What are my chances?

[lindalams]

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I took the OAT today. My academic average was 320 and my total science was 350. I applied to several schools (SCCO, SCO, PCO, and NECO) but don't know whether or not my scores are competitive enough to get in since my GPA is 2.9. 🙁 Any comments would be appreciated. THANKS.

 

[tnn]

I took the OAT today. My academic average was 320 and my total science was 350. However, my math was 260. I applied to several schools (SCCO, SCO, PCO, and NECO) but don't know whether or not my scores are competitive enough to get in since my GPA is 2.9. 🙁 Any comments would be appreciated. THANKS.

what is your major?

 

[polkadot]

I would really suggest retaking it. You just have to maintain the same level on the sciences, which seemed to be really good. Just work on speed for QR. Since your GPA is below average, you need all your OAT scores to be above average.

 

[lindalams]

I guess time will only tell.

 

[terryberryterry]

I also have similar OAT scores and GPA. I hope I can get in as well. 🙂

 

[Canadian26]

I thought that quantive reasoning was the hardest part of the exam, due to time constraints. Im sure the schools know that, and I have yet to hear of anyone who finished the section with time to spare. 260 is a bit low, but your TS and AA are competive. It depends on how schools view your OAT marks, i was under the impression they look at AA and TS more than just indvidual test marks.

 

[rkl_OD2be]

I thought that quantive reasoning was the hardest part of the exam, due to time constraints. Im sure the schools know that, and I have yet to hear of anyone who finished the section with time to spare. 260 is a bit low, but your TS and AA are competive. It depends on how schools view your OAT marks, i was under the impression they look at AA and TS more than just indvidual test marks.

Allow me to be the first one you're heard of who completed the QR section (I think I had 45 seconds to spare... ). I have a couple of advantages: 1) I was a math major. 2) I'm an older student, and (crotchety old man) "back when I was in school..." use of calculators was prohibited until you got through calculus. Therefore, I have *years* of practice doing math "by hand", so that allowed me to crank out answers pretty quick.

The best thing I can recommend for preparing for the QR section of the OAT is to practice working applied algebra problems (aka "story problems"), and doing a lot of them without a calculator.

On test day, if you don't recognize how to solve a particular problem within the first 10-15 seconds after you read it, skip it and go back to it later if you have time. Once you've done the ones you are certain you know how to solve, go back and re-do the ones you've left blank. Finally, leave yourself enough time (2 minutes or so) enter a "guess" on the answersheet so that you don't leave any blank. (The study guide I used suggested using 'A' for all the ones you're "guessing" on). I think I had to "guess" on 5 or 6 problems when I took it.

 

[gioiarioia]

QR sucked... but one of my study guide books wrote that the test is designed so that only THE best can finish each section (not sure that it applies as much to the computerized test as the now unavailable paper version).

The scoring (200-400) makes allowances for this. If you do not finish the test, you aren't necessarily out anything. It depends on how many correct scores, and a perfect score can come even if you miss or don't answer a set number of problems (varies depending on test portion).

I found all of this information in a chart on the back of the OAT test guide, but I believe it is available with your score report (at least for the paper test).

 

[Subiedubie]

I noticed that the QR section is the most forgiving of all the sections on the OAT. You can actually miss up to 8 questions and still get a perfect score of 400. Time is crucial throughout the test so you should complete the problems that you know and move on rather than getting stuck with long story problems that are design to "freeze" you.

 

[tennessee]

Alright guys and girls. I'm new to the forum. I just graduated with a biology degree, and started working full-time for a local optometrist office this past August. I absolutely love working there. I'd like to go to SCO, but hadn't heard anything as of yet. My grades and OAT score may be the reason, but I thought I'd see what everybody thought.

Undergraduate Degree: Biology
GPA: 3.25
OAT: 300

Be gentle. I bruise easy.

 

[3eb4me]

Alright guys and girls. I'm new to the forum. I just graduated with a biology degree, and started working full-time for a local optometrist office this past August. I absolutely love working there. I'd like to go to SCO, but hadn't heard anything as of yet. My grades and OAT score may be the reason, but I thought I'd see what everybody thought.

Undergraduate Degree: Biology
GPA: 3.25
OAT: 300

Be gentle. I bruise easy.

When did you apply? It takes them a while to process.

 

[tennessee]

I think everything made it in by early october, but I just got my OAT score this week. About how much time does it usually take before you hear something?

 

[JC1984]

Allow me to be the first one you're heard of who completed the QR section (I think I had 45 seconds to spare... ). I have a couple of advantages: 1) I was a math major. 2) I'm an older student, and (crotchety old man) "back when I was in school..." use of calculators was prohibited until you got through calculus. Therefore, I have *years* of practice doing math "by hand", so that allowed me to crank out answers pretty quick.

Last 10 answers of QR section:
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D