Which is harder. Get/maintain a high GPA (3.5+) OR to score a 20+AA on theDAT?

[SN1]

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Why?
Sorry if it is a dumb question but I was just curious.

 

[howafirestarted]

i think it's harder to get/maintain the gpa. mainly because it's 4 years of hard work, instead of just 3 months-ish of hard work.

 

[dentalWorks]

Why?
Sorry if it is a dumb question but I was just curious.

the answer to the threads title question is irrelevant because its going to be based purely on personal opinions

My opinion, its MUCH easier to keep a 3.5 than a 20+

 

[Blarelli]

Getting a 20+ was easier for me, probably because I had already put in a bunch of work keeping my gpa above a 3.8. Just work hard and do both.

 

[Lane138]

Getting a 3.5+ is MUCH harder! After all, it's three years of accumulated tests, homeworks, essays, etc, whereas the DAT is a few weeks of hard effort. Heck, if you don't score well you could even take the test again in three months.

Or maybe I'm just bad at school and good at standardized tests.

 

[Maygyver]

A 3.5 isn't that hard. Maybe if you make it a 3.7 so that it's an A- average.

 

[321931]

There is a reason why a high DAT score may NOT always salvage a low GPA.
And there is a reason why a high GPA tends to salvage a average/below average DAT score.

3.8+/18 AA> 3.1-2 and below/20-22.

GPA>DAT.

 

[mr24]

👍

A 3.5 isn't that hard. Maybe if you make it a 3.7 so that it's an A- average.

 

[reely989]

I think it depends on the person honestly. I have a 3.96, and that's only because I was a stupid freshman and messed up in Chemistry 1. I find it easier to be motivated for actual classes than some arbitrary test. I don't really think a 20+ is that difficult either as long as you give yourself enough time to study, but it is a different animal. I think it would be a much tougher question to answer if the numbers were 3.7-3.8 and a 24.

Really, I think it's just two different types of difficult, but when you consider the sheer amount of time that goes into having a good GPA, then I think that probably gets the edge. I mean, 3 weeks of studying got me a 20, but there is no telling how much continuous study time I have accumulated for finals in my classes.

 

[Maygyver]

Long story short: GPA shows dedication over a long period of time and your general work ethic while the DAT shows how much knowledge you retained and your ability to review old material.

 

[SN1]

I think it depends on the person honestly. I have a 3.96, and that's only because I was a stupid freshman and messed up in Chemistry 1. I find it easier to be motivated for actual classes than some arbitrary test. I don't really think a 20+ is that difficult either as long as you give yourself enough time to study, but it is a different animal. I think it would be a much tougher question to answer if the numbers were 3.7-3.8 and a 24.

Really, I think it's just two different types of difficult, but when you consider the sheer amount of time that goes into having a good GPA, then I think that probably gets the edge. I mean, 3 weeks of studying got me a 20, but there is no telling how much continuous study time I have accumulated for finals in my classes.

WOW this is exactly how I feel.

 

[SN1]

Long story short: GPA shows dedication over a long period of time and your general work ethic while the DAT shows how much knowledge you retained and your ability to review old material.

Yep.
Just out of curiosity, is that flava flav on your picture?

 

[Maygyver]

Yep.
Just out of curiosity, is that flava flav on your picture?

haha nope. Just some random black guy in a pink suit that I found on google.

 

[Seahawk]

I haven't taken the DAT yet, but I know plenty of scrubs maintaining a 3.5 doing nothing but going to partys....I would guess DAT.

 

[seunglim87]

There is a reason why a high DAT score may NOT always salvage a low GPA.
And there is a reason why a high GPA tends to salvage a average/below average DAT score.

3.8+/18 AA> 3.1-2 and below/20-22.

GPA>DAT.

👍

my gpa=2.98, DAT=AA23, TS 25

i would trade my grade with gpa=3.5 DAT=AA20, TS20 in a heartbeat

 

[Dusk]

this kinda depends on the school you're at....

 

[MAdental]

haha nope. Just some random black guy in a pink suit that I found on google.

http://chzgifs.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/newandimproveddancingswanp1.gif

 

[aecap0990]

this kinda depends on the school you're at....

absolutely depends on the school, which makes me say a 20 is infinitely easier. if only dental schools actually cared where you went to undergrad...

