Good list of schools?

[luckyfeet]

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Cum, science: 3.1, 2.9
Oat: taking in August
One year research at ut Austin
Internship in a healthcare consulting firm
Volunteered at house for the blind
Pre opt society
Shadowed 2 ODs (corporate, private)

1. UIW
2. Western
3. PCO-salus
4. ICO
5. NOVA
6. MCPHS
7. NECO

 

[Optomchick]

Cum, science: 3.1, 2.9
Oat: taking in August
One year research at ut Austin
Internship in a healthcare consulting firm
Volunteered at house for the blind
Pre opt society
Shadowed 2 ODs (corporate, private)

1. UIW
2. Western
3. PCO-salus
4. ICO
5. NOVA
6. MCPHS
7. NECO

I would add more "reach" schools like SCCO or Berk, you never know.

 

[Blondiechick919]

I would add more "reach" schools like SCCO or Berk, you never know.

I would wait and see what his/her OAT was first-applying to that many schools is already about $400 in fees through OptomCAS. This doesn't include the schools' secondary app fees which are usually $50+ each. If money isn't a problem, no worries, but you can always add schools after you submit OptomCAS.

 

[luckyfeet]

Yeah I never realized how expensive this app process was! I don't even understand the point of supplementals, all the questions asked can be answered in the optomcas application.

I really don't think I have any chance at a berk or scco!

 

[luckyfeet]

I'm from Texas so I'm also applying to Houston even tho I don't expect to get an interview!

 

[Blondiechick919]

Yeah I never realized how expensive this app process was! I don't even understand the point of supplementals, all the questions asked can be answered in the optomcas application.

I really don't think I have any chance at a berk or scco!

I spent about $350 on OptomCAS to apply to 6 schools. Secondaries cost me about 200ish. Interviews didn't cost me nearly as much as I anticipated because I heard back from PCO and Nova first and they were my top 2. I went to them a week apart and was accepted to both, so I cancelled all my others and saved a ton flying to Boston, California, and Ohio (I'm in DC). I drove to PCO and stayed with my dad who happened to randomly be there for a business trip anyway (lucky!) so that cost me nothing, and Nova cost me about $200 for a flight and my hotel was about $90. I got a sweet Hyatt deal for students. The plus was that this hotel offered a free shuttle to the campus the morning of the interview, but not free airport shuttle service. However, the cab companies RIPPED ME OFF, charging me $35-40 one way to the hotel (it's a 5 minute drive) so that cost me $80-90. I would have been better off renting a car and then I could have explored the area a little.

I probably spent about $1000 total on apps, not including Kaplan OAT prep, the actual OAT, or the 2 prereq classes I had to do at a CC. That brought it to around $3500.

 

[Optomchick]

Yeah I never realized how expensive this app process was! I don't even understand the point of supplementals, all the questions asked can be answered in the optomcas application.

I really don't think I have any chance at a berk or scco!

You really never know, I know people with a 3.0 that got into Berk and SCCO.

 

[optoapp2012]

Cum, science: 3.1, 2.9
Oat: taking in August
One year research at ut Austin
Internship in a healthcare consulting firm
Volunteered at house for the blind
Pre opt society
Shadowed 2 ODs (corporate, private)

1. UIW
2. Western
3. PCO-salus
4. ICO
5. NOVA
6. MCPHS
7. NECO

You should probably narrow it down to the 5 you are MOST interested in. If Berkeley or SCCO make that list, add them. But don't add them just to see if you get in - that's wasting your money and their time IF you aren't even interested in going there. It also gets excessive to apply to too many schools - it's expensive and some schools look down on that since they feel like you couldn't make a decision or weren't confident in your ability to get in. Like someone else said, you can always apply to MORE schools later. So if you apply to 5 and don't get in anywhere, then you just go into OptomCAS and add more schools, pay the fee, do the supplementary for them, and you're done. I applied to 5 and actually wish I had applied to fewer - two of the schools on the list I knew I wasn't even interested in attending, so I'm not sure why I threw my money out the window for those! Just make sure you only apply to schools where you could definitely see yourself attending.

 

[Optomchick]

You should probably narrow it down to the 5 you are MOST interested in. If Berkeley or SCCO make that list, add them. But don't add them just to see if you get in - that's wasting your money and their time IF you aren't even interested in going there. It also gets excessive to apply to too many schools - it's expensive and some schools look down on that since they feel like you couldn't make a decision or weren't confident in your ability to get in. Like someone else said, you can always apply to MORE schools later. So if you apply to 5 and don't get in anywhere, then you just go into OptomCAS and add more schools, pay the fee, do the supplementary for them, and you're done. I applied to 5 and actually wish I had applied to fewer - two of the schools on the list I knew I wasn't even interested in attending, so I'm not sure why I threw my money out the window for those! Just make sure you only apply to schools where you could definitely see yourself attending.

