what to do?? full time semesters

[goatling]

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Hi everyone,

This is my first post on SDN, but i've been following for some time. I'm a pre-health student with one undergraduate science honours degree (environmental & applied science) under my belt. I am currently pursuing an MA with a focus on health policy and I'm interested in applying to DO school after completing my masters. I want to apply to Waterloo in Ontario (I'm from Ontario).

Here are my stats:
CGPA undergrad: 3.05 (about 3.5 in last 2 years, science undergrad not great, took a lot of my core in first and second year where my grades were bad- some C's, took statistics, etc in 4th year and got A-)
current GPA in MA: 3.8/4.0

I have plenty of interesting environmental/health related work experience and shadow hours with an OD. I 100% want to apply but heres the THING:
I don't have consistent full time semesters (year 1 took 10, year 2 took 9 with 1 summer, year 3 took 10, year 4 took 7 with 2 in summer prior, then had 2 exchange courses taken in summer of first year). With this lack of consistent semesters combined with my low undergrad CGPA, what are my chances, if any??

I hope this is not too confusing but given my stats, what are my chances at U.Waterloo or any Canadian/American Optometry schools??
Any suggestions? I would sincerely appreciate it, because I need to plan next steps and soon!

Thanks!!! 🙂

 

[EyeWonder]

I'm not an authoritative figure (I'm just a hopeful like you), but from all the research I've done and statistics I've seen I would guess you have a pretty good chance still. They'll still require an OAT score, so as long as you do well in that, I would guess you'll still have a pretty good chance thanks to your current MA GPA.

As far as Waterloo goes, if you're that concerned about it I would try giving their admissions office a call and seeing what they say about how much weight your specific concerns are given in the admissions process.

 

[nc2tarheels]

.

 

[Rhodopsin]

Hey! I'm no expert on this stuff either- just a successful Canadian applicant so hopefully I can help. For most of the american schools I'd say you're in guaranteed (provided you score equally well on the OAT), and for Waterloo I'd say you have a chance also. Honestly not the best chance, but definitely worth trying- since you have shown an upward trend through undergrad, and your masters gpa is very high. (I think they weigh undergrad much more heavily than masters when considering academic merit, because that's where your prerequisite and related courses are - but that's heresay)

For the semesters you took that weren't full time it really shouldn't even be considered by the american schools- almost all of my semesters weren't full time and I didn't even get asked about it. Apparently Waterloo really dislikes when people do that, but that definitely doesn't mean they will just refuse you for that reason. I was in your shoes this time last year- it's very stressful not knowing how competitive you are. Don't sweat it too much! Best of luck

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on SDN, but i've been following for some time. I'm a pre-health student with one undergraduate science honours degree (environmental & applied science) under my belt. I am currently pursuing an MA with a focus on health policy and I'm interested in applying to DO school after completing my masters. I want to apply to Waterloo in Ontario (I'm from Ontario).

Here are my stats:
CGPA undergrad: 3.05 (about 3.5 in last 2 years, science undergrad not great, took a lot of my core in first and second year where my grades were bad- some C's, took statistics, etc in 4th year and got A-)
current GPA in MA: 3.8/4.0

I have plenty of interesting environmental/health related work experience and shadow hours with an OD. I 100% want to apply but heres the THING:
I don't have consistent full time semesters (year 1 took 10, year 2 took 9 with 1 summer, year 3 took 10, year 4 took 7 with 2 in summer prior, then had 2 exchange courses taken in summer of first year). With this lack of consistent semesters combined with my low undergrad CGPA, what are my chances, if any??

I hope this is not too confusing but given my stats, what are my chances at U.Waterloo or any Canadian/American Optometry schools??
Any suggestions? I would sincerely appreciate it, because I need to plan next steps and soon!

Thanks!!! 🙂

 

[imemily]

Where were you accepted rhodopsin?

Hey! I'm no expert on this stuff either- just a successful Canadian applicant so hopefully I can help. For most of the american schools I'd say you're in guaranteed (provided you score equally well on the OAT), and for Waterloo I'd say you have a chance also. Honestly not the best chance, but definitely worth trying- since you have shown an upward trend through undergrad, and your masters gpa is very high. (I think they weigh undergrad much more heavily than masters when considering academic merit, because that's where your prerequisite and related courses are - but that's heresay)

For the semesters you took that weren't full time it really shouldn't even be considered by the american schools- almost all of my semesters weren't full time and I didn't even get asked about it. Apparently Waterloo really dislikes when people do that, but that definitely doesn't mean they will just refuse you for that reason. I was in your shoes this time last year- it's very stressful not knowing how competitive you are. Don't sweat it too much! Best of luck

 

[Rhodopsin]

Hey imemily- I got accepted to Pacific! Got interviews for Pacific, NECO, PCO, Western (every one that I applied to)

Where were you accepted rhodopsin?

