Another ... will I be able to get into optometry school

[bobblogs]

I'm suprised I'm not the only one who wants to go to optometry school and has a low gpa. From my understanding, most optometry school won't take students whose gpa are less than 2.8.

I'm acutually currently working in a face paced optical clinic. I'm currently abo and ncle certified and also I have my ophthalamic cerfification. I'm good at what I'm currently doing, the OD that I work for had suggested that I try to get into optemtry since I'm still an undergrad and as long as I work on my OAT scores and have strong recommandation letters. I could still have a slim chance to get in.

So my gpa is 2.5 and I already taken a few sciences courses (my previous major was buiness but I switched). I'm doing average in the science courses. I think by the time I actually get my undergrad degree, I will have at least a 2.8 or 2.9 . I'm confident that I'll do well on my OAT. So is it possible that I could get that slim chance to get into optometry school? Especially having a little knowledge in the field already.😕

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[JMU07]

If you do bring it up to a 2.8: it's possible, especially with your certifications. I have a classmate who entered with a 2.8 or 2.9 (can't remember) and she is also a licensed optician. You're definitely going to have to do extremely well on the OAT to offset that GPA some.

 

[gochi]

I'm suprised I'm not the only one who wants to go to optometry school and has a low gpa. From my understanding, most optometry school won't take students whose gpa are less than 2.8.

I'm acutually currently working in a face paced optical clinic. I'm currently abo and ncle certified and also I have my ophthalamic cerfification. I'm good at what I'm currently doing, the OD that I work for had suggested that I try to get into optemtry since I'm still an undergrad and as long as I work on my OAT scores and have strong recommandation letters. I could still have a slim chance to get in.

So my gpa is 2.5 and I already taken a few sciences courses (my previous major was buiness but I switched). I'm doing average in the science courses. I think by the time I actually get my undergrad degree, I will have at least a 2.8 or 2.9 . I'm confident that I'll do well on my OAT. So is it possible that I could get that slim chance to get into optometry school? Especially having a little knowledge in the field already.😕

do you speak Spanish by any chance?

 

[bobblogs]

If you do bring it up to a 2.8: it's possible, especially with your certifications. I have a classmate who entered with a 2.8 or 2.9 (can't remember) and she is also a licensed optician. You're definitely going to have to do extremely well on the OAT to offset that GPA some.

Thanks! This gives me hope but as right now I'm studying for the OAT exam. So I hope that I score well. Also, I don't speak spanish.

 

[eyestrain]

Well, I'll repeat my feelings on the subject, which I suppose are well known by now. No one with a sub 3.0 GPA should get into optometry school under any circumstances. I don't care how many letters you have, how many certifications you've got, how much "passion" you have, etc etc.

But lucky for you, my opinion doesn't affect who the schools admit.

 

[student47]

I'm acutually currently working in a face paced optical clinic. I'm currently abo and ncle certified and also I have my ophthalamic cerfification.

So my gpa is 2.5 and I already taken a few sciences courses (my previous major was buiness but I switched). I'm doing average in the science courses. I think by the time I actually get my undergrad degree, I will have at least a 2.8 or 2.9 . I'm confident that I'll do well on my OAT. So is it possible that I could get that slim chance to get into optometry school? Especially having a little knowledge in the field already.😕

As far as your certification goes, my optometrist and some advisors that I have talked to say that certification does not give you a boost, especially if your GPA is that low. The only time certification gives you a boost is if the admissions committee has to choose between you and another individual who meet the same credentials and are basically tied....the admissions committee may choose you due to your experience

So remember......the admissions committee takes into consideration GPA, OAT scores, LOR, experience in the field, and interview performance. Personally, with your GPA I think you need to spend more time focusing on your classes in undergraduate school and boost up your GPA. Doing "average" in your class does not cut it. Optometry schools look at your GPA because they want to make sure that you can take on the academic load during Optometry school. No offense, but I think you need to do an extra year in Undergrad to boost up your GPA and try to learn skills of how to motivate your time to your studies and bring up your grades and strive for more than just average grades as Optometry school is very rigorous. You already have the skills and you definitely will have an amazing LOR but that won't be enough.

