New at this :) Just finished my first year, didnt go so well...

[xoforever]

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Hi Everyone!! I'm brand new at this.😉
Well, I just finished my first year of Undergrad studies at the University of Alberta (in Canada) and it didn't go so well.. I really want to apply to Optometry in my 3rd year to gain admission into a school the following year. What does everyone think of this?
So because I took ALOT of my prerequisites this year, I plan on doing 2nd year & 3rd year levels of the science courses that I didnt do so well in during my first year..
Since my transcript will be less than impressive in regards to the courses I took in my first year, if I bring up my GPA in my 2nd and 3rd years of undergraduate studies could I still be a competitive applicant? I plan on taking my OAT next summer. I'm doing research in Pediatrics right now, conducting a systematic review which will be published in a peer reviewed journal.. would this be a favourable asset to my Optometry admissions application?
Let me know what everyone thinks, hope to hear from you all soon.

 

[KHE]

Hi Everyone!! I'm brand new at this.😉
Well, I just finished my first year of Undergrad studies at the University of Alberta (in Canada) and it didn't go so well.. I really want to apply to Optometry in my 3rd year to gain admission into a school the following year. What does everyone think of this?
So because I took ALOT of my prerequisites this year, I plan on doing 2nd year & 3rd year levels of the science courses that I didnt do so well in during my first year..
Since my transcript will be less than impressive in regards to the courses I took in my first year, if I bring up my GPA in my 2nd and 3rd years of undergraduate studies could I still be a competitive applicant? I plan on taking my OAT next summer. I'm doing research in Pediatrics right now, conducting a systematic review which will be published in a peer reviewed journal.. would this be a favourable asset to my Optometry admissions application?
Let me know what everyone thinks, hope to hear from you all soon.

I guess it depends on how bad you did. Some people who are used to getting straight As in high school will claim that "they failed" when they get a whole slew of A-s and B+s in university.

Certainly, you're not the first person to every get wholloped in your first year of university and you certainly won't be the last and many people in the same situation have gone on to competitive graduate and professional programs. But of course, you've also dug yourself a bit of a hole. As you go forward, just do the best that you possibly can. A significantly positive grade trend can certainly help overcome a bad first year.

 

[mulberry]

after reading through previous posts and seeing how qualified some students are in terms of background/experience, you seem to be in the top 5 percentile if you continue with the research in pediatrics/complete the peer reviewed journal.

 

[xoforever]

Thank you both for your feedback, I really appreciate it.

If I work harder and bring my grades higher in the next 2 years and apply for admission after my 3rd year, will the admissions committee realize how hard i've worked and overlook my bad first year?

I want to apply to NECO. Are they more forgiving in the GPA? given that I receive an above average OAT score, do alot of shadowing, etc. I have also been on a soccer team and am assistant coaching one this summer.. along with lots of other extracuricculars and leadership experience.

What is considered to be above average on OAT anyways? And would I need a higher GPA if I were to apply having completed my prerequisites in 3 years of undergrad? I mean would it be more difficult for me to get accepted? because I know its harder to get accepted into medicine after only 2 or 3 years of undergrad.

 

[KHE]

Thank you both for your feedback, I really appreciate it.

If I work harder and bring my grades higher in the next 2 years and apply for admission after my 3rd year, will the admissions committee realize how hard i've worked and overlook my bad first year?

I want to apply to NECO. Are they more forgiving in the GPA? given that I receive an above average OAT score, do alot of shadowing, etc. I have also been on a soccer team and am assistant coaching one this summer.. along with lots of other extracuricculars and leadership experience.

What is considered to be above average on OAT anyways? And would I need a higher GPA if I were to apply having completed my prerequisites in 3 years of undergrad? I mean would it be more difficult for me to get accepted? because I know its harder to get accepted into medicine after only 2 or 3 years of undergrad.

All of that hand wringing and agitation really doesn't help you.

What you should do is just do the best you possibly can over the next two or three years and apply. If they reject you, they reject you. If you're in, you're in.

Perhaps tone down the coaching and the extracurriculars. All that's fine and dandy but the major parts of your application are going to be your GPA and your OAT. Focus on that.

 

[xoforever]

All of that hand wringing and agitation really doesn't help you.

What you should do is just do the best you possibly can over the next two or three years and apply. If they reject you, they reject you. If you're in, you're in.

Perhaps tone down the coaching and the extracurriculars. All that's fine and dandy but the major parts of your application are going to be your GPA and your OAT. Focus on that.

Thanks, KHE. I'm going to work on my GPA and study for my OAT starting september. (i'm taking it at the beginning of summer 2010) I really want to go to NECO. Where did you graduate from?
Your contributions to the forum are very helpful. 😳