Class of 2019 Acceptance Thread

[CollSmith]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: nov 10

Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): suny nova SCO (cancelled all after these three) PCO Rosenberg

Date Interview Scheduled: suny 12/17 nova 12/8 SCO 01/16

Accepted (indicate school attending): nova and SCO (on hold at SUNY)

Bachelor's Degree: exercise science with a math and chem minor

OAT (AA, TS): 320,330
GPA(Overall, Science): 3.17, 3.0

Extracurriculars: three sport athlete all four years of college, got a job as an ophthalmic tech in October, shadowed two optometrists one visual therapist and one opthalmologist


and did

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[CollSmith]

AND IM ATTENDING SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY!

And I had some volunteering experience but not a whole lot.

 

[extomomi]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: Nov 5th, 2014
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name):ICO, PCO (cancelled), Pacific
Date Interview Scheduled: Jan 13th, 2015 (ICO), Pacific (Pending)
Accepted (indicate school attending): ICO (most likely attending)
Bachelor's Degree: Microbiology
OAT (AA, TS): 360, 370
GPA(Overall, Science): 3.40,3.45

Extracurriculars: Pre-Optometry club president, shadowed for ~7 doctors in the past 3 years/volunteered for about 100hrs. Private tutoring, PT job, etc.

 

[kroekerh2]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: Sometime in october..
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): PUCO, ICO, NOVA, Ohio, IUSO
Date Interview Scheduled: PUCO November, ICO Jan 22, IUSO Jan23rd, NOVA Feb 13th (wont go), Ohio wont go
Accepted (indicate school attending): ICO (attending), IUSO
Bachelor's Degree: Did not finish degree (biology major)
OAT (AA, TS): 360, 350
GPA(Overall, Science): 3.8, 3.7

 

[laynne]

Date OptomCAS mailed: 8/7/14
Interview extended: Nova, OSU, Western, NSUOCO, MCPHS, IUSO
Interview dates: Nova (9/11), OSU (9/19), Western (9/26), NSUOCO (10/9), MCPHS (didn't sched), IUSO (1/23)
Accepted: Nova, Western, IUSO (attending!!)
Bachelor's Degree: B.S. Biology, minor in Chem
OAT(AA, TS): 330, 310
GPA (Overall, Science): 3.3, 3.0

Extracurriculars: Worked as tech in a few different offices 2008-present, Junior League, pre-med/biology clubs, other volunteer projects, etc.

 

[Optoman21]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: 27/11/14
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): Western, NOVA, PCO, MCPHS
Date Interview Scheduled: NOVA (28/01), PCO (02/02, maybe cancelling)
Accepted (indicate school attending): NOVA (accepted and most likely attending)
Bachelor's Degree: Honours Science
OAT (AA, TS): 330,340
GPA(Overall, Science): 3.01, 2.9

Extracurriculars: Volunteered at Hospital for 3 months, Shadowed at an eye hospital in India for a month, Shadowed an Optometrist for a day and part of pre-optom club and others.

 

[MinnesotaGirl]

For those of you who attended Indiana University School of Optometry's admission day, how was your experience? What was the discussion panel like? Do I need to be prepared for an interview?
Thanks!

 

[Winged Scapula]

For those of you who attended Indiana University School of Optometry's admission day, how was your experience? What was the discussion panel like? Do I need to be prepared for an interview?
Thanks!

Please keep the thread on-topic. If you wish to ask questions about interview etc, please create a new thread.

 

[nmb14]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: Sept. of 2014

Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): PCO

Date Interview Scheduled: 9/30/14

Accepted (indicate school attending): PCO!

Bachelor's Degree: Biology

OAT (AA, TS): 310, 300

GPA(Overall, Science): 3.6, 3.4

Extracurriculars: many shadowing hours, very involved in my church (leading different groups of college students) and community outreach.

 

[herxx172]

Date OptomCAS mailed: October 30, 2014
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): ICO, Western, SCCO
Date Interview Scheduled: Western (1/30), ICO (2/6), SCCO (canceled)
Accepted: Western (most likely attending!), ICO (pending)
Bachelor's Degree: BS Kinesiology
OAT: (AA, TS): 290, 290
GPA (Overall, Science): 3.2, 3.1

Extracurriculars: Historian for Pre-Optometry Club, shadowed 5 different optometrists in different settings, Ophthalmic Tech as LasikPlus, Eyewear specialist at Visionworks, Volunteered with VOSHMN, Sunday teacher at Church, Lead vision screener for 2 years with Phillips Eye Institute (now employed with them), involved in different culture club groups, studied abroad

 

[lndrck]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: 10/19/14
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): ICO
Date Interview Scheduled: ICO (2/13/15)
Accepted (indicate school attending): ICO (attending)
Bachelor's Degree: BS Biology
OAT (AA, TS): 300, 290
GPA(Overall, Science): 3.3,3.0

Extracurriculars: President of Pre-Optometry Club, President of Asian Student Association, Officer for National Service Fraternity (Alpha Phi Omega) Member of campus volunteering club, multicultural club, Women in Leadership, Volunteered at vision screenings with Lions Club, Special Olympics, Shadowed at UHCO/RSO 4th year externship site, private practices, commercial practices

 

[Mark2K8]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: Mid July
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): SUNY, MCPHS, Arizona, SCO, PCO
Date Interview Scheduled: SUNY (second week of September), SCO (first week of November)
Accepted (indicate school attending): SUNY (attending), SCO
Rejected: NOVA
Bachelor's Degree: Biology
OAT (AA, TS): 350, 350
GPA(Overall, Science): 3.52, ~3.3ish

Updated.

