Anyone like me out there?

[DryEye]

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Hi,

I am a new member to this forum but have been reading the posts here for a long time. I just want to know if there is anyone out there who has gotten an acceptance (and to which school) with my kind of stats. I am going to be re-writing the OATs in July. I have applied to Waterloo once but got rejected. I am now planning on applying to the US for the first time ever in Aug/Sep 08.

Here are my stats:
First degree: cGPA 3.0, Science (Prereqs): GPA 2.8
Post Bacc: 3.9 GPA (one full year; 10 courses)
Optometric Assistant: 4 years
Research Assistant: 1 year at a university
Held a number of volunteer positions: Children's Hospital, Geriatrics Hospital, Tutoring, Student Counsel
Other Jobs: Medical Assistant, Salesperson
OAT Score: Aiming for atleast 360 or more
I am a mature student, hoping that my life experiences can play a role.

So anyone like me out there who can give me some hope?

Thanx! 🙂

 

[bobbio]

Just out of curiosity, how old are you? I've read on here a few times that people with similar grades get in but it depends on the school though.

 

[Chiuey]

You definitely have a great chance. I had a low gpa, ~3.0, and not as many volunteer jobs as you, and I got interviews from Berkeley, SCCO, SUNY (planning on going to SCCO!). 360 on the OAT should be enough to balance the lower gpa. One advice though is to apply as early as possible as most schools are on rolling admissions.

 

[DryEye]

Just out of curiosity, how old are you? I've read on here a few times that people with similar grades get in but it depends on the school though.

Ummm... I'm going to be 26 this year...Is that mature? LOL. I think it is. I'm actually from Canada and I believe that GPA's will be looked at differently...am I right?

You definitely have a great chance. I had a low gpa, ~3.0, and not as many volunteer jobs as you, and I got interviews from Berkeley, SCCO, SUNY (planning on going to SCCO!). 360 on the OAT should be enough to balance the lower gpa. One advice though is to apply as early as possible as most schools are on rolling admissions.

Thanx for the reply. I am assuming that you were out of state for some of these schools...Did that make a difference in terms of how the school looked at your GPA? The schools that I am interested in are Ferris State, SUNY, NECO, NOVA, and ICO.

 

[hfpepperbean47]

You asked if anybody likes you? I like you!😀

I am an "older" student like you, I turned 27 recently. My GPA was a bit higher, but your post-bacc GPA shows that you are more than capable! If you were able to get a 360 on the OATs I think most places would accept you. You would probably be accepted at many with an OAT of 330+

 

[Omega3]

Hey DryEye, When you said that you were an optometric assistant for 4 years did you mean that you recieved formal training (like from the CAO, which runs the Optometric Assistant course). Or is that an informal title that you got while working in an optometrist's office? Just curious b/c I'm wondering about my chances getting a job with an optometrist while working on my applications. Like whether it's impossible if I'm not an certified optician or optometric assistant.

 

[itek2OD]

omega,
just cold call optom offices until one takes you in to train u to be an assistant. most od offices will not turn down free help, esp if you show the right interest, and it seems like your interested in doing optometry, so you need the shadowing experience anyways. the opthalmic/optometric assistant courses teach you stuff u prolly could learn on the job in a couple of weeks. eventually you could get paid for assistingif you do it long enough, and if iyou really want more money aim to get certified.

 

[DryEye]

Hey DryEye, When you said that you were an optometric assistant for 4 years did you mean that you recieved formal training (like from the CAO, which runs the Optometric Assistant course). Or is that an informal title that you got while working in an optometrist's office? Just curious b/c I'm wondering about my chances getting a job with an optometrist while working on my applications. Like whether it's impossible if I'm not an certified optician or optometric assistant.

Hey Omega3,

That was just my job title. Optometric Assistant/Optometric Technician. You can get formal training done but really isn't recommended unless that's what your job is for life. I guess... But, as stated, the OD's will train you for everything. Have you shadowed at all yet?

 

[DryEye]

You asked if anybody likes you? I like you!😀

I am an "older" student like you, I turned 27 recently. My GPA was a bit higher, but your post-bacc GPA shows that you are more than capable! If you were able to get a 360 on the OATs I think most places would accept you. You would probably be accepted at many with an OAT of 330+

Ok, cool! Thanx. Sorry if I was offensive by saying that I was "older" but that's how I feel. I worked for 5 different ODs and they all graduated at 25-26 years old. So I feel I should be done already... But I just saw on one optometry school website stating that a 63year old was accepted! So I guess I am not as "mature" as I thought! 🙂

 

[Omega3]

Thanks itek2Od and DryEye. I've shadowed before but want some hands on experience and was wondering how to get it.

As for your original question DryEye, your best bet is probably going to be the US schools since they take experience into consideration. Everyone I know who got an interview at Waterloo said that it was grade-based. They didn't even bother to ask for a personal essay this year! I think with a combo of high OAT scores, good essay, references and experience you can do it.