OAT insights for older, considering OD school

[HucFinn]

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Hiya Gang,

I'm an older guy (34) thinking of redefining my career by going to OD school. It's been a long time since I took the coursework that prepares one for the OAT and the OD program, but I still have all of my notes and materials in the attic. Can anyone tell me what specific topics of Chem and Physics are covered on the OAT so I can put my focus there? With what topics should I just not bother? Thanks.

 

[loantrinh]

Hey!
I used the Kaplan OAT review notes book to prep for the OAT,
it was very helpful. You should look into it. They discuss the topics that the OAt will cover, although not completely in depth, but you get the general idea of what to expect, then you can refer back to your notes from previous courses to get a better understanding.
visit their website www.kaptest.com for more info
hope this helps!

 

[optopt]

kaplan notes are good and all that, but the practice exam questions i had with them were not similar to what i got on my OAT. in a way i thought the kaplan exams were much easier than the real exam.

on my OAT, i had a lot of questions regarding the periodic table, redox reaction and batteries. i can't remember much on the physics part, the light/lens part was on there for sure.

you also need to do a lot of practices on your RC part, i didn't have time to finish the last passage and had to guess all my Qs. 😱

 

[idoc2b]

i think you shoud definitely invest in the kapln review notes. i bet there are a few people on here who might be willing to sell their old notes.
good luck 🙂

 

[silviapoe]

Hiya Gang,

I'm an older guy (34) thinking of redefining my career by going to OD school. It's been a long time since I took the coursework that prepares one for the OAT and the OD program, but I still have all of my notes and materials in the attic. Can anyone tell me what specific topics of Chem and Physics are covered on the OAT so I can put my focus there? With what topics should I just not bother? Thanks.

Most professional schools will highly welcome non-traditional students, considering the amount of job experiences and maturity acquired that will strongly constitute desirable traits for the healthcare profession.

You may visit the scope of tests at:

https://www.ada.org/oat/OAT_Guide.doc#OAT_stats

Good luck to you then...

 

[rkl_OD2be]

Hiya Gang,

I'm an older guy (34) thinking of redefining my career by going to OD school. It's been a long time since I took the coursework that prepares one for the OAT and the OD program, but I still have all of my notes and materials in the attic. Can anyone tell me what specific topics of Chem and Physics are covered on the OAT so I can put my focus there? With what topics should I just not bother? Thanks.

I'm in the same boat, so to speak...I'm 36, and I've been working on the pre-optometry admission requirements for almost 3 years now. I got my BS degree in mathematics about 13 years ago, and I've been a software engineer all that time. The recent torrent of off-shore outsourcing scared me into a career change (and will allow me to realize my childhood dream of being an optometrist)...

Depending on which school you want to attend, you may be required to take some "refresher" courses. I had my interview at SCO last week, and in spite of the fact I scored above the national average on the Physics section of the OAT, 14 years after I took Physics I & II, they are insisting that I need to re-take Physics 2 as a refresher. SCO requires that all science pre-requisites be completed within the last 5 years. (I didn't take much chemistry, or any biology when I got my math degree, so my BIO, CHEM, Organic & BIO chem are all current).

As for the topics to study...The chemistry section of the OAT covered topics that would be covered on a comprehensive final exam in both Chem I and Chem 2. The Organic section was a bear (my worst section of the OAT). I wish I'd have waited until just *AFTER* I'd had Organic instead of trying to take the OAT after only 6 or 8 weeks into Organic I. For QR, review your applied algebra (aka "story problems"). The vast majority of QR are story problems. Be sure you know SIN and/or COS for all the "standard" angles (when asked in either DEG or RAD). Review strategies for QUICKLY solving systems of 2 equations and 2 variables...Reading comprehension is purely how well you can scan a somewhat technical passage to answer basic questions about it...

You aren't the only "older" person trying to change careers...

 

[gsinccom]

thanks for the insights...I'll be starting in 2007 as a 30 year old. I too have found that some schools have an expiration on pre-requisites. SCO is the steepest I've looked into with 5 years. I think SUNY is 10 years, although it was a while ago when I spoke with them so I'm not sure. I haven't run into any others but I haven't looked at all 18 schools either. I talked to admissions officials at over half of the schools a few months ago. Most of them I talked to felt like if you did well enough on the OAT this proved you could hack OD school. Personally I don't mind having to refresh a bit with pre-reqs (I am going to take physics II, biochem, and human physiology and still need Stats) cause it will help me prepare for the world of academia again; I've been out of it for around 5 years now. Now, I've narrowed my options down to Pacific, SCCO, and SCO for reasons of location and cost.

