Pre-Optometry Students: PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Since there are many questions that are frequently asked, we can have this thread to answer most of them.

BRAND NEW Pre-Optometry Students (or if you're contemplating going into optometry):
1) For students who have JUST started their pre-optometry information quest, opted.org is the best place to start. Especially the Student and Advisor Information and OAT sections.

2) Here is a list of universities and colleges of optometry in the US and Canada:

3) Student Profiles, School-specific pre-requisites, and tuition rates

4) The AOA is a place where you can find news & information related to the optometry profession.

5) If you're unsure about whether optometry is right for you, that's OKAY! However, please don't post on this site asking if it's right for you, until you've shadowed an optometrist and done your fair share of independent research.

Learning about the OAT:
6) The OAT is comprised of 6 sections: reading comprehension (RC), quantitative reasoning (QR), biology, general chemistry (GC), organic chemistry (OC), and physics. Bio, GC and OC are combined in one section of 100 questions called the natural sciences section.

7) Scoring: The three most important scores from this test are your reading comprehension, academic average (AA) and your total science (TS) scores. The AA score is the average of all your scores, the TS score is calculated from your natural science section and the physics score. The scoring is from 200-400, and the average score is about 300. It is in your best interest to score above 300.

8) The test is completely computerized and you get your scores immediately after the test is over.

9) To schedule your OAT go to: Prometric: Trusted Test Development and Delivery Provider

Applying:
10) The entering class of 2010 marks the start of a centralized application system. You can learn about it here. The service will be available beginning July 15th, 2009.

11) The most competitive candidates will have great GPAs & OAT scores, but will also show they are well rounded with extra curriculars, volunteering and shadowing.

12) MOST of the schools have rolling admissions. It is in your best interest to apply as early in the cycle as possible. Even the most competitive candidates will have a difficult time being accepted at the end of the admissions cycle (i.e. apply as close to July 15th as possible).



That's all I can think of for now. Others feel free to add.

TopScore Pro: Comes in a CD with 3 computerized practice exams; ~$50
OAT Destroyer: Two books with over 170 questions and detailed answers for each section; ~$160
Kaplan: online and in person prep courses; the material includes a 1300 page review text, lecture notes, and online tests and workshops; ~$1200-$1300


The OAT and DAT are very similar (made by the same company), so any prep material for the DAT would be great. Also, MCAT material is also helpful, especially because the DAT doesn't cover physics. Personally, I thought the Kaplan course material was helpful (online and text), but the lecture portion of the course was a waste of time.

If you need a concept review, check out the Kaplan text, or other similar test reviews (such as for the MCAT). If you want practice questions, the Destroyer is awesome (and it's a very reliable company... they accidently sent me the DAT destroyer, then overnighted the right version to make sure I'd get it in time to study for my exam ). If you don't want to spend a lot of money, a lot of people have used their course notes to study and done just fine. The benefit of prep material is that it is more concentrated on the important concepts from each course.



Check out this post for other personal advice:

thanotoriousfob said:

Here is what I would recommend:

1.) The Kaplan OAT book (big book) or a recent DAT book will be very good (DAT and OAT have the same questions) place to start.

2.) If you want more in-depth bio and o-chem I suggest the following books: CliffsAP Biology . It is more detailed than the Kaplan material and might be overkill. For O-chem try: Organic Chemistry I As A Second Language . I scored a 380 on the O-Chem just using this book and OAT Destroyer. I didn't even bother going over the Kaplan O-chem. You don't need to get the second book of this series either, I think the first book should be more than enough along with the OAT Destroyer.

3.) Probably the best in terms of challenging you: OAT Destroyer. It's expensive but worth it! If I had to say get one book from all the books I've listed, this is the one!

4.) The OAT Kaplan practice exam. This book is just practice exams and nothing more. It's a good idea to take these because they simulate taking a full-length OAT exam. If you score low, don't worry they are pretty challenging. Physics is much more challenging than the real OAT.

5.) Opted.org free practice exam. Under Step 4.

My strategy is to first go over the Kaplan OAT or DAT book. Have a pretty good grasp of the information. Then go over the OAT Destroyer. Make sure you understand why the wrong answers are wrong! Then close to your exam date, take the practice exams (Kaplan then the Opted.org). When taking the practice exams, try to do emulate doing the exam at the same time you will be doing the real exam. For example, your exam is at 9:00 am. Take the practice exams at 9:00 am during the week(s) prior to your exam. Doing this will help to condition you for the real exam. Go over all the problems and try to understand all the questions and answers, even the wrong ones. The last couple days, don't cram, just relax and you will do great!

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