Considering optometry: Should I just wait a year?

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Hi all, this is my first time posting, so hopefully I'm not asking something out of line or being annoying with posts like this (I did a search and I know there are similar ones). I'm starting my 4th year soon, so I suppose I'm not as "prepared" as other pre-opt students in terms of preparation. But I'm also just wondering how good my chances are for optometry, or should I just wait a year to strengthen my application (after I job shadow some optometrists to find out if this is right for me. I'm trying to do this currently but it might be rushed).

I'm in: Canada
My cumulative GPA: 3.90 (according to the OUAC conversion)

Problem 1: I haven't done my OAT yet and I'm not sure if I can achieve a good score. - I thought about doing it this summer but I have a full time research job and I'm also taking courses for the summer, so it's a bit hard. (I personally study better when I know i have say, a month or two to focus completely on it). I'm weak with physics and I'm not that great with orgo (it's been 2 years since I took it and i did very well -- but I can't say I actually know much about it anymore). If i do it, i'll have to start studying basically, during my first term of my 4th year. Therefore, not confident if I can get a good enough score.

Problem 2: I haven't job-shadowed. Since I did mention I recently considered optometry, needless to say i don't have that much experience. I seriously think this is what is holding me back, I accept that. Plus I want to make informed choice before I think optometry is RIGHT for me. Moving on, I'm not sure if it'll "look bad" that I job shadow so late (as in, applying end of July but job shadowing in say, August). Also, that's if I can manage to find an optometrist to job shadow (I'm ashamed to say I haven't the chance and right now work is my first priority).

So my dilemma is that, I wanted to just try for waterloo. But deep in my heart I know my application is not ready; I can take the OAT and get a decent score maybe. I can try to find job shadow soon and know a bit about optometry. But DEEP DOWN I won't feel satisfied because I know I'm a bit rushed and that I can actually get a better OAT score and more job shadow experience. So basically if I do end up applying, I would basically be applying just to get some insight and experience on the interview so I can come back full throttle a year later, and be 100% ready.**

**(I know some people think that 'trying even know you won't get in is a waste of money'. Let's just keep cost a factor out of this for now.)

However, I want to at least 'hope' that I have somewhat a chance if I do apply this year despite not being as readied as I want to be (after I job shadow at least). But from what I heard, Waterloo is hard to get in. Question1: I don't want to sound "lazy" or anything like that, but are there any American optometry schools that may be less competitive? With my application not 100% to my satisfaction, I don't dare to dream that a competitive school will take me, that would be wishful thinking and an insult to those that worked harder than me. I don't mean to sound like I'm looking for an "easy way out" in case UW doesn't accept me but if say, if I know A-rank school won't take me, then it makes more since to try for some B-rank schools, not more A-ranks that won't take me.*

*By no means I'm saying one is more inferior than the other, but just that maybe some will be "easier" to get into from what I heard. In fact I don't really have much knowledge on which is better actually.

Question2: Basically, would you wait a year? Or would you go ahead with it, and if I do, how good of a chance (or not) do i stand with this?
GPA: 3.9
OAT score: I think I can manage 360 overall
Job shadowing: Maybe 1 or 2 optometrists (I just would feel better if I had more volunteering experience for say, couple more months... sole reason why I feel NOT prepared)
Volunteering: Senior homes, food bank, science clubs
Extracurricular: Tutoring, free piano lessons, clubs
Work: Random warehouse jobs, research position, TA-ing, arts and graphics team for an online game (odd, ... don't ask..)
Awards: Scholarships, NSERC, honor lists, etc.


I thank anyone for actually reading my post (I can type so much sometimes!). I'm open to any critique, suggestions, puffs of annoyances at "oh another one of them"-posts, and so on. 🙂

 

[mathcod]

I'm sure you would do fine on the OAT.

I realized that I wanted to do optometry at the beginning of my fourth year, which was two months before Berkeley's application deadline. I spent those two months trying to inform myself as much about optometry as possible and get as involved as I could because the lack of optometric experience was my profile's greatest weakness (decent GPA, great LORs, OAT 400/380, ECs, research, etc).

Before my interview in February, I accumulated 40 hours of shadowing and said that I participated in a few documented community visual screenings, my campus' pre-opt club, and browsing SDN and literature about the profession. I got rejected by Berkeley, and in my negative feedback they only listed my lack of optometry experience. However, a club member who had tons of experience also got rejected, but she didn't opt for feedback because she was quite bitter about the situation. I personally think the top schools really want you to have extensive optometric experience.

However, I did get interviews for all the schools I applied to (I applied at the end of the cycle) and was able to get into a school.

I think you should try applying this year. I think if you apply to one or two competitive schools and one or two other schools, you are bound to get into at least one school. Despite my lack of optometric experience (which I made clear in my personal statement, although I'm not sure if that was a smart move), I still got interviews at the competitive schools so that means that you have a realistic shot even if you are lacking in experience.

As you know, you definately want to start getting shadowing experience as soon as possible. I'd say 20 hours before your interview would be the bare minimum requirement before it becomes a serious red flag. Of course, the more the better, and the more varied the settings the better.

I think if you didn't get into optometry school this year, I believe you could get into any school you wanted to as you obtain optometric experience in your year off, binding your OAT is good (which you will probably ace).

that's my opinion.