- Joined
- Aug 31, 2014
- Messages
- 37
- Reaction score
- 18
The reason I'm posting my scores is because I am a non-traditional student (degree in Journalism in 2012..started Optom pre-reqs July 2013) and it's sometimes more encouraging to see people show an upward trend than see those who get 400s with 3.9 GPAs. Definitely not hating on those who do--it is inspiring and fantastic! That's just not been the case for me, and I figured there may be more like me out there.
I originally registered for the OAT for May 16, but two days before, I decided I wasn't ready after doing poorly on a Kaplan practice test, and pushed it back to June 30. I had just finished an intense semester of Bioorganic Chemistry and Microbiology, and was overconfident in what I knew when I was planning to take it a week after Spring finals.
For the test in June, I used Chad's videos, Kaplan's 2015 book, and the online workshops that came with Kaplan. I practiced almost NO active learning, and mainly focused on relearning material as opposed to learning and then testing myself. Biggest mistake!
I went in confident and it was a big slap in the face because I ran out of time on QR and Physics and had to choose at least 10 answers for questions on each section without even being able to read them.
I then registered to take it again on Oct 13 and totally revamped my study plans. I strictly used Chad's QR videos, a handful of Gen Chem and Organic videos I was still a bit unfamiliar with, all of the Physics, but most importantly...his quizzes. Not that they are necessarily just like the OAT, but they reinforced the material. There are days I'd watch 5-6 videos and hat is way too much info to shove into your brain without practicing it along the way. I thought my short-term memory was good enough...nope. I also will sing the praises of OAT Destroyer + Physics. I had the most improvement to make in Physics and QR, so I completed every single problem in those two sections and made sure I understood the explanations. I did about 50 Organic problems, and didn't do any Gen Chem or Bio, though I wouldn't doubt that they'd be helpful. I also used a few practice tests from DAT Bootcamp and highly recommend those if you can split it with someone. I had a question on the Organic section that was word-for-word the same as a question in DAT Bootcamp (which I had just looked at the night before the test!)
These are my scores:
1st test/2nd test
QR: 250/ 340
Reading: 400/ 340
Biology: 320/ 340
Gen Chem: 310/ 320
Organic: 320/ 340
Physics: 240/ 300
Total science: 290/ 330
Academic Average: 310/ 330
Are they absolutely stellar? No, but did I show massive improvement in my embarrassingly low sections? Yes! I am very happy with the consistency of my scores. (RC is kind of frustrating...)
When I began my pre-reqs, I hadn't taken a math or science class in 7 years, and I have worked nearly full-time the entire time I've been taking classes, and I've taken classes year-round since July 2013 with no summer break. I have learned so much about who I am as a student and how to take my weaknesses and strengthen them. The biggest take-away from the past two years was that you are a product of your environment; if you surround yourself with people who are working just as hard as you are, you'll be pushed to work just as hard or harder.
My cumulative GPA is just below a 3.0 and my science GPA is about a 3.3. The numbers in my file do not entirely represent who I am as a student, and I look forward to showing schools why I want to become an OD and how capable I am.
I know there are people out there who desire to be optometrists, but a few low grades or having to retake the OAT feels so discouraging. A 400 OAT, 4.0 GPA doesn't always make a good doctor (though it absolutely can!), but a lot of hard work and an ability to communicate well definitely can, too!
I hope that this post will inspire or encourage someone who has had "life happen" to them or has struggled through a few things. Find a way to set yourself apart--put in the extra work in other areas of your life--it won't go unnoticed!
Goal: Class of 20/20!!
I originally registered for the OAT for May 16, but two days before, I decided I wasn't ready after doing poorly on a Kaplan practice test, and pushed it back to June 30. I had just finished an intense semester of Bioorganic Chemistry and Microbiology, and was overconfident in what I knew when I was planning to take it a week after Spring finals.
For the test in June, I used Chad's videos, Kaplan's 2015 book, and the online workshops that came with Kaplan. I practiced almost NO active learning, and mainly focused on relearning material as opposed to learning and then testing myself. Biggest mistake!
I went in confident and it was a big slap in the face because I ran out of time on QR and Physics and had to choose at least 10 answers for questions on each section without even being able to read them.
I then registered to take it again on Oct 13 and totally revamped my study plans. I strictly used Chad's QR videos, a handful of Gen Chem and Organic videos I was still a bit unfamiliar with, all of the Physics, but most importantly...his quizzes. Not that they are necessarily just like the OAT, but they reinforced the material. There are days I'd watch 5-6 videos and hat is way too much info to shove into your brain without practicing it along the way. I thought my short-term memory was good enough...nope. I also will sing the praises of OAT Destroyer + Physics. I had the most improvement to make in Physics and QR, so I completed every single problem in those two sections and made sure I understood the explanations. I did about 50 Organic problems, and didn't do any Gen Chem or Bio, though I wouldn't doubt that they'd be helpful. I also used a few practice tests from DAT Bootcamp and highly recommend those if you can split it with someone. I had a question on the Organic section that was word-for-word the same as a question in DAT Bootcamp (which I had just looked at the night before the test!)
These are my scores:
1st test/2nd test
QR: 250/ 340
Reading: 400/ 340
Biology: 320/ 340
Gen Chem: 310/ 320
Organic: 320/ 340
Physics: 240/ 300
Total science: 290/ 330
Academic Average: 310/ 330
Are they absolutely stellar? No, but did I show massive improvement in my embarrassingly low sections? Yes! I am very happy with the consistency of my scores. (RC is kind of frustrating...)
When I began my pre-reqs, I hadn't taken a math or science class in 7 years, and I have worked nearly full-time the entire time I've been taking classes, and I've taken classes year-round since July 2013 with no summer break. I have learned so much about who I am as a student and how to take my weaknesses and strengthen them. The biggest take-away from the past two years was that you are a product of your environment; if you surround yourself with people who are working just as hard as you are, you'll be pushed to work just as hard or harder.
My cumulative GPA is just below a 3.0 and my science GPA is about a 3.3. The numbers in my file do not entirely represent who I am as a student, and I look forward to showing schools why I want to become an OD and how capable I am.
I know there are people out there who desire to be optometrists, but a few low grades or having to retake the OAT feels so discouraging. A 400 OAT, 4.0 GPA doesn't always make a good doctor (though it absolutely can!), but a lot of hard work and an ability to communicate well definitely can, too!
I hope that this post will inspire or encourage someone who has had "life happen" to them or has struggled through a few things. Find a way to set yourself apart--put in the extra work in other areas of your life--it won't go unnoticed!
Goal: Class of 20/20!!
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