Acceptances for Class of 2015!

Can the format include OAT and GPA? that is often the #1 question asked once someone posts. #2 question is how much shadowing.

Thanks!

Date submitted to OptomCAS: July 28
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): PCO: August 27 Nova: September 15
Date Interview Scheduled: PCO: September 10 Nova: October 1
Accepted (indicate school attending): accepted to both. Going to PCO!

OAT/GPA: AA: 340 TS: 320/ GPA: 3.2 (with an upward trend)
Extracurricular: Shadowed two optometrists and an ophthalmologist. Worked as a tech for optometrist for a year and a half. Director of volunteering for a large pre-health club for two years.

Definitely apply early!

congrats! now you can relax for the rest of the year!!

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/16. I think they mailed on 9/2.
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): Western: 9/9, SCCO: 9/14, Salus: 9/15, also received email from ICO but didn't reply since I was waiting for SCCO.
Date Interview Scheduled: Western: 9/17, SCCO: 10/2, Salus: 10/26
Accepted (indicate school attending): accepted to Western and SCCO. Declined interview for Salus. Going to SCCO (first choice).
OAT/GPA: AA: 330 TS: 370/ GPA: 3.7
Extracurricular: Shadowed three optometrists for ~2 months. Non-traditional applicant, worked full time in real estate.

Yup, apply early!

Neko, what were your scores in each section. did you have to retake your OAT? curious since I am in the same boat with an RC of 290 and want to go to SCCO.

by the way Congrats Neko on your acceptance.

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/23
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): NOVA, ICO, NECO
Date Interview Scheduled: NOVA - 10/7, ICO - 10/15, NECO - 11/12Accepted (indicate school attending): Accepted to NOVA (most likely will attend); Pending decision from ICO; Interview scheduled for NECO
OAT/GPA: TS 320, AA 310 / Undergrad GPA 3.3, Graduate GPA 3.9, PostBac GPA 4.0
Extracurricular: Shadowed three optometrists for roughly a year (private practice, commercial, OD/MD); Non-traditional applicant, Undergraduate and Graduate degrees in business; Work full-time in finance and accounting.

Date submitted to OptomCAS: Around July 23 or so
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name):
SCO (9/17) and PUCO (9/24)
Accepted (indicate school attending):
Accepted to both SCO and PUCO. Going to Pacific

OAT/GPA: 330/350 GPA around 3.45Shadowed three or four optometrists for total of 35 hrs. That's it.

neko82 said:

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/16. I think they mailed on 9/2.
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): Western: 9/9, SCCO: 9/14, Salus: 9/15, also received email from ICO but didn't reply since I was waiting for SCCO.
Date Interview Scheduled: Western: 9/17, SCCO: 10/2, Salus: 10/26
Accepted (indicate school attending): accepted to Western and SCCO. Declined interview for Salus. Going to SCCO (first choice).
OAT/GPA: AA: 330 TS: 370/ GPA: 3.7
Extracurricular: Shadowed three optometrists for ~2 months. Non-traditional applicant, worked full time in real estate.

Yup, apply early!

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Hey neko 82. I got invited for an interview today at salus!
Did you decline your interview at salus or you went for an interview and was rejected by them?
and do you have any tips for my salus interview!
your help will be much appreciated!!!

neko82 said:

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/16. I think they mailed on 9/2.
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): Western: 9/9, SCCO: 9/14, Salus: 9/15, also received email from ICO but didn't reply since I was waiting for SCCO.
Date Interview Scheduled: Western: 9/17, SCCO: 10/2, Salus: 10/26
Accepted (indicate school attending): accepted to Western and SCCO. Declined interview for Salus. Going to SCCO (first choice).
OAT/GPA: AA: 330 TS: 370/ GPA: 3.7
Extracurricular: Shadowed three optometrists for ~2 months. Non-traditional applicant, worked full time in real estate.

Yup, apply early!

Click to expand...

hey neko82.
I got accepted to salus today for an interview and im wondering if you declined their interview or if you went and they got rejected for an acceptance. can you please let me know how your interview went?
Thanks for your help

Date submitted to OptomCAS: July 22
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name):
UAB: July 26
ICO: August 25
IU:September 9
UMSL: September 14
Midwestern: September 23
Date Interview Scheduled:
UAB: September 24
Midwestern: Octofber 15
UMSL: October 18
(cancelled interviews with ICO and IU)

Accepted (indicate school attending): Accepted to UAB and UMSL, & Midwestern. Can't decide which school yet. Leaning toward UAB...

