Does the caliber of your undergraduate institution matter?

[Qoonsa]

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I wonder how important it is to optometry schools that an applicant comes from higher or lower ranked undergraduate school.

For example: Does it really matter if an applicant comes from Tufts University a UMass or Roxbury Community College?

 

[KHE]

I wonder how important it is to optometry schools that an applicant comes from higher or lower ranked undergraduate school.

For example: Does it really matter if an applicant comes from Tufts University a UMass or Roxbury Community College?

You've started three new threads asking three questions that have all been answered numerous times on these forums. Try the search function. You'd be amazed how well it works.

 

[Qoonsa]

Goodness, I'm sorry 🙁

Thanks for the suggestion. I used the search function and found this thread answers my question for those of you who had similar questions:

anyone from a top 20 college going into optometry

I don't know how to close/delete a thread. Can someone tell me how to delete this?

 

[EyEnStein 07]

Just as all professional / graduate schools....where you come from does not matter. Your GPA, OAT, and experiences do matter.

Whether you come from a top 20 or a bottom 20 is irrelevant, They just like to see coursework done from a 4 year school as opposed to a 2 year college. So if possible, take all of your pre-reqs at a 4 year school.

 

[VTECaddict]

I dont think it matters directly, but if it comes to a situation where there are two students with identical stats, but one has a 4.0 from an ivy league and the other has a 4.0 from a local state college, the 4.0 from the ivy league is "better".

I think berkeley told our pre-opt club that the difference between school caliber shows in other areas such as OAT scores. higher caliber school students will have lower GPA but higher OAT, lower caliber school students may have a really high GPA but usually lower OAT score.

 

[kek7r]

I have a sort of similar question... I'm studying at a top public university (UVA), but I'll need to take summer classes to meet the prerequisites. If I take the classes at a community college close to home, will that negatively impact my application?

 

[eyeballinbruin]

I REALLY do not think where you graduated has any influence on your chances.

I graduated from a great undergrad school, UCLA, with a gpa well below 3.0 and then I took classes at my local community college after graduating to re-take poor grades and other pre-reqs. I still got into my top choice school, SCCO.

I think well rounded-ness is important when they look at your application...and a passion for optometry really shows through during the interview.

Good luck! 😉

 

[Commando303]

According to a member of the admissions committee of one of the colleges of optometry, it does matter at which school you complete your pre-requisites. This isn't to say non Ivy-Leaguers are assed out of the competition, but that four-year schools typically are favorable to two-year, colleges known for their science programs are preferred to those that aren't, etc.

 

[vendetta319]

I know a handful of my UCBSO classmates who attended community colleges for 2 years, then transferred to a "competitive" university for their bachelor's degree. They also got good GPAs, OAT scores, and work/volunteer/extracurricular experience just like the students who never attended community college. Most took prerequisite courses at their well ranked universities, others took them at community colleges. So I'm not sure if there's any advantage to either when it comes to an admissions panel.