OAT ADVICE HELP!!

[PhillyGirl97]

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Hi everyone so i'm taking my OAT in about a week and I feel like I might have to take it again. I have a pretty low GPA but I have my own reasons for it mostly because of family problems I was having during my junior year going into senior year which greatly affected my grades. I'm trying to make up for that by getting a very high OAT score. I have lots of shadowing experience, I work at an eye doctors office currently so loads go experience with patients, lots of extra curriculars, and my recommendation letters are from my own optometrist who I shadowed and 2 professors who know me and my work ethic very very well. If I have to take it again, it would be in December and i'm just afraid that would be too late for me to apply and have a good prospect of getting in, does anyone have any advice on my situation and what I should do? Super nervous at the moment 🙁

 

[bchu6]

I think it really comes down to what your goal OAT is and your current GPA. I was in the exact situation as you and i decided to postpone my test a month so I feel more mentally prepared. My GPA is a 3.43 and science is a 3.67 so I knew I needed at least a 300+ to feel comfortable. Some people will say just take and apply because you can still get interviews with a low OAT, you might just be requested to retake it and let them know. I personally think its a judgment call, if you go into it thinking you're going to need to retake it then push it back. Its a waste of your money and time if you don't have confidence in yourself. I will tell you though that the OAT is not horribly difficult, they're not trying to trick you with any of the questions. Also, your experience is invaluable and I think schools do heavily take into consideration what you've done. You got this! Even thought my OAT was incredibly average (320 AA/300 TS) I still got interviews from all the school I applied even SUNY my top choice! Make sure your personal statement really portrays you as a person and show them why you want to go into optometry/what you have to offer thanks to your experience.

 

[PhillyGirl97]

Hello! so sorry im late but this helps to read!! I've decided to go with taking the exam next week and really just have some confidence in myself. I think my confidence has been lowered a lot because of my low GPA but i'm going to try to not focus on it because I really cant change it no matter how much I want to. My goal and comfort zone would honestly be to get a 360+ on the OAT! I really appreciate your advice(it was a rlly nice confidence boost ) and I hope I can get the scores I need 🙂

 

[optometryschoolready]

Hello! so sorry im late but this helps to read!! I've decided to go with taking the exam next week and really just have some confidence in myself. I think my confidence has been lowered a lot because of my low GPA but i'm going to try to not focus on it because I really cant change it no matter how much I want to. My goal and comfort zone would honestly be to get a 360+ on the OAT! I really appreciate your advice(it was a rlly nice confidence boost ) and I hope I can get the scores I need 🙂

Hello! I’m on the same boat as you with the low gpa! I’m taking my exam on the 27 of this month and I’m so nervous too. The only thing that you have to keep telling yourself is that you’re taking the test so you’re in control of it. You should just remain having confidence in yourself and go into the exam Careless! That’s what everyone’s been telling me

 

[bchu6]

Hello! so sorry im late but this helps to read!! I've decided to go with taking the exam next week and really just have some confidence in myself. I think my confidence has been lowered a lot because of my low GPA but i'm going to try to not focus on it because I really cant change it no matter how much I want to. My goal and comfort zone would honestly be to get a 360+ on the OAT! I really appreciate your advice(it was a rlly nice confidence boost ) and I hope I can get the scores I need 🙂

No problem! You definitely got this, you're going into it with a great mentality 🙂 . What school do you plan on applying to!

 

[PhillyGirl97]

Hello! I’m on the same boat as you with the low gpa! I’m taking my exam on the 27 of this month and I’m so nervous too. The only thing that you have to keep telling yourself is that you’re taking the test so you’re in control of it. You should just remain having confidence in yourself and go into the exam Careless! That’s what everyone’s been telling me

ugh yeah the low gpa thing really gets to me a lottt mostly because Its because of classes that weren't even prereqs for optometry school lol I was just having such a weird personal life that I couldn't focus on them properly which sucks since they were not even that difficult. Aw thank you! i'm for sure just going in with an open mind no stress just going to face it head on and see what happens. If I do well its great I can turn I my app(finally), If not I just have to push through for an early december app!!

 

[PhillyGirl97]

No problem! You definitely got this, you're going into it with a great mentality 🙂 . What school do you plan on applying to!

i'm applying to NECO, MCPHS(my 2 top choices, I really really want to go to Boston LOL ), NSU, PCO, and maaaybe SUNY but still thinking about if I should try for that one!

 

[bchu6]

i'm applying to NECO, MCPHS(my 2 top choices, I really really want to go to Boston LOL ), NSU, PCO, and maaaybe SUNY but still thinking about if I should try for that one!

Boston is definitely fun! I think it's worth a try to apply to SUNY you never know 😀 Good luck on your applications and OAT!