What to do for a year?

[Tonometry]

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Hey guys, I know its very late in the cycle and with my GPA (3.00) OAT (test date in feb 21st), I probably wont be getting into any schools for this cycle, what do you think i should do while i wait for next year?

1) Repeat my introductory courses - I know my GPA is on the very bottom compare to everybody elses (I was a bad kid for my first two years of university), but if I apply early next year (when application starts opening up again for next cycle) will I be competitive enough to get into some of the newer schools without having to repeat classes? - money is a big issue, I owe alot (~30 grand already) in student loans and my family is going through hard times so I feel that I would only re-take courses if I really should.

2) Work Full time - Im working part time (3 days a week) as an "optometric assistant" (the person that does the pre-testing before you see the Dr), maybe I should just work full time? oh btw, would this work experience suffice as shadowing? I deal the optometrists everyday, managing their referral letters and reviewing their eye exams before and after, etc.

3) Find true love - my last relationship was to a level 50 Nightelf Druid that was supposedly a girl
...seriously 🙁 what do you guys think?

 

[luckyfeet]

You can apply to Rso or mcphs? And possibly still have a chance

 

[lalala27]

I would try to work full time and save money for optometry school as well as re-take pre-requisites that you got bad grades in 🙂

 

[Loptometriste]

I would apply. Then, if you aren't accepted, you can try to figure out what to do with your gap year. Wouldn't you rather spend the money to apply rather than spend the time and money to retake classes that you might not need to if you were accepted for this fall?

 

[MeShe1ly]

I also took time off before applying. I would recommend retaking as many courses as you can at a community college and working part time. I took about 3-4 classes a semester and worked just under 30 hrs a week and still had a lot of time leftover. Classes at a cc are easy and pretty cheap (especially when comparing to a university). I also studied for my oat during this time- so it's definitely doable. If you retake that many classes (granted I took a lot of psych and English classes, also micro) you can bring your gpa up significantly to give you average standing. I wouldn't bother applying to the new schools. If you can bring it up to a 3.2 with a decent oat you can get in to most of the established schools.

I would also recommend calculating how many classes you have to take and what grades to get in them to bring that gpa up. Scco has a gpa calculations PDF that I used.

 

[Roffles]

One thing I would recommend is shadowing all the time at different practices. Shadow in retina, glaucoma, anterior seg, private practice od, private md, hospital setting od, and anything else you can.

Deciding the type of practice you'll want to be in has a big effect on your views toward the field, and a year off is a good time to look into that.

 

[KHE]

Get a job.

 

[abcdefj]

Have you thought about taking pre-requisite classes (not just the standard ones) to increase the number of schools you can be eligible for? Not all schools have the same pre-requisites.

Definitely keep up with your optometric assisting. It's a really relevant experience if you are considering optometry (and making money is a good thing too!).

Or...just try to apply this year, you never know!

 

[mathcod]

I'm not sure if Roffle's suggestion is realistically feasible. lalala27 has sound advice. Keep your job and ask if you can work more hours. This experience does help with applications and getting a sweet letter of rec, and should earn you some money. I'm not sure what your grades are like in the pre-reqs, but consider retaking courses with less than a C+ at a community college.

If I were you, I'd just have a structured year off. Work and earn money in your optometry area (be a good employee, ask questions, show up on time, work hard), work out and build a body so you can snag a partner in optometry school, spend time around your family and take initiative to help out around the house (builds maturity, responsibility, transferable skills, raises morale with your family in tough times, and makes you a better person overall in the eyes of your family and yourself) and because you'll miss them for 4 years.

Those 3 things can easily make a year go by quickly. Don't just play video games 4+ hours a day.

It sounds like you are not a stupid person, and I've seen some pretty stupid optometry students, and I'm sure you'll get accepted somewhere; just pass the time by doing something productive, something helpful, and something mature/structured.

 

[Ccc333]

I actually took two years off after graduation to retake some prereqs/study for the OAT/shadow.
What I ended up doing was taking those classes early in the mornings or on Saturdays and working the rest of the day with an optometrist. You're killing two birds with one stone since you're making money AND getting those shadowing hours.
It wasn't easy but I raised my GPA by quite a lot --at least my science GPA.
Btw. Level 50?? I hope this was way before Burning Crusade..... (oh how I miss Azeroth though...)
Don't worry though, I'm sure you'll find lots of opportunities to meet people when you start school. Especially if you attend a school that is multidisciplinary, you'll be in lectures and libraries with dental, DO, MD students.

 

[Tonometry]

Thanks for your advices guys, I think I will apply for this year's cycle just incase

 

[glass3s]

The best thing you can probably do is to work and save money for Optometry school. I don't think you need to go crazy with job shadowing different Optometrists.

Admissions committee will look at you positively if you tell them you worked hard for a year and saved up some money for school. Just my 2 cents.

 

[AdamT]

be a ski bum. its awesome trust me.