 

[preopt_91]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: November 17th, 2014
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): AZCOPT, ICO, NOVA
Date Interview Scheduled: AZCOPT (Feb. 5), ICO (Feb. 10), NOVA (Feb. 16)
Accepted (indicate school attending): AZCOPT (attending), ICO, NOVA
Bachelor's Degree: Biology
OAT (AA, TS): 340, 340
GPA(Overall, Science): 3.4, 3.3

Extracurriculars: Optometric technician for about a year, 4 years of collegiate baseball, youth basketball volunteer coach, Zeta Psi Fraternity, Men's University choir, studied abroad, pre-health club, etc.

 

[contactspecs2020]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: October 14, 2014
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): PCO, ICO, NECO
Date Interview Scheduled: PCO (11/18*), ICO (1/5), NECO (2/23)
Accepted (indicate school attending): PCO, ICO (attending!), NECO (debating...!)
Bachelor's Degree: Human Biology
OAT (AA, TS): 310, 300
GPA(Overall): ~2.9/3.0

 

[beansmd]

I am a current first year at SCO about to go into my second year. I was accepted to multiple schools so if anyone has any questions please feel free to PM me!

 

[optomeyezer]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: September 18, 2014
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): UIWRSO, UHCO
Date Interview Scheduled: UIWRSO (Oct), UHCO (March)
Accepted (indicate school attending): UIWRSO, UHCO!
Bachelor's Degree: Nutrition / Biology Minor
OAT (AA, TS): 320, 320
GPA(Overall, Science): 3.47, 3.3

Extracurriculars: POPS, 2 years working as a opt. technician

 

[Chillin like a melon]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: 8/14
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): WesternU, PUCO
Date Interview Scheduled: PUCO 9/19, WesternU 9/26
Accepted (indicate school attending): WesternU, PUCO (Attending)
Bachelor's Degree: Microbiology w/ Chemistry Minor
OAT (AA, TS): 370, 390
GPA(Overall, Science): 3.6, 3.6

Extracurriculars: Optometry Club & various other clubs, volunteered at 8 vision screenings, organized 1 vision screening, other volunteer stuff... 40 hours of shadowing/interning. I worked as a group tutor for 2 years and I also worked in the chemistry stockroom at my school.

can you tell us about the questions they ask in westernU interview. Also how was the interview held?

 

[Chillin like a melon]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: 11/19/14
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): WesternU, SCCO, NECO, ICO
Date Interview Scheduled: SCCO (12/06/14), WesternU (12/12/14), NECO (1/09/15)
Accepted (indicate school attending): SCCO - attending! (cancelled all other interviews)
Bachelor's Degree: Kinesiology/Chemistry minor
OAT (AA, TS): 350, 370
GPA(Overall, Science): 3.66, 3.58

Extracurriculars:
Shadowed several optometrists (ophthalmology clinic, family practice, retail, pediatric/low vision clinic), assisted optometrists in a research study, worked as an optometric assistant, 100+ volunteerer hours at a children's hospital and at a blind children's learning center, chair of the pre-optometry committee, Pilipino cultural night board for 3 years, math/bio/chem tutor

can you tell us how your interview with SCCO was? do you remember the questions? did they ask question about future of optomerty and legal aspect of the field in state?

 

[Capsnduck]

So excited to finally get to add to this thread...

Date OptomCAS was mailed: 12/12/14 (supplementals completed 1/25/15)
Interview Invitation Extended for: Nova, NECO
Date Interview Scheduled: Nova 02/27/15, NECO 03/16/15
Accepted: Nova (attending), (NECO wait listed)
Bachelor's Degree: Psychology
OAT: 360, 340
GPA: 2.8, 3.0

Extracurriculars: 15 years working as an optometric tech/practice administrator. My GPA is low because I dropped out of college with a 2.12 GPA, however I returned two years ago and have a 3.65 since.
Note to all applicants - they strongly value experience. You don't have to put in 15 years, but even one year in the business lets them know that you have an idea of what the profession is actually like

 

[Xtermination]

Date OptomCAS mailed: January 5, 2015
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): MCPHS, ICO, NOVA, IAUPR, PCO
Date Interview Scheduled: MCPHS (2/15), ICO (3/15), NOVA (2/15), IAUPR (1/15), PCO(3/15)
Accepted: MCPHS, PCO (attending)
Bachelor's Degree: BS Biology
OAT: (AA, TS): 300, 300
GPA (Overall, Science): 3.3, 3.1

Extracurriculars: 2 years as optician/manager, volunteered at the VA MED, vision therapy, vision walk, few private practices, and a non-optometry related place.

