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With OPTOMCAS being open and applications and interviews being held, can this the post we have to post stats? Thanks!!

Date OptomCAS submitted:
Date verified:
OAT Scores:
Major:
GPA:
Extracurricular Activities:
Schools applied:
Interviews extended/date:
Interviews accepted:
Interviews declined:
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date:
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Date OptomCAS submitted: 6/28/18
Date verified: 7/20/18
OAT Scores: 340 AA / 350 TS
Major: Biochemistry
GPA: 3.3
Extracurricular Activities: POPS leadership, research, TA, pre-health organization, 3+ years experience in optical/as a technician, 100+ hrs shadowing
Schools applied: UHCO, SCO, and ICO
Interviews extended/date: SCO 7/23, ICO 8/14, UHCO 9/20
Interviews accepted: SCO 9/10, UHCO 10/15
Interviews declined: ICO 10/20
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date: SCO 9/12, UHCO 10/17
Attending UHCO!!! :soexcited:
 
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ODby2023 said:
Date OptomCAS submitted: 6/28/18
Date verified: 7/20/18
OAT Scores: 340 AA / 350 TS
Major: Biochemistry
GPA: 3.3
Extracurricular Activities: POPS leadership, research, TA, pre-health organization, 3+ years experience in optical, 100+ hrs shadowing
Schools applied: UHCO, SCO, and ICO
Interviews extended/date: SCO 7/23
Interviews accepted: SCO 9/10
Interviews declined:
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date:
I'll keep you updated if I get more interviews! :)
Click to expand...

Congrats on your interview acceptance!
On a side note, is everyone listing their overall GPA that was calculated by OptomCAS or is it your BCP GPA?
 
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JustInYurEyez said:
Congrats on your interview acceptance!
On a side note, is everyone listing their overall GPA that was calculated by OptomCAS or is it your BCP GPA?
Click to expand...
Thank you!
Yeah, that is my cumulative GPA calculated by OptomCAS. It actually ended up being a little higher than I thought because they took into account my community college credits!
 
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ODby2023 said:
Date OptomCAS submitted: 6/28/18
Date verified: 7/20/18
OAT Scores: 340 AA / 350 TS
Major: Biochemistry
GPA: 3.3
Extracurricular Activities: POPS leadership, research, TA, pre-health organization, 3+ years experience in optical/as a technician, 100+ hrs shadowing
Schools applied: UHCO, SCO, and ICO
Interviews extended/date: SCO 7/23
Interviews accepted: SCO 9/10
Interviews declined:
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date:
I'll keep you updated if I get more interviews! :)
Click to expand...

UHCO and ICO are 2 out of many schools i will be applying to! It seems like ICO accepts many people with a lower than usual GPA (3.0-3.4ish) and with a good OAT score, which is why it’s one of my top choices. Good luck, I’d love to get into UHCO bc it is closer to where I live but their stats for their students are high and out of my range lol
 
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Date OptomCAS submitted: 7/7/18
Date verified: 7/20
OAT Scores: 350AA / 350 TS
Major: Biology with a minor in Psych
GPA: 3.47
Extracurricular Activities: POPS President, Tri Beta Member, 60 shadowing hours, greek life, SJUTD, and Dance Marathon(FTK!)
Schools applied: SCO
Interviews extended/date: SCO 7/23
Interviews accepted: SCO 8/6
Interviews declined:
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date: SCO 8/15 !!

Will be attending school in Memphis next year at SCO. Good luck to everyone in their application process!
 
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ODby2023 said:
Thank you!
Yeah, that is my cumulative GPA calculated by OptomCAS. It actually ended up being a little higher than I thought because they took into account my community college credits!
Click to expand...
how do u see ur science gpa on optomcas? and congrats!
 
Date OptomCAS submitted: 7/13/18
Date verified: 7/20/18
OAT Scores: 380 AA / 400 TS
Major: Biology BS
GPA: 3.59 overall
Extracurricular Activities: 6mos tech exp/shadowing, marketing committee of club, co-chair of a club, RA, significant IT work/experience
Schools applied: NECO, ICO, MCPHS
Interviews extended/date: NECO - 7/23/18
Interviews accepted: NECO (8/17/18)
Interviews declined:
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date:
 
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Date OptomCAS submitted: 07-16-2018
Date verified: 07-20-18
OAT Scores: 350 AA/330 TS
Major: Neuroscience
GPA: 3.49 overall, 3.30 science (optomcas calculated)
Extracurricular Activities: Pre-Optometry Club, 130+ hours of shadowing
Schools applied: OSU, ICO, SALUS, UMSL, Midwestern-Chicago
Interviews extended/date: OSU - 07-16-18, UMSL - 7-25-18, Midwestern-Chicago - 8-7-18,
SALUS - 8-8-18, ICO - 8-14-18,
Interviews accepted: OSU - 7-27-18, UMSL 8-27-18, ICO 10-1-18, SALUS 9-24-18
Interviews declined: Midwestern-Chicago
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date: OSU - 8-2-18, UMSL - 8-27-18, SALUS - 9-26-18, ICO 10-5-18

I will be attending THE Ohio State University!!!
 