OAT/GPA: AA: 330 TS: 360/ GPA: 3.69
Extracurricular: Shadowed two optometrists and an ophthalmologist. Member and leader in my sorority.

when did u get the acceptance e-mail or letter for UMSL aem118?

how long after you submitted your application did you hear back from UMSL? Thats the only school I havent heard from besides Berkeley

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/12/2010
Date Interview Scheduled:
Western- Sept 17th 2010
SCCO- Oct 2nd 2010
Accepted (indicate school attending): Western U

OAT/GPA: AA: 330, TS: 340. GPA: 3.73 High honors
Extracurricular: shadowed at Lenscrafters, Sears Optical, and two private practice optometrists. Was in the pre-optometry club at UCSB.

I interviewed Monday the 18th and I got the acceptance email Wednesday evening. They contacted me for the interview on September 14th.

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 9/13/10
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): 9/30/10
Date Interview Scheduled: 10/29/10
Accepted (indicate school attending): 10/29/10 (UHCO)
OAT/GPA: 370/3.79
Extracurricular:

- FSA President, Intramural sports coordinator
- Fraternity founder/charter, treasurer
- An entire summer shadowing and working with 2 different optometrists.

Cant wait for Fall 2011!

oh ok, i see ur dates there
i dont even know why i asked that question lol
so i guess UMSL takes a while cause u applied july and got invite in september. so if i applied september, i prob will get invite in november if they invite me lol

hey sav0k, which school are u FSA president?

Ive graduated this past May, but I was the Texas Tech FSA president.

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 08/30/10
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): 09/27 (ICO); 10/08 (PUCO)
Date Interview Scheduled: 10/25; 10/29
Accepted (indicate school attending): accepted to ICO 11/01; accepted to PUCO 11/05 (undecided on school to attend)

OAT/GPA: 310 300 / 3.40 cumulative gpa

Extracurricular: shadowed several specialty optometrists, currently work for eye institute in preschool vision screening program as a research assistant

I will be happy to lend any advice I can, feel free to message me.

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/23
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): NOVA, ICO, NECO
Date Interview Scheduled: NOVA - 10/7, ICO - 10/15, NECO - 11/12
Accepted (indicate school attending):
Accepted to NOVA;
Accepted to ICO;
Interview scheduled for NECO
(Undecided on school to attend...will decide after Boston visit)
OAT/GPA: TS 320, AA 310 / Undergrad GPA 3.3, Graduate GPA 3.9, PostBac GPA 4.0
Extracurricular: Shadowed three optometrists for roughly a year (private practice, commercial, OD/MD); Non-traditional applicant, Undergraduate and Graduate degrees in business; Work full-time in finance and accounting.

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/24/10

Interview Invitation Extended for (school name):NOVA, IUSO, PUCO, OSU

Date Interview Scheduled: NOVA - 10/15, IUSO - 10/22, (cancelled OSU and PUCO)

Accepted (indicate school attending):Accepted to NOVA and IUSO; Going to IUSO!!

OAT/GPA: TS 340, AA 370/ Undergrad GPA 3.80, Science GPA 4.00,

Extracurricular: VP of pre-med club, teacher's assistant, tutor, lots of volunteer work.

Work Experience: 8 years total working in eye care. 2 years retail optics, 2 year private practice, 3 years Hospital (OD/MD), and 1 year working in an ophthalmic lab.

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 9/9/10

Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): NOVA, SCCO, ICO, NECO, SCO

Date Interview Scheduled: NOVA Oct 7, SCCO Nov. 8 (Cancelled), ICO Nov. 1 (Cancelled, administration office was very rude to me), NECO (didn't accept invite), SCO (most likely will not attend)

Accepted (indicate school attending): NOVA acceptance

Extracurricular: lots of fundraising and volunteering, job shadowing at two different modes of practice.

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 9/9/10
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): SCCO, SUNY, PCO
Date Interview Scheduled: 10/2 SCCO, 10/18 SUNY
Accepted (indicate school attending): Accepted to both, leaning toward SUNY

Extracurricular: I shadowed at one practice for 3 months and volunteered in a low vision therapy/blind rehab center for 2 months.

