Q's about Waterloo

[nvega13]

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I have some questionas about optometry at Waterloo:

1) Is it possible to get accepted witha low GPA (~3.1) if you have high OAT scores (~360)?

2) I shadowed an OD this summer, and I will be asking her for a LOR soon for my US apps. Can I ask her to send one to Waterloo also, even though they havn't started processing apps, or should I ask her to give it to me so that I can hold onto it till later (I e-mailed the admissions office, but they never got back to me)

3) Given that peopel have been able to apply to Waterloo after only 2 years university, is the avergae age of students in the program at Waterloo really young? I am 26 and I am wondering if I wikll be too old.

Thanks!

 

[jefguth]

1. If your GPA is below 75%, which i think 3.1 may me, then you're application will not be consided for admission at UW. It sad but even with a high OAT you must first meet the minimum GPA. Typically, you would need almost an 80% avg to successfully gain admission. Myself, I had a 3.7-3.8 330AA and 360TS when I appled in my third year and was flatly rejected, but i do know others with similar stats that did get in. I opted to come directly to ICO out of my third year of undergrad at UW.

2. I think you can certainly ask your OD to write a LOR for your application to Waterloo at the same time - She'll likely use the same letter anyways. However, be aware that UW will require her to print the letter on a special form so don't just have her send a letter in the mail to UW. You need the form, and the form probabaly won't be available until December.

3. Despite the minimum 2 years of undergrad requirment for admission, its nearly impossible to complete the pre-req's in 2 years, a few people do manage to do it but usually no more than four get in each year. I would think that the average age is either very close to the US schools or at most a year younger. I'd say 23 for UW.

Best of luck with your applications!

 

[nvega13]

Hi jefguth!

Thanks for the reply. I am still confused about the % to GPA conversion though. It says on the Waterloo website that you need at least a 75%, or a 3.0, so I would think that a 3.1 would be over 75%. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Also, how do you like ICO? How are you paying for it? I will be applying there and so I was just wondering what you thought of the school.

Thanks.

 

[jefguth]

Hi nvega13,

The GPA conversion is a tricky thing... I'm guessing that you go to a 4.0 system school, but just to be sure try calculating your GPA on a 100 point system to double check. The conversion between 100 and 4.0 isn't direct (ie. a 3.0 doesn't necessarily equal 75% b/c of how higher grades effectively get weighted more in a 4.0 system). You'll have to consider each grade on your transcipt and its credit weight.

It never hurts to apply regardless, but a 3.1 will be on the low end. Sorry.

ICO has actually been great so far. The only thing thats bothering me right now is that we have to sit through quite a few basic science courses that I've already had to learn (to apply to UW). Needless to say thats really boring. The school does have a great atmosphere though, for instance one of our professors invited all the Canadians to her home for a Labour Day BBQ, and they provide alot of support to help move students in the direction of private practice (though I understand how the debt level drives so many to comercial). Also, its hard to beat the clinical exposure ICO students get here onsite. The school is located in a predominately African American area of the city and is somwhat depressed economically, thus exposure plenty of patients with advanced states of disease.

One thing about ICO that will surprise you is the vast number of test we have. I think at least two per week, and somtimes three. We just had our first two this week and while they were simple, I forsee the workload getting to be bothersome.

As for financing, most people are either using a loan program called CanHELP which will cover all your expenses (but their fees are high), student lines of credit from Canadian banks, or their family assists with the expense. Canada student loans might also contribute ~$7000/year. Naturally, it usually ends of being a mix of the above funding schemes. I would suggest you excercise extreme caution if you choose to finance a US education. It will likely cost at the very minimum ~$230 000 CND, and interest will build on that over your four years. Earnings in optometry tend not to be very high, and repaying those loans could be very difficult especially if you want to rid yourself of debt ASAP. That is not to say that there are not people that do and manage to survive and even return to Canada, and they do, but just be aware of what kind of situation you are getting into.

 

[Canadian26]

Student line of credits are a pretty decent way to go, usually the intrest is really low and you have i think something like 6months to a year (dependig on the bank) after you graduate before you have to start making intrest payments which is nice. Usually if you have your acceptance papers to a school, you'll pretty much get instally approved. I know alberta student loans has a lot of catches in it (i havent really looked into canadian student loans), stuff like if you live at home your parents combined income has to be under like 40 000. Im not sure which province your from, but most uni's have loan packages and info somewhere in the school.

Ive been e-mailing back and forth with an advisor at ICO, they are extremly helpful and efficent. Waterloo either doenst respond to e-mails or responds like 6months after.

 

[jefguth]

I should clarify that while you don't have to make payments on a line of credit until 6months after graduation, interest will be compounding while you're in school and before you are able to start repayment. For optometry you will most likely also require a co-signer to get approval.

 

[pre_opt_sku]

Very true! Although student lines of credit are a good way to go because the interest is low, your parents may be stuck with huge monthly payments for you if you max out your line of credit. I just met with all the banks to discuss how much money each will offer for optometry students and the range I found was from $32 000 - $125 000. Conexus being the low and CIBC and RBC being the high... So, even if you only use like $80 000 your parents will be stuck making ~ $330 per month in interest payments.