Advice for grad student applying to Opt

[Smile1026]

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Hey all,

My Stats:
Undergrad GPA: c3.13
Non-Science GPA: 3.35
OAT Score:360

Grad School at UIllinois GPA: 2.8 (One semester only)

If I turn in my app in Late Dec 2009, What are my chances for interviews at ICO? I love that school!

Thanks in Advance guys! 😀

 

[cloud99]

That depends...
Oats are good, but gpa is not that great - especially the grad school gpa (which should be higher than the undergrad, not lower.)
Have you already shadowed a few OD's? Do you have good extra-curriculars? Do you have good LOR's? There's alot that goes into the equation.
Not to mention that your status says pre-dent.....that's gonna take some explaining...

 

[Smile1026]

not sure why it said pre-dent. i was never pre-dent. but anyways its changed 🙂

I have worked w a OD for about 6-7 months on a volunteer basis but hands-on. Great Exposure so yes...i do want to be an OD for sure.

Solid LORs from science prof, hindi prof, and my OD.

I took 15 credit hours of grad classes...which was a huge mistake. the full time for graduate school is 8 cr hours. So i went 2X thinking I could handle it. I'll do 6-7 next semester and bring it up.

Now how are my chances? Is Dec 2009 too late?

 

[pamin002]

It is late; however, I don't think it is too late. The nice thing for you is ICO accepts over 300 applicants (which is the most of any optometry school in the country). That being said, I wouldn't imagine their incoming class being filled any time soon.

Great to hear the experience you have had with an OD. This will help you greatly if you are fortunate enough to be asked in for an interview. When you said how rough of a time 15 credit hours of graduate classes were, I may be hesitant to use this as an excuse, if asked about your graduate performance at an interview. I don't know how those 15 credit hours would compare to the rigors of an optometry program, but you definitely want to sell yourself by saying you can handle pretty much anything being thrown at you. I am hopeful you will receive some better advice from other posters pertaining to your situation.


Sam

I agree with SAM in that you SHOULD NOT use the reasoning that 15 hours were too much. Optometry school is 19-24 credit hours per semester, so interviewers will definitely frown upon that statement.