What are my chances?

[swtkimmy29]

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hi

 

[JennieJoy]

I got an interview there but decided not to go. I got a C in every chemistry class I took in undergrad. Though my cumulative was a 3.7 when I applied. But, they take so much more into consideration than just your GPA. Your extracurriculars, OAT, and shadowing/optical experience play a HUGE roll too. If that's the only school you're applying too I would apply and see what happens.

 

[imemily]

I got an interview there but decided not to go. I got a C in every chemistry class I took in undergrad. Though my cumulative was a 3.7 when I applied. But, they take so much more into consideration than just your GPA. Your extracurriculars, OAT, and shadowing/optical experience play a HUGE roll too. If that's the only school you're applying too I would apply and see what happens.

Jennie, while your opinion may hold true, do you have any proof of this?

Where does it say that GPA is not that important than other things such as extracurriculars/oat etc?

 

[Veritas23]

Jennie, while your opinion may hold true, do you have any proof of this?

Where does it say that GPA is not that important than other things such as extracurriculars/oat etc?

I don't think she said it was more important, merely other factors were at play here as well. I see GPA as a fairly liberal gauge of intelligence from institution to institution.

I have friends at a large public institution who earned much lower scores on things in High School or on the SAT than me and then went off to a state-school and outscored me in a few very tough science classes. Afterward, I went to score in the 90th percentile in many of those classes on the OAT with probably a lower "GPA" than them. I know personally that I worked harder and was pushed harder for my GPA than some of them.

The best thing to do is probably take your OAT and see how you are from there. Since the OAT puts everyone, regardless of GPA, on an even playing-field it's a decent measure of how you'll perform as a student compared to other applicants - historically at least.

Best of luck!

Also: Here is a link to the 2010 accepted stats (GPA, OAT, Class size...). They vary from year to year but the trends stay about the same. I'm sure you can find the 2009 one online too. http://www.opted.org/files/public/Profile of the Entering Class 2010FINALpdf.pdf

 

[KHE]

I don't think she said it was more important, merely other factors were at play here as well. I see GPA as a fairly liberal gauge of intelligence from institution to institution.

I have friends at a large public institution who earned much lower scores on things in High School or on the SAT than me and then went off to a state-school and outscored me in a few very tough science classes. Afterward, I went to score in the 90th percentile in many of those classes on the OAT with probably a lower "GPA" than them. I know personally that I worked harder and was pushed harder for my GPA than some of them.

The best thing to do is probably take your OAT and see how you are from there. Since the OAT puts everyone, regardless of GPA, on an even playing-field it's a decent measure of how you'll perform as a student compared to other applicants - historically at least.

Best of luck!

Also: Here is a link to the 2010 accepted stats (GPA, OAT, Class size...). They vary from year to year but the trends stay about the same. I'm sure you can find the 2009 one online too. http://www.opted.org/files/public/Profile of the Entering Class 2010FINALpdf.pdf

I think the problem with the OAT is that it's a snapshot in time whereas a GPA represents the culmination of 4 years of work.

I don't think it's very likely that someone will get "lucky" on the OAT. But it is certainly possible to do poorly on it if say you're sick that day.

 

[nc2tarheels]

I was accepted to UIW. My stats were 3.26 (i think). Go to my blog which is here http://optstudents.blogspot.com/ and I talk about my interview at UIW.

 

[nc2tarheels]

But, they take so much more into consideration than just your GPA. Your extracurriculars, OAT, and shadowing/optical experience play a HUGE roll too.

that's BS, EC's are not as important as GPA. I applied last year to UIW (without a B.S.) and didn't get in. I had a similar GPA with 10 years of optical experience and TONS of volunteering experience (vision screenings etc). I was also president of our opto club. Proof that EC's mean jack $hit. IMO, gpa and oat gets you in the door and gets you an interview. The interview itself, draws more from your experiences and EC's.

 

[Veritas23]

I think the problem with the OAT is that it's a snapshot in time whereas a GPA represents the culmination of 4 years of work.

I don't think it's very likely that someone will get "lucky" on the OAT. But it is certainly possible to do poorly on it if say you're sick that day.

I absolutely agree with your point, thanks for adding that to my post. Very true of any "standardized" test.

That's what taking the test a second time is for (if necessary) and happened to a few of my friends who are going to M.D. school next year with their MCAT. However, Medical programs are much less forgiving with re-takes, from my good friends' experiences, when compared to O.D. admissions committees.

 

[swtkimmy29]

that's BS, EC's are not as important as GPA. I applied last year to UIW (without a B.S.) and didn't get in. I had a similar GPA with 10 years of optical experience and TONS of volunteering experience (vision screenings etc). I was also president of our opto club. Proof that EC's mean jack $hit. IMO, gpa and oat gets you in the door and gets you an interview. The interview itself, draws more from your experiences and EC's.

What were your stats when you applied without a BS? I was originally planning to apply without a BS, but my advisors recommending me to finish so I would finish the summer before I matriculate and that's if I get in.

 

[nc2tarheels]

What were your stats when you applied without a BS? I was originally planning to apply without a BS, but my advisors recommending me to finish so I would finish the summer before I matriculate and that's if I get in.

I'll have to check and get back with you. I can't quite remember my stats. As for the BS, if you can get in without it, by all means attempt so. I won't have my BS until August 6th (technically, bc i'm taking a term I summer class to finish it). NOVA's optometry program starts august 1 and they told me that they are fine with that (since all my grades will be in etc.) UIW was the same way and didn't mind that my official degree isn't awarded til the 6th.

 

[imemily]

I think the problem with the OAT is that it's a snapshot in time whereas a GPA represents the culmination of 4 years of work.

I don't think it's very likely that someone will get "lucky" on the OAT. But it is certainly possible to do poorly on it if say you're sick that day.

I don't know about that. I say this since there are many people who have low gpas but higher oats. Of course there are many reasons to this, but the OAT is comparable to many science exam classes, albeit being much longer.