Please help pre-optometry experts!!

[Ilikeureyes]

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Hi guys... I've been reading old posts and just trying to familiarize myself with the whole optometry process. I really want to become an optometrist but I need your honest advice!! I am in the middle of finals but I want to apply this cycle, am I too late?? I haven't gotten rec. letters yet but plan to ask for them this week from my science professors. Hopefully, they will be done with them around the end of January if not sooner. Also, I plan to take the OAT sometime in January depending on how far I get with my studying. Is January too late..? Additionally, I plan to work on my application over the winter break and turn it in at the end of December if possible. Is this late?? Am I too late??

I know for UH the deadline is Feb. 1st. Does that mean I have to have my scores, rec letters, and application all submitted to the school b4 then?? or is it ok for the scores and rec letters to come after the deadline and just have my application submitted on time??

Are there separate applications for each accredited optometry school or is there a common application I can do for multiple schools??

Which optometry school(s) is the easiest to get into?? hardest?

What are the average GPA (science and non-science) and OAT score for people that get accepted??

When do interviews run?


Phew.. I know I just asked so many questions, but I am just freaking out right now and I need to hear your opinions... Thanks for everyone's help.... Any other advice you think I might need to know would be awesome!!

 

[spanisheyes]

It could happen, but it is nearing the end of the application cycle. At this point you would only have a chance if your scores are superb. the admissions committee might sense that you just randomly decided to apply if you haven't begun getting any of your application materials in yet.

When applying to opt school it is VERY important to have experience/shadowing-- more important than having a great gpa and oat score. if you haven't started shadowing or anything, i would have to say its too late to apply for 2008.

it might be better to apply early next year when you have all your stuff together. i would still plan on taking the oat pretty soon because you wanna give yourself enough time to take it again just in case (you have to wait 90 days before retaking it).

to answer your questions
i think you have to have in all your materials by the deadline- you might not wanna quote me on that though.
unfortunately, there is no centralized application for opt school. you have to fill out separate apps for each school-- kinda tedious, i know
if you go to opted.org there is a lot of info there on optometry and optometry school, including incoming class profiles, so that will give you an idea of avg gpa and oat scores that each school accepts
optomtetry school accepts students on rolling admissions which means they begin interviewing shortly after they beging receiving applications and they accept and fill seats as they go along-- hence the stress on applying early

 

[ddsintx]

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[Ilikeureyes]

It could happen, but it is nearing the end of the application cycle. At this point you would only have a chance if your scores are superb. the admissions committee might sense that you just randomly decided to apply if you haven't begun getting any of your application materials in yet.

When applying to opt school it is VERY important to have experience/shadowing-- more important than having a great gpa and oat score. if you haven't started shadowing or anything, i would have to say its too late to apply for 2008.

it might be better to apply early next year when you have all your stuff together. i would still plan on taking the oat pretty soon because you wanna give yourself enough time to take it again just in case (you have to wait 90 days before retaking it).

to answer your questions
i think you have to have in all your materials by the deadline- you might not wanna quote me on that though.
unfortunately, there is no centralized application for opt school. you have to fill out separate apps for each school-- kinda tedious, i know
if you go to opted.org there is a lot of info there on optometry and optometry school, including incoming class profiles, so that will give you an idea of avg gpa and oat scores that each school accepts
optomtetry school accepts students on rolling admissions which means they begin interviewing shortly after they beging receiving applications and they accept and fill seats as they go along-- hence the stress on applying early

1. If I do plan to apply this month what scores are considered to be superb ??

2. If I wait for the next cycle, when do you suggest I should have all of my materials in by?

3. You said it was imperative to have experience shadowing an optometrist.. would it be very difficult to get in if you do not have any prior shadowing experience?

Thanks for the very thorough reply spanisheyes!!!

