How to improve?

[kristykan2003]

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Hi everyone. I recieved my oat scores and it's below average. This is my second time taking it.

What can I do to improve? Thanks. As of now, no interviews 🙁

RC: 310
QR:260
PHYSICS:280
OCEM:350
GC:310
BIO:270
AA:300

 

[ppa93]

Hi everyone. I recieved my oat scores and it's below average. This is my second time taking it.

What can I do to improve? Thanks. As of now, no interviews 🙁

RC: 310
QR:260
PHYSICS:280
OCEM:350
GC:310
BIO:270
AA:300

Study hard. You might want to consider taking a course at Kaphan or something. Or you can buy a few books and practice it. you can go to Puerto Rico with that score. Dont worry

 

[PLPrincess]

Hi everyone. I recieved my oat scores and it's below average. This is my second time taking it.

What can I do to improve? Thanks. As of now, no interviews 🙁

RC: 310
QR:260
PHYSICS:280
OCEM:350
GC:310
BIO:270
AA:300

Great OChem score...Don't stress, your scores aren't that far off from what the schools are looking for. I think a couple weeks of pushing yourself and u'll be exactly where u need to be.

Where did you apply?

Did you take Kaplan/buy TopScore?

3rd year or 4th?

 

[JennyW]

Great OChem score...Don't stress, your scores aren't that far off from what the schools are looking for. I think a couple weeks of pushing yourself and u'll be exactly where u need to be.

Where did you apply?

Did you take Kaplan/buy TopScore?

3rd year or 4th?

I hate to be a downer here, but when I was on the admissions commitee, those scores would likely have resulted in the application being denied without an interview. Even if the GPA was astronomical. You're below average in quantitative reasoning, physics, and biology. Unfortunately, those are all big in optometry.

If this is your 2nd time taking it and those are your scores, it might be time to start thinking about going down a different path.

Jenny

 

[ppa93]

I hate to be a downer here, but when I was on the admissions commitee, those scores would likely have resulted in the application being denied without an interview. Even if the GPA was astronomical. You're below average in quantitative reasoning, physics, and biology. Unfortunately, those are all big in optometry.

If this is your 2nd time taking it and those are your scores, it might be time to start thinking about going down a different path.

Jenny

Jenny, dont be mean to him. I believe he can do it if he tries a bit harder. Just believe in yourself and dont listen to Jenny

 

[parazoa]

Hi everyone. I recieved my oat scores and it's below average. This is my second time taking it.

What can I do to improve? Thanks. As of now, no interviews 🙁

RC: 310
QR:260
PHYSICS:280
OCEM:350
GC:310
BIO:270
AA:300

Ok your scores are not great but my scores were not great either and I am now a third year and I am in the upper 1/4 of my class (BSK Member). Don't let people tell you that you can't do it instead take that negativity and use it as energy. You have to be committed and if this is truly what you want then stop at nothing and reach for your dream. If you give up you will always regret it.

Good luck and godspeed!

 

[pre-opt]

Don't be discouraged, especially if this is really what you want to do. I totally know what you are going through because I was basically in the same spot that you are in a few months ago. My 1st OAT wasn't too great...only a 290. I got an interview and was told to retake the OAT. So I studied really hard for about 1.5 months and ended up raising my OAT 60 points. If you are curious here were my scores:

Feb 04 Feb 05
AA 290 350
QR 280 340
RC 260 330
Phy 330 360
Bio 240 310
Chem 300 340
Org Chem 300 390
TS 290 360

The main advice I would give is to study off a wide range of materials. I used old notes, old textbooks, examkrackers, kaplan MCAT and DAT books, and topscore. Keep trying and I'm sure that you'll get in. Good luck!

 

[subtractrock]

It is very valuable to have an opinion from someone like JennyW. It is not likely that you will encounter many individuals who have served time on an admissions board in the field that you wish to enter. I have read many posts from her, and she knows what she is talking about.

However, I also believe (albeit maybe naively) that anyone with around average intelligence can accomplish anything worldly that they wish, IF they have the determination and resolve required to do so.

That being said, if you (kristykan2003) know in your heart that optometry is exactly what you want to do, and nothing else would satisfy you professionally, then you can make it happen. It is going to take some serious dedication. It seems that you have a great deal of dedication already, if you have taken the OAT twice, and I sincerely hope for you that you can get it up a bit. Nothing is ever 100 % for sure, not what JennyW says, and not what I say, but I believe that you should not take discouraging posts too seriously. For example...Like al-majhul tells stories, I will tell one...

