Backup Plan?

[sandst]

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I have a bit of a problem. I have a low GPA at 2.9, mostly due to one bad semester in which I received a few C's in non-science related classes I had to take just to meet my graduation requirements. It was a severe case of senioritis. I would have been around a 3.3 to 3.4 otherwise. At that point in time (6 years ago), I was not considering optometry. Since then, I have taken some biology courses with great success in hopes that it would raise my cumulative GPA. I now have a great interesting in pursuing it and believe I might fit well in eyeland. But, even if I do well on the OAT, I don't think the chances of admission would be great at the moment. I am considering applying for an MS in Biology in order to help prove my academic worth. I was just wondering if anyone has ever applied for both an optometry program and a master's program just in case they didn't get in. What DO you guys do until you do get in? Has anyone ever started a master's program and quit it once they finally got accepted? Just curious.

 

[JennyW]

I have a bit of a problem. I have a low GPA at 2.9, mostly due to one bad semester in which I received a few C's in non-science related classes I had to take just to meet my graduation requirements. It was a severe case of senioritis. I would have been around a 3.3 to 3.4 otherwise. At that point in time (6 years ago), I was not considering optometry. Since then, I have taken some biology courses with great success in hopes that it would raise my cumulative GPA. I now have a great interesting in pursuing it and believe I might fit well in eyeland. But, even if I do well on the OAT, I don't think the chances of admission would be great at the moment. I am considering applying for an MS in Biology in order to help prove my academic worth. I was just wondering if anyone has ever applied for both an optometry program and a master's program just in case they didn't get in. What DO you guys do until you do get in? Has anyone ever started a master's program and quit it once they finally got accepted? Just curious.

I used to be on the admissions commitee of an optometry school. It sounds like are a non traditional student. If your GPA is low because of only one semester, and your low scores were in non-science related classes, then it is highly likely that the admissions committee will overlook that IF you do well on the OAT.

I would take the OAT, and do as well as you can and then just apply. You don't have much to lose.

What have you been doing for the last 6 years, and what makes you suddenly interested in optometry?

 

[hflyer]

I know someone who applied to dental school and a MS program. He didn't get into dental school, so he ended up at Va Tech studying microbes. 🙂 It's not a bad backup plan. If you're really passionate about the field, then reapply again or do something in the mean time that would increase your chances of acceptance (higher OAT score, gpa, experience).

 

[sandst]

Thanks for the advice, and fair question.

I have been working for the past 6 years. I have always wanted to go to graduate school, but I have had a difficult time deciding what exactly it is I want to do with myself. I have this terrible fear that I will wake up old and realize I have worked my life away doing something that doesn't mean much to me. So, I take this decision very seriously. Too seriously, perhaps. So, upon completing my BA in Liberal Arts (with emphasis on speech/hearing sciences, particularly the hearing part), I just concentrated on getting out there and experiencing different work environments. Having always been interested in the health field, I got a job as a secretary at an ER. Then I got myself into medical transcription and have been doing that for the past 4 years at a local hospital. The reason I got into transcription is because I knew it would be flexible enough to allow me to go to graduate school, as has always been the plan. Once I finally decided what to do, of course. I never considered Optometry seriously before because there is no school around here, and I didn't quite have the confidence in my abilities then as I do now. Although, as a kid, I thought my optometrist had the coolest job! So, I graduated with NO idea of what do to with myself, got married to my high school sweetheart, and now I am ready to get over my indecision and start pursuing my graduate school dream. I have gone back to school as a non-degree-seeking graduate student to take some of those Biology classes I did not take the first time around. I am LOVING them and doing well in them. I have considered Audiology before and believe I can do well in that field, too. But, once I started considering my graduate school options again, I took a look at optometry. Since then, I just can't get it out of my mind. It just seems like something that fits my love of science, people, technology, desire to work autonamously, etc. quite well. I sit in front of a computer and type all day at my current job. So, sitting in a dark room talking to actual people, using the latest equipment, providing someone with something they need, sounds really exciting to me, even if it is just slit lamp exams all day.

Anyway, that is where I have been for the past 6 years. Sorry this is so long, but it helps me organize my thoughts!

 

[RLK]

I know someone who applied to dental school and a MS program. He didn't get into dental school, so he ended up at Va Tech studying microbes. 🙂 It's not a bad backup plan. If you're really passionate about the field, then reapply again or do something in the mean time that would increase your chances of acceptance (higher OAT score, gpa, experience).

That sounds pretty good to me. Microbiology was my favorite.

 

[RLK]

I used to be on the admissions commitee of an optometry school. It sounds like are a non traditional student. If your GPA is low because of only one semester, and your low scores were in non-science related classes, then it is highly likely that the admissions committee will overlook that IF you do well on the OAT.

I would take the OAT, and do as well as you can and then just apply. You don't have much to lose.

What have you been doing for the last 6 years, and what makes you suddenly interested in optometry?

