Need some advice please

[EyeNeedGlasses]

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Over the last few years of my life, I have pretty much been undecided as to what I want to do for a profession. I definitely want to do something in the medical field because this is where my heart is. However, with my GPA and my current circumstances, getting to that ideal profession seems highly unlikely. (I am apologizing right now because you may have gotten many of these kinds of posts and I don't wish to take much of your time, however, I really need some advice!)

In the beginning of my undergrad, I really thought that becoming an M.D. is what I wanted to do. I shadowed, volunteered, and did a lot of research. After volunteering at a few hospitals, I realized that I couldn't handle much blood or uncleanliness, I use to feel really light headed at times at the sight of blood. So I decided that that isn't something I could do.
Than I looked into pharmacy or dentistry. My sister is a pharmacist so I would occasionally go with her to her workplace and observe. After numerous attempts to try and fall in love with the profession. I came to the realization that the work was just too repetitive and honestly speaking, I was getting bored. I am more of a hands on kind of guy. So than I had crossed that off my list. (This was at the end of my junior year of college)
Than finally, after a semester of trying to find what I was good at, I had a guest speaker come to my school from ICO. After his presentation, I was very intrigued by the field. Honestly, before he gave the presentation, I never even thought of doing optometry. I started looking more and more into the field and with time, started falling in love with it. I even shadowed my uncle who was an optometrist and volunteered with OneSight clinic in Chicago. By this time, it was just about the end of my senior year.
During this time of year (November 09), most of the applications had already been sent, and I was afraid it might be too late to apply. Yet I gave it a shot anyway. I prepared my application as best I could, having little experience I knew my chances were slim. I studied about 6 weeks using kaplans review book and took my OAT. I did not prepare myself as best I could and did not do so well on the exam. Got a 290aa and 300ts. I did ok in ochem, gen chem, and bio, but not so well in RC, QR, and physics. I applied to as many schools as I could simply because I knew I was late in the game and the more places I would apply, perhaps the better my chances would be.
Unfortunately, I got rejected from about every school. I did not let this discourage me though because I do love the field and I want to try again. But now is where I need your advice.
My current situation is as follows, I just graduated with a bachelors in biological sciences with a 2.98 GPA. I am working with an optical store for more experience and perhaps a recommendation letter. I do want to raise my GPA but I don't have the time right now because I am getting married in a month! No time for summer school. Do you think I have a shot at it for fall 2011 with the same GPA and maybe a better OAT score the second time around? What else should I do to better my chances?

Thank you for your time, It is much appreciated. - Zuber

 

[Rinny]

I do think that you are doing the right thing by working in an optical and re-taking the OAT. Make sure to study hard because if you get a great OAT score it will definitely help to off-set your GPA. Also, I'm guessing that when you applied previously you did not have the optical experience (just some shadowing experience)? The work experience will definitely look good. Will you be working there all year? I think it will help a lot. You might also want to do a little extra shadowing as well- try shadowing one or two optometrists in different settings.

As far as re-taking classes goes, even if you don't have time this summer you could re-take one or two in the fall. Although you will have applied before then, schools will see that you are retaking courses and may put your application on hold to see how well you do in your fall courses before making a decision. If there are any pre-requisite courses that you got a C or lower in, you should definitely re-take them. Even if you don't end up re-taking any courses, schools will see that you improved your OAT and gained a lot of experience in the past year, which will reflect well on you and definitely improve your chances. Good luck!

 

[KHE]

Over the last few years of my life, I have pretty much been undecided as to what I want to do for a profession. I definitely want to do something in the medical field because this is where my heart is. However, with my GPA and my current circumstances, getting to that ideal profession seems highly unlikely. (I am apologizing right now because you may have gotten many of these kinds of posts and I don't wish to take much of your time, however, I really need some advice!)

In the beginning of my undergrad, I really thought that becoming an M.D. is what I wanted to do. I shadowed, volunteered, and did a lot of research. After volunteering at a few hospitals, I realized that I couldn't handle much blood or uncleanliness, I use to feel really light headed at times at the sight of blood. So I decided that that isn't something I could do.
Than I looked into pharmacy or dentistry. My sister is a pharmacist so I would occasionally go with her to her workplace and observe. After numerous attempts to try and fall in love with the profession. I came to the realization that the work was just too repetitive and honestly speaking, I was getting bored. I am more of a hands on kind of guy. So than I had crossed that off my list. (This was at the end of my junior year of college)
Than finally, after a semester of trying to find what I was good at, I had a guest speaker come to my school from ICO. After his presentation, I was very intrigued by the field. Honestly, before he gave the presentation, I never even thought of doing optometry. I started looking more and more into the field and with time, started falling in love with it. I even shadowed my uncle who was an optometrist and volunteered with OneSight clinic in Chicago. By this time, it was just about the end of my senior year.
During this time of year (November 09), most of the applications had already been sent, and I was afraid it might be too late to apply. Yet I gave it a shot anyway. I prepared my application as best I could, having little experience I knew my chances were slim. I studied about 6 weeks using kaplans review book and took my OAT. I did not prepare myself as best I could and did not do so well on the exam. Got a 290aa and 300ts. I did ok in ochem, gen chem, and bio, but not so well in RC, QR, and physics. I applied to as many schools as I could simply because I knew I was late in the game and the more places I would apply, perhaps the better my chances would be.
Unfortunately, I got rejected from about every school. I did not let this discourage me though because I do love the field and I want to try again. But now is where I need your advice.
My current situation is as follows, I just graduated with a bachelors in biological sciences with a 2.98 GPA. I am working with an optical store for more experience and perhaps a recommendation letter. I do want to raise my GPA but I don't have the time right now because I am getting married in a month! No time for summer school. Do you think I have a shot at it for fall 2011 with the same GPA and maybe a better OAT score the second time around? What else should I do to better my chances?

