PCO invited EVERYONE for an interview?

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janedoe88

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Hi everyone, I just received an invitation to interview at PCO. I was excited until I noticed that everyone I know applying this cycle (2012) received one too, even some people with very low GPAs. Is this some sort of new strategy they are trying where they are broadening their interview pool? I don't want to spend $2000 to fly there if my odds aren't even that good.

thanks!
 
janedoe88 said:
Hi everyone, I just received an invitation to interview at PCO. I was excited until I noticed that everyone I know applying this cycle (2012) received one too, even some people with very low GPAs. Is this some sort of new strategy they are trying where they are broadening their interview pool? I don't want to spend $2000 to fly there if my odds aren't even that good.

thanks!
Click to expand...

Yes. :luck:
 
did anyone not get an interview/ get rejected this cycle?
 
For-profit college wants your moneys 🙂
 
janedoe88 said:
Hi everyone, I just received an invitation to interview at PCO. I was excited until I noticed that everyone I know applying this cycle (2012) received one too, even some people with very low GPAs. Is this some sort of new strategy they are trying where they are broadening their interview pool? I don't want to spend $2000 to fly there if my odds aren't even that good.

thanks!
Click to expand...

How low were these GPAs? 😱
 
KHE said:
How low were these GPAs? 😱
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Below 3.0, I know someone with a 2.8 that got an interview and someone with a 2.9 that also got an interview...what's up with that? I mean I personally don't think my GPA is that great so I really do appreciate them considering OAT scores and extracurriculars....so I really hope that this is the reason behind the large pool of interviews given out.
 
Yeah, I have seen some pretty low GPAs get interviews this cycle. It really angers me to know that some schools care more about filling seats and getting tuition money than the qualifications of the applicant.
 
janedoe88 said:
Below 3.0, I know someone with a 2.8 that got an interview and someone with a 2.9 that also got an interview...what's up with that? I mean I personally don't think my GPA is that great so I really do appreciate them considering OAT scores and extracurriculars....so I really hope that this is the reason behind the large pool of interviews given out.
Click to expand...

Whats the difference between a 2.8 and a 3.0?
 
nicmc said:
Yeah, I have seen some pretty low GPAs get interviews this cycle. It really angers me to know that some schools care more about filling seats and getting tuition money than the qualifications of the applicant.
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Well I personally think basing an applicant on GPA is a horrible idea. Midwestern is only giving out interviews to above 2.75 and they're a bad school. I think a good school knows that applicants that took hard classes in college or went to a more difficult college will have a lower GPA and it shows that they're actually really smart based off their OAT (which you can't boost up your score by going to some private college that fluffs their grades). I'm just curious why Penn decided to take this road this year and if they've always considered more than GPA for their applicants.
 
nicmc said:
Yeah, I have seen some pretty low GPAs get interviews this cycle. It really angers me to know that some schools care more about filling seats and getting tuition money than the qualifications of the applicant.
Click to expand...

They care about money.

optom123 said:
Whats the difference between a 2.8 and a 3.0?
Click to expand...

A 3.0 is higher.

janedoe88 said:
Well I personally think basing an applicant on GPA is a horrible idea. Midwestern is only giving out interviews to above 2.75 and they're a bad school. I think a good school knows that applicants that took hard classes in college or went to a more difficult college will have a lower GPA and it shows that they're actually really smart based off their OAT (which you can't boost up your score by going to some private college that fluffs their grades). I'm just curious why Penn decided to take this road this year and if they've always considered more than GPA for their applicants.
Click to expand...

PCO is trying out a new protocol this year. :luck:
 
janedoe88 said:
Well I personally think basing an applicant on GPA is a horrible idea. Midwestern is only giving out interviews to above 2.75 and they're a bad school. I think a good school knows that applicants that took hard classes in college or went to a more difficult college will have a lower GPA and it shows that they're actually really smart based off their OAT (which you can't boost up your score by going to some private college that fluffs their grades). I'm just curious why Penn decided to take this road this year and if they've always considered more than GPA for their applicants.
Click to expand...

That is incredibly naive. Yes, there are other things to consider, which is why we do not think that it is unreasonable for a person with a 3.0 to go to school. Yes, going to a difficult college can make it harder to get good grades, but there are plenty of people who go to difficult schools, major in a science and don't come out with 2.5s. The difference is, a person with a 3.0 had around a "B" average, the person with below that has more Cs and lower as the majority of their grade. Also, doing decently on the OAT is not an indicator of being really smart. The test is a joke. What many Pre-Optometry students on here fail to realize is that getting in is only the beginning. Once in school, you have got to do well, taking between 25 and 35 hours of graduate level coursework. How do you expect them to fare when they could not be good students in college? No, everything is not about GPA, but there is a legitimate reason that we would be concerned about schools even considering applicants with 2.5s.
 
nicmc said:
That is incredibly naive. Yes, there are other things to consider, which is why we do not think that it is unreasonable for a person with a 3.0 to go to school. Yes, going to a difficult college can make it harder to get good grades, but there are plenty of people who go to difficult schools, major in a science and don't come out with 2.5s. The difference is, a person with a 3.0 had around a "B" average, the person with below that has more Cs and lower as the majority of their grade. Also, doing decently on the OAT is not an indicator of being really smart. The test is a joke. What many Pre-Optometry students on here fail to realize is that getting in is only the beginning. Once in school, you have got to do well, taking between 25 and 35 hours of graduate level coursework. How do you expect them to fare when they could not be good students in college? No, everything is not about GPA, but there is a legitimate reason that we would be concerned about schools even considering applicants with 2.5s.
Click to expand...

