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Full course load?

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popskittles

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10+ Year Member
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Can we only apply in U.S. optometry school with a full course load? (i.e. 5 courses each term=30 credits full year) Apparently, University of Waterloo wants full course load. Canada and its pre-req's!!:scared:
 
I highly doubt it, especially for those needing to work full-time while attempting to finish a part-time course.
 
In short, no, you can apply as a part time student. You may have some trouble convincing the schools that you can handle a full courseload if you have always been a part time student.
 
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I'm NOT a part-time student. I have 24-26 credits every year (>19 credits=full-time student) but at the same time, I DON'T have a full course load a.k.a 30 credits every year. I think I'll just call the uni's and ask, US and Canadian credit system seems to be different 😳
 
I think the main concern is less about how many credits you take during a school year, but more about how many you take at once. But you're definitely right, the best insight will come straight from the schools.
 
I'm not sure how being a "full-time student" differs from bearing a "full course-load." Nonetheless, in response to the spirit of your query, I think most schools just want to see you can take several courses simultaneously, and do well in all of them. I believe they'd consider a candidate who took a class or two, per semester, to make room for working/life/family/etc., but they're likely to favor the applicant who's shown he or she has the capacity to undertake a rigorous curriculum (as that is what an O.D. program will present).