Thank you for your time, It is much appreciated. - Zuber

You need to contact the schools you are interested in applying, tell them you have a mediocre application and ask THEM what your best strategy would be.

 

[EyeNeedGlasses]

Thank you for the advice! And yes, I did not have the work experience when I applied. I do really want to take classes over again but I don't know if it'll be worth it since I will have already started applying. But if you think that it'll help them if my application is on hold or something, than I wouldn't mind giving it a try.

 

[socal2014]

is applying in November considered late?

 

[NorthernStar13]

is applying in November considered late?

It is not late, but it is not early either. It is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible because most schools utilizing rolling admissions - meaning they accept and reject as applications come. If you have a mediocre application, you are more likely to get an interview in September than if you were to apply December.

You can submit all of your application materials even before you take the OAT. My advice would be to apply regardless and if you have not taken the OAT yet, make note of the date you will take it. If your GPA is good enough, schools will offer you an interview without seeing your OAT scores.

 

[KHE]

Thank you for the advice! And yes, I did not have the work experience when I applied. I do really want to take classes over again but I don't know if it'll be worth it since I will have already started applying. But if you think that it'll help them if my application is on hold or something, than I wouldn't mind giving it a try.

Again, you should contact the schools and ask THEIR advice on whether you should retake classes or not.

 

[EyeDocJoe2014]

NEG,
I could have written everything you just said...I decided in March 2009 of my senior year that I wanted to do Optometry, and graduated in May. I know it was too late then so I just planned for this year. I shadowed a lot (Like 120+ hours), and started working for an OD in November, and applied in December. My OAT the first time was 300 AA and 310 TS, not much higher than yours. But I retook it and got a 320TS and 310 AA. My GPA was only 3.2, not much higher than yours, and by the way, a 2.98 GPA is a 3.00, as far as the schools are concerned, and as long at you're above that 3.0 mark, you're good. I was stressing big time too, but got an interview at all three schools: NOVA, PCO and SCO. NOVA invited me before I retook the OAT and PCO and SCO after...I've been offered a seat to PCO and SCO, but not NOVA (go figure), and now I'm just deciding which on I want to go too. Oh, and I'm getting married in about a month, too. Here's something sneaky I did, though. Call one of the schools, say you've heard back from others but not theirs, and you really want to go to theirs. I did that for NOVA and Fran (the admissions Lady) said well come on to an interview then!...Try it. At worst they'll tell you what you need to inprove. I did the same thing for PCO, they told me to retake the OAT, I did and got invited to an interview. I think PCO just wants to test you, see if you're decicated or not enough to do things like retake the OAT or a certain class. I mean, I made a 310AA the second go-round which it's the bomb score, and I still got in. I think my work experience really hepled me out a lot. In all of my interviews, they asked a lot about it. I think the bottom line for all of the schools is to find a dedicated, passionate student. Of course GPA and OAT matter, but so does shadowing and experience, they show you know what you're getting into, and you still want to do it. Also, tell them about your soon-to-be wife. Tell them she supports you 110%, even if she doesn't. They don't want a student who may drop out or leave midway through their education, because that's tuition lost for them...anyhow, sorry for writing a novel, but I hope it helps.

 

[physicslover]

NEG,
I could have written everything you just said...I decided in March 2009 of my senior year that I wanted to do Optometry, and graduated in May. I know it was too late then so I just planned for this year. I shadowed a lot (Like 120+ hours), and started working for an OD in November, and applied in December. My OAT the first time was 300 AA and 310 TS, not much higher than yours. But I retook it and got a 320TS and 310 AA. My GPA was only 3.2, not much higher than yours, and by the way, a 2.98 GPA is a 3.00, as far as the schools are concerned, and as long at you're above that 3.0 mark, you're good. I was stressing big time too, but got an interview at all three schools: NOVA, PCO and SCO. NOVA invited me before I retook the OAT and PCO and SCO after...I've been offered a seat to PCO and SCO, but not NOVA (go figure), and now I'm just deciding which on I want to go too. Oh, and I'm getting married in about a month, too. Here's something sneaky I did, though. Call one of the schools, say you've heard back from others but not theirs, and you really want to go to theirs. I did that for NOVA and Fran (the admissions Lady) said well come on to an interview then!...Try it. At worst they'll tell you what you need to inprove. I did the same thing for PCO, they told me to retake the OAT, I did and got invited to an interview. I think PCO just wants to test you, see if you're decicated or not enough to do things like retake the OAT or a certain class. I mean, I made a 310AA the second go-round which it's the bomb score, and I still got in. I think my work experience really hepled me out a lot. In all of my interviews, they asked a lot about it. I think the bottom line for all of the schools is to find a dedicated, passionate student. Of course GPA and OAT matter, but so does shadowing and experience, they show you know what you're getting into, and you still want to do it. Also, tell them about your soon-to-be wife. Tell them she supports you 110%, even if she doesn't. They don't want a student who may drop out or leave midway through their education, because that's tuition lost for them...anyhow, sorry for writing a novel, but I hope it helps.

is that really true?