What are my chances??

[eyecansee]

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Hey Guys, I would really appreciate any feedback that you can give me.

My total college GPA is a 3.2.
My OAT Scores (New Scale) are:
QR: 280

RC: 340

BIO: 290

GC: 330

OC: 320

PHY: 310

TOTAL SCIENCE: 310

ACADEMIC AVERAGE: 310

I have applied to 11 Optometry Schools for the entering class of 2010:
Illinois College of Optometry
New England College of Optometry
Pacific University College of Optometry
Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University
Southern California College of Optometry
Southern College of Optometry
State University of New York State College of Optometry
University of Houston College of Optometry
University of Missouri at St. Louis College of Optometry
University of the Incarnate Word School of Optometry
Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry

I submitted my OptomCas Application Aug 9th and all supplemental apps have now be done.
I have 4 Recommendation letters, one of whom is an OD.

My dream school is Houston (I live in TX).
Please give me any feedback you can offer. I want to be prepared in what to expect from the schools.

Thanks.

 

[mshea413]

Your OAT and GPA are somewhat low. I know for a fact that SUNY does not like to accept applicants with any section below 330 and many other schools have a cut off of 300 on any section. I think it would really depend on your extra-circulars and experience with optometry; however, I feel like most of the application process is OAT score and GPA driven.

 

[sammyboy]

You should definately be able to get in somewhere with those scores. Especially after applying to 11 schools. Both your GPA and OAT scores are just less than average....which really isn't bad. I would think you are competetive enough to be granted quite a few interviews. Good luck.

 

[blysssful]

Have you gotten any interview invitations yet?

 

[browneyed]

mshea,
you know how you said SUNY does not like any score under 330? do you think that getting an interview invite yet having one 290 score mean that they might overlook that score given other factors? (as well as other schools too for that matter)

 

[mshea413]

Maybe? They will probably ask you about the score and maybe suggest you retake the test, but they might over look the score depending on other factors.

 

[lkg2837]

Having a low OAT score might not keep you from getting accepted, but it will at least be brought up in the interview (at SUNY anyway). Good luck!

mshea,
you know how you said SUNY does not like any score under 330? do you think that getting an interview invite yet having one 290 score mean that they might overlook that score given other factors? (as well as other schools too for that matter)

 

[lilxkgrli]

after getting my scores I talked to my advisor and he did point out that after the recalibration (new scoring) most of the scores have lowered about 30 points... me, personally, am going to retake it. As for you, you should ask your advisor and/or call the schools

 

[misstd]

My OAT scores were about the same as yours, but I had a high GPA and lots of shadowing time to make up for it. I got all 5 of my interviews and went to 2 of them and got accepted to ICO and UHCO. You said you want UHCO? They didn't even mention my low scores (ICO did!). You said you have a recommendation from an OD, which is great. Your GPA is ok.. which can be a little nerve wrecking. My point is: yours scores are high enough to get accepted... as long as you have other strong points in your application to back them up. Good luck!

 

[SonofanOpt]

My OAT scores were about the same as yours, but I had a high GPA and lots of shadowing time to make up for it. I got all 5 of my interviews and went to 2 of them and got accepted to ICO and UHCO. You said you want UHCO? They didn't even mention my low scores (ICO did!). You said you have a recommendation from an OD, which is great. Your GPA is ok.. which can be a little nerve wrecking. My point is: yours scores are high enough to get accepted... as long as you have other strong points in your application to back them up. Good luck!

If you get an interview from Houston, they will not ask you about your test scores - the interviewers only have your essay in front of them. Just to give you a heads up...
Good Luck.

 

[eyecansee]

Thank you for all the responses. So far I have gotten rejected from SUNNY, ICO and UIWSO. I have gotten an interview invite from UMSLCO. I will keep you guys posted on what happens to me with the scores mentioned above.

 

[ceely]

did ICO straight up reject you? how did you find out?
i have a lower gpa than you, but higher OATs, and my application is on hold until january...maybe its a soft rejection..lol

 

[Eyed]

same boat, lower gpa, higher OATs and got placed on hold til jan. are you currently taking any classes to raise your gpa?