JennyW, do you think OAT scores are the most important thing that schools look at? My grades aren't bad, but my OAT score is only around 280 right now. My prerequisite GPA is around 3.2 or 3.3. I'm not sure of my overall GPA because I have a bachelors degree in an unrelated field (computer science) and because of that I have many more credits than I need. I was rejected this year by the schools that I applied to. I'm going to take the OAT again and re-apply. So far I've shadowed one optometrist also and I have all the necessary recommendation letters in. What else would you recommend me doing?

I also took a part time job at a pharmacy to see if that would be something I would be interested in. I'm also 29 years old, which is probably older than most students. Do you think being older will help at all?

Thanks

 

[hflyer]

JennyW, do you think OAT scores are the most important thing that schools look at? My grades aren't bad, but my OAT score is only around 280 right now. My prerequisite GPA is around 3.2 or 3.3. I'm not sure of my overall GPA because I have a bachelors degree in an unrelated field (computer science) and because of that I have many more credits than I need. I was rejected this year by the schools that I applied to. I'm going to take the OAT again and re-apply. So far I've shadowed one optometrist also and I have all the necessary recommendation letters in. What else would you recommend me doing?

I also took a part time job at a pharmacy to see if that would be something I would be interested in. I'm also 29 years old, which is probably older than most students. Do you think being older will help at all?

Thanks

RLK, you applied for the class entering fall 05? I thought you just took the OATs recently?

 

[JennyW]

JennyW, do you think OAT scores are the most important thing that schools look at? My grades aren't bad, but my OAT score is only around 280 right now. My prerequisite GPA is around 3.2 or 3.3. I'm not sure of my overall GPA because I have a bachelors degree in an unrelated field (computer science) and because of that I have many more credits than I need. I was rejected this year by the schools that I applied to. I'm going to take the OAT again and re-apply. So far I've shadowed one optometrist also and I have all the necessary recommendation letters in. What else would you recommend me doing?

I also took a part time job at a pharmacy to see if that would be something I would be interested in. I'm also 29 years old, which is probably older than most students. Do you think being older will help at all?

Thanks

As a non traditional student, your OAT score will be more important than your GPA. This was true even for "traditional" students, but less so.

I would suggest that you need to get your score above 300. There are a few people on here who talk about getting admitted with OATs less than 300 but I would bet that that is a very rare exception. Without knowing the rest of your application or having seen your essay, I would say that the 280 is most likely what caused you to be denied admission.

Good luck! I would take it again.

 

[sandst]

RLK, I am 30. It is nice to know I am not the only one that waited so long! I can't imagine they would care as long as you are a good candidate. I see it as an advantage, as I know I am more mature now that at 23 and have some extra work experiences to draw upon. My problem is that I did not take many of the sciences as an undergrad. So, I would have to take about 3 or 4 semesters' worth of pre-requisites (calculus, anatomy, chemistry, etc.). Then I could take the OAT and apply for another 4 years of school, plus have to move away from my family and ask my husband to leave his job, and somewhere in all of that have a child? That seems like a long and hard road. I can't decide if optometry is worth it. It is the only thing I have ever gotten excited about doing, but I just don't know. That is a lot of work for something in which there is no guarantee I will ever be accepted!

 

[RLK]

RLK, I am 30. It is nice to know I am not the only one that waited so long! I can't imagine they would care as long as you are a good candidate. I see it as an advantage, as I know I am more mature now that at 23 and have some extra work experiences to draw upon. My problem is that I did not take many of the sciences as an undergrad. So, I would have to take about 3 or 4 semesters' worth of pre-requisites (calculus, anatomy, chemistry, etc.). Then I could take the OAT and apply for another 4 years of school, plus have to move away from my family and ask my husband to leave his job, and somewhere in all of that have a child? That seems like a long and hard road. I can't decide if optometry is worth it. It is the only thing I have ever gotten excited about doing, but I just don't know. That is a lot of work for something in which there is no guarantee I will ever be accepted!

Have you ever considered pharmacy? There are a lot more pharmacy schools than optometry schools, and not all of them require an admissions test to get in. You might be able to stay where you are now instead of moving since there are more of those schools. I'm kind of considering pharmacy as a backup, but I really want to go to optometry school though more because I've been interested in it since I was a kid. As far as salary goes though, pharmacy is just as high as optometry, if not higher.

 

[sandst]

Actually, I have thought briefly about pharmacy, but there are still no pharmacy schools around here. I live in Fort Worth, and Houston is the closest pharmacy and optometry school for me. Pharmacy would probably be easier for me to get into, but it doesn't sound as appealing. I don't like the idea of going back into a retail environment, although a hospital would be okay. Salary isn't really the issue here anyway. I just want to realize my full potential and enjoy what I am doing as much as possible. Whatever salary comes with that is okay with me.