First off, I said 2.8-2.9, not 2.5. And someone can be a very strong applicant with a lower GPA but have a ton of experience in the optometry field and have other non-stat qualities that would make them an excellant candidate.
 
janedoe88 said:
First off, I said 2.8-2.9, not 2.5. And someone can be a very strong applicant with a lower GPA but have a ton of experience in the optometry field and have other non-stat qualities that would make them an excellant candidate.
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You could probably find just as many candidates with "a ton of experience in the optometry field and have other non-state qualities that would make them excellent candidates" who have GPAs of 2.5 and lower.

Should we interview them too?

I ask again.....is it not reasonable to expect that people applying for admission to programs in which they will be trained and licensed to care for the ocular and visual health of the population somehow manage to produce at least a B average?

Is that actually asking too much?
 
A 2.7 is a B- average though. I don't think there's a big difference between a 2.7 and a 3.0 since they are practically both B grades.

For comparison purposes, people may think that a 3.5 gpa is a great GPA, but its only a B+ average, whereas a 2.7 gpa is a B- average.

Don't you think a candidate with a B- average would be able to handle the course load, if a candidate with a B+ average could too?
 
KHE said:
You could probably find just as many candidates with "a ton of experience in the optometry field and have other non-state qualities that would make them excellent candidates" who have GPAs of 2.5 and lower.

Should we interview them too?

I ask again.....is it not reasonable to expect that people applying for admission to programs in which they will be trained and licensed to care for the ocular and visual health of the population somehow manage to produce at least a B average?

Is that actually asking too much?
Click to expand...

👍

I mean seriously, we are going to be doctors with a lot of responsibility. You have got to have the right kind of mind to be making health care decisions for someone. Picking the most qualified individuals makes the most sense. Just about everyone has other great attributes and experience in the field, so I do not see how that makes any difference.
 
optom123 said:
A 2.7 is a B- average though. I don't think there's a big difference between a 2.7 and a 3.0 since they are practically both B grades.

For comparison purposes, people may think that a 3.5 gpa is a great GPA, but its only a B+ average, whereas a 2.7 gpa is a B- average.

Don't you think a candidate with a B- average would be able to handle the course load, if a candidate with a B+ average could too?
Click to expand...

Only at some schools. Not everyone is on the +/- system, and there are so many variations of it that you cannot say that they made a B- average. And no, there is a HUGE difference between a 3.5 and a 2.7. A 3.5 says that you are pretty balanced between As and Bs (there also might be a few Cs), but the point is that you have shown that you can perform well. Let me tell you that Optometry school is challenging, and individuals who can't cut it in college are going to have huge problems in optometry school.
 
nicmc said:
Only at some schools. Not everyone is on the +/- system, and there are so many variations of it that you cannot say that they made a B- average. And no, there is a HUGE difference between a 3.5 and a 2.7. A 3.5 says that you are pretty balanced between As and Bs (there also might be a few Cs), but the point is that you have shown that you can perform well. Let me tell you that Optometry school is challenging, and individuals who can't cut it in college are going to have huge problems in optometry school.
Click to expand...

generally, but studnets who have low gpas arent necessarily goign to fail in opt school
 
nicmc said:
Only at some schools. Not everyone is on the +/- system, and there are so many variations of it that you cannot say that they made a B- average. And no, there is a HUGE difference between a 3.5 and a 2.7. A 3.5 says that you are pretty balanced between As and Bs (there also might be a few Cs), but the point is that you have shown that you can perform well. Let me tell you that Optometry school is challenging, and individuals who can't cut it in college are going to have huge problems in optometry school.
Click to expand...

There isn't a huge difference between a b+,b and b-


Not sure why you are trying to argue with that.
 
Judgment Dragon said:
Well, let's just say I have connections (if you know what I mean). :luck:
Click to expand...

Okay, do you know if an interview in early Dec (none of the dates in nov really worked for me) is a "late" interview? How quickly do all the seats fill up?
 
optom123 said:
There isn't a huge difference between a b+,b and b-


Not sure why you are trying to argue with that.
Click to expand...

Once again, at different schools a 2.7 is not a B-. It's a C+, and as KHE mentioned above, there is a big difference between an average of mostly As and Bs and mostly Bs and Cs. Not sure why YOU are trying to argue with that.
 
