What is better?

[chaudm]

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What would give me a better chance of getting accepted? A four year degree in biology with an okay GPA or a degree that is a 3 year program for health science degree but spending four years doing it so that I can retake some classes and get better GPA? Does is look bad retaking classes? Any advice will be appreciated!🙂

 

[EyEnStein 07]

That depends on what your defining as Ok Gpa....do you mean 3.2? 3.5?
Also, its probably better you take it all first time doing the best you can. That will save you the hassle of retaking, paying more to retake, and save you time in the long run.

Also it does not matter what you major in. So i would advise to just major in somethign you are interested in.

 

[chaudm]

An okay GPA would be 3.3, and I have to spend 4 years no matter what degree I choose to do it in. I don't mind retaking a few courses, what I was wondering is if it looks bad when I apply?

 

[eleganteye]

When I talked with SCO's rep, she said that they want applicants to have a bachelor's degree. I would choose that option if you can. You may want to consider doing summer coursework or stay an extra semester/year to retake your bad classes if you feel that it's necessary. Remember that these classes are recommended for a reason. If you didn't do well on these basic classes, it's going to indicate to the admissions people that you will struggle in optometry. The other option is to just study the material on your own. Prove that you know it on the OAT. They'll take that seriously and most likely overlook your grade since the OAT is standardized and grades are not. Hope this helps!

 

[CaliOD25]

Prove that you know it on the OAT. They'll take that seriously and most likely overlook your grade since the OAT is standardized and grades are not. Hope this helps!

Although you guys are giving great advise to this inquirer, I disagree on this point. Good OAT scores cannot entirely make up for a weaker GPA. While the OAT is a standard measure of a students academic ability, a GPA reflects how a student can manage many things at once (a difficult course load, extracurriculars, social activities, etc.). With this view, a GPA is a measure of how a student will be able to meet the demands as a busy and well-rounded optometry student and future optometrist.

However, I think getting high scores on the OAT to balance a lower GPA will show admissions committees that you are serious about pursuing optometry, and are willing to "step up your game" from your undergrad experience.

Just don't think that high OAT score will save you. Admissions committees generally look at everything about an applicant. Good luck with school, OAT's and future admissions!

 

[eleganteye]

My point was just that she said she had a decent GPA of 3.3 which is definitely within acceptable range, so a high OAT score should be enough to show that he/she knows the material.

 

[CaliOD25]

I totally agree. 3.3 GPA and high OAT scores will be send a great message to the schools she (I think she?) applies to. I was speaking more generally though, not only for this inquirer, but also for the other students who read these threads and try to compare their situation to those in question.
I wasn't trying to discredit your advise. I was just trying to expand on it.

 

[DrFrankenzyme]

Although you guys are giving great advise to this inquirer, I disagree on this point. Good OAT scores cannot entirely make up for a weaker GPA. While the OAT is a standard measure of a students academic ability, a GPA reflects how a student can manage many things at once (a difficult course load, extracurriculars, social activities, etc.). With this view, a GPA is a measure of how a student will be able to meet the demands as a busy and well-rounded optometry student and future optometrist.

However, I think getting high scores on the OAT to balance a lower GPA will show admissions committees that you are serious about pursuing optometry, and are willing to "step up your game" from your undergrad experience.

Just don't think that high OAT score will save you. Admissions committees generally look at everything about an applicant. Good luck with school, OAT's and future admissions!

Most schools weight OAT and GPA roughly the same. Although you're right that GPA may assess time management etc. more, the fact is that OAT scores tend to be the most correlated to NBEO scores so many schools take it very seriously.

 

[blysssful]

The schools are aware of what majors are considered easier. For example, my undergrad has a generalized health science major and a biology major. The schools are aware that the more generalized health science major is easier than the biology major, and that impacts how they view the applicant (info coming straight from an admissions person). That being said, you should choose a major that is challenging for you, but not so much that you would be overwhelmed. If you plan on retaking any courses, just be prepared to get As in them because you've already seen the material before.

 

[EyEnStein 07]

its too bad they dont look at majors before hand though 👎

Either way just do something your interested in OP. However dont think of it in terms of if i do X major, ill have to retake the class. That might cause you to slack off having that mentality. Just do your best, if you have to retake then you have to. But you should be ok either way in my opinion. Every major has a system and a certain amount of classes you can take so that you can get general requirements and pre-reqs done timely.

 

[Fundus Man]

I know that starting with the SCCO Class of 2007, the interview is weighed more than grades. Folks, grades only count so much in a profession like optometry and if you can't convey that you are a friendly, talkative, people person, you likely won't do well in the traditional model of the profession. True that there are research positions in optometry that require much less people contact, but for the most part optometrists need people skills. Just relax at your interview (easier said than done, but you get the idea) and be yourself. The difference between a 3.4 GPA and a 3.5 GPA doesn't matter. At the kind of money it costs to go to OD school, you'll have plenty of motivation to get good grades.

Regarding the issue of majors, people in my class had all types of majors, though the most common was Biology or Anatomy. Three folks in my class were English majors. Majors don't matter at all, as long as your prerequisites are met.