What are my chances of acceptance? Also a question about sending OAT scores

[wilsonxcc]

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Hi everybody,

This is my first post on this forum. I'm in the midst of applying and I'm a little nervous about my chances of acceptance. My GPA is ~3.2. My OAT scores are:
QR - 320
RC - 310
Bio - 320
GC - 400
Orgo - 350
P - 290
TS - 340
AA - 330
I'm worried that my scores overall aren't very consistent and that my GPA is on the lower end. I've done about 80 hours of job shadowing and I have plenty of extracurriculars and volunteering.

Also, I was wondering if anyone knows about sending OAT scores to additional schools. When I registered to write the OAT, I selected 5 schools to receive my OAT scores. But now I want to apply to a few additional schools, does anyone know how I would go about doing this?

Thanks!

 

[midgi97]

your stats are similar to mine and I was invited to 3 interviews.. I wouldn't fret too much.

You can send your oat scores to additional schools by going to the same website that you registered for the oat..there should be a link, and if you can't find it it'll definitely say how in the faq section

 

[wilsonxcc]

Hey!

Thanks for the reply, I'm not as nervous anymore. Just curious, which schools did you apply to/get invited for interviews?

 

[averagestudent8]

Your physics is a little low, retake the oat.

 

[csandova]

There's usually no need to retake if only 1 of your sections is slightly under 300, as long as your TS and AA are above 300. My lowest section was 280 in physics and I received 7 invitations to interview. I've been to 2 so far and have gotten into both schools.

 

[Loptometriste]

I was just looking at the profile of the 2012 entering class at PCO.

It says the mean OAT scores are as follows:

BIO: 310
CHEM: 310
PHYSICS: 290
O. CHEM: 300
QR: 300
READ: 320
AA: 310
TT: 300

So obviously, no one might have gotten these exact scores, but it gives you an idea of what their entering student average is for physics. You were above average in almost all categories--I'd say that is at least a good thing. 🙂

Hope this helps.

 

[midgi97]

I

 

[midgi97]

Hey!

Thanks for the reply, I'm not as nervous anymore. Just curious, which schools did you apply to/get invited for interviews?

I was invited to interviews at Nova, ICO, and PUCO

I disagree that your physics is low..my physics score was lower than yours..

QR 330
RC 330
Bio 280
GenChem 350
Ochem 290
Phys 260

TS 290
AA 310

 

[wilsonxcc]

Thanks for the replies everyone! It feels great to get some feedback.

 

[wilsonxcc]

Also, one more quick question: does anyone know how important it is to submit the right LORs? If a school wants two LORs from science professors, would it be significantly detrimental if I submit only one LOR from a science prof?

 

[optomgirl578]

I was invited to interviews at Nova, ICO, and PUCO

I disagree that your physics is low..my physics score was lower than yours..

QR 330
RC 330
Bio 280
GenChem 350
Ochem 290
Phys 260

TS 290
AA 310

Hey midgi97, if you don't mind me asking..how's your GPA? and have you already been accepted at the 3 schools you interviewed at?

 

[midgi97]

Hey midgi97, if you don't mind me asking..how's your GPA? and have you already been accepted at the 3 schools you interviewed at?

I have been accepted at ICO and Nova (I can't decide! 🙁 haha), and I think I'm going to call and cancel my interview at PUCO.

My GPA is 3.27 (I also have a bunch of extra curriculars and shadowed 3 doctors, about 45 hrs total)

 

[DeterminedOpto]

I was just looking at the profile of the 2012 entering class at PCO.

It says the mean OAT scores are as follows:

BIO: 310
CHEM: 310
PHYSICS: 290
O. CHEM: 300
QR: 300
READ: 320
AA: 310
TT: 300

So obviously, no one might have gotten these exact scores, but it gives you an idea of what their entering student average is for physics. You were above average in almost all categories--I'd say that is at least a good thing. 🙂

Hope this helps.

thanks!!

 

[xshinigami]

Also, one more quick question: does anyone know how important it is to submit the right LORs? If a school wants two LORs from science professors, would it be significantly detrimental if I submit only one LOR from a science prof?

I'm not sure about other schools, but I know ICO is "okay" with you sending a non-science LOR (even though they ask for a science LOR). My pre-optometry club hosted a ICO School Visit a few days ago and one of the members asked the same question that you did. While answering the question, the Admissions Coordinator said it was "ok" to send a non-science LOR, but also brought up a good point to keep in mind, she said that if you are trying to be "as competitive as you can", then your best bet is to stick with what the school is specifically asking (i.e. the science LOR). Since you are competing with hundreds of other applicants, you don't want to be the only one that didn't submit a science LOR as asked. To the adcom, they see it as "you didn't try hard enough" or "you're not doing your job as an applicant".