 

[soreyes]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: Feb 10, 2015
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): UIWRSO, PCO, PUCO, UHCO
Date Interview Scheduled: UIWRSO (3/13), PCO (3/26), PUCO (4/3), UHCO (declined)
Accepted (indicate school attending): UIWRSO, PCO, PUCO (attending!)
Bachelor's Degree: Biology
OAT (AA, TS): 310, 310
GPA(Overall, Science): 3.909, 3.912

Extracurriculars: Secretary of Pre-Med Club, science club, cancer research intern, shadowed at a general practice & commercial practice.

 

[thcmarhk]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: early December
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): UHCO, SCO, UMSL, ICO
Date Interview Scheduled: SCO (Jan. 16), UHCO (Jan 23), ICO (Jan 29), UHSL (Jan 30; but cancelled)
Accepted (indicate school attending): UHCO (attending), SCO, ICO
Bachelor's Degree: Chemistry, Biology
OAT (AA, TS): 320, 320
GPA(Overall, Science): 3.27, not sure about science

Extracurriculars:
Shadowed 2 optometrists and 2 ophthalmologists; a part of Chemistry club, Biology club, tri-Beta, and WU buddy; Biology vision research; Chemistry analytical research; supplementary instructor for Chemistry 151/152; volunteer at hospital and Big Brother Big Sister; tutor for chemistry and biology; studied abroad in South Korea and China

 

[nnessa]

Just wanted to let ya'll pre-optometry students know that grades aren't always everything as you can see in my case. You just have to be hopeful and genuine!

Date OptomCAS mailed: 10/14/2014
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): Western, SCCO, ICO, UCBSO
Date Interview Scheduled: Western (12/12/14), SCCO (12/06/14), ICO (cancelled), UCBSO (1/31/15)
Accepted: Western, UCBSO (attending), waitlisted at SCCO
Bachelor's Degree: BS Cell Molecular Biology & Physiology, Minor in Chemistry.
OAT: (AA, TS): 350, 360
GPA (Overall, Science, BCP): 3.37, 3.05, 3.01

Extracurriculars: shadowed several optometrists and a VA resident (low vision clinic, vision therapy, commercial, primary care), volunteered at a private practice (100+ hours), and volunteered at a vision screening.
Non-optometry related: undergrad research, Golden Key Honor Society member, teacher's assistant, conflict mediation vice president.

 

[kjpatel10]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: October 14, 2014
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): PCO, ICO, NECO
Date Interview Scheduled: PCO (11/18*), ICO (1/5), NECO (2/23)
Accepted (indicate school attending): PCO, ICO (attending!), NECO (debating...!)
Bachelor's Degree: Human Biology
OAT (AA, TS): 310, 300
GPA(Overall): ~2.9/3.0

Question for you, if you don't mind!
ICO is one of my top choices and we have about the same GPA (mine is 3.2) and I haven't taken my OAT yet. I was wondering what you're extracurricular activities were? Thanks!!!

 

[w.puggy]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: Feb 5
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): PCO, ICO, SCO, SUNY, Western
Date Interview Scheduled: PCO (2/11), SCO (2/27), ICO (3/12), SUNY (3/25), Western (declined)
Accepted (indicate school attending): ICO (ATTENDING!), PCO, SUNY (wait list), SCO (wait list, but withdrew), IAUPR (no interview needed)
Bachelor's Degree: Psychology
OAT (AA, TS): 320, 320
GPA(Overall, Science): 3.3, 3.2 (I think)

Extracurriculars: shadowed 4 different optometrits, some volunteer work, PT optometric tech (for a month before applying), and other unrelated work experiences

 

[tulsi3patel]

Date OptomCAS was mailed: July 7, 2014
Interview Invitation Extended for (school name): ICO, Nova, UMSL, NECO
Date Interview Scheduled: ICO (Oct. 17), Nova (Nov. 17), UMSL (Nov. 24), NECO (declined interview)
Accepted (indicate school attending): ICO (attending!), Nova, and UMSL
Bachelor's Degree: Biology (Biochemistry, Cellular, & Molecular Biology concentration), Psychology minor
OAT (AA, TS): 310
GPA(Overall, Science): 3.2 overall, unsure of total science

Extracurriculars: Alpha Chi Omega sorority (held various positions throughout), Panhellenic Judicial Board, Order of Omega Honor Society, Sport 4 Peace Week Coordinating Committee, various volunteer work with Knoxville YWCA, Family Justice Center, and local Iraqi Refugees, two years experience working as a part-time optometric technician, and many hours of shadowing experience outside of work.

I am wondering all GPA listed here is OptomCas calculated with grade replacement.