Deferment of Acceptance

[HelixOpt]

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Hey guys I am a sophomore in college and am trying to decide when to apply to optometry school. I really really want to get into SUNY because it is near home for me and i love NYC. I am afraid that I might not get in. Initially i was planning to apply at the end of my senior year so i get that next year off (-minus the interviews of course). However since I want to get into SUNY so badly is it wise to apply junior year and If I dont get it try again in senior year?

Also if I get in junior year can i defer my acceptance until the next year?

Just in case here are my grades and extra curricular so far so you can get an idea. If you can tell me if I am a strong applicant that would be awesome too!

Gen Chem 1:A
Gen Chem 2 B
Calc 123: A
Calc 125: B+
Calc 126 : B-
Bio 1: A-
Bio 2: A
Orgo 1: B- (sucks i know) 🙁

Extra:

-Alternative Spring Break to Georgia 2010

-Worked in a hospital setting up outreach program for under served people for a whole summer

- College Newspaper Opinion Editor

- Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity Member

- Treasurer of a club of musicians who play at hospitals and veterans homes

: I know that theres no way you guys can tell without physics or my OAT scores but i figured id just throw that out there.

 

[socal2014]

why is the b- in orgo such a big deal?

 

[tresrisque]

Your grades seem fine so far. Will you be getting your bachelor's at the end of your junior year? It seems as though most schools strongly prefer those who have a bachelor's degree. I would also add that you would need to do some more shadowing/observing. You do have a good amount of EC's, but keep up with your school work and study hard for the OAT!

 

[HelixOpt]

Hey, Yea Im definitely going to finish my bachelors degree in bio possibly minor in poly sci.

But im still wondering if I can defer an acceptance to an optometry school in order to get a year off

 

[Mewcakes]

Something tells me that schools don't generally let you defer matriculation. I think it's too competitive. Try calling a few of the schools and just ask? I could be wrong.

 

[tresrisque]

I thought this too, but I am not sure at all. I agree with Mewcakes, maybe you can call the schools!

Something tells me that schools don't generally let you defer matriculation. I think it's too competitive. Try calling a few of the schools and just ask? I could be wrong.

 

[hurricaneuro]

You can defer for something serious (medical condition, money problems, etc.), you have to write a letter...go through a whole process. I don't think "I just felt like seeing what would happen, but I'm not ready yet" would fall under the serious category! Just be confident and go for it!

 

[HelixOpt]

does wanting to travel or joining Americorps to gain some life experience count as a good reason. I know its not a "serious" reason but it would definitely be something constructive

 

[chewbacca4321]

SCO does not let you defer for any reason, but I really do think it's dependent on the school. I was considering defering for Teach for America but was told no. Your best bet would be calling them up.

 

[HelixOpt]

yea hopefully I can because I want at least two shots at getting in. And if I miss end of senior year thats two years waiting.

This might be a silly question but will calling and asking about deferment hurt my chances in the future at all or should i just ask anonymously?

 

[Mewcakes]

The person that picks up the phone is probably not going to remember your name in 3 months when apps are released, and definitely not by the time you complete your application. And that's if you apply THIS year. You can elect to give your name or not, the answer they give is going to be the same anyways. 😛 They either don't allow it or only allow it in the most extenuating of circumstances.

In the event that you can't defer or your reason is not...extenuating enough, don't stress about getting in on the first shot or not. It's great if you do, but if you don't, it's okay. There are LOTS of things you can do in a year to make you a stronger applicant to ensure your admission in the next cycle. I would try not to be so nervous about it. If you don't get in while applying during your senior year, it's only one year's break, and the time will fly faster than you think.

I graduated March of 09 and couldn't have possibly studied for the OAT at the same time as finishing out my crazy-ass studies. So I was a little too late to apply for the 2009 matriculating class, but now I'm matriculating in August of this year and have NO idea where the time went. I'm not sad that I "wasted time" or anything. I got to work, make some money, gain some experience, and unwind before entering what will likely be the most academically intense period of my life. So don't worry too much about it, okay?

edit: Now that I think of it, if you apply during your 3rd year, will you have the majority of your pre-reqs completed by then? It's possible that they won't admit you because they'll look at your courses and say "uhm...a large chunk of this person's prereqs are missing and it doesn't seem like they plan on completing them by this August...(unless you're actually going to cram them all in before the end of your 3rd yr)" and they may not grant you admission based on that. I don't think you get to make a note anywhere that you're applying with the plan of deferring any acceptances...Kind of hard to explain, do you get what I'm saying? So maybe it's better to just save the money and wait until your senior year to apply when you have the majority of your prereqs done and a whole year more of experience?

 

[HelixOpt]

Thanks for the long response, i really appreciate you reading and writing all of that. Im still a l little confused though.

Say I apply in like September after my senior year (after graduating) To try and enroll the upcoming summer. Now If I miss that shot I will have wait till at least June to apply for the summer after that. Then the next august I would have been 2 years out of college

Like this:

September 2012 (done with college) (apply For August 2013 and dont get in)

June 2013 (apply again for 2014 august enrollment) (get in)

August 2014- Start Opt school. At this point wouldn't I have spent a full 2 years out of college or am i missing something here? I am a little bad with dates and time lines 😛

Also by the end of junior year ill be done with these prereqs

Chem 1 year
Orgo 1 year
Physics 1 year
Calc 1 year
Stats 1 semester
Microbio 1 semester
Bio 4 semesters
Psychology 1 semester

I think SUNY doesn't require anatomy of physiology but I could get those in by the end of junior year comfortably as well.

 

[Mewcakes]

OH. I was thinking if you applied WHILE you were in your senior year. Like apps would come out July 15 and you would enter your senior year 1 month later in August. Then if you didn't get in, then you could try again and you'd only be losing one year. Wait let me go back and read your original post.

Ok, I read it and I kind of understand what you're doing. And to this I say that as long as you continue to keep on top of your prereqs and get good grades and good OATs, even if you spend a year off maybe racking up some more experience, there are few reasons you won't be accepted to optometry school. I know SUNY is your goal though. But after you accepted by every school that you applied to, which at this point might be within your ability, you'll feel silly about being so worried about it now.

I graduated march 09, but my 4-yr grad date was SUPPOSED to be june 08, but then by the time I had to cram all the pre-reqs in there with my genetics curriculum and 2 jobs, it stretched it a little bit. So my prolonged college tenure and my unpreparedness for the OATs when I SHOULD have taken them (summer 08), I essentially am about 2 years late. But I don't feel like my life has been wasted. I feel like I grew up A LOT and I'm now prepared to move 2000 miles away from my family and significant other and dive BACK into school. I'm not sure that if I had gone to school RIGHT away if I would have been ready, personally. So again, I just wouldn't stress it. I'm behind my college/highschool friends by 2 years, but I'll still be a doctor before I'm 28, which is still good.

edit: Me and my thought process are, on the whole, generally confusing. PM me if you have any questions or need clarification or want someone to talk to!

 

[HelixOpt]

Was wondering if anyone has any more insight on the deferment possibility?