Need advice from accepted students

[socal2014]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello all,

I'm planning to take 60 credits next year to complete my bachelors degree:
summer 2010-summer2011 = 4 semesters @ 15 credits/semester, will finish by 2nd week of august, in the SUMMER, if all goes as expected)

Is the app itself a lot of work? I've created an optomcas account and looked at the sections and they seem relatively easy to complete.

Using ICO as an example, they start accepting individuals July of every app cycle. I will not have the minimum 90 credit requirement until the end of Fall 2010, so will I be at a disadvantage? Do students generally get there acceptance letter during Fall or after?

I guess what I'm trying to say, is it feasible for me to spend the money etc, to apply without the 90 Credit requirement, as most students usually apply during/after their 90 credits.

 

[CarolinaBlueEye]

Applying is not the time consuming part, it's the OAT, shadowing/work experience. The little stuff adds up too though: essays, LORs, transcripts.

You should be able to do it, but if you don't already have the OAT and opto experience knocked out, be ready for a crazy year.

 

[Rinny]

To answer your question about acceptance letters: When a student receives an acceptance letter is based on when they apply and how strong of an applicant they are. There are students who have all of their acceptances by the fall and students who don't have any until the spring. Although, if you are specifically asking about students who apply early in July and are good applicants then I would say yes, most students have their acceptances before the end of fall. For example, I applied in October and had all of my acceptances by the end of December. Had I applied in July I expect I would have had my acceptances much earlier.

The application itself does not take too long to complete, but as the previous poster said, shadowing and studying for the OAT take a great deal of time. If you haven't done either of those things yet, I think it would be very difficult to do those and take a full load of courses and apply at the same time. If you have done those, then I think that you shouldn't be at too much of a disadvantage. I'm not too familiar with the whole 90 credit thing since I already had my degree when I applied, but you might want to call the schools and ask them how it would affect your application. They might put your application on hold until they receive your fall grades or something like that.

Additionally, if you finish your bachelors the 2nd week in August it is very likely that you will be starting optometry school within the next few days (orientation at least). If you are very confident that you want to start fall 2011 then I guess you should go for it, but I think you will be very worn out after all of that! You might want to consider taking a year off and planning for fall 2012. You could probably gain a lot of experience by working in an optometry office during that year. Anyways, I really don't know much about your situation but I hope that helped somewhat.

 

[nc2tarheels]

I must say, if your taking 60 hours in order to be ready for 2011, you're going to be BURNT OUT. I'm guessing..........
You went to school....
-fall of 2009
-spring 2010
-will be attending summer 2010
-will be attending fall 2010
-will be attending spring 2011
-will be attending summer 2011

Then Opto school starts (most schools have 1st years take classes during summer).
If this is the case then....
-will be attending fall 2011
-spring 2012
-summer 2012
-fall 2012
-spring 2013
THEN YOU'LL GET A BREAK!

Wow, that's A LOT of consecutive semesters. Especially since NONE of it will probably be a light load. Good luck though!

 

[Mewcakes]

Wait really? I thought most schools gave you the summer off between first and second year. You can take classes if you want to, but you don't HAVE to. But other than that, yeah, it's the last summer you'll ever have.

 

[phoropterguy]

You might want to consider taking a year off and planning for fall 2012. You could probably gain a lot of experience by working in an optometry office during that year. Anyways, I really don't know much about your situation but I hope that helped somewhat.

I agree, but with a bit of reservation. I am about done with my 1st year and can't wait for my summer break! I started classes right after I graduated from undergrad, and would have loved to take a break and work with an Optometrist for the next year. Of course, now that I am finishing, I am glad I jumped right in instead of waiting...

If I were you, I'd check the first year curriculum, and try to take the courses that mirror the first year courses of your school of choice. That way, your classes will be a breeze, as the bulk of them will be more review than anything. Example courses: Biochem, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Genetics, Immunology, Pharmacology, Neuroanatomy, Optics, and Ocular Anatomy (not likely offered in undergrad, but plenty of good online resources).

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best.🙂

 

[socal2014]

thanks for the responses people.

I guess what I am asking is, if I do go forth with my plan, when do I apply? Fall/Spring? If i apply spring, would that not put me at a disadvantage as rolling admissions is based on a first come first serve basis.

Also, this is not related, but do most of you guys have upper level bio/chem/phys courses? I was told you only need to take those if you got C's in pre-reqs?

thanks

 

[socal2014]

I agree, but with a bit of reservation. I am about done with my 1st year and can't wait for my summer break! I started classes right after I graduated from undergrad, and would have loved to take a break and work with an Optometrist for the next year. Of course, now that I am finishing, I am glad I jumped right in instead of waiting...

If I were you, I'd check the first year curriculum, and try to take the courses that mirror the first year courses of your school of choice. That way, your classes will be a breeze, as the bulk of them will be more review than anything. Example courses: Biochem, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Genetics, Immunology, Pharmacology, Neuroanatomy, Optics, and Ocular Anatomy (not likely offered in undergrad, but plenty of good online resources).

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best.🙂

thank you good sir.

 

[Rinny]

I think you should still apply in the summer or fall. Don't wait until the spring because I do think that you will be at a slight disadvantage since spots will be filling up at each school by then.

I have upper level Bio courses because Bio was my major. If you are not a bio/chem/physics major then I guess it doesn't matter if you don't take upper level science courses because you will need the finish up the courses for your major. Most people are probably science majors so they will have upper level courses in those subjects but if you have a non-science major then I don't think it would look weird to not have those types of classes. However, it might be good practice to take those types of courses as they will be more similar to the types of courses you will have in optometry school.