Ways to improve non-academic section of waterloo optom application?

[Cynosure]

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As per the waterloo website, this is part of the application:


Non-Academic Application Sections

In addition to sections for personal identification and academic records, the Application for Admission to the School of Optometry requires additional non-academic information:

• Academic awards
• Non-academic awards
• Work experience
• Volunteer experience
• Job shadowing or working with an optometrist

I was just wondering how people improve this part of the application because unless you are lucky enough to have a job at an optom place its hard to do anything.
I have tried volunteering and job shadowing - people seem to have limited open mindedness or time for this...

As for academic awards, well if you don't get any, what can yo do...

Non-academic awards... well I was too busy trying to keep my grades as high as possible to reach waterloo's extremely high standards (esp with their 'must have 5 classes a term, 2 terms, for 3 years.... like everyone can do that when they do not live at home and have no financial support).

So that leaves volunteering and there is only so much of that to do....

So any creative ways to improve this section of the application would be appreciated.... although I hear all they care about is grades and utter perfection in terms of full course load)...

Overall it seems crazy that I can get into medical school or dental but not into optometry which is the one area I want. The US is out of the question due to absolutely way too high costs.

Any Ideas?

 

[misstd]

The only academic awards I listed were Dean's list and such. I strongly recommend job shadowing - the more variety, the better. I worked less than 10 hours a week, but was there for 2 years. And as for volunteering, I only tutored for 5 months at an elementary school, and it was good enough for them. I got accepted to ICO and UHCO with a 3.6 GPA and 310 OAT. Good luck!