A few months ago, when I was deciding where I wanted to apply, a mentor of mine in optometry, who's advice I take very seriously, told me "I wouldn't waste a stamp on SUNY." The reason for this: he said I had no chance of getting in. Well, I have an interview scheduled with them at the end of the month, so I'm more than half way to getting in.

Another short story: At the beginning of the semester, I called a professor at my school to ask her if she would let me into her molecular cell biology course even though I hadn't taken the two prerequisites for the class. She swiftly informed me that she had never seen a student pass her class who she let in w/o them. When I tried to respond, she hung up on me. I decided to show up to her class anyway, and afterwards, I approached her, and was able to convince her to let me in(only b/c I am a post-bac student, and poor grades won't really affect her). She was probably surprised then, when I got the only A on her first exam out of 40-50 students.

The point is, don't let negative advice discourage you. Let it make you more determined. The OAT is important to getting in, but there is always next year.

 

[madin]

For Physics, I bought an A.P. Physics prep book and looked up about 10 formulas. Using only those 10 formulas memorized, I scored a 300. I could have scored higher if I got to look at the second semester physics but didn't have time so this was my lowest score. Second semester sucked anyways. I wonder why do we have to know how lenses work.

For Organic Chem, I bought the cliff notes Organic Chemistry II. I memorized most of the reactions near the end of the book. Awesome book.

Chem seems to be just common sense to me so I studied my class notes. Just make units match.

Biology is just memorization of class notes.

For quantitative, they seem to ask the same types of questions over and over throughout the exam. Good ones to practice are stuff like "how many nickels and quarters in $1.60" and "Jane is 3 times older than John - How old is John." They must have asked those types of questions like 10 times in my exam.


For reading comp, don't be afraid to skip an entire passage. My second passage sucked and made no sense so I did the first and third completely and then randomly guessed on the second passage.


Hope this helps.

 

[JennyW]

Don't be discouraged, especially if this is really what you want to do. I totally know what you are going through because I was basically in the same spot that you are in a few months ago. My 1st OAT wasn't too great...only a 290. I got an interview and was told to retake the OAT. So I studied really hard for about 1.5 months and ended up raising my OAT 60 points. If you are curious here were my scores:

Feb 04 Feb 05
AA 290 350
QR 280 340
RC 260 330
Phy 330 360
Bio 240 310
Chem 300 340
Org Chem 300 390
TS 290 360

The main advice I would give is to study off a wide range of materials. I used old notes, old textbooks, examkrackers, kaplan MCAT and DAT books, and topscore. Keep trying and I'm sure that you'll get in. Good luck!

The difference here is that in your 2nd time around, you scored substantially higher. The OP still scored well below average the 2nd time. If they think that the 3rd time will be a charm, then they should go ahead and retake it but with scores like that the 2nd time, I am skeptical of their chances on the 3rd try.

Jenny

 

[Katalio]

Although sometimes I think JennyW is a bit TOO straightforward, shez very knowledgable, what she says isn't insulting, just trying to make you realize reality. However, I strongly encourage you to try to take the OAT again and go towards what u really want to go into!

Perhaps you can get a tutor to tune up your basics? I feel that a lot of Q's in the OAT are mainly about basics and the speed at which you can recover them from your memory. (especially QR, very easy questions, just tons of them).

I studied all of my material from the Kaplan MCAT Review book..it's not SUPER thick and its' very very useful. Maybe you can take a look at that?

Dont' give up! =)

 

[kiseki]

Hi everyone. I recieved my oat scores and it's below average. This is my second time taking it.

What can I do to improve? Thanks. As of now, no interviews 🙁

RC: 310
QR:260
PHYSICS:280
OCEM:350
GC:310
BIO:270
AA:300

I don't know what you've already done so far to improve your scores from the 1st time, but before I took my OATs i focused on the subjects I was really bad at (mostly Physics...and I should have worked on QR more...). I think the kaplan material for Physics really isn't helpful at all - the practice problems are WAY too hard and the instructional material wasn't that helpful, but doing the examples in the big review book did help. I also bought an AP physics study guide to make sure I knew the equations and basic problem types - and the physics section on the OAT was my second highest score (360). For bio, there's a lot of information but I think going over the topics help (I used AP books for this too). i think if you're able to set aside a good amount of time to focus on the OATs it'd really help (I dropped a class I was going to take over summer to study instead, because multi-tasking just isn't easy for me)...good luck if u decide to take it again! =)

 

[pl512]

Don't worry about your OAT scores. Take it again and study harder. If optometry is truly what you are passionate about then taking the test a third time is just what you have to do. I am telling you this from personal experience. I've taken the OAT multiple times and finally improved my scores and I would take it again if I have to. I have an interview next month with Nova. Don't let this stop you from pursuing your dreams. I wanted to give up several times but my passion and desire to become an optometrist won't let me quit. The Kaplan MCAT and DAT books really helped. You might want to look into that. Please don't let anyone tell you that you cannot do this, because you can, and it is possible. Just don't give up!!! Ask yourself if you are willing to put the time and effort into studying for the OAT. If you are, then go for it!!!! GOOD LUCK! 🙂 DONT GIVE UP!!!!!