Ya I guess I was trying to say this, don't just apply to "safety" schools, apply to the ones you really want to go to. Also, people may say I'm wrong on this, but I really don't think it hurts to apply to a lot of schools (besides $$ wise). The only school that asked me about how many I applied to was SCCO, none of the other schools really cared.

 

[luckyfeet]

Yeah but on optomcas some schools asked which other schools you apply too it's under "additional questions"

 

[Optomchick]

Yeah but on optomcas some schools asked which other schools you apply too it's under "additional questions"

I really don't think it makes a difference, if you do well in the interview, they'll want you at their school.

 

[Blondiechick919]

You should probably narrow it down to the 5 you are MOST interested in. If Berkeley or SCCO make that list, add them. But don't add them just to see if you get in - that's wasting your money and their time IF you aren't even interested in going there. It also gets excessive to apply to too many schools - it's expensive and some schools look down on that since they feel like you couldn't make a decision or weren't confident in your ability to get in. Like someone else said, you can always apply to MORE schools later. So if you apply to 5 and don't get in anywhere, then you just go into OptomCAS and add more schools, pay the fee, do the supplementary for them, and you're done. I applied to 5 and actually wish I had applied to fewer - two of the schools on the list I knew I wasn't even interested in attending, so I'm not sure why I threw my money out the window for those! Just make sure you only apply to schools where you could definitely see yourself attending.

People bring this up on med/dental boards ALL THE TIME. It will be the end of the application season when people need to make decisions so that people can make plans and people on wait lists can be notified, and this happens-

I only got into one school-AND I ABSOLUTELY HATE IT. All the responses sound something like this- "Why did you apply to a school that you had NO INTENTION OF GOING TO?" and the person will basically say that they applied to a lot of schools and that was the only school they got accepted to. Moral of the story-make sure you would be happy going to all the schools you apply to. Not only are you giving them money to consider you, reapplying is apparently a bitch.

 

[optoapp2012]

I really don't think it makes a difference, if you do well in the interview, they'll want you at their school.

I agree that it's not a major factor that they consider. However, again...why bother applying to any schools you don't actually see yourself at?

In addition, I was shadowing at a SVOSH clinic in Mexico that IU's optometry school had (because I was living abroad and it worked out conveniently). I chatted a lot with their admissions chair and he mentioned that they are getting more and more applicants who are only taking the OAT once and doing well the first time, plus they aren't applying to a million schools. He said they look at those students first. So while applying to lots won't usually be make or break for your admission, it could mean something if they are deciding between you and another applicant (especially in the case of waitlists). If this person is applying by September, s/he will have some answers by October and will still be in a position to be an early applicant to plenty of other schools. So I think it's wise for money and looking as great as possible to your first choice schools to limit your applications at first. No big deal if you decide to cast a wider net later, but there's really no need to do it so early. Like I said, I applied to five even though I had a very clear top 3. I wish I had waited to see what happened with the top 3 before throwing money at the other schools (one of which I traveled to to interview at). Even getting into 1 of the 3 would have showed me it was unnecessary to apply to any others.

 

[Optomchick]

I agree that it's not a major factor that they consider. However, again...why bother applying to any schools you don't actually see yourself at?

In addition, I was shadowing at a SVOSH clinic in Mexico that IU's optometry school had (because I was living abroad and it worked out conveniently). I chatted a lot with their admissions chair and he mentioned that they are getting more and more applicants who are only taking the OAT once and doing well the first time, plus they aren't applying to a million schools. He said they look at those students first. So while applying to lots won't usually be make or break for your admission, it could mean something if they are deciding between you and another applicant (especially in the case of waitlists). If this person is applying by September, s/he will have some answers by October and will still be in a position to be an early applicant to plenty of other schools. So I think it's wise for money and looking as great as possible to your first choice schools to limit your applications at first. No big deal if you decide to cast a wider net later, but there's really no need to do it so early. Like I said, I applied to five even though I had a very clear top 3. I wish I had waited to see what happened with the top 3 before throwing money at the other schools (one of which I traveled to to interview at). Even getting into 1 of the 3 would have showed me it was unnecessary to apply to any others.

I'm not sure why people are taking this to mean that she/he should apply to schools she/he doesn't want to go to. I'm just saying if it comes down to applying to another school you would attend, I wouldn't hesitate based on "oh they'll see I applied to so many." I agree with you that I applied to WAY too many when I knew I wanted to stay in state so Western, SCCO, Berk would have been perfect instead of applying to like PCO, where I didn't even bother to go for the interview cause I realize I couldn't survive in Penn lol.

PS. I'm jealous you got into Berk, that was my top choice 😛

 

[luckyfeet]

Ok cool I see what you are saying optoapp. I am taking my OAT in august so depending on that I may only apply to 2-3 in the beginning and maybe if I decide that i want to improve take my OAT again and do better I can always apply to more schools!