Help!! What to do about OAT!

[abbmarie87]

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Hey Guys -
I really need help making some timing decisions. Currently I am taking genetics and Physics 2 (which I wanted to get through before taking my OAT's) but right after summerI classes end I am leaving for Panama to do some terrestrial and marine research for a whole month. Upon getting back from there I am traveling and then classes start. I have no clue when to take my OAT's or if taking them in September would even be worth it, like having a shot at admissions this year. I have a 3.8, worked in an optometry office a year, two Dr.'s that wrote me highly admiring letters, but do not feel prepared for the OAT and haven't done any studying... What do you think is best to do? Study in late Aug/Sept, take my OAT's in Sept then apply late? Or wait till next year admissions? I am also graduating a semester early so this December with my BS in Biology. PLEASE any input would be great🙁

 

[jymezg]

Hey Guys -
I really need help making some timing decisions. Currently I am taking genetics and Physics 2 (which I wanted to get through before taking my OAT's) but right after summerI classes end I am leaving for Panama to do some terrestrial and marine research for a whole month. Upon getting back from there I am traveling and then classes start. I have no clue when to take my OAT's or if taking them in September would even be worth it, like having a shot at admissions this year. I have a 3.8, worked in an optometry office a year, two Dr.'s that wrote me highly admiring letters, but do not feel prepared for the OAT and haven't done any studying... What do you think is best to do? Study in late Aug/Sept, take my OAT's in Sept then apply late? Or wait till next year admissions? I am also graduating a semester early so this December with my BS in Biology. PLEASE any input would be great🙁

I took mine in November and didn't have a problem; alas that was before the centralized app system...

Amount of study time depends on you as a person. Best bet is to take the opted test and see where you stand and decide how you wanna go from there. Everyone is different, I spent a couple of weeks a few hours a day studying.

 

[mvd]

Here's my two cents:
Firstly, I don't think applying in September is late at all, and is much better than not applying at all. Even though the application opens up in July, I don't think schools will even begin interviewing candidates until August/September.

I'm not sure how the new application process is going to work, what the forms will be like, etc., but if you're worried about getting your application in early, one thing that you could do would be to go ahead and submit your application in July/August and if there is a place to put when you plan the OAT, just indicate that you will take it in September. One school told me that once people begin applying, it might take several weeks for the application to be in their system, etc. OAT scores aren't sent to through the centralized system, but instead directly to the schools, meaning that once you took the OAT and the scores were sent to the schools, your app would already be in their system.

Again, I don't think September is too late to take the OAT/apply, but this option might be one to consider if you are concerned.

Hey Guys -
I really need help making some timing decisions. Currently I am taking genetics and Physics 2 (which I wanted to get through before taking my OAT's) but right after summerI classes end I am leaving for Panama to do some terrestrial and marine research for a whole month. Upon getting back from there I am traveling and then classes start. I have no clue when to take my OAT's or if taking them in September would even be worth it, like having a shot at admissions this year. I have a 3.8, worked in an optometry office a year, two Dr.'s that wrote me highly admiring letters, but do not feel prepared for the OAT and haven't done any studying... What do you think is best to do? Study in late Aug/Sept, take my OAT's in Sept then apply late? Or wait till next year admissions? I am also graduating a semester early so this December with my BS in Biology. PLEASE any input would be great🙁

 

[blysssful]

September isn't too late. Even though the OptomCas system starts in July, the schools will start reviewing applications on their own schedules. You should contact the schools you're interested in to see when they will begin reviewing applications (not when they start accepting them).

Some schools will review your application and even invite applicants for interviews without a complete file (especially applicants with higher GPAs), so you should send everything you have as soon as you can, then send the OAT scores when you get them.

I was in a similar situation last year--took ochem 1 & 2 over the summer, then studied for the OAT and didn't get to take it until the end of September. I was offered interviews from 5 of the 6 schools I applied to within 2 weeks, after I faxed my unofficial score reports to the schools (they already had the rest of my application). Even with a "late" OAT in September, I ended up being in the first interview groups of two of the three interviews I accepted. My GPA was much lower than yours, I didn't have a great deal of extracurriculars or volunteer experience. Point being, I don't think my situation was special, and I think you will be FINE.

 

[cloud99]

Blysssful is correct. A while ago I e-mailed a few schools asking when they will begin accepting/reviewing app's and here's the info I received...

SUNY: will accept apps on 7/15 (which is actually LATER than previous date of 7/1). Didn't say when they start reviewing.
ICO: starts reviewing 8/1. (previous app. accept date was 8/1).
PCO: will accept apps 7/15. File reviews don't start until 9/1.
NECO: said they don't know yet - keep checking web site. (not updated yet)

Remember, 7/15 is just the day that OptomCAS opens, allowing you to begin submitting your info. to THEM. Once your app. is complete (minus OAT scores which are sent directly to the schools and LOR's which will be forwarded to schools as they are received) it will be sent to the schools you choose. Each school decides when they start reviewing (i.e., ICO not till aug. and PCO not till sept.)

I only have a few schools listed here, but from the looks of it things seem pretty much the same. As always, however, the sooner the better!

Does anyone else have any info. on other schools?