Personal Statement/ OPTOMCAS Question

[hurricaneuro]

Hey everyone- I know that the infamous personal statement is coming...but when?! All of my pre-med and pre-dent friends are looking at their application questions etc. online right now, since they open about a month before so you have time to prepare and then submit. I want to start preparing for the essay questions that will be asked (in the past they were listed on the individual schools websites) but is that going to change now?

Are we just going to have to wait to see what the application is going to ask? Are there any preliminary steps you guys are taking to write a generalized personal statement? I guess I'm just confused as to what we are supposed to do to prepare since we don't know what the common app is going to say!

Thanks a lot! 🙂

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[arahnisarahn]

WOW!
I never thought about that! I really do hope they come up with something, but if don't find something now or mid June, then it could be possible that we won't be graced by such good fortune. and if that is the case, then...👎

 

[blysssful]

From OPTOMCAS FAQ:
Will applicants be asked to respond to an essay topic? http://www.opted.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3500Applicants will be asked to provide a response to the essay topic: “Please describe what inspires your decision for becoming an optometrist, including your preparation for training in this profession, your aptitude and motivation, the basis for your interest in optometry, and your future career goals.” The character limit will be 4500 characters (this includes spaces).

 

[cloud99]

So isn't this essay topic more or less the same as a personal statement? I'm having trouble differentiating between the two.

 

[blysssful]

So isn't this essay topic more or less the same as a personal statement? I'm having trouble differentiating between the two.

I believe it is the same thing. You should call an admissions committee for verification.

 

[jc10101]

From OPTOMCAS FAQ:
Will applicants be asked to respond to an essay topic? http://www.opted.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3500Applicants will be asked to provide a response to the essay topic: “Please describe what inspires your decision for becoming an optometrist, including your preparation for training in this profession, your aptitude and motivation, the basis for your interest in optometry, and your future career goals.” The character limit will be 4500 characters (this includes spaces).

so this is the generalized first one, correct?
then we will have a chance to do individual essays for each college in the supplimental?
am i right?
i have no idea

 

[Noemimi]

I think the supplimental material comes after each school has reviewed your initial application.. As far as I've heard. It will be like med school... if they like what they see, you get a supplimental app. If not, you get denied. However, I think most schools will give you a supplimental app unless your stats are not that great.

 

[eyer21]

So isn't this essay topic more or less the same as a personal statement? I'm having trouble differentiating between the two.

Hi, I am sill kinda confused with the concept of the optomca essay and the personal statement? could you explain?

Is the optomcas essay actually your personal statement and then you get another essay from the schools you apply to? and if this is so.. What types of questions were the essays because I vertually i feel i am answering why i want to become a optometrist in my personal statement.

 

[jc328]

Optomcas will provide you an essay topic, and that's your personal statement essay. Most optometry schools require you to complete a secondary application, which you might need to write addition essays. I believe you will find out the optomcas essay question for the next cycle in July.
Some secondary essay I have seen are:
Why are you interested in (school name)?
What do you see yourself in ten years?
Explain if you have any academic weakness.

 

[eyer21]

Optomcas will provide you an essay topic, and that's your personal statement essay. Most optometry schools require you to complete a secondary application, which you might need to write addition essays. I believe you will find out the optomcas essay question for the next cycle in July.
Some secondary essay I have seen are:
Why are you interested in (school name)?
What do you see yourself in ten years?
Explain if you have any academic weakness.

Thanks, that makes since now. one more question, do we submit the secondary essays directly to the school or through optomcas also?

 

[jc328]

Some allow you to submit secondary through optomcas while others require submission directly to the school.

 

[neodoves]

Under school designations, where we attach our personal essay, some school have a link for "Additional Questions". Does anyone know if we need to answer these additional questions BEFORE we e-submit our application? Thanks!

 

[jc328]

If I remember correctly, those questions are like secondary essays. You will need to answer them if the school you are applying to posted them.

 

[neodoves]

Thanks jc328.