 

[Maygyver]

absolutely depends on the school, which makes me say a 20 is infinitely easier. if only dental schools actually cared where you went to undergrad...

I don't understand how you can say getting in the 90th percentile is easier than getting an 85% average. Does not compute. A 3.5, at MOST schools, is honestly pretty easy if you are studious. It shows prolonged dedication rather than a month of studying.

 

[7 Iron]

The 3.5+ GPA is harder to maintain that the 20 DAT, in my opinion. Study for a couple months, get the 20 DAT; but the 3.5+ GPA takes years of prolonged effort.

 

[SN1]

http://chzgifs.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/newandimproveddancingswanp1.gif

bwhahahahaha.

 

[Doc Smile]

Why?
Sorry if it is a dumb question but I was just curious.

Are you a hard worker or really smart?

A hard worker: easier to maintain a 3.5
Really smart: easier to get a 20++++

 

[Teeth12345]

absolutely depends on the school, which makes me say a 20 is infinitely easier. if only dental schools actually cared where you went to undergrad...

dental schools don't care???? whattt?? my undergrad literally killed my science GPA bc it was so competitive. But interestingly, I found studying for the DAT to be a lot easier because I learned so much in my classes. Weird, huh? I think it's because my professors skipped over the basics and just tested on really hard concepts. I was forced to learn the basics very well on my own, which helped me on the DAT A LOT, but unfortunately, the basics were never tested in my classes.

 

[Maygyver]

dental schools don't care???? whattt?? my undergrad literally killed my science GPA bc it was so competitive. But interestingly, I found studying for the DAT to be a lot easier because I learned so much in my classes. Weird, huh? I think it's because my professors skipped over the basics and just tested on really hard concepts. I was forced to learn the basics very well on my own, which helped me on the DAT A LOT, but unfortunately, the basics were never tested in my classes.

That's a shame, but I feel like at every university people manage to do well, so it can always be you.

But yeah, I do agree that having gone to a tougher undegrad university is nice when it comes to getting ready for the DAT.

 

[Teeth12345]

That's a shame, but I feel like at every university people manage to do well, so it can always be you.

But yeah, I do agree that having gone to a tougher undegrad university is nice when it comes to getting ready for the DAT.

Yeah this is true, but "manage to do well" is very dependent on school. For example, the average Bio major GPA at one school might be 3.8 and at another 3.6. So that doing well at one school means getting a 3.8 and doing well at the other means getting a 3.6.

Another question I have is about awards. I don't have zilch awards in college 🙁 I really hate blaming my undergrad for this bc I'll be honest, I def did not put in the right amount of effort my first couple years. But after that, I started doing well but I still never managed any honors list. At my school the cutoff for being on the Dean's list is usually a 3.95-4.0...basically straight A's. I got an A- by one point and missed the list 😡. How important are awards for dental school??

 

[SN1]

Are you a hard worker or really smart?

A hard worker: easier to maintain a 3.5
Really smart: easier to get a 20++++

I am a hard worker and in between smart and really smart.

 

[SN1]

That's a shame, but I feel like at every university people manage to do well, so it can always be you.

But yeah, I do agree that having gone to a tougher undegrad university is nice when it comes to getting ready for the DAT.

Man, I feel scared when the time has come for me to study for the DAT. I finished all of my prerequisites at a community college. I feel like I learned a lot though. Also the courses are transferable to many top universities so they can't be that easy right? I hope these courses prepared me enough for the DAT🙁

 

[reely989]

Yeah this is true, but "manage to do well" is very dependent on school. For example, the average Bio major GPA at one school might be 3.8 and at another 3.6. So that doing well at one school means getting a 3.8 and doing well at the other means getting a 3.6.

Another question I have is about awards. I don't have zilch awards in college 🙁 I really hate blaming my undergrad for this bc I'll be honest, I def did not put in the right amount of effort my first couple years. But after that, I started doing well but I still never managed any honors list. At my school the cutoff for being on the Dean's list is usually a 3.95-4.0...basically straight A's. I got an A- by one point and missed the list 😡. How important are awards for dental school??

