Is it overwhelming or is it just me?

[WowzersItsSimon]

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Hi everyone,
I was wondering about different people's feelings on the application process. I'm currently a junior and I know that it's going to almost my time to apply, but it seems like there is just so little time to do it all. How did you guys find the time to study for OAT, volunteer work, shadowing, interviews, etc? Did you guys take a year off between undergrad and applying to opt schoool? It just seems like theres no time for me to fit it in with all the labs every quarter as a science major. Any comments and advise would be very much appreciated.


-Simon

 

[DrSpontaneouz83]

Well the way I managed was I began working for an optometrist at Lenscrafters during my sophomore year of college, built some rapport and experience. So I didn't burn out too much, I took summer classes to balance out my science classes (I was a Biology Major, graduated with a 3.4). During the academic year I worked closely with professors doing lab research in their respective fields and involved myself in community service organizations and took up leadership positions in two extracurricular groups. These experiences definitely came in handy when you need letters of recommendation.

Finally, I was warned by many optometrists to take time off after graduation because optometry school was not going to be a walk in the park. Since I have funded my education through scholarships and other forms of financial aid, I decided to take time off to establish credit history and a flowing income. I worked for a biotech company after college and I am now working for a Lasik Center who is going to help fund some of my Optometry school expenses. Although this is not a route many people take, I found it to be an excellent desicion. Not only do I have a lot more knowledge of ocular and systemic diseases,but I also learned a lot of the clinical training already. On top of that, I paid off undergrad loans, bought a nice car (hated the bus!), saved money for school, and now have excellent credit history.

I did take 2 years off school (I just turned 24) but I think it was well worth it. I come from a disadvantgaed background and DO NOT want to spend more money than I have to in OD school. BTW, during those 2 years off I vacationed like crazy and did study for the OAT a couple months before applying. I took a Kaplan course and dedicated myself to this course while working full time (p.s. Kaplan does reduce the course cost if you can show financial need). Kaplan proved to be very beneficial because my scores got me a scholarship with ICO and into 4/5 schoos I applied to (my study habits were a little rusty at the time but the course helped get back in gear hehe). Believe me though, those 2 years flew by like no other, but it's important not to walk into optometry school feeling burnt out. I'm not saying people need 2 years off, but pace yourself the way YOU are comfortable. People may say I "wasted" time but I already have a job lined up walking out of optometry school. =)

Sorry this was long!
-Best of Luck

 

[JMU07]

I'm a 3rd year too, and I'm definitely starting to feel nervous about applying. I'm taking the OAT in May, so I can get it done early.

Last summer I worked for my optometrist, and I plan on working there this summer as well, hopefully full-time so I'll have enough money to travel to interviews and things like that.. I'm graduating in December so I'll have a few months off in between to relax, thankfully.

Good luck with everything! 🙂 Which schools are you looking at?

 

[WowzersItsSimon]

I'm want to go to SCCO or maybe that new school opening up at western university. I live in so. cal so naturally, its my own comfort area. I was really considering taking some time off and it's nice to hear different people's views and opinions. Thanks for the post and hopefully there will be more people posting.

 

[optogirl21]

I worked for an Optometrist during the summer after my 2nd year to get some experience. I worked for Shoppers Optical during the summer after my 3rd years as a Sales Associate and worked closely alongside the optometrist and contact lens clinician there. I took a year off after I graduated to work to save up money for school, took a couple months off to study and take the OAT, and put my applications together. And now I'm going to Optometry school in the fall!

The application process is definately a long process because each school takes so much time to complete. Essays, application forms, getting letters of recommendation etc. My advice would be to start getting your letters of rec together early and start putting ideas together for your essays. Then when you're ready to complete them all, do each one at a time and send them out as soon as you complete them. I received responses for some schools even while I was still finishing applications for other schools! Hope this helps! 🙂

 

[4Eyes]

I only applied to one school, so that helped. ^^ I toured 4 though, and sent rec letters and transcripts to 3...just ended up deciding not to apply. So I didn't really think the process was too bad.

I toured one school when I happened to be in town for fun with my roommates.
Two my family came and we kind of made a weekend out of it (the summer before my senior year of college).
The other we made a round trip on a Saturday in the summer. It was all pretty fun, actually.

I uh, didn't study much for the OAT. That was totally stupid and I do NOT recommend it. I took one day to do the practice test and review formulas and took it the next day. I went in figuring I would end up taking it again anyway, but that's not a good attitude to have. My score was okay, but nothing stellar. But I had a really good undergrad GPA so the admissions people pretty much told me that, with my GPA, retaking the OAT would pretty much be a waste of money.

As for shadowing, the summer before my senior year of college I observed 4 hours in the morning 3-4 days a week. It was kinda private practice but kinda institutional...it happened to be in a hospital. Then during my senior year of college, I shadowed one afternoon a week for an hour or two in a vision therapy clinic. It was good experience and application fodder, but it was also to help me write a paper to graduate with honors.

Since I only applied to one place, I only had to deal with one interview, which was only 3.5 hours away from home. I was crazy nervous of course, but it wasn't too bad at all. The interview was the day before Thanksgiving and I officially had my seat a week or two before Christmas.

I didn't have a lot of volunteer work under my belt, but I had a lot of extracurriculars. Especially music. I played violin for school and several gigs in the community, recordings, weddings, etc. I also taught. So that takes up a lot and they like seeing that kind of thing too.

 

[Canadian26]

I actually got everything done the summer before i started to apply... I job shadowed during the school year from sept-dec and not at all during 2nd sem. I also got my letter of recs from my profs by July. So I was ready to apply come Aug. That left me all summer to work, party, and what ever else I wanted. The process doenst have to be overwelleming as long as your organized.