DAT

DAT Library

As a member of SEAD, you have access to our DAT library. The library is held in the Ohio Union and includes approximately 35 books, flashcards, lesson packets, practice tests, etc. Our most popular books include DAT destroyers and Math destroyers. If you would like to check out a DAT resource from our library, reach out to anyone on exec!

General Information

NEW DAT GRADING (Effective March 1st 2025):

The DAT is now graded from 200-600. This gives the DAT the ability to be a more precise score.

  • The content of the exam will stay the same
  • You will no longer be able to see your score immediately once you submit. It will be about ~3 weeks after taking your exam.
  • Average acceptance scores will likely be around the 420 range.
  • 2 digit scores will still be valid until they expire
  • Helpful websites for more information:
    • https://bootcamp.com/blog/upcoming-changes-to-dat-scoring-and-reporting-march-1-2025
    • https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/education/changes_dat_scoringandreporting.pdf

Score Conversion Tables from DAT Bootcamp and ADA:

OLD GRADING:

Score is out of 30
17-18 is average
19-20 is 75th percentile, usually good
22-23 is 98th percentile, very good especially if you have a lower GPA
OSU mean scores of accepted students:

  • AA (academic average) = 20.41
  • PAT (perceptual ability test) = 21.21
  • TS (total science) = 20.03
  • GPA average = 3.67
  • GPA average (science) = 3.6
  • Minimum GPA = 3.00
  • Minimum GPA (science) = 3.00
  • **DAT scores are only good for 2 years, so if you take the test the summer after your 2nd year, you cannot take a gap year unless you want to retake the exam**

DAT Tips

These are just suggestions to help make the process easier! No need to follow every single one.

BEFORE

  • Familiarize yourself with bootcamp before buying a DAT Bootcamp subscription (~$500)
    • Download the app
    • Look at flash cards
    • Look at Ari’s schedule
  • Before registering for the DAT, you will need to request a DENTPIN. You can register here: DENTPIN Do not forget this pin! Write it down and keep it safe.
  • Once you have your DENTPIN, you can register for/purchase the DAT ($500) the day before you start studying so you have an end goal.
  • When registering, select the option to send your scores everywhere. It does not cost you money now, but if you do not select all of the schools and end up applying somewhere your official DAT scores were not sent, then you have to pay for them to be sent.
  • Class recommendations: Gen chem I & II, Organic chem I & II, Bio 1113 & 1114, EEOB 2520 human physiology, Microbio 4000 (only if you can fit it in)
  • Create your own schedule off of Ari’s (I found his too intense, especially for bio content)

DURING

  • Log your studying hours in a spreadsheet every day to keep yourself on track (3-7 hrs)
  • Take at least 1 day off per week
  • Exercise while reviewing notes, looking over flashcards, etc (I walked on the treadmill)
  • Exercise for 30 mins every day for a break – reward yourself and stimulate your brain
  • Get at least 8 hours of sleep a night…if you don’t, you won’t retain the information you just spent so much time learning
  • Give yourself at least a month between test day and the start of next semester to avoid burn-out
  • Every time you come across a mnemonic, write it down on a designated mnemonic sheet. Review this sheet every day for retention

REMINDERS FROM PAST EXEC MEMBERS

Sasha Daroga – Good luck!! You are so much more well prepared than you think you are. It is scary studying for a test so big but you are so capable and if you put in the time you will do well!! : ) 

*side note: it is so easy to compare yourself to other people but really just try to focus on your test and how you can get better, comparing yourself will only make you more anxious!

**another side note: the Facebook pages are great resources to see how other people are studying and to get ideas from but if you catch yourself getting more stressed out from reading the posts—STOP READING THEM!! I noticed a lot of the posts on the page were from people who had crazy high scores and that would stress me out so I would just stop reading them because there was no point comparing my scores to theirs.