Is there still hope for me... Realistically?

[AznFire14]

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I took my OAT a week ago and I am super disappointed with my score. I was counting on my OAT to bring up my chances since my gpa is pretty low.

Now I am scared that my hopes of being an optometrist is over. Do I still have any realistic chance of getting into a school?


Here are my stats:
QR: 300
RC: 300
BIO: 310
GC: 320
OC: 330
PHY: 320
TS: 320
AA: 310

Gpa: 3.24
I am science major.
Volunteer: 1 year working of working at a local private practice and a pre optometry club.

I am a 3rd year hoping to apply in the fall. Can I still get in? What can I do to prove my chances?

 

[advise2u]

You are fine. You will get a number of interviews and not only from the new schools. Be sure to have the rest of your application ready early and with attention to detail. Good essays and LORs are important too.

 

[Mewcakes]

You've got plenty of time between now and July. Take it again. While your numbers are OK, that's just it...they're just OK. Is there anything else about you that will make you stand out? 1 year of volunteering and pre-opt club is becoming pretty common nowadays. If there is not anything else, I recommend taking it again and aiming higher. You have enough time to take it at least 2 more times, so I'm sure you can get a more satisfactory score by the time applications are out. Good luck!

 

[Moptometry]

I took my OAT a week ago and I am super disappointed with my score. I was counting on my OAT to bring up my chances since my gpa is pretty low.

Now I am scared that my hopes of being an optometrist is over. Do I still have any realistic chance of getting into a school?


Here are my stats:
QR: 300
RC: 300
BIO: 310
GC: 320
OC: 330
PHY: 320
TS: 320
AA: 310

Gpa: 3.24
I am science major.
Volunteer: 1 year working of working at a local private practice and a pre optometry club.

I am a 3rd year hoping to apply in the fall. Can I still get in? What can I do to prove my chances?

I read the title and thought you are one of those people who have a 2.8 GPA and a couple sub 300 OAT scores,and then i saw your stats.You are Fineeeeeeeeeeee. Dont stress man/woman. 😀
Take the OAT again if you think 320 TS is low, but most schools have accepted people with OAT averages of 320-330.

If people can be doctors with sub 3.0 GPA in US, SO CAN YOU. 🙂

 

[socal2014]

Volunteer: 1 year working of working at a local private practice and a pre optometry club.

lol.

 

[Retinopathy]

Your scores are alright, but I'm sure that you are trying to improve any part of the application that you can. With your scores, chances are that you will get a chance to interview and asked to increase your OAT score. If the OAT score stays similar, they may place you on a wait list. Then it is out of your hands, it will be up to students to either accept or decline their invites to that particular school.

If you want to apply in the fall, that means that your final OAT scores aren't due until March-July of 2012. Take it another time before the actual application. If you don't see that much of an improvement in your score, take it again post application. Schools will give you a chance to improve your OAT score if they don't think that it is high enough.

Shadow optometrists before you interview. Make sure to shadow different settings like OD/MD, Vision Therapy, commercial, and private. Not only will it help you answer questions for the interview, it's very educational.

 

[ao70637]

Like everyone else said, YOU ARE FINE.

I was in the exact same situation you are in, and not only was I invited to interviews but I was accepted to multiple programs... even with completely average scores (and one 290). It's not uncommon to retake the OAT, so don't think it will reflect poorly upon you to try it again. It's up to you whether you want to spend the money. But definitely find something that makes you stand out from the herd and APPLY EARLY.

 

[a200holdup]

My stats are:

TS 310
AA 300

GPA about 2.8
Science GPA unknown.

3 years of shadowing (mostly during undergrad)

Applying to:

Midwestern, Glandale, AZ
Univ. of Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX
and InterAmerican, Puerto Rico.

thanks guys

 

[SIUE optkid]

My stats are:

TS 310
AA 300

GPA about 2.8
Science GPA unknown.

3 years of shadowing (mostly during undergrad)

Applying to:

Midwestern, Glandale, AZ
Univ. of Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX
and InterAmerican, Puerto Rico.

thanks guys

http://www.opted.org/files/public/Applicant.pdf

scroll to the 3rd page. based on that you should probably try to get in. your best bet is probably Puerto rico. remember you have to speak spanish though. good luck

 

[a200holdup]

thanks man, the .pdf was very informative. I'll be retaking the OAT if i dont receive an offer from Midwestern.