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Date OptomCAS submitted: 7/18
Date verified: 8/13
OAT Scores: 330 AA / 350 TS
Major: Biology, Minor in Chemistry
GPA: 3.55
Extracurricular Activities: 50 hours of shadowing, Pre optometry club, Order of Omega, IFC
Schools applied: SCO, KYCO, UMSL
Interviews extended/date: SCO (8/13), KYCO (8/14), UMSL (8/15)
Interviews accepted: UMSL (9/7), SCO (9/10), KYCO (10/1),
Interviews declined:
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date: UMSL (9/7), SCO (9/12)

Attending SCO next fall.
 
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POPS is each school’s Pre Optometry Professional Society
 
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Members don't see this ad :)
Date OptomCAS submitted: July 15
Date verified: July 26
OAT Scores: 350 AA / 330 TS
Major: Kinesiology
GPA: 3.56
Extracurricular Activities: Pre-Optometry Club (exec board), Honors Program Student Council (exec board), sorority, Order of Omega, Campus Honors Program, ~38 hours of shadowing
Schools applied: SCO, UMSL, IUSO
Interviews extended/date: SCO on July 27, UMSL on July 31, IUSO on August 1
Interviews accepted: September 7 @ SCO, August 27 @ UMSL, September 28 @ IUSO
Interviews declined:
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date:

Such an exciting time! Good luck everyone :)
 
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ieropt said:
Date OptomCAS submitted: 07-16-2018
Date verified: 07-20-18
OAT Scores: 350 AA/330 TS
Major: Neuroscience
GPA: 3.49 overall, 3.30 science (optomcas calculated)
Extracurricular Activities: Pre-Optometry Club, 130+ hours of shadowing
Schools applied: OSU, ICO, SALUS, UMSL, Midwestern-Chicago
Interviews extended/date: OSU - 07-16-18, UMSL - 7-25-18
Interviews accepted: OSU - 7-27-18, UMSL 8-27-18
Interviews declined:
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date:

I'll keep updating if I get more interviews and when I found out if I get accepted anywhere!
Good luck to everyone!
Click to expand...
By any chance do you go to Binghamton University? and how do you see the GPA from optomcas?
 
Jan123 said:
By any chance do you go to Binghamton University? and how do you see the GPA from optomcas?
Click to expand...
Nope!
And if you download your application for a specific school, there’s a page that breaks down every single kind of GPA.
 
Optomgal12 said:
Date OptomCAS submitted: July 15
Date verified: July 26
OAT Scores: 350 AA / 330 TS
Major: Kinesiology
GPA: 3.56
Extracurricular Activities: Pre-Optometry Club (exec board), Honors Program Student Council (exec board), sorority, Order of Omega, Campus Honors Program, ~38 hours of shadowing
Schools applied: SCO, UMSL, IUSO
Interviews extended/date: SCO on July 27, UMSL on July 31, IUSO on August 1
Interviews accepted: September 7 @ SCO, August 27 @ UMSL, September 28 @ IUSO
Interviews declined:
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date:

Such an exciting time! Good luck everyone :)
Click to expand...
My interview at UMSL is the same day as you! Good luck!
 
Date OptomCAS submitted: 7/16/18
Date verified: 7/20/18
OAT Scores: 370 AA, 370 TS
Major: Medical Biology, minor in Health, Medicine, and Society
GPA: 4.0
Extracurricular Activities: 3 years experience working as a tech/intern in private practice, 200+ shadowing hours, volunteer at a center for the blind, organic chemistry tutor, chemistry club (officer), research assistant in neuroscience lab
Schools applied: NECO, PCO, MCPHS (*withdrew MCPHS app after being offered interviews at NECO and PCO*)
Interviews extended/date: NECO (7/23/18), PCO (8/8/18)
Interviews accepted: NECO (9/14/18), PCO (9/7/18)
Interviews declined: - N/A
Rejections/date: - N/A
Acceptance/date: - PCO (9/12/18), NECO (9/19/18)

