depressed and need advice (kind of long)

[mysteriouseyes]

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Hey all! I'm just going to vent to a bit.... I'm guess I'm just looking for someone to sympathetize with me because most of my friends are non-science majors and so they just don't understand what we science/medical related students go through.

So, looking around at the various Opt. school websites.... I've noticed that Opt. schools say they "require" a letter grade of C or higher. If that was the case then how come they are not accepting of students with GPA's lower than 3.0.

Here's my issue. My family is pretty well-off and so I was not able to get financial aid of any sort because on paper we make a lot of money however just because my family makes that much money it does not mean we have that much money. Anyway bottom line is.... I had to find a job to pay for my Private University costs and get myself through college. So I got a job at Eyemasters which I thought would help me get into Opt schools too.

I don't know if anyone is familiar with Eyemasters but they are not a very ogranized company and most people will tell you Eyemasters is the devil lol. Well, my boss was pyscho and would schedule me to work from the time that I got out of school til closing (9-10pm depending on how busy we are). I would never have any days off. Even if I worked 5 days a week and had wkds off I would've been ok but 7 days a week with 5+ hours a day and being a full time student.

This job took a toll on me physically, emotionally, and mentally..... I made straight C's for several semesters. After working there for 8 months, I was weighing a mere 85 lbs. I never had time to study for the simply reason that after being in school all day and then going to work I was just too tired to study. Some how I did end up graduating in 4 years but my GPA ended up being a 2.69. I took the OAT yesterday and got AA: 320 and TS: 340.

Althought my GPA sucks and my OAT scores are about average, I feel like I'm capable of doing well in Opt school if admitted. Since I've graduated, I've been hired at a local community college as a private tutor and I tutor things like: Human A&P, Microbiology, all bio, chemistry, all maths, developmental reading/writing....and etc. How could I be a tutor with full knowledge of all these subjects? So I emailed my top 5 choices of Opt. schools about my situation and they basically gave me a response that boiled down to don't even bother applying because you won't get accepted. That's not exactly what they said..... but they were like our GPA averages are about 3.46 and blah blah blah.

I just feel really hopeless and STUPID! I was just wondering if there are more ppl like me out there or does everyone on SDN have a 3.2 or higher GPA with perfect OAT scores? I feel like every thread I read someone is whining about their GPAs or OAT scores when their scores are way about acceptable so I just wanted to take the time to do my own whining.... sorry for this being so long..... I did say I wanted to vent for a bit lol. Good luck to everyone and their future endeavors!

 

[jMoo]

hi. i totally understand where you're coming from. i had to work to pay for my education too. i actaully work 3 jobs now. your scores and gpa are about what i have, however, i dont think it hurts to apply anyway. but if you dont end up getting in, i suggest doing a masters program. im actually doing a masters currently and even with a low pre-req gpa, i got an interview to pco. suny, however, decided before my oat and decided no interview so it varies. for me, it depends on the emphasis the school puts on pre-reqs because thats where the low gpa comes into play. hope that helps.

 

[alferec]

Admissions committees always consider outside factors (besides OAT and GPA). Many applications have a place where you can talk about struggles, issues, problems, etc. If not then you can always write about it in your essay.

Going through all those problems and still managing to get by is quite a feat, and that is what you should emphasize in your applications. Most importantly, you should state that all of those problems never stopped you from reaching your goals.

 

[lesset01]

Oh wow, we are practically in the same boat!!!

I had some HARD times during undergrad. I think I've posted his somewhere before, so I hope nobody minds me saying it again, but I had some severe severe depression issues for 2 years and my grades were bad. Bad is an understatement....I had all Fs. Literally, my gpa went from 3.3 to 1.7 or something. I have a 2.7 now at the community college I'm going to (b/c my 4 yr school "asked me to take a semester off") My gpa here is low b/c I sort of felt for the spring and summer that I was just floating around and I had no idea what to do. I felt like a failure. I've been getting treatment and this sem I'm doing AMAZING. I know I'm going to do well on the OATs, but I can't say for sure b/c I haven't takenn them yet. I have 3 weeks to go. I would seriously consider cutting off limbs if it meant getting into to OD school....ANY OD school. I've been working as a optican for 5 years and and tech/optician for the last year. I also volunteer as an audio reader for the KS audio reader program (for ppl who can't see well enough to read, they tape us reading books and magazines and then play it on Kansas public radio). I have GREAT LORs and stuff, but I'm pretty sure the opt schools are going to laugh at me.
I know that I've got what it takes, but with all the troubles I've had, I dont' know how to prove to them that I have what it takes. THey are just going to see my gpa and assume I'm a slacker. If they covered my gpa and looked at everything else, i would be a shoe in for a seat, and I'm tempted to put that in my app when I send it in. I'm going thru retroactive withdrawal to get Ws for the Fs, so that will be a huge help, but if it doesn't happen I'm pretty much up a creek. What do I have to do to show them I'm serious?!?!?! I mean you can survive with one kidney right? Who on the admissions board needs one????

