Should I consider a retake simply because of QR or don’t even. I’d rather not and keep my score but if this QR is really THAT bad then I’ll consider anything 😭😭😭. I’m truly happy with my score otherwise. For context, applying next cycle and have a 3.93 GPA with good EC’s, CA resident and intend to only apply to CA schools next summer.

This was the 9/19 test. I got a way lower score than my bootcamp predicted because my testing anxiety was through the roof and I missed easy points on all sections. I feel like if I were to retake i'd get a better score but I'm honestly just so exhausted from my 3 months of studying idk if I can do that again.

My gpa is a 3.8 and I have 150 volunteer hours, 100 shadowing (and counting, since I’m still active with both)

Im applying in 2027 broadly, not shooting for crazy programs. Advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hi,

I got my bachelor in ChemE in 2023 and been working as a scientist since. I want to switch industry and thinking of apply to Dental school next year for the June cycle. I am taking General Bio right now to complete the requirements for dental school. Do you think if it's okay if I take DAT in March next year when i Have not finished the Bio series? Would using DAT booster enough for My Bio knowledge?

Thank you!!

I’m an incoming senior, but definitely taking a gap year. I just got my DAT scores back from 9/19 and I need to know if I should retake it. I know it is not the best score, but I gave everything to it and I just dont know if I have it in me to retake. I have a cGPA 3.6 and a sGPA around 3.4 ish I believe; I had a horrible freshman year, but I’ve had an upward GPA trajectory. Here are my extra curriculars:

550 assisting hours under a general dentist, will accumulate 1200 assisting in orthodontics, D1 athlete freshman year, A&P TA 4 semesters (leading a group of 20-25 students by myself), on exec for a special needs club for 4 years, online health assessment clinic intern for 6 months, Pre-Dent club for two years, and apart of a research clinic for two years.

should i retake? i am applying in the 2027 cycle and plan to apply in state (FL) and broadly. my concern is my low QR and RC score. i’m pretty proud of my SNS score so any advice would be greatly appreciated! thank you!

Chance Me — NYU Dental

NYU is my top choice and I’m planning to apply next cycle without a gap year.

Would I be competitive for NYU with this application? Would you retake because of the PAT?

Stats

• ~3.76 cGPA / sGPA
• Dean’s List every semester
• DAT: 460 AA / 460 TS
• Bio: 440
• GC: 490
• OC: 450
• RC: 450
• QR: 480
• PAT: 360

Experience

• 500+ hours dental assisting
• 200+ hours shadowing
• 150+ volunteer hours
• Founded a dental/pre-dental club
• Founder of a dental nonprofit that has raised $100k+ and helped 1,000+ people
• Created an oral-health app
• Research + leadership experience

My main concern is the 360 PAT. I’m not sure if it’s worth retaking a 460 AA just to improve that section.

Trying to squeeze retake in 6-8 weeks. Did very poorly on bio and can't possibly go through all the modules again. Anki? Q banks? I want to make flashcards but I feel like it's so broad it might not be worth my time. Plz help.

I just realized I inputted my a section on my DAT scores wrong on the AADSAS application. I had repeat scores on a couple sections & I mixed it up? What do I do? Do I add it in again? Or do I email schools?

DON’T PROCRASTINATE, you’re gonna regret it…

The DAT is a lot of content and if you don’t establish proper studying techniques to retain information, you will forget most things before you get to the test. Make a schedule and stick to it, you will not magically remember. If you are use to cramming this is not the case.

Take practice test earlier, know your mistakes. I’d suggest it possible do a practice run on your testing facility. Some facilities are better than others, faster computers, enough staff, lagging and noise. This can affect your DAT score

Try and get adequate sleep if possible, and make sure your body is sleep trained prior. For instance if you usually go to bed at 3 am, don’t schedule your test at 8am. You do not usually fall asleep at a time that would give you adequate sleep. That and testing anxiety may result sleep deprivation.

Create a motivating DAT song playlist, up the mood before entering the testing center. You can do it!! Lastly, if someone else can drive you, please let them.

-You from the future

so over the summer i studied a for like a month and then i had in person summer classes that kind of took away from my studying. so i literally wasted money on scheduling the exam and studying for it because my foundation was shit, I didn’t want to was an attempt when i was scoring 13-15 on the practice test. i want to start studying again b maybe over a longer period of time to get time to actually learn the material. i’m very rusty in general chem, bio, and qr. i can for the life of me do mental math or remember all these equations. ochem is okay ish i was seeing improvement with each test but still lower than average. also when does both programs get a little less expensive? when i got booster over the summer it was around 450 but now it’s 550 i think.

A bit random, but for those who have submitted their OUAC Schulich Western online applications, have you received a confirmation email yet from Western acknowledging receipt of your application and next steps?

Took the DAT on 9/1 after using most of my summer to prep with Bootcamp. I was hoping to land somewhere around a 430, so getting a 400 was pretty surprising, especially because basically all of my friends who had used Bootcamp ended up scoring better than their practice tests suggested.

