Can I get in somewhere

[confusedkid12]

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Ok, I want peoples honest opinion if I can even get in to anywhere. Also I am really, really having trouble finding shadowing experience. Every place I have called and went to ask at in a 20 mile radius is not doing any shadowing. So what if I have no experience?

Overall GPA-3.24
Science Gpa- Like 3.16 or something, but hopefully higher after this semester.
I also tutored kids in my old neighborhood, but don't know how I can document that.
Worked full time at my Dads Pool Service company to help the family espically since my fathers Stroke.

(Both my grandparents died my first year. Grandma in September and Grandpa in November)
1st Semester-2.76 Pre-Req Physics I C+
2nd Semester - 9 Units 4.0 this semester Statistics A
3rd Semester 3.3 Pre Req Physics II B
4th Semester 3.0 Gen Chem B
(Gpa was starting to be ok, but father had a stroke during the summer so I was working for the family business even more)
5th Semester 2. 9 Gen Bio B+, Gen Chem II B-, O Chem B-
6th Semester (15 Units) 3.38 GPA Gen Bio II B+, O Chem I Lab A-, O Chem II B-, and Bio Sexuality A
7th Semester- (19 Units) 3.45 GPA Physiology A, Genetics B-, Endocrinology B+, Evolution B, Holistic Health A, Psych A

Last two semester my GPA is increasing so I don't know if they would take that into consideration. So do I have any shot. I know its not a good excuse about the losing grandparents or my dad being sick since I'm sure many applicants suffered through similar scenarios, but they did effect me greatly and my grades suffered because of it. Taking the OAT in the summer

 

[nc2tarheels]

First of all, you haven't take the OAT. That is usually the main factor so there is NO WAY that anyone can give you any advice. I have a similar GPA as you and your GPA isn't that bad. My only suggestion is to quit making excuses. You seem like you're trying to justify your GPA down to the smallest detail.

 

[confusedkid12]

I don't get how I am making excuses, when that is what actually happened and it really effected my life. I don't know if you have had any of those happen, but they can really effect you negatively and put you into a depressed state. During that time I just didn't care about school since I had lost someone I loved very much. Also to everyone else, I am basing this if I say get the average on my OAT such as 300-320 (which I will be taking in June). Also anyone have advice on the shadowing, every place I have called said it is not the right time for shadowing so what should I do on that? I know most schools require a LOR from an optometrist so having trouble.

 

[Moptometry]

Ok, I want peoples honest opinion if I can even get in to anywhere. Also I am really, really having trouble finding shadowing experience. Every place I have called and went to ask at in a 20 mile radius is not doing any shadowing. So what if I have no experience?

Overall GPA-3.24
Science Gpa- Like 3.16 or something, but hopefully higher after this semester.
I also tutored kids in my old neighborhood, but don't know how I can document that.
Worked full time at my Dads Pool Service company to help the family espically since my fathers Stroke.

(Both my grandparents died my first year. Grandma in September and Grandpa in November)
1st Semester-2.76 Pre-Req Physics I C+
2nd Semester - 9 Units 4.0 this semester Statistics A
3rd Semester 3.3 Pre Req Physics II B
4th Semester 3.0 Gen Chem B
(Gpa was starting to be ok, but father had a stroke during the summer so I was working for the family business even more)
5th Semester 2. 9 Gen Bio B+, Gen Chem II B-, O Chem B-
6th Semester (15 Units) 3.38 GPA Gen Bio II B+, O Chem I Lab A-, O Chem II B-, and Bio Sexuality A
7th Semester- (19 Units) 3.45 GPA Physiology A, Genetics B-, Endocrinology B+, Evolution B, Holistic Health A, Psych A

Last two semester my GPA is increasing so I don't know if they would take that into consideration. So do I have any shot. I know its not a good excuse about the losing grandparents or my dad being sick since I'm sure many applicants suffered through similar scenarios, but they did effect me greatly and my grades suffered because of it. Taking the OAT in the summer

