Reserach question

[nbwkobe8]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi all,

I've been looking around online and I haven't really found a definitive answer to this... How important is research experience as a pre-optometry student? Do you need it? Do many applicants get accepted without any? Does it need to be eye-related?

Thanks

 

[Arctic]

You definitely aren't required to do research to be considered a competetive applicant. OAT scores, gpa, LOR's, shadowing etc. are the primary facets to one's application.

 

[SonofanOpt]

I haven't done any research whatsoever and I have interviews with every school so far. Is it required? - No. Will it help if your application is weak in other areas? - Yes.

 

[blysssful]

You should really only consider doing research if you have to for your undergrad requirements or you have all the PRIORITIES of your application taken care of (GPA, OATs, LORs, shadowing, community service, etc) and want to do something extra. Research will NOT replace weaknesses in those main areas of your application.

If you do participate in research, it does not need to be eye related, but if it is it certainly doesn't hurt.

 

[lovelydisaster]

I agree with Blysssful. If you have a solid foundation and the important features of your application down and a research opportunity arises (with or without relation to optometry), I'd take it! It enhances your application furthurmore and lets everyone know that you're dedicated and can critically think on a higher level. It kind of pulls you apart form the crowd. However, I would not do research simply to do it, or do it with the false sense that it will replace any sort of holes in your application. Research requires a lot of work and independent thinking at times. You never know, though- you might enjoy it in the end 🙂