I totally understand how you feel. I wish they could just step back and really see me and how serious i am about this and what a good OD i'd be.

 

[eyecare4eyecare]

Some schools take below a 3.0. Plus you have above average OAT's....so you'll be cutting close, but try anyway. Look at the demographics for each school and see which one would take you.

 

[Docc99]

My sister had a 2.6 GPA and 310 OAT and sent her apps in after the first of the year. She is in her second year at UMSL and they only matriculate about 50 students each year. Its possible, dont give up.

 

[nibor3525]

don't fret---

indiana said they don't take below a C and i have a couple C-'s and still got an interview. 🙂

 

[aam0050]

I'm worried just like you are!! There are a lot of us that are in the same excruciating situation (avg grades, avg OAT, above avg nervousness.) When the average OAT is 350 and GPA is 3.5 at a particular school, it's an average for a reason.. there are people with abnormally high GPAs and OATs, people well-below, then lots in the middle. Like Docc99 said, just don't give up! I'm just going to have to flaunt my experience, extreme desire, knowledge of the profession and what I'm getting myself into, enthusiasm... and hopefully that will win their hearts. 🙂

Best of luck to everyone! 😀

 

[drsax]

I'm worried just like you are!! There are a lot of us that are in the same excruciating situation (avg grades, avg OAT, above avg nervousness.) When the average OAT is 350 and GPA is 3.5 at a particular school, it's an average for a reason.. there are people with abnormally high GPAs and OATs, people well-below, then lots in the middle. Like Docc99 said, just don't give up! I'm just going to have to flaunt my experience, extreme desire, knowledge of the profession and what I'm getting myself into, enthusiasm... and hopefully that will win their hearts. 🙂

Best of luck to everyone! 😀

I couldn't have said it better myself 😀 Sometimes it can look like an uphill climb. I have average stats across the board too, but like aam0050 said, make sure to wow them where you can. Good luck everyone!!!!

 

[aam0050]

It's cool/funny how we're all competitors but we try to keep everyone motivated to keep competing and to do better!

 

[cpw]

It's cool/funny how we're all competitors but we try to keep everyone motivated to keep competing and to do better!

generally speaking, ODs are a fun and friendly bunch. 😀 Regardless of being competitors you still want to see someone who's very committed to being an OD do well and get in ... vs someone who's not really sure what they want from life.

 

[hoosier1]

generally speaking, ODs are a fun and friendly bunch. 😀 Regardless of being competitors you still want to see someone who's very committed to being an OD do well and get in ... vs someone who's not really sure what they want from life.

🙂 🙂 🙂

 

[IcanSEEanOD]

..

 

[gtnpaid]

Hey Mysteriouseyes,

I encourage you to keep trying. I wasn't the best udergrad student as well. I was overstressed and my GPA went down to a 2.7. My first OAT was 310, my second was 330. I know how you feel. I was determined to get in to Optometry school. I didn't get in the first time, so I worked closely with one of the admission member who said with a firm and frank tone "...well, if you want to have a chance of being accepted, you must retake your oat (then a 310) and retake a year of classes that you didn't do well in with a full load and then maybe you might have a chance." So, i committed myself and succeeded the following year. Now, I've been practicing for 8 years and love it.

Don't give up!!! find out everything you can do personally/academically relative to the school to which you are applying. Show them that you are persistant and working on the neccessary path to acceptance...it will work for you. Just get it done! The road is long and hard but you can do it.