But this is just what the ICO Admissions Coordinator told my club. If you want a definite answer, I'd recommend calling all of the schools that you are applying into, since they are the ones that will ultimately decide whether or not you get accepted. I hope this helps and good luck! 🙂

 

[ashleyopt]

I was invited to interviews at Nova, ICO, and PUCO

I disagree that your physics is low..my physics score was lower than yours..

QR 330
RC 330
Bio 280
GenChem 350
Ochem 290
Phys 260

TS 290
AA 310

My OAT is similar to yours, but my GPA is higher, I was thinking of retaking the OAT, but if you got interviews... maybe I don't have to? Are there any schools you applied to that you did not get an interview, if so what ones?

 

[midgi97]

Yes there were some schools that I didn't get invited to interviews. I also applied at SCO (I have been in contact with them and they wanted me to shadow even more), SCCO, Berkeley (I wasn't accepting to get an interview here but I thought I'd try 😛 ), and SCO

 

[ashleyopt]

Thank you!!

 

[ashleyopt]

So I just got an interview at ICO!!! how would you describe the experience?

 

[midgi97]

Congrats! 🙂

It was very relaxed. Theres a 10 min impromptu essay..my question was "What three qualities do you have the will help you to become a great optometry, and provide support"

Otherwise I wasn't asked anything different than the questions in the interview section.

What other schools did you apply to?

 

[ashleyopt]

I also applied to IU OSU MCO ICO and PCO. I'm thinking of applying someplace warm haha because I think I may want a change in atmosphere. I'm from Michigan. I have interviews at ICO and PCO so far. MCO I called today and they will have a decision for me in the next few weeks. Haven't done my supplemental for OSU yet. An have no idea about IU.

 

[xshinigami]

I also applied to IU OSU MCO ICO and PCO. I'm thinking of applying someplace warm haha because I think I may want a change in atmosphere. I'm from Michigan. I have interviews at ICO and PCO so far. MCO I called today and they will have a decision for me in the next few weeks. Haven't done my supplemental for OSU yet. An have no idea about IU.

Hey ashleyopt, congrats on your interview invites! When are your interviews for PCO and ICO? Those are the only two schools I have interviews scheduled for since I haven't taken my OAT yet 🙁

 

[ashleyopt]

ICO last Monday in Nov and PCO dec 13 🙂

 

[DeterminedOpto]

Hi for those of you who applied to ICO...when did you hear back? I submitted a couple of weeks ago but never got a confirmation or anything. Should I call them to ask for an update?
Thanks!

 

[DeterminedOpto]

I was invited to interviews at Nova, ICO, and PUCO

I disagree that your physics is low..my physics score was lower than yours..

QR 330
RC 330
Bio 280
GenChem 350
Ochem 290
Phys 260

TS 290
AA 310

if you dont mind me asking, what was your GPA?

 

[xshinigami]

Hi for those of you who applied to ICO...when did you hear back? I submitted a couple of weeks ago but never got a confirmation or anything. Should I call them to ask for an update?
Thanks!

I submitted my OptomCAS app on 8/31 and it was mailed 9/27. I got the ICO supplemental invite link on 10/4 and filled it out and emailed it back to them the next day. I received the interview invite email on 10/8.

It doesn't hurt to call the admissions office and ask for a status update. They're really nice.

Hope this helps!

 

[xshinigami]

ICO last Monday in Nov and PCO dec 13 🙂

Both of mine are in mid-November 🙂 Hopefully I do well and I can give you some feedback! Good luck on both of your interviews!

 

[midgi97]

if you dont mind me asking, what was your GPA?

3.27 ( I also have a bunch of extracurriculars too )

 

[DeterminedOpto]

I submitted my OptomCAS app on 8/31 and it was mailed 9/27. I got the ICO supplemental invite link on 10/4 and filled it out and emailed it back to them the next day. I received the interview invite email on 10/8.

It doesn't hurt to call the admissions office and ask for a status update. They're really nice.

Hope this helps!

thanks! okay! so you didn't get a confirmation right away that they received your OPTOMCAS app?

 

[ashleyopt]

Do any of you guys have an invitation from Indiana? What is an Admission Open house? And what does it entail?

 

[xshinigami]

thanks! okay! so you didn't get a confirmation right away that they received your OPTOMCAS app?

I think ICO was the only school that didn't send me a confirmation email about receiving my OptomCAS application. All the other schools I applied to did.