I will be attending PCO next year! :)
 
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hi all! i plan on applying in the next cycle so i'm here to read up on your experiences. wish you all good luck and admissions to your schools of choice :)
 
optom207 said:
Date OptomCAS submitted: 7/16/18
Date verified: 7/20/18
OAT Scores: 370 AA, 370 TS
Major: Medical Biology, minor in Health, Medicine, and Society
GPA: 4.0
Extracurricular Activities: 3 years experience working as a tech/intern in private practice, 200+ shadowing hours, volunteer at a center for the blind, organic chemistry peer tutor, chemistry club (officer), research assistant in neuroscience lab,
Schools applied: NECO, PCO, MCPHS
Interviews extended/date: NECO (7/23/18), PCO (8/8/18)
Interviews accepted: NECO (9/14/18), PCO (9/7/18)
Interviews declined: -
Rejections/date: -
Acceptance/date: -

Excited to hear about everyone else's progress through this process! :) Good luck!
Click to expand...
Hey! First of all I want to say congratulations on the amazing scores and landing interviews! I was just wondering why you didn't apply to schools like Berkeley? With those stats, I'm sure you'll get in anywhere:)
 
Elizah46 said:
Hey! First of all I want to say congratulations on the amazing scores and landing interviews! I was just wondering why you didn't apply to schools like Berkeley? With those stats, I'm sure you'll get in anywhere:)
Click to expand...
Thank you! :) Berkeley is way too far from home! I am from Maine so California wasn't even on my radar despite its awesome schools.
 
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ieropt said:
Nope!
And if you download your application for a specific school, there’s a page that breaks down every single kind of GPA.
Click to expand...

Did you have to submit your application first?
 
Date OptomCAS submitted: 08/01/18
Date verified: 08/10/18
OAT Scores: 350 AA / 350 TS
Major: Biochemistry, Sociology
GPA: 3.80
Extracurricular Activities: 1000+ hours tech at 2 practices, shadowing, POPS, 500 hrs chemistry research, volunteer tutor
Schools applied: SCO, UHCO, UIWRSO
Interviews extended/date: SCO (08/10), UIWRSO (08/15), UHCO (08/20)
Interviews accepted: SCO (09/21), UIWRSO (09/28), UHCO (09/17)
Interviews declined:
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date:

Good luck to everyone!!
 
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They only verify your application and offer u an interview when they have both oat and complete application/transcript right?
 
adventureinlens said:
They only verify your application and offer u an interview when they have both oat and complete application/transcript right?
Click to expand...

Correct, but they may email you about how they have "reviewed your application and to let them know when it gets verified"
 
Date OptomCAS submitted: 7/15/18
Date verified: 7/16/18
OAT Scores: 340 AA/TT
Major: Nutrition
GPA: 3.7
Extracurricular Activities: Track coach, hospital volunteer, elderly caregiver, child mentor, nutrition research, 24hrs shadowing, and many others.
Schools applied: SCO, AZCOPT, OSU, UAB, NOVA, PCO
Interviews extended/date: OSU(8/10), UAB(8/25), SCO(9/7), AZCOPT(9/14), NOVA(9/21), PCO(10/12)
Interviews accepted: all except
Interviews declined: PCO
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date: UAB, SCO, AZCOPT

Hope to see some of you at the interviews!

Which should I pick?
 
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is the science gpa everyone is posting the bcp gpa? or is it the gpa with all science courses?
 
Date OptomCAS submitted: 8/15/2018
Date verified: 8/17/18
OAT Scores: 360 AA 370 TS
Major: Human Biology
GPA: 3.98
Extracurricular Activities: Optical scribe, optician (2+ years), volunteer for adaptive sports, resource center for person's with disabilities, teaching assistant, ski club, pre optometry club member
Schools applied: SCO, OSU, MCO, ICO
Interviews extended/date: SCO (9/21)
Interviews accepted: OSU/SCO so far
Interviews declined:
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date:

** similar credential applicants? your experiences ? reply :)
 
optom207 said:
Date OptomCAS submitted: 7/16/18
Date verified: 7/20/18
OAT Scores: 370 AA, 370 TS
Major: Medical Biology, minor in Health, Medicine, and Society
GPA: 4.0
Extracurricular Activities: 3 years experience working as a tech/intern in private practice, 200+ shadowing hours, volunteer at a center for the blind, organic chemistry peer tutor, chemistry club (officer), research assistant in neuroscience lab,
Schools applied: NECO, PCO, MCPHS
Interviews extended/date: NECO (7/23/18), PCO (8/8/18)
Interviews accepted: NECO (9/14/18), PCO (9/7/18)
Interviews declined: -
Rejections/date: -
Acceptance/date: -

Excited to hear about everyone else's progress through this process! :) Good luck!
Click to expand...


