Good idea to retake the OAT?

[Optometry1988]

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Hey everyone! I was just wondering if I should plan on retaking the OAT. I took it once, a week ago, and I did not do so great. My overall and science were both 300 and my physics was a 260. I don't know what happened because I was doing great on practice tests and I got As/Bs in both Physics classes and labs. All my other scores were above 300. My GPA is also fairly good: 3.4. My degree GPA (I am a psychology major) is a 3.8.
My top schools are Nova, PUCO and ICO. I have emailed them and asked if I should retake the OAT and they simply said that the admissions committee will let me know if they want me to retake it. Based on my grades, volunteer work and shadowing, they all said I still have a shot. Is it best that I wait for a response from the committee or should I just go ahead and retake in February (earliest I can retake it)?
I appreciate the advice!🙂

 

[IGotHope2012]

Hey everyone! I was just wondering if I should plan on retaking the OAT. I took it once, a week ago, and I did not do so great. My overall and science were both 300 and my physics was a 260. I don't know what happened because I was doing great on practice tests and I got As/Bs in both Physics classes and labs. All my other scores were above 300. My GPA is also fairly good: 3.4. My degree GPA (I am a psychology major) is a 3.8.
My top schools are Nova, PUCO and ICO. I have emailed them and asked if I should retake the OAT and they simply said that the admissions committee will let me know if they want me to retake it. Based on my grades, volunteer work and shadowing, they all said I still have a shot. Is it best that I wait for a response from the committee or should I just go ahead and retake in February (earliest I can retake it)?
I appreciate the advice!🙂

I would wait. I have a similar stats as you but with 5 years of experienced and a lot of extraculiculum activities. I only completed one semester of physic tho. I got offered to two interviews at my top two schools; indiana and pacific. So you still have a shot.

 

[IGotHope2012]

My total science is 330 and total academic is 320. GPA 3.7. If it wasnt for low physic score it would be higher.

 

[Optometry1988]

Thanks for the feedback. I was pissed at that grade! I have been contemplating what I should do. I also have a ton of extra curriculars and experience, plus I have taken every class required and recommended and more! I actually just found out that I have taken enough science classes to get a biomedical science degree as well. So I will have TWO degrees! Maybe this will help? 😀

 

[fly10]

From my experience I feel like extra curricular's don't really help that much. No one ever gets rejected for having "not enough experience".. the two main things that the admission committee's look at is gpa and OAT score. I had a 290 AA and 300 TS and eventhough the admission committee's didnt ask me to retake I am retaking it anyways cause incase I don't get in this year and end up applying again I want to have a better OAT score in the 340 range. and the test is not that hard.

since you have already written it once you already know what to focus on.
for me i had a 260 in RC. lol. and English is my fist language..
Im taking it again in a month and I havnt really had time to study cause i have finals till DEC 20th .. but we'll see what happens.

 

[maybemed2013]

I would retake the OAT if I were you, and I do not think the 2 degrees make a difference

 

[Optometry1988]

From my experience I feel like extra curricular's don't really help that much. No one ever gets rejected for having "not enough experience".. the two main things that the admission committee's look at is gpa and OAT score. I had a 290 AA and 300 TS and eventhough the admission committee's didnt ask me to retake I am retaking it anyways cause incase I don't get in this year and end up applying again I want to have a better OAT score in the 340 range. and the test is not that hard.

since you have already written it once you already know what to focus on.
for me i had a 260 in RC. lol. and English is my fist language..
Im taking it again in a month and I havnt really had time to study cause i have finals till DEC 20th .. but we'll see what happens.

Wow you have finals until Dec 20th? I have finals only through this week! Yeah, I have been thinking about retaking the OAT anyway. I have the entire month of December to study, but the earliest I can take it is the third week of Feb....which is really late but at least they give you your scores right away. Hopefully at least one place gives me a shot and I won't have to worry as much. Good luck to you!

 

[ktrinh0001]

You should definitely retake the OAT. I have similar stats as you 310 overall, 290 science with 3.3 gpa in science and 3.6 overall gpa. My bachelors is in education/human resources and I have 3 associates, but I have been an x-ray tech for two years. I recently submitted the optomcas and any required supplementals. Got interviews scheduled for UMSL and RSO, and a supplemental request from ICO. I wasn't hoping for any interviews until after I retake the OAT in late Dec/early Jan, and figured my only shot would be last minute interviews. Although I have two interviews, I am still retaking the test whether or not I am accepted because I hate knowing I did bad on a test I could have done well on. The OAT isn't hard like you said; it's a matter of how much time you put into it, and how fast you can go through it. So just retake it in the case you don't get in for Fall 2012, plus it looks good that you are committed to better your application. At least you'll be ready to apply again as early as possible if necessary.