 

[goatling]

Thanks so much for responding. I recently did call Waterloo admissions, explained all of my concerns and her answers were VERY vague, like "you should apply and explain yourself and wait and see". I understand they can't give me more definitive answers, but I didn't find that helpful at all. No suggestions, nothing. You make a good suggestion about actually asking for the weight of each thing, that way it may result in a better answer. Do you know of a particular individual who is better to talk to than others? Also I find it interesting my MA GPA is considered that much. Do you have an idea as to what weight a grad vs undergrad GPA is given (I have a feeling if I call and ask they won't actually tell me..) Thanks again!

I'm not an authoritative figure (I'm just a hopeful like you), but from all the research I've done and statistics I've seen I would guess you have a pretty good chance still. They'll still require an OAT score, so as long as you do well in that, I would guess you'll still have a pretty good chance thanks to your current MA GPA.

As far as Waterloo goes, if you're that concerned about it I would try giving their admissions office a call and seeing what they say about how much weight your specific concerns are given in the admissions process.

 

[goatling]

Thanks for responding! Do you happen to know if you are allowed to apply if you're still missing a few prereqs? (ie. I still have to take calculus, phys, biochem)... I want to apply to waterloo and a few others next summer, but I most likely wont be able to take the prereqs until the following year.

I'm surprised you say I have a good chance at the american schools, why is it much easier in the states than at say Waterloo??

And yes when I called the admissions department at waterloo they said I would be assessed in the graduate student group rather than undergrad, but I have no idea how much weight is actually placed on being a grad student or having good grades as a grad student (considering my undergrad CGPA is pretty low)

Hey! I'm no expert on this stuff either- just a successful Canadian applicant so hopefully I can help. For most of the american schools I'd say you're in guaranteed (provided you score equally well on the OAT), and for Waterloo I'd say you have a chance also. Honestly not the best chance, but definitely worth trying- since you have shown an upward trend through undergrad, and your masters gpa is very high. (I think they weigh undergrad much more heavily than masters when considering academic merit, because that's where your prerequisite and related courses are - but that's heresay)

For the semesters you took that weren't full time it really shouldn't even be considered by the american schools- almost all of my semesters weren't full time and I didn't even get asked about it. Apparently Waterloo really dislikes when people do that, but that definitely doesn't mean they will just refuse you for that reason. I was in your shoes this time last year- it's very stressful not knowing how competitive you are. Don't sweat it too much! Best of luck

 

[imemily]

Hey imemily- I got accepted to Pacific! Got interviews for Pacific, NECO, PCO, Western (every one that I applied to)

Nice...as a Canadian, I would want to get out of the snowy weather and settle in a state with a much more constant climate. Oregon seems like a good choice - how's the weather like there?

 

[Rhodopsin]

You're very welcome! Hope I'm helpful 🙂

First off, you can definitely apply without prereqs. You just have to make sure that you'll have them done before the new fall semester in optometry school would begin. The schools don't expect you to have everything completed before applying to them, and if they see holes in your application prereqs they'll assume it's because you're going to take the courses next year. (and later they will check to make sure you did)

Oh the american schools are so much less competitive! From my assessment the major reason is supply versus demand. For us English-speaking Canadians the only option we have is Waterloo. (so naturally, this leads to some brutal competition because everyone wants to go to the same place) Compare this to the US where they have approximately 20 schools of Optometry, 3 of them brand new schools that just opened. Even though the US has a population 9x the size of ours, they still have a proportionally higher number of optometry schools per applying student. So the result is that american Optometry admissions are still extremely competitive, but less so than in Canada. Anyone have anything else to add on that? I think the supply/demand concept illustrates it nicely. Another thing to consider when looking at schools is that the US schools are more well known for having quality programs and being more technologically advanced. To me this makes sense, because while Waterloo has a monopoly on (english) Canadian Optometry, the US schools are forced to compete with one another for the top students- and therefore are encouraged to be the best they can in order to attract those students. That's strictly my opinion, but I think it's logical. Of course Waterloo is the better option cash-wise for us, but if you don't get in there don't sweat it- chances are you'll get a better education elsewhere. (along with a bit of extra debt haha)

That's a pain they aren't being more specific about it- I know grad schools don't like giving out admissions details like that though. Good luck!

Thanks for responding! Do you happen to know if you are allowed to apply if you're still missing a few prereqs? (ie. I still have to take calculus, phys, biochem)... I want to apply to waterloo and a few others next summer, but I most likely wont be able to take the prereqs until the following year.

I'm surprised you say I have a good chance at the american schools, why is it much easier in the states than at say Waterloo??

And yes when I called the admissions department at waterloo they said I would be assessed in the graduate student group rather than undergrad, but I have no idea how much weight is actually placed on being a grad student or having good grades as a grad student (considering my undergrad CGPA is pretty low)

 

[Rhodopsin]

Apparently it only snows in Forest Grove, Oregon every couple of years! It's so foreign to them that they shut down elementary schools for it haha. Oregon weather is supposed to be quite warm but very rainy and moist. I went there for my interview in February and it was all green. Back in Calgary we still had snow of course haha.

Nice...as a Canadian, I would want to get out of the snowy weather and settle in a state with a much more constant climate. Oregon seems like a good choice - how's the weather like there?