If you were ACCEPTED to SCCO, please help!

[FLCBRUIN84]

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Hey EVERYONE!

I'll be finished up at UCLA after this year but I'm applying to optometry schools this summer. I will be taking the computerized OAT this August 20, 2006. My top choice is SCCO, by FAR!!

Here are my stats:

School: UCLA
Major: Biology
GPA: 2.8-3.0 depending on summer classes (most likely applying with high 2.9)
Experience:
Volunteer for 2 Optometry offices (2 SCCO ODs, 1 SUNY OD)
UCLA med center research associate
2 year medical practice assistant for UCLA Med School professors
UCLA jules stein eye institute volunteer
Started camp at UCLA for kids with cancer parents (got $40,000 grant and took off Summer 05)

I am taking an OAT review course (Kaplan) but I don't know what a competitive score for my LOW gpa should be. Please help me out and let me know what I should be targetting my scores at and if my chances are good of even getting in in the first with my gpa. Does SCCO even take lower than 3.0's?

1 more question: Of the three letters of rec, if only one is from a math professor, one from an optometrist and one from the doctors i work for, do you think that will work? Getting letters of rec from professors was REALLY hard for me! I can also get one from an upper div Anthro professor bc this class was a upper div bio elective (biological anthropology) Let me know and thanks for your help.

Others have told me to contact professors at SCCO to see if there are any volunteer/research opportunities, please let me know if this is a good idea and if anyone can help. Thanks you so much everyone.

 

[od2b77]

Hey EVERYONE!

I'll be finished up at UCLA after this year but I'm applying to optometry schools this summer. I will be taking the computerized OAT this August 20, 2006. My top choice is SCCO, by FAR!!

Here are my stats:

School: UCLA
Major: Biology
GPA: 2.8-3.0 depending on summer classes (most likely applying with high 2.9)
Experience:
Volunteer for 2 Optometry offices (2 SCCO ODs, 1 SUNY OD)
UCLA med center research associate
2 year medical practice assistant for UCLA Med School professors
UCLA jules stein eye institute volunteer
Started camp at UCLA for kids with cancer parents (got $40,000 grant and took off Summer 05)

I am taking an OAT review course (Kaplan) but I don't know what a competitive score for my LOW gpa should be. Please help me out and let me know what I should be targetting my scores at and if my chances are good of even getting in in the first with my gpa. Does SCCO even take lower than 3.0's?

1 more question: Of the three letters of rec, if only one is from a math professor, one from an optometrist and one from the doctors i work for, do you think that will work? Getting letters of rec from professors was REALLY hard for me! I can also get one from an upper div Anthro professor bc this class was a upper div bio elective (biological anthropology) Let me know and thanks for your help.

Others have told me to contact professors at SCCO to see if there are any volunteer/research opportunities, please let me know if this is a good idea and if anyone can help. Thanks you so much everyone.

I got accepted with 3.0 gpa and 350 OAT. I worked for OD for 3 years, but didn't do nearly as much volunteering as you did. I think you'll have a solid shot with 350 OAT. I don't remember if you have to have lor from science professor or just any class, you can call scco and ask. Like you, my gpa was weak, but I tried making the rest of my application solid as they consider the total package.

 

[heretic]

Hey EVERYONE!

I'll be finished up at UCLA after this year but I'm applying to optometry schools this summer. I will be taking the computerized OAT this August 20, 2006. My top choice is SCCO, by FAR!!

Here are my stats:

School: UCLA
Major: Biology
GPA: 2.8-3.0 depending on summer classes (most likely applying with high 2.9)
Experience:
Volunteer for 2 Optometry offices (2 SCCO ODs, 1 SUNY OD)
UCLA med center research associate
2 year medical practice assistant for UCLA Med School professors
UCLA jules stein eye institute volunteer
Started camp at UCLA for kids with cancer parents (got $40,000 grant and took off Summer 05)

I am taking an OAT review course (Kaplan) but I don't know what a competitive score for my LOW gpa should be. Please help me out and let me know what I should be targetting my scores at and if my chances are good of even getting in in the first with my gpa. Does SCCO even take lower than 3.0's?

1 more question: Of the three letters of rec, if only one is from a math professor, one from an optometrist and one from the doctors i work for, do you think that will work? Getting letters of rec from professors was REALLY hard for me! I can also get one from an upper div Anthro professor bc this class was a upper div bio elective (biological anthropology) Let me know and thanks for your help.

Others have told me to contact professors at SCCO to see if there are any volunteer/research opportunities, please let me know if this is a good idea and if anyone can help. Thanks you so much everyone.

I think you're looking pretty good overall. SCCO admits a range of GPAs, and your extracurricular activities are very strong. As for OAT scores, you'll have to definetely score over 300 overall, which is do-able; Kaplan does help if you put the effort into it.

I don't think you need to contact any profs looking for a volunteer opportunity, because I've participated in numerous interviews where the candidates didn't have your background. You won't be at a disadvantage there.

As far as the letters of rec go. I suggest following whatever SCCO mandates, because they are sticklers for the policy. If you have a really strong non-professor letter, send it too. I sent an extra letter when I applied and it didn't seem to hurt my chances any.

Goodluck.