Please Help Pre OD questions

[chachi2579]

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Hello i just registered for this forum. I have some questions, i hope someone here can give me some advice...I am a non degree seeking student, I will be completed with my classes need to apply to most OD schools this dec. I will be taking my OAT this oct. and then again in feb. for the up coming 06 sem. My questions are as follows

1. Is it a good idea to take the oat twice?
2. Do you think with a gpa of 2.9, and being nondegree seeking i will have a problem getting accepted?
3. I am 26yrs old and have been a licensed optician in FL for 5 yrs and have worked as a refractionist since 1997. Will this experience weigh heavily when my application is looked at?
4. Am i gonna be old as a freshman in OD school being 27?

Thanks for taking the time to read this, I appreciate and suggestions.
chachi

 

[Ryan_eyeball]

1)I don't think its that necessary to take the OAT twice. I have no idea if they only look at the higher score if you take it twice or they average it together. I would shoot at least for a 320 and higher...Why? The higher you score above this number the more you are seperating yourself into a select category of competitive applicants.
2) I would highly suggest getting a bachelor's degree (in anything) before you start OD school (the May before) because most schools select only a few, if any, non-degree students. I would like to see the GPA a little higher, but I don't think that's going to be the deciding factor. It just puts you more into a "average" applicant pool.
3) I don't think your age will be that detrimental to your application at all. Having worked in the field since 1997 as a refractionist will help a lot because it shows you're interested in the field, and now are choosing to further your education. I think this will be something you will want to focus on in interviews.
4. Being 27 will not put you too far out of the loop as far as age goes. Most students when I started were about 24 years of age (me being 23). I know at UMSL they accepted people into their 30's and one in their forties. Don't worry at 27, you still have a lot to offer the profession.

Good Luck
Ryan

[email protected]

 

[cpw]

I was almost 26 when I started OD school 🙂 But, they're going to want you to have a degree. The people they accept (generally) without degrees are early admission students with stellar GPAs

 

[hoosier1]

The average age in optometry school is around 22, but there are always a number of students who are older

 

[chachi2579]

Hey Ryan thanks for answering me so thoroughly. I went to my college today and because im a transfer student from a private catholic school, a lot of my classes didnt transfer in. In fact I was told that in order for me to grad. with a BA in biology im looking at another 2.5 yrs....I have taken my chems, physics, Bios, calc, Micro etc...Those, along with my undergrad stuff such as Eng. com algebra etc. But i have only 3 Upper level courses. Ecology, Religion 401, and Exp. Psy. I was really dissapointed today when my advisor told me I had 2.5 yrs left if I wanted a Bio degree. The other option I was given was to create my own degree. Which would take me roughly 1.5 yrs. I didnt realize all of this until about 1 hr ago...What should I do? You stressed to get a degree, but its not looking good. Should I just finish up this sem and take my oat then apply and see what happens? I have the core classes that the OD schools require..Are my chances even within reality for me to be accepted into an OD school....??
I would appreciate and guidence you could give..
Thanks
Chris

1)I don't think its that necessary to take the OAT twice. I have no idea if they only look at the higher score if you take it twice or they average it together. I would shoot at least for a 320 and higher...Why? The higher you score above this number the more you are seperating yourself into a select category of competitive applicants.
2) I would highly suggest getting a bachelor's degree (in anything) before you start OD school (the May before) because most schools select only a few, if any, non-degree students. I would like to see the GPA a little higher, but I don't think that's going to be the deciding factor. It just puts you more into a "average" applicant pool.
3) I don't think your age will be that detrimental to your application at all. Having worked in the field since 1997 as a refractionist will help a lot because it shows you're interested in the field, and now are choosing to further your education. I think this will be something you will want to focus on in interviews.
4. Being 27 will not put you too far out of the loop as far as age goes. Most students when I started were about 24 years of age (me being 23). I know at UMSL they accepted people into their 30's and one in their forties. Don't worry at 27, you still have a lot to offer the profession.

Good Luck
Ryan

[email protected]

 

[darling]

Hello i just registered for this forum. I have some questions, i hope someone here can give me some advice...I am a non degree seeking student, I will be completed with my classes need to apply to most OD schools this dec. I will be taking my OAT this oct. and then again in feb. for the up coming 06 sem. My questions are as follows

1. Is it a good idea to take the oat twice?
2. Do you think with a gpa of 2.9, and being nondegree seeking i will have a problem getting accepted?
3. I am 26yrs old and have been a licensed optician in FL for 5 yrs and have worked as a refractionist since 1997. Will this experience weigh heavily when my application is looked at?
4. Am i gonna be old as a freshman in OD school being 27?

Thanks for taking the time to read this, I appreciate and suggestions.
chachi

Hi Chachi,

This is what you should do. Perform decent on the OAT, a 330-340 will make you a good applicant with a 2.9 GPA. You have very good experience and adcom will consider that heavily. As for age, I've never been to an optometry campus, but i'm sure that most of the class are older,so you will fit right in. Let me know if you have any question.

 

[Ryan_eyeball]

Not guidance, just my opinion. Why not just apply to the college of Optometry of your choice, and continue to work towards a degree (in anything). If they deny you, so be it, at least you're still going working for a degree. I think most schools accept students between Oct up to May, so you wouldn't really have to take a semester off. If you gain acceptance than just drop any future courses that you might have signed up for in the fall, before they can charge you tuition. Your OAT score will be critical since you won't have a degree. I believe you control your percentage of acceptance and timing. No college degree, low OAT score 5%; No college degree, great OAT score maybe 35-40%; A college degree, low OAT score 35-50%, A college degree, above average OAT score (>330) 85-99%. Take that last sentence with a grain of salt, there a lot of other factors (like GPA, and your interview).

I would apply to schools, and interview. As long as you don't mind traveling or spending the money for application fees, what's its going to hurt.

Good luck

 

[chachi2579]

Hey Ryan, Thats very good advice. In fact I was kind of depressed when i heard what my advisor was telling me, then i sat back and re-evaluated the situation and came up with what you just told me...Im going to take the oat and study my kaplan book like the bible. I will do well on my oat and then apply. If i dont get in i will continue to take classes toward my Lib. study degree...I really want this more then anything. Its been a real uphill battle for me to just get where I am today...But I will never quit...Im going to strive to finish these last classes with A's to UP my gpa a bit and do really well on the oat...Hey im so happy I found this forum. You have been great to talk to..its really nice to talk to people who have the same interest as you, along with you having gone down the path im trying to go...If I may ask you one more question. When it comes to my personal statement, are there any special points i should be focusing on that the OD schools like to see...???? I dont really know if your a doc already or in school now but thanks for all your good advice...
Hopefully soon to be accepted...Chachi

Not guidance, just my opinion. Why not just apply to the college of Optometry of your choice, and continue to work towards a degree (in anything). If they deny you, so be it, at least you're still going working for a degree. I think most schools accept students between Oct up to May, so you wouldn't really have to take a semester off. If you gain acceptance than just drop any future courses that you might have signed up for in the fall, before they can charge you tuition. Your OAT score will be critical since you won't have a degree. I believe you control your percentage of acceptance and timing. No college degree, low OAT score 5%; No college degree, great OAT score maybe 35-40%; A college degree, low OAT score 35-50%, A college degree, above average OAT score (>330) 85-99%. Take that last sentence with a grain of salt, there a lot of other factors (like GPA, and your interview).

I would apply to schools, and interview. As long as you don't mind traveling or spending the money for application fees, what's its going to hurt.

Good luck