Advice regarding late application

[frenchbully]

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Hey all, first time posting in this section and was wondering if you could offer me some advice.
I'm pretty late in the game in terms of deciding to pursue optometry but I am hoping to still try to make this application cycle. I want to apply to Nova in Ft Lauderdale as I'm a Florida resident and my husband has a job for which he cannot relocate.
I have competitive stats, a 3.7 GPA and have always been very good at test taking (scored in 90th percentile for GREs and 33 on mcats but I have yet to take the OAT). I'm late in the game because I had had my heart set on vet school (to be a veterinary ophthalmologist) for the past few years, but after being wait listed for the second year I have accepted that it may not be meant to be and I've always been fascinated with eyes.
Cutting to the chase, if I really hunker down and get all of my applications done and transcripts sent and schedule my OAT ASAP, is there a chance I could still make it in time for the April 15th deadline? Did you run into any snags along the way that makes a 6 week window unrealistic? Also, with Nova accepting on a rolling admissions basis, is it likely that their class is already filled? I'm going to be calling the admissions office in the next couple of days but I wanted to get some advice before I do so that I don't look insane if I'm really crazy for this!
Any advice would be awesome! Thanks for reading this novel!

 

[Loptometriste]

The only snag I can see is if the testing center is already booked up in that time frame.

 

[Loptometriste]

Also, if you are serious, I would go shadow ASAP, and submit OptomCAS ASAP.

 

[frenchbully]

Also, if you are serious, I would go shadow ASAP, and submit OptomCAS ASAP.

Thanks for your response! I already have shadowing/possible reception job lined up and a recommendation from an ophthalmologist. I plan on doing the optomcas this weekend/next week and have my transcripts sent ASAP. I'm going to call prometric centers around me and I'm willing to drive a few hours to take it if I need to. I really want to get the ball rolling on this! Also, how many recommendations does the optomcas require? That's my biggest worry right now, I have one solid professor and an ophthalmologist but am not sure what to do for my 3rd as I'm 2 years out of college now.

 

[Loptometriste]

http://optomcas.org/information-about-schools-colleges/letters-of-recommendation

It looks like you will need an optometrist, a science professor, and a general professor. I applied a few years out as well. Time to get on the phone and call some professors!

 

[drumstix]

letters of rec from optometrists are different than those from ophthalmologists. schools are very specific about this and in my experience, they're generally not at all interchangeable. if the requirements say "Optometrist", they mean optometrists, not ophthalmologists. you can't even count shadowing hours with ophthalmologists technically.

worst case scenario is you apply for next year (class of 2019) and be super early for that round?

 

[beansmd]

I was accepted into the class back in November and at that time they said the class was halfway full. I would go for it especially if you are serious, the worse that would happen is that you get wait listed but if someone drops their seat you are in!