Which DAT section do you think is most important?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
RC AA TS PAT QR low reading will sink you harder than anything from my understanding
 
For a dental applicant, I would like to see nice even scores anywhere 21+. Each of the dat sections themselves don't reflect how good of a dentist one will become. Collectively, however, they represent that an applicant is well rounded and is able to face challenges of a wider scope such as dentalschool coursework and running a practice
 
PocketRocket said:
Collectively, however, they represent that an applicant is well rounded and is able to face challenges of a wider scope such as dentalschool coursework and running a practice
Click to expand...

I think that last part is a bit of a stretch. You can suck at standardized testing and still learn how to competently run a practice in the long haul or vice-versa.
 
To get into school? Probably AA. Once you're in school? None of them.

Edit because I don't think I answered your question. I remember a few years back when I was taking the DAT, I found some study or publication (don't recall where or who wrote it) that basically looked at the correlation between DAT scores and success in dental school. If I recall correctly it broke down dental school into didactics, pre-clinic, and maybe clinic grades. I think of all the DAT scores, RC was the most significantly correlated with success in pre-doc courses, but even then it was weak at best. If you search around you'll find the study if you haven't seen it already. So I guess that said, RC is probably the most important individual category.
 
derbear said:
PAT = good at lego
RC = good you can speak English and read
QR = good you are Asian
AA = lemme guess, your RC was high
TS = good at sciences

I vote TS score (BIO, OCHEM and CHEM)
Click to expand...
AA isn't a section.. I was wondering which actual section.
 
kerfufle said:
AA isn't a section.. I was wondering which actual section.
Click to expand...
If there was one section that adcoms valued then there wouldn't be six sections on the DAT...there would just be one. It's like asking what ingredient of soup do people like the most...if they said carrots then why don't those people just eat carrots? People combine things together for a reason...adcoms like a hearty soup.
 
derbear said:
PAT = good at lego
RC = good you can speak English and read
QR = good you are Asian
AA = lemme guess, your RC was high
TS = good at sciences

I vote TS score (BIO, OCHEM and CHEM)
Click to expand...

I'm asian and I can't do math to save my life. Lol
 
i feel like bio and rc would be most important to them in regards to specific sections
 
RC. Faster you read, able to retain more info,you have extra time to study.
 
whitepapertree said:
QR >>>>>>> PAT > GC > RC > OC > BIO > AA > TS


Gotta know your numbers
Click to expand...

False. If anything, the math section is the LEAST important. I got a 14 in the quantitive reasoning--partly because I suck at math and partly because it's the last section I felt like my head was going to explode
 
and even with a 14 in QR, I managed a 20AA; took it once..got into my first choice school; invited for 4 interviews; only accepted 2/4 interview offers.
 
Hey sorry I haven't been back on to explain my question which was poorly written. There have been dozens of posts on what adcoms think are most important but I was more curious what section each of you thought would be the most indicative of future success. Again I say RC with bio in second. AA and TS don't count.
 
Last edited:
I hope current dental students would chime in if PAT is even a reliable indicator of the ability to do dental work
 
kerfufle said:
Hey sorry I haven't been back on to explain my question which was poorly written. There have been dozens of posts on what adcoms think are most important but I was more curious what section each of you thought would be the most indicative of future success. Again I say QR with bio in second. AA and TS don't count.
Click to expand...
they care about QR the least
 
Last edited:
predent3591 said:
they care about QR the least.....
Click to expand...
I'm not interested in what they think, again just curious what all of you think. I know they care least about QR, there are a thousand threads on it.
 
kerfufle said:
I'm not interested in what they think, again just curious what all of you think. I know they care least about QR, there are a thousand threads on it.
Click to expand...
whoops misread RC as QR so i thought you were saying it was the most important....my b:shrug:

edit: wait i just checked you did say QR instead of RC by accident! :diebanana:
 
predent3591 said:
whoops misread RC as QR so i thought you were saying it was the most important....my b:shrug:

edit: wait i just checked you did say QR instead of RC by accident! :diebanana:
Click to expand...
Haha yea I edited it because I didn't realize I made that mistake my bad 🙂
 
The most important section is the section that I got the highest score in...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
AADSAS App Experiences Section
Replies
0
Views
960
drjackdaw
D
Sabrina224000
  • Question Question
COVID-19 Section of AADSAS Application
Replies
0
Views
437
Sabrina224000
Sabrina224000
M
What should I do? Very low GPA High DAT
Replies
8
Views
668
macsak
M
M
Sending DAT scores
Replies
1
Views
848
drDental_
drDental_
uwu
Do I Apply Now or Wait for My DAT Scores?
Replies
2
Views
314
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
Top