 

[spanisheyes]

1. If I do plan to apply this month what scores are considered to be superb ??

2. If I wait for the next cycle, when do you suggest I should have all of my materials in by?

3. You said it was imperative to have experience shadowing an optometrist.. would it be very difficult to get in if you do not have any prior shadowing experience?

Thanks for the very thorough reply spanisheyes!!!

i don't know what your gpa is but it should be up there (above 3.5 i suppose) and an oat score of at least 330 or 340. this is just hypothetical. it varies depending on your extracurriculars and such.
i would recommend starting very early. just get the materials in as they come by. you dont have to wait til summer to get recommendations, just do it, go ahead and send in your transcripts over the summer. its ideal to have in all your materials by august or september. by the time the application is open, you've already sent in all your stuff and thats the last thing you have to worry about. trust me, its stressful enough having to complete the personal statements and applications, you dont wanna worry about that stuff too esp if you're taking classes.
it shouldnt be difficult to find a doctor who is willing to let you shadow him/her but i don't know how many hours you'll be able to get in time.
if you feel determined and confident, do ahead and apply. if you don't get in this year, next year you'll be a reapplicant and they tend to review applications of reapplicants first. good luck

 

[hextor2040]

Ilikeureyes.... if u have no shadowing experience or any other type of optometry related experience, I think you should just wait for the next application cycle. I honestly don't believe they will even consider you if they think you don't know what your getting yourself into.

Sounds like your rushing things. My advice to you:

1. shadow a few optometrist, both corporate and private practice, so that you get a good feel for what the profession is all about. The more optometry experience you have, the better your application looks!
2. don't rush into the OAT, its a tough test! take it when u feel ready.
3. from your post, i can tell that you don't really know much about the whole application process. As mentioned earlier, www.opted.org is a great place to start! I'm sure you'll get all your questions answered on that sight. Also, get in contact with your school's pre-health advisor and find out if your school has a pre-optometry club.

I'm not trying to bash you, just trying to offer my help!

 

[Ilikeureyes]

Good advice Hextor2040!

spanisheyes: (Given that I apply next year) - You said that I should send my recs, transcripts, scores to the schools over the summer. So does that mean I can send the schools these materials even before the application is open, which is in Aug./Sept.? Wow great idea.

Concerning the OAT what books/resources did you use to study?

How did you study?

Are there a lot of practice tests out there that are good indicators of what you will score on the actual test?

What's the hardest section?

Can I take it any day of the year by computer or paper?

 

[JackCM]

You can send the materials before the application is over, most schools keep that stuff for about 2 years I think. When they get the first piece from you they will make a file and put it all in there.

The OAT is by computer only, and you can take it most (but not any) days of the year. You have to schedule it, the further in advance you schedule the easier it is to get the date you want.

 

[pienfoo]

To the OP. i wouldn't give up just yet. Don't worry about reapplying until you've heard back from all the schools. Many people get accepted by applying a week or two before the deadlines (like in Feb/ March), and their scores are pretty average. If you have a decent GPA, you should send in your app asap and make sure that your OAT scores are sent to the school you'll be applying to. I would say a 3.4/ 340 would give you a pretty decent chance of getting an interview somewhere, assuming you have a good number of leadership and internship involvement. This is all assuming if you're on top of your game. It does seems like you're in a bit of a rush, so if you don't think you could prepare for the OAT in time or send all your materials in by the deadlines (including your letters of rec), it's be a good idea to slow things down and prepare a very strong application for the folllowing year instead. either way. good luck.

 

[Ilikeureyes]

You can send the materials before the application is over, most schools keep that stuff for about 2 years I think. When they get the first piece from you they will make a file and put it all in there.

The OAT is by computer only, and you can take it most (but not any) days of the year. You have to schedule it, the further in advance you schedule the easier it is to get the date you want.

So are you saying that I could turn all of my materials in to the schools this spring, and just wait to turn in the application for the next cycle (Aug/Sept)?

Do you know of any awesome study and practice materials for the OAT? Do you have to take Kaplan in order to score well?