Question

[leonard1234]

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Hey guys, i just have a few questions

1) I graduated a year ago with a degree in film and media and i'm back at a junior college taking all my science courses. i want to apply next fall to start in 2010, but by that time i would have only taken gen chem, bio, physics, and ochem...do you think it would be possible to take my OAT's after taking these courses?

2) since i'm taking ochem next summer, i want to apply in October of 2009. is that too late? Also, i will have about 6 courses i still need to take to fulfill requirements. Schools allow this right?

i don't want to waste anymore time having to take classes..that's why i'm trying to do it all in 2 years so i can start in 2010.

Thank you so much for your help!!

 

[jvelos3]

Which Biology classes will you have taken by the time you take the OATs?

Also...it is recommended that you take the bulk of the pre-reqs at a 4 year university and not at a junior college.

 

[DOOMflow]

I found the OAT to be an extremely easy test. I am a bio major, so I certainly had an advantage in that respect, but it had been 2+ years since I'd taken any sort of physics, general chem or organic chem. I studied for a total of three days and I am quite happy with my score. MOST (not all) of the material is actually a high school/first-year class level, and the number of absolute give-away questions was surprising.

My suggestion would be to pick up a KAPLAN or McGraw Hill book, whether it be DAT/MCAT/OAT and just study those and make sure you do lots of practice questions. Best of luck!

 

[leonard1234]

well i already graduated from UCI so i've taken my stats,english prereqs there but i'm taking my science prereqs at a jc. i know they say it looks better to take the science prereqs at a 4 yr college, but you really can't go back unless you want to reapply to a university under another major. it would seem to add to my already long path.

by the end of this year i would have taken zoology and molecular bio, physics, gen chem, and ochem (summer 09).

 

[jvelos3]

I guess you should be fine. I would still either email or call the school(s) which you are looking at applying to see if this is okay. BTW if you are worried about having to take another 4 years when reapplying back to UCI...you dont need to complete a major...just complete the pre-reqs. Universities have no way of making you stay until you complete a major.

Don't forget about Letter of Recomendation...these are required. Usually atleast 1 from an optometrist you have shadowed, 2 from science professors (some places only require 1), and 1 from a non science professor (this last one I only found in some schools).

For the OAT, get the Kaplan material from someone...especially the notecards and the quick facts sheets. Get the OAT achiever to get used to the computer based exam and for practice exams. Also look into the OAT destroyer for a boat load of practice questions.

Remember...practice questions are the way to retain information. You have already seen the material in class...you just need something to help you retain it...so do practice questions. I did a ton of practice questions...did not open the kaplan book much and got an AA of 380 and TS of 390.

Goodluck.

 

[VisualSpirit]

I completely understand what you're feeling. I'm in the exact same boat. Want to start opto school in 2010. I won't have completed my orgs or biochem before having to take the OAT. So, I asked around and called some schools and they suggested that I study OAT materials and do a lot, a lot, a lot of practice questions. That way, I can send in good scores hopefully and then finish out my pre reqs.

But I understand. The road is already so long, that last thing you want to do is stretch it out any further. I also have my undergrad degree in a non-science....Computer Information Systems. Graduated 5 yrs ago in fact. So, it's tough for me going back to school but I really want to be an optometrist and nothing is going to stop me.....us!
👍

 

[BlueEyeDoc]

One of the six sections on the OAT is organic chemistry. I would not suggest taking the OAT without having taken at least one semester of organic, two would be best because second semester covers all the in depth mechanisms like the Wittig and Diels Alder. I don't understand how you can expect to do well on that section having never stepped foot in an organic chemistry class. Yes it is important to do practice questions and exams, but organic is not something you can teach yourself easily from my experience.

I would also highly recommend taking cell biology before taking the OAT. From what I can recall, when I took the OAT I had a ton of cell bio questions and hardly any microbiology questions. I know micro is a pre-req and cell isn't, but I would still highly recommend taking that course.