Hey everyone! I was just curious as to what everyone's opinions would be in my situation. I graduated with Bachelor's degree in May of 2012 with a 3.25 gpa.( I know it;s not the greatest.) Originally I was going to take a year off from school but last Fall when I took my OAT at the beginning of September I didn't do as great as I would have hoped. I got 300 or above on everything but Organic and Physics and those two scores dropped my overall to to a 280. I did AWFUL on those two sections!! I became discouraged and was not wanting to throw out even more money to submit my Optomcas application as well as the secondary fees just to be denied. I would have retaken my OAT, but I knew that by the time my ninety days was up it'd be later in the cycle. I'm currently working at an optometry office and love it so I don't regret taking an additional year off from school. As soon as Optomcas opens this Summer I'm going to get my application together. My question is should I wait to submit it until after I retake my OAT or do ya'll recommend submitting it with my current score and letting them know I'm planning on retaking it? Thanks for any replies!
2013-2014 Application
- Thread starter vabranch
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It takes several weeks to verify your application. Plus, LORs take time to get as well. I'd say you'd be best off finishing your OptomCAS application and submitting it in July saying when you are planning on retaking your OAT. Then rock your OAT.
Loptometriste, thank you so much for your quick reply!
I've already asked the Doctors I work with to write me LORs so they've got a heads up. I still need to contact my university pre-health board to inform them that'll I'll be applying this summer. I interviewed with them my last Spring semester so that letter should be ready. This actually brings up another question. When looking at the LOR link on the Optomcas site some of the school's requirements for letters vary just a little. All of these letters get sent to Optomcas, correct? So if one school says I need an optometrist, scrience professor, and a general professor I obviously would need letters from all of those. If another school I plan on applying to wants a pre-health advisor letter as well I'd get one of those too, right? Then all of the letters would be with my application and the schools would look at just what they want? I'm a little bit confused by this. I'm just trying to plan ahead on all of the LORs I'll need.
Also I have another question. I just tried logging in on Optomcas and it lets me. I'm able to fill everything out. Is this normal? Am I allowed to fill everything out but just can't submit until the specified opening date?
I've already asked the Doctors I work with to write me LORs so they've got a heads up. I still need to contact my university pre-health board to inform them that'll I'll be applying this summer. I interviewed with them my last Spring semester so that letter should be ready. This actually brings up another question. When looking at the LOR link on the Optomcas site some of the school's requirements for letters vary just a little. All of these letters get sent to Optomcas, correct? So if one school says I need an optometrist, scrience professor, and a general professor I obviously would need letters from all of those. If another school I plan on applying to wants a pre-health advisor letter as well I'd get one of those too, right? Then all of the letters would be with my application and the schools would look at just what they want? I'm a little bit confused by this. I'm just trying to plan ahead on all of the LORs I'll need.
Also I have another question. I just tried logging in on Optomcas and it lets me. I'm able to fill everything out. Is this normal? Am I allowed to fill everything out but just can't submit until the specified opening date?
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I don't think it would be a bad idea to submit your application before you retake the OAT because the earlier you apply the better. This is especially important for those that have GPAs that are on the lower side because it will give you a better chance at being offered an interview through rolling admissions. My GPA was around a 3.3 and I applied really early (around late July). If you wait until after you retake the OAT then schools will already be filling up their interview positions and seats for their upcoming class. So the chances of being offered an interview get slimmer and slimmer the later you apply. I think you have a decent chance of getting interviews at some of the easier/newer schools with your current stats so don't be discouraged, it's definitely possible! If you have good opto experiences as well as extracurriculars, you should be ok.
As far as your optomcas question goes, make sure you are applying for the 2013-2014 cycle, not the 2012-2013. If your applying for the correct cycle then you shouldn't be worried about it, I believe it's normal. But you won't be able to submit it once the cycle opens.
Thanks so much! That helps a lot!
I know my gpa isn't above and beyond and looking back I regret not trying harder. You can definitely tell freshman and sophomore year I slacked a little bit and then my last two years I realized I needed to start trying more. Thankfully my last four semester grades were much better.
I'm looking at applying to Nova and SCO for sure and I haven't decided where else I want to submit an application, possibly Birmingham and the school in Pennsylvania. I've been working at an optometry office since last August as a tech. I absolutely love it and it has given me lots of experience. Before I started working there I had about 60 hours of shadowing at other practices. I also was on two sports teams through college and was apart of a few clubs.
I'm so ready for this cycle to open! I'm sure I'll have a million more questions before it's over though. Haha.
I know my gpa isn't above and beyond and looking back I regret not trying harder. You can definitely tell freshman and sophomore year I slacked a little bit and then my last two years I realized I needed to start trying more. Thankfully my last four semester grades were much better.
I'm looking at applying to Nova and SCO for sure and I haven't decided where else I want to submit an application, possibly Birmingham and the school in Pennsylvania. I've been working at an optometry office since last August as a tech. I absolutely love it and it has given me lots of experience. Before I started working there I had about 60 hours of shadowing at other practices. I also was on two sports teams through college and was apart of a few clubs.
I'm so ready for this cycle to open! I'm sure I'll have a million more questions before it's over though. Haha.