From my point of view, if you keep the GPA like this you will get in somewhere.First of all, I am sorry that all that happened to you, hope your dad gets better. second of all,try to do well on OAT. OAT is not hard at all so try to get a 340+ on it. Have a 3.3 GPA , 340 OAT and i am 100% sure you will get interviews where ever you apply. However, dont forget about shadowing. I basically got lucky and found the coolest OD who even offered me to come in more than once ( I have been with him for 40 hours now)
and told me that he is gona write me a strong LOR.....and I didnt even ask him. He also found me another OD so I can diversify my shadowing experience. As i said, i got very lucky. All you can do is NOT to stop looking. All ODs had to shadow someone some years ago and you will find an OD who has not forgotten what it is like to be a student,so dont give up. I am applying this summer as well, best of luck to you. 😀

 

[vieromanxx]

As for shadowing an optometrist: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=791960

Your GPA and an average OAT might get you an interview if you write a good personal statement and have good letters of recommendation (I had similar GPA and an above average OAT 8 yrs ago =) ). Do you tutor thru a group? cause if you do, you just ask the person in charge.. if its private and you do it on your own, ask one of the parents to write a letter that you have know for a while (ie.. person from the community)

I would NOT bring up your family situation. Yes, things happen, yes it sucks, but like you said... you wont be the only one who had a family member die while you were in school (not to sound rude)...

If you get an interview and some one asks about your GPA, just say you had a family member very close to you pass away and you did the best your could at THAT time (you dont need to tell them you take meds or doing counseling and they cant ask about it). Thats it... nothing more nothing less... if they keep asking... just say you prefer to not discuss your personal matters... cause once you open that door, theres no closing it....

In your application, its going to ask you some place about work... and they will notice that you worked while you were in school... only mention you worked because it was short staffed...because again, you dont have to disclose your father has medicle issues... its not relevant to why they should accept you. Rather say it allowed you to be better organized!

Keep the entire application process positive! and you wont have any problems

 

[nc2tarheels]

I wasn't trying to be a butthole, but to be honest, a lot of the schools don't care too much. The initial numbers on your application is what will get them to open your file and read. As for excuses, I'm sure everyone with a lower GPA has an excuse. I know I do, but no feeling sorry and asking for sympathy and special treatment.

 

[Mewcakes]

My Grandpa died in November and my family lives in CA (I'm in TN at SCO). I found out he died and was sad, found out that my dad couldn't get there quick enough and he died ALONE in the hospital, got more sad. They had to postpone the funeral just for me because I had 6 exams in two weeks and couldn't get away. I finished an exam on Friday, somehow got my ass to the airport, flew home, went to the wake and funeral next day, flew back to TN on Sunday, and then took the most massive physiology exam of my life on Monday. It was awful, but my ass still pulled off mostly A's on all the exams.

Loss is terrible, but it is inevitable. The admissions council may or may not choose to use your story to assess your ability to deal with stress (be it academic or life) and whether or not you can push through it. If your other grandparent(s) died or perhaps someone else you knew, would they see a repeat of your previous performance?

They may ask you about this in an interview. I personally think you would be wise not to play it up as the reason for your poor performance. nc2tarheels is correct in that it miiight sound a little "excuse"-y.

On another note: The OAT is NOT the main factor in any admissions decision. They will take into account your grades (of course!!) and certainly your body of experience/your efforts to try to get to know the profession. I HIGHLY recommend getting your butt in SOMEWHERE to shadow, even if all you do is stand in the corner of a dark exam room for 6 hours. Without any experience, they will think that you don't really know what you're getting yourself into. And honestly, you might not! My experience marked my application as unique and I have to say that it has definitely granted me a different view of the profession than when I first started out thinking I wanted to do optometry. There's just so much to it.

Try talking to your own optometrist. Don't make it sound like you want to shadow for a year or anything, just ask if you can do it for one or two days and then maybe you can score some extra dates when they realize how unobtrusive you are in the corner. You can also try putting together a resume and cover letter narrating your intent to go to school, dressing up real nice, and physically going to some of these practices to ask for shadowing hours. I actually got one of my shadowing gigs through my dentist. I went in for a cleaning and came out with a phone number and got an internship a day later.

 

[Moptometry]

Last time i checked 3.3 is very competitive for Optom schools, It might be abit low for dental school and alot lower for medical schools but 3.3 GPA, is pretty damn good for optom school. 50% of people who got into ICO in 2009 had 3.2-3.49. Unless you wana go to UWaterloo in Canada, then a 3.7 might get you an interview, God knows what those ppl really want. People have gotten in with 2.9-3.1, just saying