Your emphasis should be on whether or not you can succeed in optometry school, not on whether or not you are minimally qualified to get in.
 
janedoe88 said:
Okay, do you know if an interview in early Dec (none of the dates in nov really worked for me) is a "late" interview? How quickly do all the seats fill up?
Click to expand...

It mostly depends on when you were offered an interview not when you choose an interview date. Seats fill up quick. :luck:
 
Judgment Dragon said:
It mostly depends on when you were offered an interview not when you choose an interview date. Seats fill up quick. :luck:
Click to expand...
thanks! Also do you know if the exit interview is at the very end of the day? I booked my flight back to CA at 3pm...do you think I could get out around 1:30?
 
janedoe88 said:
thanks! Also do you know if the exit interview is at the very end of the day? I booked my flight back to CA at 3pm...do you think I could get out around 1:30?
Click to expand...

Exit interviews are usually conducted right after main interview except if there is a lot of students, then you should have to call them right now to make sure.
 
nicmc said:
Once again, at different schools a 2.7 is not a B-. It's a C+, and as KHE mentioned above, there is a big difference between an average of mostly As and Bs and mostly Bs and Cs. Not sure why YOU are trying to argue with that.
Click to expand...

but the majority of grades are B grades in either case. I really think a student with a b- average would be able to do just as well as someone with a b+ average, though it may require more work for them. Also a b+ avg isn't all that impressive if you compare it to a b- average.....yes the person got more a's, but they could not cut it to get to the next level which is basically an a average. I think this is another reason why schools let people with lower gpas get in, I.e. There is no Accepted minimal competitive standard like med schools where you basically need an a average to get in.

I mean if this was not the case,then why does Pco have a minimum acceptable g.p.a of 2.5, which is like a c+...

Anyways, I definitely agree that a 3.5 is much better than a 2.7, but they are really both B averages, which in the grand scheme of things is just above mediocre and just shy of excellence.
 
Too much of a good thing and you also complaint 😛
 
Judgment Dragon said:
Exit interviews are usually conducted right after main interview except if there is a lot of students, then you should have to call them right now to make sure.
Click to expand...

thanks, do you know if they have a rep in california you could interview with? Also, does anyone know if any of the other Opt schools out of CA have a rep in CA that does interviews?
 
janedoe88 said:
thanks, do you know if they have a rep in california you could interview with? Also, does anyone know if any of the other Opt schools out of CA have a rep in CA that does interviews?
Click to expand...

Not sure. Usually, you have to fly to their school. 🙁
 
Kevin L said:
Not sure. Usually, you have to fly to their school. 🙁
Click to expand...

I find that really unfair. I mean for undergraduate and Med schools they let you interview at reps in CA. Does anyone know for sure if none of the schools have Reps in CA? I heard that SUNY used to.
 
janedoe88 said:
I find that really unfair. I mean for undergraduate and Med schools they let you interview at reps in CA. Does anyone know for sure if none of the schools have Reps in CA? I heard that SUNY used to.
Click to expand...

i'm from cali, it cost me $466 (round trip) + $135 (hotel), not $2000. you can complain all you want, they're not going to fly out a rep just for you.
 
janedoe88 said:
I find that really unfair. I mean for undergraduate and Med schools they let you interview at reps in CA. Does anyone know for sure if none of the schools have Reps in CA? I heard that SUNY used to.
Click to expand...

Actually I never heard of MD / DO schools using reps in CA either.
 
janedoe88 said:
I find that really unfair. I mean for undergraduate and Med schools they let you interview at reps in CA. Does anyone know for sure if none of the schools have Reps in CA? I heard that SUNY used to.
Click to expand...

So is it unfair that everyone else has to go to the schools too? Let's just put reps from every school in every state so no one ever has to get on a plane! Yes, it's expensive. Everyone has to do it. Get over it.
 
Kevin L said:
IDK. I gave you his email address. Just email him and ask him.
Click to expand...

oh wow thanks for that suggestion. i could not have thought of that myself. i did. he doesnt respond? i thought being his friend you would know
 
nicmc said:
So is it unfair that everyone else has to go to the schools too? Let's just put reps from every school in every state so no one ever has to get on a plane! Yes, it's expensive. Everyone has to do it. Get over it.
Click to expand...

yeah then apply to med school
 
nicmc said:
So is it unfair that everyone else has to go to the schools too? Let's just put reps from every school in every state so no one ever has to get on a plane! Yes, it's expensive. Everyone has to do it. Get over it.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but I agree with this too. Unfortunately, traveling for the interviews is just part of the process, however costly and inconvenient it may be. :/
 
janedoe88 said:
I find that really unfair. I mean for undergraduate and Med schools they let you interview at reps in CA. Does anyone know for sure if none of the schools have Reps in CA? I heard that SUNY used to.
Click to expand...

Just save money.
 
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