Advice on admissions?

[Eye4Eyes]

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Hi,
I'm a pre-opt student and I was just wondering if my stats are enough to at least secure an interview. I was planning on applying to SCO, , ICO, PCO and NECO.

GPA: 3.2

OAT:
Bio: 360
Gen Chem: 310
Orgo: 290 (horrible, I know)
Reading Comprehension: 330
Physics: 330
Math: 280 (even worse 🙁 )
AA: 320
TS: 330

Other aspects: Worked at an Optometrist's office for 1 years, Did research for 3 years, Vice President of Pre-Optometry club, Vice President of campus Honor society, a lot of shadowing in various settings, and a lot of volunteer work (some Volunteering work related with Optometry)

Any advice on admissions would be helpful! I've been worried about admissions a lot since I'm applying this year.

Thanks!

 

[Blondiechick919]

Hi,
I'm a pre-opt student and I was just wondering if my stats are enough to at least secure an interview. I was planning on applying to SCO, , ICO, PCO and NECO.

GPA: 3.2

OAT:
Bio: 360
Gen Chem: 310
Orgo: 290 (horrible, I know)
Reading Comprehension: 330
Physics: 330
Math: 280 (even worse 🙁 )
AA: 320
TS: 330

Other aspects: Worked at an Optometrist's office for 1 years, Did research for 3 years, Vice President of Pre-Optometry club, Vice President of campus Honor society, a lot of shadowing in various settings, and a lot of volunteer work (some Volunteering work related with Optometry)

Any advice on admissions would be helpful! I've been worried about admissions a lot since I'm applying this year.

Thanks!

Best advice anyone will tell you is apply early. I got my apps in mid-August and got interviews in early September. I got into PCO with similar stats.(3.1, 340/340) I wouldn't worry about the sub-300 OAT scores, I got a 290 on physics and the rest were above 300 and only one interviewer mentioned it. Just keep your cool, defend yourself well, and you should be ok. If you have time to retake it and want to, go ahead. I didn't apply to SCO or ICO, but NECO gave me an interview after keeping me in the dark for 7 (yes 7!) months of hearing nothing. I declined since I was locked in and I'm not the least bit upset. Good luck!!

 

[Eye4Eyes]

Thank you so much! Applying early will definitely be a priority for me!

Congratulations on your admittance to NSU!

 

[Optomchick]

Thank you so much! Applying early will definitely be a priority for me!

Congratulations on your admittance to NSU!

I think people overestimate how much applying early helped them- do they know they wouldn't have been accepted if they applied later? I suggest retaking the oat, most schools want above a 300 in all sections. I improved ALOT my second try without studying that much because you feel more relaxed that you know the procedures. I wouldn't take the OAT more than twice, however, if it was your second try.

 

[optoapp2012]

I think people overestimate how much applying early helped them- do they know they wouldn't have been accepted if they applied later? I suggest retaking the oat, most schools want above a 300 in all sections. I improved ALOT my second try without studying that much because you feel more relaxed that you know the procedures. I wouldn't take the OAT more than twice, however, if it was your second try.

I do think applying early helps a lot of people in borderline situations like this - your overall average stats are strong enough, there are just little specific parts that could be questioned. How were your grades in math and orgo? If you got good grades in those classes (B or higher, but A's obviously help too), then I wouldn't worry about taking it again. Some schools might even tell you they want you to take it again before making a final decision on your application if that is something that bothers them. If you had so-so grades in those classes, then yea I would say just go ahead and take it again and put yourself in a better position so that you don't later say "Man, why didn't I just do that earlier?"

 

[Eye4Eyes]

Thanks for your input. I actually received B's in both Orgo and Math (Calculus 1 and 2). So I'm a bit iffy on whether or not it is sufficient to retake the exam when it's just those two sections in question.

 

[glasseslover]

I had the same GPA, a 330 AA and 320 TS for my OAT (my physics score was below a 300), and was offered an interview everywhere I applied (UCBSO, SCCO, SCO, ICO, and OSU). I didn't submit my application until December and my application wasn't mailed out until late January. I mean, obviously if you can submit your application and get everything in order earlier, that would be better, but also take your time working on your application to make sure that everything is done well.