MCAT replace OAT?

[amc252]

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I'm thinking of applying for optometry school this fall, but have not taken the OAT. I took the MCAT last summer, do you think any optometry schools will look at MCAT scores instead of OAT scores?

 

[angeleyes86]

No...
the OAT is required for all optometry schools in the U.S.

 

[asmaka19]

I'm thinking of applying for optometry school this fall, but have not taken the OAT. I took the MCAT last summer, do you think any optometry schools will look at MCAT scores instead of OAT scores?

Nope, I looked into it when I turned pre-opto, but if you've been through the MCAT the oat is going to be a breeze!

 

[still_confused]

Nope, I looked into it when I turned pre-opto, but if you've been through the MCAT the oat is going to be a breeze!

i wouldnt think that, thats what i thought and my oat ended up sucking big time. so unless you are planning on getting lucky at the interview like i did, ill take the oat very seriously.

 

[asmaka19]

i wouldnt think that, thats what i thought and my oat ended up sucking big time. so unless you are planning on getting lucky at the interview like i did, ill take the oat very seriously.

I should have rephrased that. LOTS of people take the MCAT, not everyone does well on the MCAT but if you were one of those people that did do well then the OAT should be a walk in the park and many opto students that have taken the mcat before told me this.

I haven't taken the actual OAT yet but I started studying literally 2 days ago and I've taken a few sample tests from the kaplan book and the online one and have gotten high scores with the exception of physics cause I forgot all those formulas and rules (won't take more than like a day to review that stuff). I'm going to go by the assumption that the actual OAT will be comparable to the kaplan practice material which is what I hear to be the case (if not easier).

So AMC252 and others, having to seriously prepare and take the MCAT has proven to be a very valuable tool for OAT preparation ESPECIALLY with the reading comprehension section; I'm pretty much applying all those mcat verbal techniques to the OAT RC and the lowest sample RC test score that I've gotten was a 380.

Also I think it's helped tremendously in the biology-the questions are pretty general and straightforward and not so much application of knowledge. If you take out all the 'easy' questions from a typical MCAT biology section you have the OAT!

Of course I'm not advocating blowing off preparing for the OAT because you went through the MCAT, all I'm saying is relax, don't worry, having to prepare for the MCAT has given you a headstart for OAT prep!

 

[cunikki]

taking the mcat may or may not prepare you for taking the oat but admitting that to schools is basically like admitting 'hey i didnt get into med school so you guys are the back up plan' i really wouldnt mention taking the mcat to schools at all; let alone trying to submit scores....

 

[asmaka19]

taking the mcat may or may not prepare you for taking the oat but admitting that to schools is basically like admitting 'hey i didnt get into med school so you guys are the back up plan' i really wouldnt mention taking the mcat to schools at all; let alone trying to submit scores....

ok I'm not sure if that was meant for me or the original poster....but I'm responding anyway

I'm actually not applying to medical schools, I changed my mind about wanting to go to med school a long time ago, I took the MCAT about 3 years ago. OD school is not my backup it is WHAT I WANT TO DO, if I wanted to go to med school I would go to med school. Also, every OD student that I personally know was once a pre-med and I'm sure OD admissions people are well aware that many of their applicants were once pre-meds and probably have taken MCAT and applied to schools-they're not screening out those people because that doesn't necessarily mean OD was the backup plan-everyone goes through their phases and experiences before coming to the decision of applying to OD school, I personally didn't even know about the optometry option way back when.

So hold your judgements!

P.S. I've actually personally spoken to admissions counselors at 4 different schools when I decided that I wanted to be an optometrist to get some information about the schools and the admissions process and to get some 'advising' and I let them know that I was previoulsy a pre-med so I probably have all the pre-reqs and that I've done well on the mcat so I'm confident I'll do well on the oat-they were all very friendly, overly helpful, and encouraging. I'm positive non of them thought OD was my backup, it's not!

 

[daysend85]

ok I'm not sure if that was meant for me or the original poster....but I'm responding anyway

I'm actually not applying to medical schools, I changed my mind about wanting to go to med school a long time ago, I took the MCAT about 3 years ago. OD school is not my backup it is WHAT I WANT TO DO, if I wanted to go to med school I would go to med school. Also, every OD student that I personally know was once a pre-med and I'm sure OD admissions people are well aware that many of their applicants were once pre-meds and probably have taken MCAT and applied to schools-they're not screening out those people because that doesn't necessarily mean OD was the backup plan-everyone goes through their phases and experiences before coming to the decision of applying to OD school, I personally didn't even know about the optometry option way back when.

So hold your judgements!

P.S. I've actually personally spoken to admissions counselors at 4 different schools when I decided that I wanted to be an optometrist to get some information about the schools and the admissions process and to get some 'advising' and I let them know that I was previoulsy a pre-med so I probably have all the pre-reqs and that I've done well on the mcat so I'm confident I'll do well on the oat-they were all very friendly, overly helpful, and encouraging. I'm positive non of them thought OD was my backup, it's not!

I think cunikki was referring to the general idea that many students planning to go into med school and who couldn't get in for one reason or the other, switch their career plans to optometry school. I'm not going any further with this issue, but that's good that you are going into optometry school because you want to be there and not as a backup plan.

 

[cunikki]

seriously!!! i wasnt judging you (a little defensive about it arent we tho???) i was just saying there are an awful lot of people out there who just are using opt school as a backup plan... i know that at my school if they get the impression that it is your back up plan and you dont really want to be there you are not getting in... i have personally interviewed students with such an attitude and the scores they got for their interview were dismal. good for you if its not your back up plan; i am sure that whoever interviews you will be able to tell that.... i was just saying that if you blatantly advertise that you really wanted to go to med school and you really dont have a reason for switching to opt its pretty obvoius and does hinder you getting into school. if someone cant even take the time to take the appropriate test for opt school i think that kinda says something about their dedication to optometry in general....

 

[asmaka19]

seriously!!! i wasnt judging you (a little defensive about it arent we tho???) i was just saying there are an awful lot of people out there who just are using opt school as a backup plan... i know that at my school if they get the impression that it is your back up plan and you dont really want to be there you are not getting in... i have personally interviewed students with such an attitude and the scores they got for their interview were dismal. good for you if its not your back up plan; i am sure that whoever interviews you will be able to tell that.... i was just saying that if you blatantly advertise that you really wanted to go to med school and you really dont have a reason for switching to opt its pretty obvoius and does hinder you getting into school. if someone cant even take the time to take the appropriate test for opt school i think that kinda says something about their dedication to optometry in general....

I apologize then, I misunderstood your intentions!

 

[opt]

I'm thinking of applying for optometry school this fall, but have not taken the OAT. I took the MCAT last summer, do you think any optometry schools will look at MCAT scores instead of OAT scores?

I would not tell the schools you took the mcat. Just take the oat. Is optometry your back up plan? If it is, I suggest shadowing to get a strong sense of the profession (if you haven't already) just to be sure you'll be happy being an optometrist.

 

[still_confused]

all im saying is dont take the oat lightly. i did way better on the mcat around 15 percentiles approx and needless to say it was a humbling experience since optometry is what i wanted to do and i just tanked the test to get in.

if you take it seriously, you will do great. its better to be a bit paranoid then too relax.