I have to retake the OAT. My score is TS 350 and lowest score is QR 310, but It wasn't enough to get me in this year (GPA is 2.8). My goal is to get some more science A's and aiming to get 370 on the OAT. To those who have retaken the test, how did you go about improving your score? did you use the same study material and also should I invest in achiever and top score? Thanks for your inputs.
In need of good tips
- Thread starter caliopt23
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In my opinion, I don't think you need to retake the OAT. Your scores are already good. I raised my GPA to a 3.0 and I got a TS 350 also, and I got into the schools I wanted. So I guess just focus on getting those grades up. Good luck!
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I too agree with the above posters...your OAT score is fine...just need to improve your gpa and perhaps your professional experience/EC. Like Adenosine mentioned, show the admissions committee that you're dedicated to entering their school and profession.
Congrats Adenosine on getting accepted...you're a great example of why persistence and hard work will pay off.👍
Congrats Adenosine on getting accepted...you're a great example of why persistence and hard work will pay off.👍
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Not sure where you are at in your academic career...mabey 100+ hours if your applying? Remember taking a few classes before next cycle won't do much to your gpa.
Focus on taking advanced classes and doing well in them. An A in biochem helps relieve a C in Orgo 2; same as an A in immunology will help make a C in microbiology look better. On and on, you get the picture.
Focus on taking advanced classes and doing well in them. An A in biochem helps relieve a C in Orgo 2; same as an A in immunology will help make a C in microbiology look better. On and on, you get the picture.
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Thanks so much for all your replies. When I got rejected from WesternU, they told me I should consider retaking the OAT. I've already pushed back my graduation date by two semesters now just so I could repeat and take extra classes. I currently have 132 semster credits and it would take at least 6-7 A's to bring my gpa to 3.0 so I think I kind of NEED to improve the OAT to maximize my chance of getting in next year...I can't imagine how disheartening it would be to get rejected second time around.
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i agree, retake the OAT. I was in the same situation as you last year...2.85ish gpa, 350 OAT (lowest 290 RC). Applied to 4 schools in december just to kinda gauge my competitiveness...didnt get in (also didnt get my last rec letter til later in the spring).
so after that, I took classes, got A's retaking prereqs, worked 30+ hrs/week at an optometry office + shadowed when i can. Worked on apps starting mid summer, applied early, in september-october. spent all october studying for OAT, retook it and got a 370 AA 380 TS (RC 350). That plus my additional exerience and improved grades have gotten me accetepted to ICO, PCO and SCO - pretty decent schools that aren't the new ones (not like theres anything wrong with them, theyre just new, not something I wanted to test out).
so after that, I took classes, got A's retaking prereqs, worked 30+ hrs/week at an optometry office + shadowed when i can. Worked on apps starting mid summer, applied early, in september-october. spent all october studying for OAT, retook it and got a 370 AA 380 TS (RC 350). That plus my additional exerience and improved grades have gotten me accetepted to ICO, PCO and SCO - pretty decent schools that aren't the new ones (not like theres anything wrong with them, theyre just new, not something I wanted to test out).
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Hmm, I agree with the previous posters, did the schools specifically ask for you to retake the OAT? You probably can improve upon it, but why take on so much additional stress when it's not necessary?
My point is that your scores are already so high, maybe you can spend the additional time shadowing different doctors/doing volunteer services/other interesting things that will make your application stand out.
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Adenosine said it perfectly with, "Trust me, it helps for admission committees to see that you are dedicated to the profession and persistant enough to jump through some hoops to get accepted." I took the OAT twice, and the questions were almost the same, so just remember some of the types that were asked the first time to do better. I went from 300 to 360. Do some more volunteering/observing. Send a letter to the admissions committee informing them of what you are doing and that you are committed to optometry. Good luck.