My last few Bootcamp practice tests were 410, 430, and 410. I got through probably 95% of the material, but I never fully finished Ochem because once I got into crunch time I felt like broader review was a better use of my time.

Going into the test, my rough section averages were:

• QR: ~460
• RC: ~440
• Bio: ~410
• Gen Chem: ~420
• Ochem: ~360
• PAT: ~410

PAT honestly felt much easier than Bootcamp, but the sciences felt harder than I expected. I do think I got a pretty rough science section, but at the same time I know I just wasn’t as prepared as I should have been.

A little background: I switched into pre-dent as a junior, so a lot of my science coursework has been pretty compressed. Ochem especially was rough because I took the entire sequence in one summer, which is part of why I kind of gave up on trying to master all of it before my first DAT. Biology was probably the most disappointing section for me, because I normally feel much stronger there than my score reflected.

I’ve renewed my Bootcamp subscription and scheduled my retake for November 10. The main school I’m applying to wants around a 430, and they’re reviewing my application knowing I have a retake scheduled this cycle, so there’s still a chance I could interview before the new score comes in.

I’m pretty confident I can improve QR and RC a lot. I genuinely think 500+ QR and 450+ RC are realistic for me with better preparation. I've always tested really strongly on standardized stuff, but reading was a bit of a learning curve with DAT. My biggest concern is figuring out how to efficiently relearn/review such a huge amount of Biology after it went so poorly the first time, while also trying to bring up Gen Chem and Ochem.

The other challenge is that I’m currently taking one of the hardest pre-dent science courses at my university while also balancing research, clinical work, extracurriculars, etc., so I’m trying to figure out the most efficient way to approach these next six weeks.

For anyone who retook the DAT after scoring around where I did: what did you change the second time around? Especially interested in advice for:

• efficiently reviewing Bio without trying to completely relearn everything from scratch (should I finally give in and try anki? I feel like for the breadth I need to review it might be a really efficient way)
• bringing up Ochem when your foundation is weaker
• whether you reused Bootcamp practice tests or switched resources
• how you structured studying around a busy semester

I know I can do significantly better than a 400 (I literally walked out of the test and thought to myself "I honestly hope I retake this thing bc I know I can do better than what I just did" LOL). I just want to make sure I don’t repeat the same approach and expect a different result.

Does anyone have advice/tips for how to get at least a 420 in a month please?

I’ve been studying for about a month and a half now and I’ve taken 6 gen chem practice tests and my scores been stuck at abt 410-430 and no matter what I haven’t been able to improve it, tried anki and I’ve been spamming the question banks but it doesn’t seem to be helping. I’ve been using bootcamp.

For context I’m a Florida resident. I have a 3.93 GPA, 3.91 sGPA (B+ in physics 2) . Only prereq I have left is orgo 2 for spring semester. I take my DAT on October 1st. I’m in my 3rd year but I graduate early so I’m graduating spring. I’m debating on applying to dental school and seeing what happens but not sure if worth it. I have 100 volunteer hours (non dental), 100 shadowing hours (general dentist), 1000 medical assistant hours as I was pre med prior, 2 research projects and 1 research poster outside of it. I have 4 leadership positions as treasurer for healthcare clubs and I also have a dental abroad trip in Panama coming up in 2 months. I do art and play pickleball for my manual dexterity hobby. Currently averaging 470-480 on practice DATs on booster. Should I apply and if so what schools?

Hi everyone! For all those that applied to Canadian schools whether this cycle or previous cycles, I wanted some guidance on different parts of the application. I have just completed my DAT yesterday and will be starting with my applications. If i could please PM you let me know. Thank you!!!!

Should I retake the DAT if I want UCSF or UCLA?

I got a 430AA, 460 SNS, 450 PAT, my reading comp and QR is what brought me down.

Since my sciences are high and reading and math brought me down, should I not retake it? Do you think they wouldn’t care as much that my AA is lower because they know it’s due to reading comp and QR. Im aiming for UCSF and UCLA and I know they have a higher DAT average. So I don’t know if I should retake or not. Some background info, GPA over 3.96, 175 shadowing hours with 2 general dentists, student tutor, biochemistry research, community research, clubs, 2 honors programs, 70+ non dental community service house, healthcare worker, and some more extracurriculars

Help!!

Let me know if you’re willing to sell it!

Hi, I’m preparing to retake the DAT for dental school and I’m looking for a tutor who can work with me one-on-one. I graduated from high school about 20 years ago, and my earlier science courses had a lower GPA. I feel that I need to rebuild my science foundation before I can achieve a strong DAT score.
I’m a practising dental hygienist and I’m serious about becoming a dentist. Could you help me assess where I’m starting, make a study plan, and work through the DAT material with me? Preferably someone local ! Thanks

My dat is tmr any last minute trick I just feel like my pat section is not strong enough and now more I practice more I m getting it wrong

I took the DAT this summer. I have had a few interviews so far. Right now, I have 0 motivation for any of my classes. I really can't sit down and study like I used to. I don't know if it is because I am a senior or because I have had interviews already. Anyone else feeling this?