 

[ODhopeful]

Actually, I have thought briefly about pharmacy, but there are still no pharmacy schools around here. I live in Fort Worth, and Houston is the closest pharmacy and optometry school for me. Pharmacy would probably be easier for me to get into, but it doesn't sound as appealing. I don't like the idea of going back into a retail environment, although a hospital wound be okay. Salary isn't really the issue here anyway. I just want to realize my full potential and enjoy what I am doing as much as possible. Whatever salary comes with that is okay with me.

couldn't have said it better myself. 😀

 

[RLK]

Actually, I have thought briefly about pharmacy, but there are still no pharmacy schools around here. I live in Fort Worth, and Houston is the closest pharmacy and optometry school for me. Pharmacy would probably be easier for me to get into, but it doesn't sound as appealing. I don't like the idea of going back into a retail environment, although a hospital would be okay. Salary isn't really the issue here anyway. I just want to realize my full potential and enjoy what I am doing as much as possible. Whatever salary comes with that is okay with me.

I saw the statistics for Purdue's pharmacy school grads. Over 50% of the graduates went into retail pharmacy. I'm working at a retail pharmacy now - I just took the job to see if that would be something I would like doing. It would be better than some jobs, but even though it requires a doctorate now it's not really the same as an optometrist or another doctor. It was good though for me to take the job because I was actually going to apply to a bunch of pharmacy schools this year too, but now I'm not.

 

[temito_400]

In terms of back up plans, could someone go into the Masters program in Vision Science as some optometry schools offer and then transfer into their OD program? would it still be necessary to take the OAT since taking the GRE and some graduate level courses has been accomplished? i really enjoy this forum it is so informative and definitely helpful. Thx- 🙂

 

[cpw]

Actually, I have thought briefly about pharmacy, but there are still no pharmacy schools around here. I live in Fort Worth, and Houston is the closest pharmacy and optometry school for me. Pharmacy would probably be easier for me to get into, but it doesn't sound as appealing. I don't like the idea of going back into a retail environment, although a hospital would be okay. Salary isn't really the issue here anyway. I just want to realize my full potential and enjoy what I am doing as much as possible. Whatever salary comes with that is okay with me.

Actually, UT's pharmacy would be closer... but it's VERY hard to get in to.

 

[tamathat]

sandst, have you considered NOVA Southeastern Opt school, they have a 5 year optometry track for people who have a lot of other things going on in their life.

 

[RLK]

In terms of back up plans, could someone go into the Masters program in Vision Science as some optometry schools offer and then transfer into their OD program? would it still be necessary to take the OAT since taking the GRE and some graduate level courses has been accomplished? i really enjoy this forum it is so informative and definitely helpful. Thx- 🙂

That's a good question. Does anyone know the answer?

 

[Kristene9]

That's a good question. Does anyone know the answer?

I think going the MS route then to Optometry school would be a good idea if you enjoy research. I've heard it opens the job field up for you a little when you graduate. It just depends what you want to do with your Optometry degree. If you want to open up your own practice then I think it would be a waste of time. I hear it’s a common route though.
I'm an OD/MS student at UABSO working on my masters right now and it is a lot of work. Some of the programs including UAB's, will have projects ready to go and just need a pair of hands to perform them and write them up. That’s the easier way to do a masters. (This is not what I'm doing, I've always been a go getter and because of it I’m going to put me behind in the program.. figures.) The idea is, is that you still learn ALOT about how research is done and have skills for future research. It's also completely paid for and you get a stipend. It works well for me because I do enjoy research and want to work in a hospital or academic setting. However, like I said earlier, if you plan on just opening up your own practice, your time would probably be spend better working for an OD and learning what you could from him.
Hope that helps, if you have any questions feel free to PM me 🙂

 

[sandst]

I would generally be interested in private practice, but thanks for the info. I still have to take some leveling classes in the bio/chem/physics areas, so maybe I will see how those go first.

Thanks!

 

[PreOptMegs]

RLK--

Pharmacy is my backup plan as well. I am curious which pharmacy schools do not require an admissions test. Thanks

 

[RLK]

I think going the MS route then to Optometry school would be a good idea if you enjoy research. I've heard it opens the job field up for you a little when you graduate. It just depends what you want to do with your Optometry degree. If you want to open up your own practice then I think it would be a waste of time. I hear it’s a common route though.
I'm an OD/MS student at UABSO working on my masters right now and it is a lot of work. Some of the programs including UAB's, will have projects ready to go and just need a pair of hands to perform them and write them up. That’s the easier way to do a masters. (This is not what I'm doing, I've always been a go getter and because of it I’m going to put me behind in the program.. figures.) The idea is, is that you still learn ALOT about how research is done and have skills for future research. It's also completely paid for and you get a stipend. It works well for me because I do enjoy research and want to work in a hospital or academic setting. However, like I said earlier, if you plan on just opening up your own practice, your time would probably be spend better working for an OD and learning what you could from him.
Hope that helps, if you have any questions feel free to PM me 🙂

In case I cannot get into optometry school, do you think I would have an easier time getting into the master of vision science program and then be able to switch to the OD program?