Getting accepted without a bachelors degree?

[opto90]

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[sportsdude00]

whats pseo?

Hey guys, I'm planning on applying to optometry schools for fall of 2010 and was wondering if I would be considered a competitive applicant given the fact that I won't have my degree yet:

3rd year in college but officially a freshman (I took 2 full years of pseo)
GPA ~3.35
Work as an optician
A bunch of e.c activities
Volunteer work

I'm planning on taking the OAT this summer, which I would hope to get at least an avg. score on.
*I will have had all the pre-reqs completed prior to matriculation.

Anybody get accepted without holding a degree? If so, to which schools?
Any help/input would be greatly appreciated 🙂

 

[opto90]

It's a program where you attend college during your years in high school. So during my Junior and Senior years of high school, I was at a University full time like a regular college student (fulfilling both my high school and college requirements at the same time) in which the tuition was paid in full by the state.

 

[jymezg]

Thats pretty BA. What state is that in?

 

[thanotoriousfob]

It's a program where you attend college during your years in high school. So during my Junior and Senior years of high school, I was at a University full time like a regular college student (fulfilling both my high school and college requirements at the same time) in which the tuition was paid in full by the state.

Isn't that called running start?

 

[blysssful]

They have a program like this in Virginia with George Mason University. Its GREAT for students who want to get into more difficult schools because transferring as an undergrad is often easier than getting accepted right out of high school.

To the OP: some of the schools do require a Bachelors, and it is of course recommended for all, but there are definitely a lot of schools that will accept students without it.

Based on the 2008 entering class (from opted.org), these are the schools that don't require an undergrad degree, and the percentage of students in the 2008 entering class that DO have a degree:
UAB: 98%
NOVA: 96%
ICO: 94%
IU: 99%
NECO: 92%
MCO: 75%
UMSL: 87%
SUNY: 79%
NSU: 100%
OSU: 79%
PUCO: 79%
PCO: 95%
IAUPR: 93%
SCO: 100%

 

[Tizzle]

As a first-year in college, look at this thread:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=610471

In answer to your questions, in particular, look at the class profiles. It lists average GPAs, OAT scores, and if a degree is required or not at specific colleges.

Most of the colleges do not require a degree, but the completion of a degree is preferred. I'm not an adcoms, but from my perspective, having a completed bachelor's shows you can commit to a program and finish it.

Since you are a freshman, and looking at your username, I assume you are turning 19 this year. Regardless of your credits and prereqs, you may be viewed as young, which can be a negative to adcoms.

Even though you knocked out a lot of your prereqs in your college prep high school (or whatever they're called), I would do at least 2 or 3 years in college. It'll make you more mature, responsible, and you will be able to get better recommendation letters from a distinguished professor. A couple years in college will make you much more prepared to handle optometry school.

 

[opto90]

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