.

 

[DIRTIE]

Here is what I did and I would do it the exact same if I was to do it again. Don't even look at the DAT material until this summer, make sure that you get good grades this semester. Take a Kaplan course as soon as school gets out(I did) or buy materials from somebody(I would try and save the money and buy someone's materials from last year, because all Kaplan has is some shmuck like me going to D-school in the fall teach the course, study the flashcards on the bio section and make sure to get the 3 tests and answers!, practice practice practice). Apply sometime before June 1st. Study for the DAT until at least the end of July, by then you will be getting schools secondaries, send then back take the test sometime before the middle of August(it only takes 1 or 2 weeks tops for the scores to get there). Earlier doesn't always mean better, I would not take until you are good and ready, you do not want to retake it, once is enough!

 

[PERFECT3435]

Here is what I did and I would do it the exact same if I was to do it again. Don't even look at the DAT material until this summer, make sure that you get good grades this semester. Take a Kaplan course as soon as school gets out(I did) or buy materials from somebody(I would try and save the money and buy someone's materials from last year, because all Kaplan has is some shmuck like me going to D-school in the fall teach the course, study the flashcards on the bio section and make sure to get the 3 tests and answers!, practice practice practice). Apply sometime before June 1st. Study for the DAT until at least the end of July, by then you will be getting schools secondaries, send then back take the test sometime before the middle of August(it only takes 1 or 2 weeks tops for the scores to get there). Earlier doesn't always mean better, I would not take until you are good and ready, you do not want to retake it, once is enough!

basically just saying what i said except for suggestion of taking it in july rather than the end of june which will still be fine.

 

[JohnDoeDDS]

thank you perfect and dirtie. You guys are VERY helpful. The ony thing is I thnk you mean to take KAPLAN ASAP at the end of of spring '06 semester right? I think you kind of messed up on the years. Because at the end of this semester I have to take BOTH summer sessions where I will be taking BIO II and CHEM II. SO I dont think its a good idea to squeeze KAPLAN and DAT actually its impossible. So Im pretty sure u ment next year right?

Also do you guys think I can get credit for 8 hours of BIO? The thing is I didnt really take BIO I, what I already took was General Biology, which is different from BIO II. I still got DEpt. permission to take BIo II though. The Gen. Bio I took was a 4 hour, 4credit course that did include a lab. Just want to make sure. Thanks every1.

 

[Comet208]

2 words: WHEN READY

 

[PERFECT3435]

thank you perfect and dirtie. You guys are VERY helpful. The ony thing is I thnk you mean to take KAPLAN ASAP at the end of of spring '06 semester right? I think you kind of messed up on the years. Because at the end of this semester I have to take BOTH summer sessions where I will be taking BIO II and CHEM II. SO I dont think its a good idea to squeeze KAPLAN and DAT actually its impossible. So Im pretty sure u ment next year right?

Also do you guys think I can get credit for 8 hours of BIO? The thing is I didnt really take BIO I, what I already took was General Biology, which is different from BIO II. I still got DEpt. permission to take BIo II though. The Gen. Bio I took was a 4 hour, 4credit course that did include a lab. Just want to make sure. Thanks every1.

actually i was under the impression that you werent gonna take any summer classes. i think you should not take any summer classes and take the Kaplan course and do well on the DAT. you could take those courses next semester.

i'll be honest with you, doing kaplan while in school is not gonna help you much. you need to dedicate ALL of your 2 month time to kaplan and the DAT.

 

[DMD_hopeful]

I would like some advice from those who have already been though the application cycle. I will be applying for 2006 and would like to get my application in ASAP (because I am one of those non-traditional 30+ yrs old applicants).

I am a U of Texas degree holder who has been finishing up pre-reqs in O-chem II, Physics II, and Genetics. I just started studying for the PAT part on my own, but I also plan on taking a 4 week Kaplan course in March. Ideally, I would like to be able to spend at least a few weeks after this semester ends to focus solely on studying for the DAT, but that means I wouldn't be ready to take it until June or July. Since my goal is to get my application in early, is this too late? Does taking the DAT late in the summer negate the early application? It is my understanding that it can take 3-5 weeks for scores to be reported to the schools that I applied to.

Your response is appreciated.

I submitted my AADSAS as soon as it opened in May and took the DAT on 8/27.. First interview was 9/21. I'd say taking the DAT in June or July makes you perfectly early.

Good luck and happy studying

 

[JohnDoeDDS]

thanks guys. Since Im applying for Fall '07, I am not going to take any summer classes in '06 and just take Kaplan and prolly take the DAT early-mid SEPT, depending on how I feel about the exam. Thanks for all of your help.