Hi! this caught my eye.. we are very similar applicants (; 360 AA 370 TS... also have 3 years of private practice teching and scribing for three private practice OD's... I'm a calc II TA... honors college.. 3.98 GPA... I am wondering on your applications how may hours you estimated these to amount to. I worked basically full time and over the period of three summers and school breaks my rough estimate came out over 1000 hrs-- was yours similar? ps congrats on the high scores! kudos.
 
How do I see my science gpa and overall gpa if I haven’t taken the OAT yet? My application status is received
 
ggztt said:
Hi! this caught my eye.. we are very similar applicants (; 360 AA 370 TS... also have 3 years of private practice teching and scribing for three private practice OD's... I'm a calc II TA... honors college.. 3.98 GPA... I am wondering on your applications how may hours you estimated these to amount to. I worked basically full time and over the period of three summers and school breaks my rough estimate came out over 1000 hrs-- was yours similar? ps congrats on the high scores! kudos.
Click to expand...
Hi! Awesome stats :) It's neat to 'meet' someone so similar! Too bad we're not applying to the same schools! As far as hours go, I tried to keep track of everything so with that and the rough math I had ~1800 of work experience plus 200 of just shadowing (I shadowed at a bunch of practices but only worked at one). My estimate is probably a bit higher because I had a semester where I worked nearly full time due to transferring schools but I bet your estimate of over 1000 is a good one! Good luck with everything!
 
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Update:
Date OptomCAS submitted: 7/13/18
Date verified: 7/20/18
OAT Scores: 380 AA / 400 TS
Major: Biology BS
GPA: 3.59 overall
Extracurricular Activities: 6mos tech exp/shadowing, marketing committee of club, co-chair of a club, RA, significant IT work/experience
Schools applied: NECO, ICO, MCPHS
Interviews extended/date: NECO - 7/23/18
Interviews accepted: NECO (8/17/18)
Interviews declined:
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date: NECO 8-21-18

Good luck to everyone interviewing! FYI NECO’s interview was very laid back (and their new clinical training center is amazing)!
 
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Date OptomCAS submitted: 7/20
Date verified: 7/26
OAT Scores: 370 AA / 400 TS
Major: Psychology
GPA: 3.4
Extracurricular Activities: Shadowing, RA, VP at pre-health club, Relay for Life team captain
Schools applied: NECO, SUNY, ICO, NOVA, UHCO, OSU, UCB
Interviews extended/date: NECO(7/31), ICO(8/17), NOVA(8/6), SUNY(8/6), UHCO(8/24), UCB (01/04)
Interviews accepted: NECO, NOVA, ICO, SUNY, UHCO, UCB
Interviews declined: OSU
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date: NECO (8/21) NOVA (8/30) UHCO (9/19) ICO (9/20) SUNY (9/21)

@OptommyBoy I believe we met during our NECO interview :) I'm so glad you were accepted as well, tried to send you a private message but I think your profile settings doesn't allow for it - hope we can be future classmates next year!

Best of luck to everyone applying this cycle :xf:
 
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OptommyBoy said:
Update:
Date OptomCAS submitted: 7/13/18
Date verified: 7/20/18
OAT Scores: 380 AA / 400 TS
Major: Biology BS
GPA: 3.59 overall
Extracurricular Activities: 6mos tech exp/shadowing, marketing committee of club, co-chair of a club, RA, significant IT work/experience
Schools applied: NECO, ICO, MCPHS
Interviews extended/date: NECO - 7/23/18
Interviews accepted: NECO (8/17/18)
Interviews declined:
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date: NECO 8-21-18

Good luck to everyone interviewing! FYI NECO’s interview was very laid back (and their new clinical training center is amazing)!
Click to expand...
Congratulations on your acceptance to NECO! Also congrats on your amazing OAT scores :) I am interviewing at NECO on 09/14. Could you share any of the questions asked at the interview that you found interesting/challenging? Or any general thoughts about the best way to prepare for a NECO interview? Thanks!
 
Those of you who were offered interviews by salus, how long did it take for them to give you an invitation for interview email after they received your application?
 
