I need advice badly :(

[euphaire]

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Hi all,

I decided to apply for optometry school 2011 fairly late. I studied Engineering so I'm really, really cramming right now. I already found an optometrist to shadow with, and wont be done until end of August. Also, I'll be getting my professor letters in September. I won't be taking my OAT until October.......I know I can still meet the deadlines for Optometry application , but just barely. Would this put me to a huge disadvantage because other people usually apply much earlier?

In addition, I will complete the prerequisite courses, but also barely biting the deadline -- i will be finishing them by April 2011.

I'm guessing this would put me to a disadvantage because they start giving out offers as early as October, right? I think I'll wait for another year if my chance is too low. 🙁

Really worried and stressed out right now. Can't decide if I should waste some money and energy just for a chance to get into the 2011 class, or should I just give up and apply for the 2012 class instead...

Hope to hear some advice here!
Thanks!!

Cherry

 

[JRu]

Hi Cherry,
I am just going to give you a little perspective to my application process!
I applied for 2010 and I didn't submit my OptomCas Application until December. I took my OAT end of November. I then finished off a pre-req this past May!
Anyways - I got in to my two top choices (the only two I applied to). Your chances do decrease - the longer you wait but if you have good grades, good OAT scores, lots to say about yourself - I think your fine! Try to have something that makes you unique and puts you over the top when compared to others!
If you have any other questions - feel free to PM me!
-JR

 

[JMU07]

I think you can apply before taking the OAT and then submit your scores whenever you take it.. I applied before optomcas started though so I'm not totally sure. Also, most people still have pre-reqs to finish when they apply. Don't worry about it! 👍

 

[euphaire]

Thanks for replying to my thread guys🙂

@JRu: Congratulations on getting into your two top choices!
I hope I can get into my choice of optometry school too, but it's gonna be really hard I think. My Engineering marks are not that high (78%) partially due to disliking the major and partially due to some family/personal issues along the way (I take full responsibility of that..). I'm cramming to study the OAT now. It's not easy but I think I can do reasonably well on it.
That summarizes my GPA+OAT by the time of application...which isn't that stellar or unique :S I'm hoping to get a really good LOR from my optometrist though. Actually, I was willing to change my flight to come back to NA earlier (from singapore) to complete the optometrist job shadow! Again due to late planning, this change of flight will cost me $700USD due to peak season. I wanted to cry.
That's why I was so stressed out. I am still deciding if i should just "give up". I didn't post the fact that my GPA isn't stellar. I dont have much "science/clinical" extracurricular either due to being in Engineering and having to complete 5 engineering-related internships during undergrad. I didn't have a single free summer to do any other thing!
So, do you guys still think I should give this a shot ($700USD cost in flight change and misc other sacrifices) or should I wait another year? Don't worry about sounding harsh to me. I'm already feeling quite hopeless right now 0.o

Thanks!
Cherry

 

[HonestAbbey]

If you're that worried, why don't you take a year off, build up a good report with your optometrist and also build up your application in the mean time? I was in the same boat and although a year is a long time, it was well worth it. The one prerequisite that nobody realizes when they apply to optometry is having the people skills to deal with all kinds of situations. Working in an office for a year will do that for you.

 

[quackquack]

If you think you will benefit from taking a year off, do it. Don't think anyone here can make that decision but you. I was in that situation last year. I wanted to apply because I don't want to have nothing to do "the year after I graduate". You know how it goes. "I don't want to waste that year." "Might as well just try to apply first."

Well I'm glad I waited. Last year I had an average amount of extracurriculars (not optometry related) and was not confident at all. This year I have a bit more extracurriculars, a good LOR from a professor I met just few months ago, and optometry clinical and research experience. I DEFINITELY feel better this year than last year. What's more, I'm done school now so I can focus everything on studying the OAT and application.

I'll give you an advice that my research professor gave me last year. "Don't rush into it. What's the hurry? You are 21 with all the time in the world. You don't have that many obligations yet. You have no family you need to support, no house, no car you need to be paying." The wisdom there is quite simple. You are young (well I assume you are young, sorry), and what exactly is one year? It's nothing if you ever look back. If you are worry about not having anything to do that year, just find more shadowing or get a job. There are always options 🙂 good luck! Let us know if you decide what to do, I'm sure many people are on this boat!