If a miracle happens and you get a 380 average on your OATs then I'm sure you can get into Optometry school but be prepared to answer questions at the interview of why your grades don't match your OAT scores.

Another question for you...if you're doing average and have a science GPA of 2.5, why do you think you will do amazing on the OATs? The OATs is primarily Science with some Math and some Reading.


Good luck. I really think you can do it because you have the motiviation and the skills. However, I think you should dedicate some time to bringing up your grades. Take the OATs and see how you do. If you get amazing scores then I'm sure you'll get in! Some people are actually better at standardized exams than in classes. I'm the opposite. I do better in class then on standardized exams. So it all depends

I hope this helps! Once again, good luck 🙂🙂

 

[bobblogs]

As far as your certification goes, my optometrist and some advisors that I have talked to say that certification does not give you a boost, especially if your GPA is that low. The only time certification gives you a boost is if the admissions committee has to choose between you and another individual who meet the same credentials and are basically tied....the admissions committee may choose you due to your experience

So remember......the admissions committee takes into consideration GPA, OAT scores, LOR, experience in the field, and interview performance. Personally, with your GPA I think you need to spend more time focusing on your classes in undergraduate school and boost up your GPA. Doing "average" in your class does not cut it. Optometry schools look at your GPA because they want to make sure that you can take on the academic load during Optometry school. No offense, but I think you need to do an extra year in Undergrad to boost up your GPA and try to learn skills of how to motivate your time to your studies and bring up your grades and strive for more than just average grades as Optometry school is very rigorous. You already have the skills and you definitely will have an amazing LOR but that won't be enough.

If a miracle happens and you get a 380 average on your OATs then I'm sure you can get into Optometry school but be prepared to answer questions at the interview of why your grades don't match your OAT scores.

Another question for you...if you're doing average and have a science GPA of 2.5, why do you think you will do amazing on the OATs? The OATs is primarily Science with some Math and some Reading.


Good luck. I really think you can do it because you have the motiviation and the skills. However, I think you should dedicate some time to bringing up your grades. Take the OATs and see how you do. If you get amazing scores then I'm sure you'll get in! Some people are actually better at standardized exams than in classes. I'm the opposite. I do better in class then on standardized exams. So it all depends

I hope this helps! Once again, good luck 🙂🙂

If the OAT is just primarily Science and some Math and some reading. I think I'll do fine. The reason why I even have a 2.5 gpa because when I was taking the business courses that was required (for the program). I was having a hard time understanding the concept of business. My science classes, I don't have anything below a B (I have only taken Chem1&2 and Bio 1&2 so far). That's why I think I'll do fine when taking the OAT. Calc I got a B but other than that I did poorly in my other classes like economic etc. So I'm am taking another year in my undergrad to work on my gpa.

 

[blysssful]

If the OAT is just primarily Science and some Math and some reading. I think I'll do fine. The reason why I even have a 2.5 gpa because when I was taking the business courses that was required (for the program). I was having a hard time understanding the concept of business. My science classes, I don't have anything below a B (I have only taken Chem1&2 and Bio 1&2 so far). That's why I think I'll do fine when taking the OAT. Calc I got a B but other than that I did poorly in my other classes like economic etc. So I'm am taking another year in my undergrad to work on my gpa.

While Bs aren't bad, it still equates to a 3.0 GPA. You'll need to get As (or as close to it as you can) in your remaining science courses to pull up your GPA. In your situation, you should be more concerned with your pre-req GPA than your cumulative, since many of those cumulative credits are not science courses. If you finish undergrad and still fall short of a desirable GPA, and the OAT scores you get aren't amazing, then you could also consider the possibility of a post-bac.

Your experiences will help with the more "personal" aspects of your application (LORs, personal essays, interviews), but they certainly will not get you into school alone if you don't have the grades or scores.

