I have talked to many an admission counselor about this subject. They look at a variety of factors and rate you upon those. You get points based upon your grades, OAT, leadership, and experience.
So if you have ok grades..maybe a B average, and decent OATs you can still get in if you have some stronger areas as well. Like if you worked while going to school...even better you worked in the optical industry. You did volunteer work. You showed an increase in GPA the last few years when you got serious about school etc...
While having the best OAT and GPA scores is a good way to guarantee interviews and probably acceptance, they look at the whole app.
I am a single mom, who graduated with a degree in Law and Society. There were times in my school career that between work and family I thought "D was for diploma". I had a few A's in there as well and have a 3.1 GPA all around. Yes I could have done better, but the people I talked with were impressed that I could juggle all that I was carrying. Combine that with the fact I have been working in the optical industry for 7 years now, and I had two counsellors who told me all I needed to do was apply and finish my prereqs and I could get into their respective schools. I had two more that said my experience and references would go a long way to making my dream of opt school a reality.
I am still in contact with them. Since I could not afford to finish my three classes I still need to get into opt school. Gotta take physics and organic Chem...I cried the day I received a letter from one school granting me an extension on my app if I wanted to try and finish. Then later when I taked to them, they said I would have been accepted if I could have completed them in time...talking about frustration...
But the point of it is, if you are concerned about your chances, visit the websites of the schools you are interested in. Most of them have email links to their admissions department. Tell them the situation and ask for advice. That is what they are there for. If you keep in contact with them and follow their guidence, it will also give you an edge, cause they know how serious you are about it.
Good Luck!
Cassandra