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- Apr 13, 2012
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Hello!
I'm new to SDN and I am thoroughly enjoying reading over all of the helpful posts! The university that I attend is on the smaller side so I have a hard time getting any helpful advice and tips from professors or advisors because they don't have much experience with pre-optometry students, however they do everything they can to be as helpful as possible. I have just a few questions regarding what efforts I can make to maximize my chances of being accepted into an OD program. My top two choices would be UMSL and NSUOCO.
First off I have about a 3.7 GPA (this will be going up as I am taking 18 hours this semester and have a 4.0 thus far in the semester).
I will be graduating from a four year university with a major in Biologyre-Optometry a semester early in December 2012. I had previously wondered if taking a semester off between undergraduate and optometry school was a good idea but since I work for an optometrist, more on that later, I figured it would be alright since I will still be getting experience.
I have worked for an OD in a private practice for over 2 years now. I average about 28 hours/week during the semester, and 43 hours/week during school breaks. I perform the duties of an optometric technician by screening patients, assisting the doctor during exams, checking IOPs, and dilating patients. I also assist the optician in frame styiling, completing orders, cutting lenses, dispensing, and optical repairs.
I have many extra-curricular activities including collegiate cheerleading my first year, vice president of the chemistry club, and vice president of the pre-professional club. I will be studying abroad in Belize for 10 days this summer which I hope will help me to appear as a more well rounded student.
I took the OAT today and wasn't too disappointed, but not overly thrilled either. I did well on the RC section (370) and decent on the QR (320) section. My lower score in the survey of natural sciences portion wasn't too much of a surprise because I have not taken Organic II yet (which I plan to do this summer before retaking the OAT). My physics score wasn't too great but I am taking Physics II at the moment and we haven't even touched on optics or magnetism which seem to come up frequently.
What surprised me the most was the biology section. It really threw me for a loop! I am a straight A student when it comes to biology courses at my university. The section seemed very random and the topics were not at all what I had predicted. For preparation I used the 2010 Kaplan OAT book and Crack the OAT royal flush edition. Any sort of general biology review would be helpful as I have not taken any general biology since high school (for dual credit). I jumped right in to anatomy II in college and just went from there so I could use a refresher.
So after that all too detailed biography (necessary for background information, but I do apologize) here are my questions:
What are some good resources I can use to prepare myself for that off the wall biology section? The physics section? Also a general chemistry review would help because I feel I wasted a lot of time there.
What else can I do, besides get a great OAT, to make myself a better candidate for acceptance? I do have some volunteer hours but not as many as I'd like considering my schedule is jam packed with work and school. Do some schools require a certain number of volunteer hours?
I know that at least at UMSL it counts against you to take the OAT more than twice, but there is no penalty for taking it the second time. Does the admissions departments look at both scores, the better of the two, or the most recent?
Again, sorry for the long post. I would really appreciate any feedback! Thanks!
I'm new to SDN and I am thoroughly enjoying reading over all of the helpful posts! The university that I attend is on the smaller side so I have a hard time getting any helpful advice and tips from professors or advisors because they don't have much experience with pre-optometry students, however they do everything they can to be as helpful as possible. I have just a few questions regarding what efforts I can make to maximize my chances of being accepted into an OD program. My top two choices would be UMSL and NSUOCO.
First off I have about a 3.7 GPA (this will be going up as I am taking 18 hours this semester and have a 4.0 thus far in the semester).
I will be graduating from a four year university with a major in Biologyre-Optometry a semester early in December 2012. I had previously wondered if taking a semester off between undergraduate and optometry school was a good idea but since I work for an optometrist, more on that later, I figured it would be alright since I will still be getting experience.
I have worked for an OD in a private practice for over 2 years now. I average about 28 hours/week during the semester, and 43 hours/week during school breaks. I perform the duties of an optometric technician by screening patients, assisting the doctor during exams, checking IOPs, and dilating patients. I also assist the optician in frame styiling, completing orders, cutting lenses, dispensing, and optical repairs.
I have many extra-curricular activities including collegiate cheerleading my first year, vice president of the chemistry club, and vice president of the pre-professional club. I will be studying abroad in Belize for 10 days this summer which I hope will help me to appear as a more well rounded student.
I took the OAT today and wasn't too disappointed, but not overly thrilled either. I did well on the RC section (370) and decent on the QR (320) section. My lower score in the survey of natural sciences portion wasn't too much of a surprise because I have not taken Organic II yet (which I plan to do this summer before retaking the OAT). My physics score wasn't too great but I am taking Physics II at the moment and we haven't even touched on optics or magnetism which seem to come up frequently.
What surprised me the most was the biology section. It really threw me for a loop! I am a straight A student when it comes to biology courses at my university. The section seemed very random and the topics were not at all what I had predicted. For preparation I used the 2010 Kaplan OAT book and Crack the OAT royal flush edition. Any sort of general biology review would be helpful as I have not taken any general biology since high school (for dual credit). I jumped right in to anatomy II in college and just went from there so I could use a refresher.
So after that all too detailed biography (necessary for background information, but I do apologize) here are my questions:
What are some good resources I can use to prepare myself for that off the wall biology section? The physics section? Also a general chemistry review would help because I feel I wasted a lot of time there.
What else can I do, besides get a great OAT, to make myself a better candidate for acceptance? I do have some volunteer hours but not as many as I'd like considering my schedule is jam packed with work and school. Do some schools require a certain number of volunteer hours?
I know that at least at UMSL it counts against you to take the OAT more than twice, but there is no penalty for taking it the second time. Does the admissions departments look at both scores, the better of the two, or the most recent?
Again, sorry for the long post. I would really appreciate any feedback! Thanks!