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/7/10
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): SUNY, PCO, ICO, NECO
Date Interview Scheduled: PCO: 9/22, SUNY: 10/6, ICO: 10/18, NECO: 10/29
Accepted (indicate school attending): PCO and SUNY. Going to SUNY. Withdrew applications from ICO and NECO and canceled interviews.

OAT/GPA: AA: 370, TS: 400 / GPA: 3.83
Extracurricular: president/vp for various clubs on-campus, shadowed 3 different optometrists

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/27
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): NOVA, ICO, NECO, UHCO, SCO
Date Interview Scheduled: SCO - 10/15, NOVA - 10/21, UHCO - 11/12, declined NECO
Accepted (indicate school attending):
Accepted to all schools. Most likely attending UHCO
OAT/GPA: TS 340, AA 330 / GPA 3.7

Extracurricular: Unite for Sight volunteer at an eye hospital in India for a summer, shadowed 3 optometrists extensively, undergraduate thesis on the Thermodynamics of Gold Colloid Self-Assembly, Secretary of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Deans list

Major: Biochemistry, Minor: Mathematics

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 9/21/2010
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): SCCO
Date Interview Scheduled: 11/13/2010 (morning set)
Accepted (indicate school attending): SCCO-11/15/2010

OAT/GPA:
OAT AA 370, TS 400
OptomCAS Undergrad GPA 3.43, Post Bac 4.0
Shadowing:50 hours shadowing w/ mostly 1 OD

whew! it was risky applying to only 1 school! glad i got in. whoo class of 2015!

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/27/2010
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name):SCO, UIWSO, NSUOCO, UMSL, NSU
Date Interview Scheduled: 9/10/2010-UIWSO, 11/12/2010-SCO, I will not be attending interview at NSUOCO, UMSL or NSU.
Accepted (indicate school attending): SCO

OAT/GPA: AA-330 TS-340/2.7 cum 2.78 pre req
Extracurricular: Arlington Reads & Salvation Army
Shadowed Private, Corporate offices and Cataract surgeon.

I have worked so hard the past two years. I know that my coursework grades are not that great, but I feel that I can represent the field of optometry very well and SCO picked up on this. I am so excited!!! I will be making a thread dedicated to all those from this forum who helped me (some are those who didn't even know I was lurking on their posts)

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/23
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): NOVA, ICO, NECO
Date Interview Scheduled: NOVA - 10/7, ICO - 10/15, NECO - 11/12
Accepted (indicate school attending):
Accepted to NOVA;
Accepted to ICO;
Accepted to NECO
(3 for 3...leaning towards NECO )
OAT/GPA: TS 320, AA 310 / Undergrad GPA 3.3, Graduate GPA 3.9, PostBac GPA 4.0
Extracurricular: Shadowed three optometrists for roughly a year (private practice, commercial, OD/MD); Non-traditional applicant, Undergraduate and Graduate degrees in business; Work full-time in finance and accounting.

tonyufla said:

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/23
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): NOVA, ICO, NECO
Date Interview Scheduled: NOVA - 10/7, ICO - 10/15, NECO - 11/12
Accepted (indicate school attending):
Accepted to NOVA;
Accepted to ICO;
Accepted to NECO
(3 for 3...leaning towards NECO )
OAT/GPA: TS 320, AA 310 / Undergrad GPA 3.3, Graduate GPA 3.9, PostBac GPA 4.0
Extracurricular: Shadowed three optometrists for roughly a year (private practice, commercial, OD/MD); Non-traditional applicant, Undergraduate and Graduate degrees in business; Work full-time in finance and accounting.

Click to expand...

Congrats on all of your acceptances! Can i ask how long it took you to hear back from ICO and NECO after the interviews?? Mine are coming up and I just want to know what to expect when i'm waiting to hear back from them?