SKP957 said:
Those of you who were offered interviews by salus, how long did it take for them to give you an invitation for interview email after they received your application?
Click to expand...
It took just over 2 weeks from when I got an email from Salus saying they had received my application to when I got an email inviting me to interview!
 
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optom207 said:
Congratulations on your acceptance to NECO! Also congrats on your amazing OAT scores :) I am interviewing at NECO on 09/14. Could you share any of the questions asked at the interview that you found interesting/challenging? Or any general thoughts about the best way to prepare for a NECO interview? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Honestly, my interviewer really only asked me, "Why NECO and why Optometry?". From there, our conversation flowed to a variety of topics. But I would say just come prepared regarding current events/issues in optometry and bring some questions to ask! Let me know if I can be of any more help, and good luck!!! NECO is absolutely amazing!
 
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OptommyBoy said:
Honestly, my interviewer really only asked me, "Why NECO and why Optometry?". From there, our conversation flowed to a variety of topics. But I would say just come prepared regarding current events/issues in optometry and bring some questions to ask! Let me know if I can be of any more help, and good luck!!! NECO is absolutely amazing!
Click to expand...
That's great to hear, thank you so much! Was it an open or closed file interview? And the interview is just one-on-one with a faculty member, correct?
 
@optom207 It was open file, they mentioned seeing my grades and OAT scores. And yes one-on-one w/ faculty member. Don't waste your time researching every single one as they let you know at the beginning of the day who you'll have and it has a brief intro so you can know their experiences/specialties!
 
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Date OptomCAS submitted: 7/26/18
Date verified: 7/31/18
OAT Scores: 370 AA / 360 TS
Major: Biology (chem and business minors)
GPA: 3.756
Extracurricular Activities: lots of shadowing and leadership experience
Schools applied: NOVA, UAB, AZCOPT
Interviews extended/date: AZCOPT (7/31), UAB (8/2), NOVA (8/8)
Interviews accepted: NOVA (8/17), AZCOPT (8/24)
Interviews declined: UAB (9/15)
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date: NOVA (8/23), AZCOPT (8/28)
 
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ODby2023 said:
Date OptomCAS submitted: 6/28/18
Date verified: 7/20/18
OAT Scores: 340 AA / 350 TS
Major: Biochemistry
GPA: 3.3
Extracurricular Activities: POPS leadership, research, TA, pre-health organization, 3+ years experience in optical/as a technician, 100+ hrs shadowing
Schools applied: UHCO, SCO, and ICO
Interviews extended/date: SCO 7/23, ICO 8/14
Interviews accepted: SCO 9/10
Interviews declined:
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date:
I'll keep you updated if I get more interviews! :)

Invited to fill out ICO supplemental 7/30
Click to expand...
Looks like you and I are interviewing for SCO on the same day!
 
Have any of you hear about IUSO admission day? I have one coming up in october! How likely is it that you get accepted to the program after you attend admissions day? So nervous but so excited!
 
For those of you who got accept to an interview/rejected without an interview was it through email or school portal?
 
Email to check the school portal for NECO, followed by packet ~a week later
 
chickengirl33 said:
Have any of you hear about IUSO admission day? I have one coming up in october! How likely is it that you get accepted to the program after you attend admissions day? So nervous but so excited!
Click to expand...

From what I gathered, there's a pretty good chance you'll be admitted since it's not an "interview". Unless they don't like you in person or you're rude, sounds pretty likely you'll be given an offer. I'm scheduled later in September!
 
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Date OptomCAS submitted: 7/16/18
Date verified: 7/24/18
OAT Scores: 360 AA/ 360 TS
Major: Biology, Music
GPA: 3.86
Extracurricular Activities: speciality shadowing, sorority, tour guide, Hillel, conduct board, vision clinics, opera ensemble
Schools applied: SCO, UHCO, UIWRSO, IUSO, OSU, ICO
Interviews extended/date: UIWRSO (7/31), SCO (7/31), OSU (8/1), IUSO (8/1), UHCO (8/7), ICO (8/28)
Interviews accepted: SCO (9/7), UHCO (9/17), ICO (10/9)
Interviews declined: IUSO, UIWRSO, OSU
Rejections/date:
Acceptance/date: SCO (9/12), UHCO (9/19), ICO (10/23)
 
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optojam1 said:
From what I gathered, there's a pretty good chance you'll be admitted since it's not an "interview". Unless they don't like you in person or you're rude, sounds pretty likely you'll be given an offer. I'm scheduled later in September!
Click to expand...
That's awesome! Let me know how it goes!
 
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