I think the GPA is what matters. I have a hard time believing they really care about you not making the Dean's list every semester if you have a 3.8 or something.

 

[321931]

Are you a hard worker or really smart?

A hard worker: easier to maintain a 3.5
Really smart: easier to get a 20++++

What about really lucky? 30 on OC, 27 on GC and bam ~25+ TS/ 20+ AA.

 

[reely989]

Man, I feel scared when the time has come for me to study for the DAT. I finished all of my prerequisites at a community college. I feel like I learned a lot though. Also the courses are transferable to many top universities so it can't be that easy right? I hope these courses prepared me enough for the DAT🙁

As long as you know the concepts of everything, you'll be fine. The DAT is nothing grueling. Just knowing all the easy stuff from bio, like the cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis, basic genetics, DNA replication, etc. makes it much easier to study for the DAT because it feels more like a review than ever really learning anything. It also allows you to focus more on the stuff you really don't have much experience with (like, for me, I had never had a class on physiology or the endocrine system, so I had to start from scratch there).

I really wouldn't worry to much about it as long as you feel confident you have a decent foundational knowledge of the material.

 

[SN1]

As long as you know the concepts of everything, you'll be fine. The DAT is nothing grueling. Just knowing all the easy stuff from bio, like the cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis, basic genetics, DNA replication, etc. makes it much easier to study for the DAT because it feels more like a review than ever really learning anything. It also allows you to focus more on the stuff you really don't have much experience with (like, for me, I had never had a class on physiology or the endocrine system, so I had to start from scratch there).

I really wouldn't worry to much about it as long as you feel confident you have a decent foundational knowledge of the material.

YEAH. All the things you listed above sound very familiar to me. I don't know but I feel incompetent coming from a CC.

 

[Teeth12345]

YEAH. All the things you listed above sound very familiar to me. I don't know but I feel incompetent coming from a CC.

You know, a lot of times, CC courses teach you the basics really well. I learned a lot from the Genchem class I took in comm college. The DAT tests you on the very basics. You should be fine! 🙂

 

[SN1]

You know, a lot of times, CC courses teach you the basics really well. I learned a lot from the Genchem class I took in comm college. The DAT tests you on the very basics. You should be fine! 🙂

Yeah there were only like 20 kids in a class and I felt that I could NOT have gotten a better attention anywhere else. I need a BIG slap in the face to stop worrying and posting all these threads.

Thank you 😍

 

[dentalWorks]

YEAH. All the things you listed above sound very familiar to me. I don't know but I feel incompetent coming from a CC.

Im sure there are thousands of students who completed a good portion of their pre-reqs at CC and still managed to do great on the DAT.

I've said this before, scoring well on the DAT isn't dictated by your undergrad course-works so much as you keeping discipline and work ethic for those 2-3 months of DAT-preparations.

Haven't you seen SDN members with sub 3.0 GPAs from unknown colleges score phenomenal on the DAT? Its because they prepared hard and didn't waste time.

 

[SN1]

Im sure there are thousands of students who completed a good portion of their pre-reqs at CC and still managed to do great on the DAT.

I've said this before, scoring well on the DAT isn't dictated by your undergrad course-works so much as you keeping discipline and work ethic for those 2-3 months of DAT-preparations.

Haven't you seen SDN members with sub 3.0 GPAs from unknown colleges score phenomenal on the DAT? Its because they prepared hard and didn't waste time.

Yes Sir. I will stop posting this nonsense.

thank you for the advice

 

[Teeth12345]

Yes Sir. I will stop posting this nonsense.

thank you for the advice

Sir, I advise you to not waste time reading threads about "being scared of the DAT" BUT don't stay away from these boards either. Go to the DAT Discussions section and ask for help on concepts/questions you don't understand. That forum helped me so much when I was studying! But remember, SDN can quickly turn into the equivalent of a Facebook addiction...make sure you're studying more than SDNing 😉

 

[John Durian]

I'd say GPA.

I mean, each final for those upper div bio/chem classes is like taking the DAT. Except you have to take multiple finals a day for multiple classes 🙁

 

[invictusx]

a 3.5+ GPA will help you get a 20+ AA, but that doesn't guarantee it

 

[Maygyver]

I'd say GPA.