 

[kristykan2003]

Thank you pl512. Optometry is really where my heart is and I don't think i would be happy doing anything else. I know I'm probably not the sharpest tool in the shack, but I know I can at least give it another try. I haven't been putting much time into studying for the OAT because I'm such a procrasinator. I know what I must do now. Study harder! I'm definitely signing up for the KAPLAN course. Thanks everyone for your comments. For those who were harsh on me, thank you for making me realize that I have to work hard to earn my way in. And for those who were kind with your comments, thank you for your support. I really needed it. Kristy

 

[TommyGuns]

I just got my OAT scores today, and this is what I got: AA 350 TS 380 😀 . I studied for the OAT for two weeks, and before I started, I had forgotten all Organic Chem and General Chem. I had to relearn those, so I used Examkrackers and an Orgo text book that I borrowed from a friend.

My advice for studying for the OAT is this: Don't study hard. Instead, study SMART. I went through the practice OAT in the OAT Admission Testing Program booklet to develop a sense of the types of questions it asked, and I studied accordingly. Make sure you know the general concepts for everything; I found that I didn't have to go into too much detail with anything. After going through the program booklet as well as the TopScore CD, I had a general idea of things I needed to focus on (which saved a lot of time!).

Everyone uses a different approach to studying for the OAT. What's important is that you find out which method works for you. You should continue to ask around to see how others have studied for the OAT, and then develop your own strategy.

I hope this helps... and the best of luck to ya! 👍

TommyGuns

 

[tammmy]

Thank you pl512. Optometry is really where my heart is and I don't think i would be happy doing anything else. I know I'm probably not the sharpest tool in the shack, but I know I can at least give it another try. I haven't been putting much time into studying for the OAT because I'm such a procrasinator. I know what I must do now. Study harder! I'm definitely signing up for the KAPLAN course. Thanks everyone for your comments. For those who were harsh on me, thank you for making me realize that I have to work hard to earn my way in. And for those who were kind with your comments, thank you for your support. I really needed it. Kristy

I don't know how good this advice is since I haven't been accepted (much less applied to optometry school yet!), but if you can't seem to pull those grades up, maybe focus on other parts of making yourself a competitive applicant? Get involved in community service, find a leadership role, work at an eye clinic, etc. Find your niche. I've heard advice from a number of current optometrists, and they all seem to say that if they could go back, they would've enjoyed life a little more and not taken school so seriously. Of course, if they had blown off school too much, they probably would'nt have gotten where they wanted to be...just find a medium. I'd like to think that optometry schools consider well-rounded students too, but if I'm just fooling myself, someone tell me so that I can get my own life into shape. The way I see it, you'll be spending 4 years in intense optometry school, so you might as well enjoy what you can right now.

 

[shirlz1983]

what are the chances of getting into NOVA if you are on the hold list?

 

[PreOptMegs]

For Physics, I bought an A.P. Physics prep book and looked up about 10 formulas. Using only those 10 formulas memorized, I scored a 300. I could have scored higher if I got to look at the second semester physics but didn't have time so this was my lowest score. Second semester sucked anyways. I wonder why do we have to know how lenses work.

For Organic Chem, I bought the cliff notes Organic Chemistry II. I memorized most of the reactions near the end of the book. Awesome book.

Chem seems to be just common sense to me so I studied my class notes. Just make units match.

Biology is just memorization of class notes.

For quantitative, they seem to ask the same types of questions over and over throughout the exam. Good ones to practice are stuff like "how many nickels and quarters in $1.60" and "Jane is 3 times older than John - How old is John." They must have asked those types of questions like 10 times in my exam.


For reading comp, don't be afraid to skip an entire passage. My second passage sucked and made no sense so I did the first and third completely and then randomly guessed on the second passage.


Hope this helps.

If you don't mind me asking, what were the 10 formulas you memorized? I take the OAT this fall and I am extremely worried about the physics section, so anything would help. Thanks very much for your time.