 

[OD4eyes]

ICO told the same thing... they sent me an email titled "Second Review," which isn't until January... i feel like that too is a rejection...

 

[ceely]

Eyed and OD4eyes, what are you stats if you don't mind me asking?

My ICO email is entitled "Initial review" not "second review" like OD4eyes...do you think this means anything? ahah jkjk🙄

 

[Eyed]

weird... my email was entitled Initial review as well.
stats: GPA 2.95, OAT 350/360

the email didnt sound too optimistic, and i feel like theyre just hanging on to me to reject me in january lol.. Im currently taking a few classes and GPA should raise to a 3.1 after this fall semester.

please let me know your stats as well =)

 

[OD4eyes]

weird... my email was entitled Initial review as well.
stats: GPA 2.95, OAT 350/360

the email didnt sound too optimistic, and i feel like theyre just hanging on to me to reject me in january lol.. Im currently taking a few classes and GPA should raise to a 3.1 after this fall semester.

please let me know your stats as well =)

It basically said that although their were positive parts of my application...the admissions committee is not able to offer an interview at this time.... they will review again in january...
I wish they would tell me now if they are going reject me... it felt like a sense of false hope...

 

[ceely]

weird... my email was entitled Initial review as well.
stats: GPA 2.95, OAT 350/360

the email didnt sound too optimistic, and i feel like theyre just hanging on to me to reject me in january lol.. Im currently taking a few classes and GPA should raise to a 3.1 after this fall semester.

please let me know your stats as well =)

wow...we have the exact same stats: gpa 2.95, oat 350!!
i am also taking extra courses, but i'm not sure how my gpa will turn out after the fall.

what other schools are you (eyed and od4eyes) applying to?

 

[Eyed]

hhaha, exactly the same stats! are you taking science based courses? or GPA boosters?

i have an interview with NOVA next week, waiting on PCO (salus) those are the only schools im really interested in. What about you?

 

[ceely]

wow Eyed...i have an interview at nova next week and i'm hoping for pco as well!!
i'm taking a mix of science and english courses, just to keep things interesting... 😛

 

[IcanSEEanOD]

.

 

[marvellous]

i am a 2nd yr med student in one of d med skools in ukraine n i wish 2 transfer to germany after this session so i want to know hw i can go abt it n wht re d necessary tins i shld do n kw too.Then wht is d tuition fees like?i wld rlly luv to complete my studies in germany,is it possible for me to continue from where i stopped or do i have to start all over again.

 

[marvellous]

i am a 2nd yr med student in one of d med skools in ukraine n i wish 2 transfer to germany after this session so i want to know hw i can go abt it n wht re d necessary tins i shld do n kw too.Then wht is d tuition fees like?i wld rlly luv to complete my studies in germany,is it possible for me to continue from where i stopped or do i have to start all over again.which school is the best and be willing to accept me as a student on transfer and also when can i start processing it and also what is the cost of there tuition fees.

 

[marvellous]

i am a 2nd yr med student in one of d med skools in ukraine n i wish 2 transfer to germany after this session so i want to know hw i can go abt it n wht re d necessary tins i shld do n kw too.Then wht is d tuition fees like?i wld rlly luv to complete my studies in germany,is it possible for me to continue from where i stopped or do i have to start all over again.which school is the best and be willing to accept me as a student on transfer and also when can i start processing it and also what is the cost of there tuition fees,accomodation and life generally,then wht am i to do.A contact from the school will be a very good idea so i cacn keep in touch with them till then.thanx for ur reply,i rll luv to study in germany but i dont kw how to speak german so will it affect my admission?do i need to write an entrance exam or interview?

 

[blysssful]

Marvellous, you are in the wrong forum. These forums are for optometry schools and the vast majority of people who read and post in them are in the US and Canada. You probably will get better luck searching elsewhere (such as the international medical students forum: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=85).

Also, there is no need to post your question multiple times. Once will suffice.

 

[Eyed]

icanseeod, you definitely give hope to many of us!! ICO is my number one choice, did you raise your GPA with all science classes? or did you take many GPA boosters.. I'm worried because I know my GPA will increase, but I'm taking Health and Kinesiology classes.

 

[IcanSEEanOD]

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