Earliest notification of acceptance?

[Nanoosa7]

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I was just wondering when is the earliest a school can notify you of an acceptance?

Also, when is the earliest you can interview?

And, finally, do all optometry schools interview before accepting?

Thanks!

 

[J.opt]

I was just wondering when is the earliest a school can notify you of an acceptance?

Also, when is the earliest you can interview?

And, finally, do all optometry schools interview before accepting?

Thanks!

I think the earliest they can tell you that you are accepted is during the interview (given that you OAT scores are in), and the only school that I’ve heard gives out acceptances without an interview is Berkeley (top 10% applicants I believe). All other schools require an interview, although you can interview over the phone with IAUPR.
The earliest you can interview depends on how quickly you get your file complete, and how long the school takes to review your file (which varies from school to school). If you had your file complete on Aug 15, and you are pretty competitive, then you should expect an interview in early to mid September.

 

[Nanoosa7]

I think the earliest they can tell you that you are accepted is during the interview (given that you OAT scores are in), and the only school that I’ve heard gives out acceptances without an interview is Berkeley (top 10% applicants I believe). All other schools require an interview, although you can interview over the phone with IAUPR.
The earliest you can interview depends on how quickly you get your file complete, and how long the school takes to review your file (which varies from school to school). If you had your file complete on Aug 15, and you are pretty competitive, then you should expect an interview in early to mid September.

August 15? Is that the first day you can submit applications? Does each school have a different date when their applications can be submitted?

Is there a central application service for optometry schools where you just send one application to them and they distribute your app. to all the schools you want to apply to? Or do you have to apply to each school separately?

Thanks!

 

[Ning]

Hey,

Unfortunately, you have to apply seperately to all the schools, unlike dentistry and medical school. Although optometry schools require different people to write recommendation letters, you can usually just make some minor changes to the personal statement for each school. Yes yes, it was a pain sending off all those apps and asking so many different people for letters of recommendation.

Ning-Ju

 

[Nanoosa7]

Hey,

Unfortunately, you have to apply seperately to all the schools, unlike dentistry and medical school. Although optometry schools require different people to write recommendation letters, you can usually just make some minor changes to the personal statement for each school. Yes yes, it was a pain sending off all those apps and asking so many different people for letters of recommendation.

Ning-Ju

What kinds of different LOR's did you have to get? Isn't the standard: 2 professors (science) and an optometrist?

 

[Ning]

Hey,

For most schools, they wanted a science professor with whom you had taken a class with. But with Berkeley, this is what they required: a professor with whom you have done personal work (such as assisted on a specific project or served as a T.A. or reader). In this instance, I asked the professor whom I was working with as a lab attendant even though I hadn't taken a course with him.

SUNY requires two letters of recommendation from science courses rather than just one.

Because I knew graduate student instructors better, I had one write me some letters. However, some of the optometry schools like Ferris State only wanted letters from professors, consequently I had to get another letter from my orgo professor.

In total, I think I had 5 letters of recommendation, but I had 2 ODs write letters. Good luck with everything!

Ning-Ju

 

[Ning]

Forgot to add that some schools (Berkeley) recommended that their applicants should get one from a non-academic source, such as someone with whom you had worked for. That was another letter.

"An employer or extracurricular activity advisor who can comment about your maturity, diligence, and conscientiousness."

1-science professor
1-science GSI
2-OD
1-employer

Ning-Ju

 

[Nanoosa7]

Thanks for that info Ning....very helpful!

 

[J.opt]

August 15? Is that the first day you can submit applications?

That was an example. Schools start their application process at different dates. Most commonly they start on Aug 1, or Aug 15.