Hi! I will be applying in a few weeks when the application opens for the 2018-2019 cycle, and just wanted to get some opinions on where I stand.
I just finished my third year at OSU with a cumulative GPA of 3.49, and got a 350 (88th percentile) on my OAT.
I have approximately 100 hours of shadowing, with experience in charting and pre-testing during all shadowing experiences. I have shadowed mainly optometrists, but also have worked with some opticians and ophthalmologists.
I'm concerned that my lack of actual work experience in the field will be bad on my application, but I have worked at the same job for the past 6 years, progressively getting promotions, and am currently in a leadership role at my job. I have also picked up a second job for the past 3 years. The reason I did not branch out into the optometry field for work yet is because I am trying to work as much as I can at my current jobs to save money for optometry school. Is that something that an interview committee would understand, or should I have started working in field earlier?
Also, my extracurricular activities are not super strong...I have been a member of the pre-optometry club since my freshman year, and briefly joined a Russian club but really did not see it as a good fit for me. I also don't have volunteer hours because I've spent most of my free time working.
My letters of recommendation should be pretty strong - a science professor and advisor that I have been close with and also worked with for several years, and an optometrist who I have shadowed for the past two years.
I am planning on applying to:
The Ohio State University College of Optometry
Illinois College of Optometry
Midwstern University - Chicago College of Optometry (Downer's Grove Campus)
Southern College of Optometry
SALUS
Opinions?
Thank you so much in advance to anyone who takes the time to help me out!
I just finished my third year at OSU with a cumulative GPA of 3.49, and got a 350 (88th percentile) on my OAT.
I have approximately 100 hours of shadowing, with experience in charting and pre-testing during all shadowing experiences. I have shadowed mainly optometrists, but also have worked with some opticians and ophthalmologists.
I'm concerned that my lack of actual work experience in the field will be bad on my application, but I have worked at the same job for the past 6 years, progressively getting promotions, and am currently in a leadership role at my job. I have also picked up a second job for the past 3 years. The reason I did not branch out into the optometry field for work yet is because I am trying to work as much as I can at my current jobs to save money for optometry school. Is that something that an interview committee would understand, or should I have started working in field earlier?
Also, my extracurricular activities are not super strong...I have been a member of the pre-optometry club since my freshman year, and briefly joined a Russian club but really did not see it as a good fit for me. I also don't have volunteer hours because I've spent most of my free time working.
My letters of recommendation should be pretty strong - a science professor and advisor that I have been close with and also worked with for several years, and an optometrist who I have shadowed for the past two years.
I am planning on applying to:
The Ohio State University College of Optometry
Illinois College of Optometry
Midwstern University - Chicago College of Optometry (Downer's Grove Campus)
Southern College of Optometry
SALUS
Opinions?
Thank you so much in advance to anyone who takes the time to help me out!