I mean, each final for those upper div bio/chem classes is like taking the DAT. Except you have to take multiple finals a day for multiple classes 🙁

But the DAT score correlates with 95%+ percentile. 3.5 correlates with maybe 85%? (someone can do the math if you want).

 

[Impulse155]

i imagine 20+ being a lot harder than getting 3.5 +. Once you figure out how your school works and how to study its easy as hell getting over a 3.5

 

[mr24]

I have a 3.5 and a 20+ dat score and the 3.5 was easier in my opinion. For a 3.5 you just get equal amounts of A's and B's. that shouldn't be too hard even at a "hard" university.

 

[Maygyver]

I have a 3.5 and a 20+ dat score and the 3.5 was easier in my opinion. For a 3.5 you just get equal amounts of A's and B's. that shouldn't be too hard even at a "hard" university.

👍

 

[dentalWorks]

I have a 3.5 and a 20+ dat score and the 3.5 was easier in my opinion. For a 3.5 you just get equal amounts of A's and B's. that shouldn't be too hard even at a "hard" university.

ooooo now you did it

 

[Impulse155]

Idk if this is how it is in all schools, but to graduate magna cum laude (3.7) at my school it says it equal to being 93rd perecentile. So lets assume all schools are the same where if I went somewhere else chances are 3.7 is 93rd percentile also. Scoring 93rd percentile on the DAT is what, a 21? So figure then a 3.7 SHOULD be equal to scoring a 21 on the DAT if its al lthe same riht?

I feel a 3.7 is harder than a 21 but a 3.5 is much easier (yes that .2 would make a huge difference)

Now also according to my school graduating at the next distinction (summa cum laude) is at a 3.8 or 98th percentile. 98th percentile is like a 23 right? I still feel like getting a 3.8 is harder than a 23. Especially if you go toa well known school if your in the top 2 percent you should really know your stuff right?


Most important one to this topic:
Lastly, cum laude, is the 85th percentile, and a 3.5 overall. 85th percentile on the DAT isnt even a 20 is it? So 3.5 isnt really too impressive if you think about it and technically a 21 should be harder than a 3.5 which in my opinion it definately is.

 

[Maygyver]

Idk if this is how it is in all schools, but to graduate magna cum laude (3.7) at my school it says it equal to being 93rd perecentile. So lets assume all schools are the same where if I went somewhere else chances are 3.7 is 93rd percentile also. Scoring 93rd percentile on the DAT is what, a 21? So figure then a 3.7 SHOULD be equal to scoring a 21 on the DAT if its al lthe same riht?

I feel a 3.7 is harder than a 21 but a 3.5 is much easier (yes that .2 would make a huge difference)

Now also according to my school graduating at the next distinction (summa cum laude) is at a 3.8 or 98th percentile. 98th percentile is like a 23 right? I still feel like getting a 3.8 is harder than a 23. Especially if you go toa well known school if your in the top 2 percent you should really know your stuff right?


Most important one to this topic:
Lastly, cum laude, is the 85th percentile, and a 3.5 overall. 85th percentile on the DAT isnt even a 20 is it? So 3.5 isnt really too impressive if you think about it and technically a 21 should be harder than a 3.5 which in my opinion it definately is.

Makes sense to me. My schools summa was a 3.9 though.

 

[Impulse155]

Makes sense to me. My schools summa was a 3.9 though.

Do you know what percentile 3.9 was for you though?

 

[Maygyver]

Do you know what percentile 3.9 was for you though?

Not sure to be honest. Do schools publish it online somewhere?

 

[Impulse155]

Not sure to be honest. Do schools publish it online somewhere?

For me I just went to stonybrook.edu and then they have a directory at the top where I typed in deans list and it came up and there was a link for distinctions of honors or something like that and then I just did the breakdown/logic from there.

Edit:
Dam you actually graduated with the 3.9 too? Congrats bro.

 

[Maygyver]

For me I just went to stonybrook.edu and then they have a directory at the top where I typed in deans list and it came up and there was a link for distinctions of honors or something like that and then I just did the breakdown/logic from there.

Edit:
Dam you actually graduated with the 3.9 too? Congrats bro.

Ah, I'll have to do some detective work. Hah thanks!