What should I do?!

[Idoctorsomeday]

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Hi,

My name is jack. I am very average in studies and is clearly shows on My GPA. When I started my undergrad I fooled around and never took education very seriously. Which affected my GPA and it was very hard for me to get my GPA higher each semester. I also worked full time to support my family and tried to be a full time student.

I am applying to optometry school and hoping to get in. Im Nearly complete with my OptomCAS and I'm taking the OAT the end of this month (been studious). I have taken all pre-Requirements need for optometry school.

Since the DAT and the OAT are very similar in structure (except the physics/pat) I have also been using the DAT books to study. I was wondering, if I could use the DAT BOOTCAMP to help me study and get a high score on the OAT??!, So it can compensate my average GPA. To study I have been taking many exams from Kaplan OAT AND DAT ,Barron's OAT AND DAT, online free exams OAT AND DAT. Now I'm thinking of doing the DAT BOOTCAMP exams and be thorough with the concepts and hope the optometry God's are with me. And that is all I have done for studying for the exam coming up the end of this month

I have a lot of community service (1000+) and shadowing experience (300+hrs) and involved in a lot of extracurricular activities.

I have worked in juvenile detention centers helping kids read and write and teaching them a value of education. Worked in Florida hospitals putting on puppet shows for cancer patients.

I also wanted to see what you all think, about me getting into an OD program. Would I be able to apply and have any chance of getting in?! if I have a chance, what schools should I definitely apply too? I'm not applying with a bachelors degree.

My GPA: I know my GPA is poor.

My overall is 2.75
My science is 2.98


Any help is much APPRECIATED!

 

[thisguy88]

TBH your GPA is on the lower side of the spectrum... But I have heard of people getting in with GPAs around yours. Just look around on these forums and I'm sure you'll find a few. Your science GPA is almost a 3.0, which may help you in your GPA situation.

Your extracurriculars are very strong and solid. No worries here.

Will you be receiving a bachelors degree at the end of this school year? If so, that should boost up your chances as well.

With all that being said, you need a very good OAT score to be considered for most of the schools out there. Unfortunately, your GPA and OAT are weighted the most and will be the deciding factors in receiving an interview or not.

If you get around a 350AA, 350TS, you should be fine.

Good luck!

 

[Idoctorsomeday]

Thanks for the reply and the advise. 🙂) . I am still enrolled in a non required GPA boosting class ( medical terminology) this semester but I have to do really well on my OAT. I have not really thought about getting a bachelors degree ( even though it would be very beneficial) because I just want to get into my primary field of education and get it over with. Than trying to finish my undergrad with classes which are pointless to what I would be doing for the next 40years of my life.

Do you think I should go for my bachelors which hopefully raises my overall GPA above a 3 and do average 300-320 on my oat?!

Or

Just don't worry too much of my GPA and concentrate on my OAT?!

Thanks! 🙂

 

[Loptometriste]

First, are there any schools that you really want to apply to? If you proceed to say Berkeley, it's not gonna happen. Some others might. I just don't know if you can afford to be too picky.

I'd say go ahead apply and hear from the schools that you are rejected rather than planning on taking more courses. If you get it in, then you don't have to worry about it. Go study for the OAT and take it soon.

 

[Idoctorsomeday]

Hey thanks for reply. Sorry i have not been online for several days. I have been cramming for the OAT i am taking it on the 8th of october.

The New England College of Optometry
Nova Southeastern University
Inter American University of Puerto Rico
Indiana University
Illinois College of Optometry
Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry
Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry
Southern College of Optometry
Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University
Pacific University College of Optometry
State University of New York State College of Optometry

MIGHT I have a chance at going to any of these schools the up comming year? if I DO please let me know and If I don't have a chance at some also please let me know.

Much Thanks for you help!

Jack

 

[thisguy88]

If you apply at all the new schools (midwestern, western, rosenberg, etc.) you should be able to get interviews with a solid OAT.

The more established ones would require you to get a higher OAT to have a chance of an interview.....

You may be wasting your money if you apply to SUNY unless you get a REALLY high OAT score, since from what I've heard, they are a numbers school.

But if you are financially well, I'd say apply to as many schools as possible, you'll never know who you'll get an interview from.

Then again I'm not an admissions committee so I wouldn't know definitely of what any school requires.... This is just my educated evaluation though.

Good luck!