It's not all bad though. Hopefully, in your earlier years with your business major you learned how to manage your time and how to study efficiently so that should give you a head start when learning how to do well with your science courses. Especially if you find that you actually enjoy your science courses compared to your business ones.

Good luck 👍

 

[Oogilily]

Also remember that you have to meet certain pre-reqs to get into school. You'll probably have to take another year of college to meet all of those requirements.

 

[student47]

If the OAT is just primarily Science and some Math and some reading. I think I'll do fine. The reason why I even have a 2.5 gpa because when I was taking the business courses that was required (for the program). I was having a hard time understanding the concept of business. My science classes, I don't have anything below a B (I have only taken Chem1&2 and Bio 1&2 so far). That's why I think I'll do fine when taking the OAT. Calc I got a B but other than that I did poorly in my other classes like economic etc. So I'm am taking another year in my undergrad to work on my gpa.

Then don't worry too much about your cumulative GPA (basically don't worry about what you got in those business courses). Your Science GPA and pre-req GPA is the most important GPA and you want to make sure that that GPA is above 3.0. What's your science GPA if you don't mind me asking?

 

[gochi]

If the OAT is just primarily Science and some Math and some reading. I think I'll do fine. The reason why I even have a 2.5 gpa because when I was taking the business courses that was required (for the program). I was having a hard time understanding the concept of business. My science classes, I don't have anything below a B (I have only taken Chem1&2 and Bio 1&2 so far). That's why I think I'll do fine when taking the OAT. Calc I got a B but other than that I did poorly in my other classes like economic etc. So I'm am taking another year in my undergrad to work on my gpa.

Retake MOST of those business courses online at some OTHER community college/uni.

Most likely, your university caused you to get such grades.

 

[blysssful]

Retake MOST of those business courses online at some OTHER community college/uni.

Most likely, your university caused you to get such grades.

That is terrible advice. Admissions committees will weigh his pre-req GPA much heavier that those courses that are COMPLETELY UNRELATED to optometry. If at some point down the line he realizes he needs more business knowledge (opening a practice, etc), then he could retake those courses at that time.

Most likely, his aforementioned lack of understanding of business caused him to get such grades. Not everyone needs a scapegoat to blame their poor grades on.

 

[gochi]

That is terrible advice. Admissions committees will weigh his pre-req GPA much heavier that those courses that are COMPLETELY UNRELATED to optometry. If at some point down the line he realizes he needs more business knowledge (opening a practice, etc), then he could retake those courses at that time.

Most likely, his aforementioned lack of understanding of business caused him to get such grades. Not everyone needs a scapegoat to blame their poor grades on.

You are part of the admissions committee?

 

[gochi]

That is terrible advice. Admissions committees will weigh his pre-req GPA much heavier that those courses that are COMPLETELY UNRELATED to optometry. If at some point down the line he realizes he needs more business knowledge (opening a practice, etc), then he could retake those courses at that time.

Most likely, his aforementioned lack of understanding of business caused him to get such grades. Not everyone needs a scapegoat to blame their poor grades on.

You are part of the admissions committee?

 

[blysssful]

You are part of the admissions committee?

Obviously not. However, I am capable of rational and logical thought. Simple logic suggests OPTOMETRY admissions committees will be more concerned with the grades of courses that are directly related to performing well in OPTOMETRY school (i.e. not courses like finance and marketing).

If he were applying to get his MBA, it would be different.

 

[student47]

Obviously not. However, I am capable of rational and logical thought. Simple logic suggests OPTOMETRY admissions committees will be more concerned with the grades of courses that are directly related to performing well in OPTOMETRY school (i.e. not courses like finance and marketing).

If he were applying to get his MBA, it would be different.

I agree with you!!!......it's definitely bad advice to re-take all those business courses if the admissions committee is not going to look at it....

gochi...that's just common sense...you don't have to be in the admissions committee to know that