Is it ever too early to start preparing for the OAT?

[brighteyes7]

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Hi all,
I apologize if this type of thread was made before, I just did not know how to phrase the search term.
I am currently a student at a community college in Texas. My major used to be Graphic Design, but after two years trying to pursue that degree, I realized that it wasn't the best fit for me. Optometry has always been pretty cool to me (I looked into medical school multiple times but always came to the conclusion that it was not the right fit) and I have done a lot of research on Optometry (more back story later if anyone pleases) and I am preparing to volunteer at Texas Children's Hospital for some medical field background beforehand and then hopefully I can shadow a few optometrists.
So right now I am taking Bio 1, Chem 1, Physics 1, and Pre-Calculus (never had to take it in high school and it has come back to bite me in the butt). My main question is about preparing for the OAT. It's the most intimidating part for me right now since that is the key to apply/to get interviews.Since I'm pretty much a "first-year" Biology major, does anyone know if it's too early to start preparing for the OAT? I feel like that is a really dumb question but I also want to know for sure. I know about Chad's videos, the OAT destroyer, and the "big" Kaplan book but I might not use those just yet (I want to save those for when I actually bunker down and study for three months). I looked at some practice tests online and I realized that I already knew almost half of the stuff on them so I just wanted some feedback on what would be best for me right now.

Thank you all in advance!

 

[jwilso88]

It's never to early to start preparing, I wish I would have given myself more prep time! Are you still attending a community college? Only asking because from what I have read for most optometry schools they require your prereq's to be completed at the university level, I would just check with your top schools.

 

[brighteyes7]

It's never to early to start preparing, I wish I would have given myself more prep time! Are you still attending a community college? Only asking because from what I have read for most optometry schools they require your prereq's to be completed at the university level, I would just check with your top schools. I have to retake 2 general classes since i took them at a CC

Yes I heard about that also. I asked someone who graduated from NOVA and she said it should be fine, and I also looked around on the forums and many people said it's okay as long as I do well in the classes. I am planning to take chem 2 and bio 2 at University of Houston. I am going through all the Colleges of Optometry right now and taking a look at which ones I might want to go to. After I do that, I'll give all of them a call to see what they recommend. Thank you for reminding me, though!