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 09/02/10
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): PCO, ICO, SCCO and SUNY
Date Interview Scheduled: PCO-10/20, ICO-11/8, SCCO-11/13 (afternoon) and SUNY 12/6
Accepted (indicate school attending):
PCO, ICO, SCCO. Undecided (but leaning toward SCCO as of right now, will know for sure after I interview with SUNY)
OAT/GPA: TS 320, AA 310/ Undergrad GPA 3.57
Extracurricular: observed about 6 optometrists for a day each, worked for a private practicing optometrist for one summer and took part in optometry related volunteer work. Also a member of a clinical society. Worked hours equivalent to a full-time job

Very surprised to receive an invite to interview (let alone an acceptance!), just because my OAT scores weren't very strong (I scored below a 300 in two sub sections). Before going into this process, my only goal was to be accepted to at least 1 school. I've been told by all my interviewers or by the file reviewer that my recommendations were very strong (they emphasized the word very strong). One interviewer even told me that when I go back home, I should thank my recommenders again. So just goes to show that some schools do look at the overall application and not just numbers

OptomHope said:

Congrats on all of your acceptances! Can i ask how long it took you to hear back from ICO and NECO after the interviews?? Mine are coming up and I just want to know what to expect when i'm waiting to hear back from them?

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Thank you, I am thrilled!
I heard back from ICO via snail mail roughly two weeks after my interview. It may have been sooner, I don't recall.
For NECO, I heard back in literally two days. I interviewed last Friday and got my acceptance letter via FedEx the following Tuesday.
Both schools told me the day of my interviews it could be one to three weeks before I hear anything. I'm assuming they handle this on a case by case basis.
Best of luck to you!

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/4/10
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): 10/4/2010 (WesternU)
Date Interview Scheduled: 10/15/10
Accepted (indicate school attending): 11/1/10 (WesternU)

tonyufla said:

Thank you, I am thrilled!
I heard back from ICO via snail mail roughly two weeks after my interview. It may have been sooner, I don't recall.
For NECO, I heard back in literally two days. I interviewed last Friday and got my acceptance letter via FedEx the following Tuesday.
Both schools told me the day of my interviews it could be one to three weeks before I hear anything. I'm assuming they handle this on a case by case basis.
Best of luck to you!

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info!!

How much time do schools typically give you before they want to hear if you've accepted their offer??

OptomHope said:

Thanks for the info!!

How much time do schools typically give you before they want to hear if you've accepted their offer??

Click to expand...

I think it varies by school.
Nova...think they gave me two weeks to make a decision, which means a deposit to save your seat.
ICO...they gave me 30 days.
NECO...two weeks to decide, although they did mention if need be, they will give you another two weeks on top of that.

All of them want an answer relatively fast, within a month or so. This is difficult especially if you're going on multiple interviews and have to pick between several schools.

tonyufla said:

I think it varies by school.
Nova...think they gave me two weeks to make a decision, which means a deposit to save your seat.
ICO...they gave me 30 days.
NECO...two weeks to decide, although they did mention if need be, they will give you another two weeks on top of that.

All of them want an answer relatively fast, within a month or so. This is difficult especially if you're going on multiple interviews and have to pick between several schools.

Click to expand...

Eek, yeah i can imagine. I have NECO, ICO and SUNY interviews all in december but it will definitely be longer than two weeks between the NECO And SUNY interviews!! I'm hoping they will extend it for me so I can at least have a chance to see the other schools before making my decision.
Thanks a lot for your help and maybe i'll be seeing you next fall

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 7/30
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): SCO, ICO, UHCO, SUNY, PUCO, NECO
Date Interview Scheduled: SCO - 9/10, ICO - 9/27, UHCO - 10/1, SUNY - 10/18, PUCO - 10/29, NECO - 11/5
Accepted (indicate school attending):
SCO, ICO, UHCO, PUCO, NECO. Waitlisted at SUNY. Attending SCO
OAT/GPA: TS 320, AA 320 with one sub-300 score/ GPA 3.24

Extracurricular: Peace Corps volunteer for 2 years, worked for optometrists/ophthalmologists for 1 year, shadowed 6 optometrists.

Major: Zoology, Minor: Spanish

Every school had their pros and cons. I was really leaning heavily towards NECO, but in the end I couldn't beat SCO's overall cost.

I was afraid I wouldn't get into any of them. Goes to show, test scores and GPA are not everything to every school.

OptomHope said:

Eek, yeah i can imagine. I have NECO, ICO and SUNY interviews all in december but it will definitely be longer than two weeks between the NECO And SUNY interviews!! I'm hoping they will extend it for me so I can at least have a chance to see the other schools before making my decision.
Thanks a lot for your help and maybe i'll be seeing you next fall

Click to expand...

