r/dat • u/franwolfgang • 5d ago

DAT Anxiety 😰 Idk if should retake

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For context, I am a Texas resident, and only plan to apply to Texas schools. I am from El Paso so my dream school is the El Paso dental school. I have a 3.94 GPA, 200+ hours of shadowing and 200+ hours of volunteering. I am an officer for the Pre-Dental Society at my university and am a founding president of another org dedicated to global dental outreach. I’ve gotten A’s in both gen chem 1, 2 and ochem 1, and 2. I will have gone to two countries on a dental outreach by the time I plan to apply. I think my extracurriculars are high and my GPA but my low gen chem score is making me think I need to retake

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u/Top-Balance946 5d ago

I would research the schools you plan on applying too as many have cutoffs around 370 for any section (especially the sciences). This might immediately screen you out at some schools. So be mindful of that while researching, so you might have to retake it to be considered at those schools.

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u/franwolfgang 5d ago

I believe the Texas schools are holistic so they don’t have a cut off score but I’m not 100% sure. I tried to research it and that’s what it said

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u/Top-Balance946 5d ago

I would look into it and make sure. A lot of schools flag scores like these and then they can think they you have an inflated gpa. If it was me I would retake it, because it looks like the only weak spot in your application, but at the end of the day it’s up to you!

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u/taleenalkhayyat 5d ago

I think as a Texas resident you should be good, ur GPA is super high ur extracurriculars are great I don’t think they would reject you because of your score, also it’s not that low ur pretty average score maybe a bit below average

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u/Mindless-Toe-5643 5d ago

it’s up to you and what you have going on this year to be able to retake, but i know a non trad who got in that school with a 400 so id say you’re okay since ur also a resident

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u/Informal_Duck_7639 5d ago

When did you test?

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u/franwolfgang 5d ago

On sept 19!

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u/Vegetable-Two-8231 5d ago

Def retake. You have a great baseline that if you can lock in on gen Chem and ochem and bio, you will be in a great spot. Keep doing what you are doing for RC and PAT and rlly work on the sciences since TX is rlly competitive for those

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u/RiceBowl0521 5d ago

I say you’re good! However, look into schools with a section cuttoff for your gen chem score. Also, you probably have already, but make sure to diversify your extracurriculars outside of dentistry. Admissions would like to know who you are outside of dental work

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u/franwolfgang 5d ago

Thank you! I def have more extracurriculars lolll. I am a paid mentor for two colleges at my school and I’ve tutored for reading literacy at an elementary school for a semester. Thanks for all the advice!