 

[HucFinn]

I'm in the same boat, so to speak...I'm 36, and I've been working on the pre-optometry admission requirements for almost 3 years now. I got my BS degree in mathematics about 13 years ago, and I've been a software engineer all that time. The recent torrent of off-shore outsourcing scared me into a career change (and will allow me to realize my childhood dream of being an optometrist)...

Depending on which school you want to attend, you may be required to take some "refresher" courses. I had my interview at SCO last week, and in spite of the fact I scored above the national average on the Physics section of the OAT, 14 years after I took Physics I & II, they are insisting that I need to re-take Physics 2 as a refresher. SCO requires that all science pre-requisites be completed within the last 5 years. (I didn't take much chemistry, or any biology when I got my math degree, so my BIO, CHEM, Organic & BIO chem are all current).

As for the topics to study...The chemistry section of the OAT covered topics that would be covered on a comprehensive final exam in both Chem I and Chem 2. The Organic section was a bear (my worst section of the OAT). I wish I'd have waited until just *AFTER* I'd had Organic instead of trying to take the OAT after only 6 or 8 weeks into Organic I. For QR, review your applied algebra (aka "story problems"). The vast majority of QR are story problems. Be sure you know SIN and/or COS for all the "standard" angles (when asked in either DEG or RAD). Review strategies for QUICKLY solving systems of 2 equations and 2 variables...Reading comprehension is purely how well you can scan a somewhat technical passage to answer basic questions about it...

You aren't the only "older" person trying to change careers...

This information is hugely helpful, and more than a bit discouraging. SCO is the cheapest school for me as a Georgia resident, but if they have a 5-year expiration on science prerequisites, then I'm terribly out of luck. Most of my science coursework was in the mid-1990's. Anyway, I suppose I have to check with each school to see what they require of me before I try busting my patootie for them. I don't want to have to repeat much coursework, especially physics, if I can help it. Time is already against me.

Any other thoughts, insights, or words of encouragement?

 

[rkl_OD2be]

This information is hugely helpful, and more than a bit discouraging. SCO is the cheapest school for me as a Georgia resident, but if they have a 5-year expiration on science prerequisites, then I'm terribly out of luck. Most of my science coursework was in the mid-1990's. Anyway, I suppose I have to check with each school to see what they require of me before I try busting my patootie for them. I don't want to have to repeat much coursework, especially physics, if I can help it. Time is already against me.

Any other thoughts, insights, or words of encouragement?

I'd say for you to call Sunnie or Robin in the admissions department at SCO, and get the answers to your questions directly from them. My experience with SCO has been extremely positive. They would have the best answers your specific questions.

They told me that they have waived the requirements in the past. I got a 320 on the Physics section of the OAT, for example. I made the point on my interview day that, it seems to me that I retained the info pretty well in spite of having Physics I & II in the 1990-1991 academic year. They said that they have waived the 5-year requirements on the science classes for others in the past...mainly for those who score > 350 on the relevant sections of the OAT, or those who use the sciences in their every-day career (engineer, etc.).

And it is not for ALL pre-reqs, only science. My Calculus I from Fall 1988, and Statistics from Fall 1991 satisfied the math requirements (I don't think my 380 QR score on the OAT hurt, either)...

Again, I'd say to get your info directly from SCO, and not from an online forum...The people at SCO were great to work with...

Best wishes for success with your studies/career change...

 

[gsinccom]

how long ago did you get that info from Robin about waving it for > 350 OAT in the relevant section? She didn't mention that when I talked to her a few months ago. She did say though that they have allowed students to Audit the courses rather than taking them for a letter grade if their gpa and other stats are good enough.

 

[rkl_OD2be]

how long ago did you get that info from Robin about waving it for > 350 OAT in the relevant section? She didn't mention that when I talked to her a few months ago. She did say though that they have allowed students to Audit the courses rather than taking them for a letter grade if their gpa and other stats are good enough.

2 weeks ago at my interview (Nov 4th)...

The exact context was for the Physics I & II requirements. All my other pre-reqs are current, so I don't know if it is only for one course, etc. Also, there may have been an "AND" ... between the >350 OAT and on-the-job use of the material...I can't recall the exact word-for-word quote. (Not that I was nervous on my 1st interview, or anything... )

 

[gsinccom]

hey there rkl_OD2be

any update on the situation? Will a 350 OAT in physics allow one to not have the refresher course?

thanks

 

[ODGuy2005]

hey there rkl_OD2be

any update on the situation? Will a 350 OAT in physics allow one to not have the refresher course?

thanks

Which school are you referring to? I know at least one school that doesn't really care what the OAT section score is if the course is over 10 years old. But the more you have to bargain with (and 350 is above the 90th percentile I believe), the better your chances are to have that requirement waived.