Yeah I hear you. I wouldn't worry too much about response time at this point. Focus on your interviews for the time being. I'm sure each school will be more than understanding given your situation. Honestly, having multiple acceptances isn't a bad problem to have .

SokClari said:

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 7/30
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): SCO, ICO, UHCO, SUNY, PUCO, NECO
Date Interview Scheduled: SCO - 9/10, ICO - 9/27, UHCO - 10/1, SUNY - 10/18, PUCO - 10/29, NECO - 11/5
Accepted (indicate school attending):
SCO, ICO, UHCO, PUCO, NECO. Waitlisted at SUNY. Attending SCO
OAT/GPA: TS 320, AA 320 with one sub-300 score/ GPA 3.24

Extracurricular: Peace Corps volunteer for 2 years, worked for optometrists/ophthalmologists for 1 year, shadowed 6 optometrists.

Major: Zoology, Minor: Spanish

Every school had their pros and cons. I was really leaning heavily towards NECO, but in the end I couldn't beat SCO's overall cost.

I was afraid I wouldn't get into any of them. Goes to show, test scores and GPA are not everything to every school.

Click to expand...

Congratulations on all your acceptances. Wow...very impressive. You sure have been busy...I thought I was haha.
I couldn't agree with you more. So much on these forums and from talking with fellow applicants is placed on grades and OAT scores. Although they are important to a degree, actually very important...numbers are not everything. From experience, schools, well at least the ones I applied to, are most interested in you, as a person...are you dedicated, motivated, and have the passion for this field.
Congrats again on your success!

Mandanesss said:

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/4/10
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): 10/4/2010 (WesternU)
Date Interview Scheduled: 10/15/10
Accepted (indicate school attending): 11/1/10 (WesternU)

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Hi!

Congratulations on your acceptance! Is the interview at WesternU closed file or open file?

Thanks!

Thanks! The interview was closed file

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/26/10
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): 10/3/2010 (ICO)
Date Interview Scheduled: 10/22/10
Accepted (indicate school attending): accepted to NECO and SCO but going to ICO 10/28/10

tonyufla said:

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/23
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): NOVA, ICO, NECO
Date Interview Scheduled: NOVA - 10/7, ICO - 10/15, NECO - 11/12Accepted (indicate school attending): Accepted to NOVA (most likely will attend); Pending decision from ICO; Interview scheduled for NECO
OAT/GPA: TS 320, AA 310 / Undergrad GPA 3.3, Graduate GPA 3.9, PostBac GPA 4.0
Extracurricular: Shadowed three optometrists for roughly a year (private practice, commercial, OD/MD); Non-traditional applicant, Undergraduate and Graduate degrees in business; Work full-time in finance and accounting.

Click to expand...

Hello!
Congrats on your acceptance!!

Did you hear back from ICO? What did you think of the interview? Do you have any suggestions?

-Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving

Solar1s said:

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 8/26/10
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): 10/3/2010 (ICO)
Date Interview Scheduled: 10/22/10
Accepted (indicate school attending): accepted to NECO and SCO but going to ICO 10/28/10

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Hi Solar1s,

Congrats on your acceptance!

If you don't mind me asking how are your OAT scores and GPA? and What did you think of the interview at ICO?

Thanks! and Happy Thanksgiving

OptoHope said:

Hi Solar1s,

Congrats on your acceptance!

If you don't mind me asking how are your OAT scores and GPA? and What did you think of the interview at ICO?

Thanks! and Happy Thanksgiving

Click to expand...

PMed you

I guess I'll post my stuff too, although im still waiting to see if I get an interview to Berkeley

Date submitted to OptomCAS: 9/16/2010
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): SCO 9/29, NOVA 10/1, SUNY 9/30
Date Interview Scheduled: SCO 10/15, NOVA 10/21, SUNY 11/10
Accepted (indicate school attending): SCO, NOVA, waitlist for SUNY
most likely will attend NOVA

OAT/GPA: TS 360/AA 360, 3.43 GPA
Extracurricular: shadowed 7 optometrists (some in the same office), one ophthalmologist, pre-optometry club, various school orgs

Date submitted to OptomCAS: September 22
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): SCO, PCO, UHCO, Nova, MWU, NECO
Date Interview Scheduled: SCO 10/15, Nova 11/10, PCO 11/22, declined UHCO, MWU, and NECO
Accepted (indicate school attending): SCO (attending), NOVA, PCO