What would you do?

[ShermenMermen]

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I am applying from Ontario. I have my OAT scheduled for Nov 28. My application was only recieved by optomCAS this past week after it was sent back several times for incorrect mark input (which is already a disadvantage). As the OAT date nears, I feel like I will not be as prepared as I want to be and almost stressing a little bit, which is definately not the state I wan to be writing the test in. I told myself there was no way I was postponing the date because Waterloo, my number one pick, requires it by December 28. I have not received an interview invitation from Waterloo yet and their interviews are to be completed by the end of November. I guess what I am asking is should I write the OAT on November 28 or postpone it (now that I am able to assuming that Waterloo does not contact me) since the deadline to write the OAT for most american schools is much later? Do american schools base their interview selections on the OAT or more so on the application? I want to be 100% prepared for the OAT but I also do not want a school to overlook me because they cannot view my OAT score! If you were in my place you would....

 

[sammyboy]

There are numerous applicants given an interview opportunity without having taken the OAT exam. These students, one would assume, should have high grade point averages. That's just my 2 cents.

 

[Icansee]

I took the OAT later than I had planned to, and I also did not feel any where near close to prepared for it. I also planned to turn in my application before taking the OAT because earlier in the year, my pre-health advisor stated that I looked like a competitive applicant even without my OAT scores. And I actually didn't feel like I was a competitive applicant because of my GPA, but she informed me that other things, such as my recommendation letters and my extracurricular activities helped to make me a competitive applicant. So I believe that they would still consider everything about your application even without the OAT score. Regarding when to take the OAT, I took the exam and I thought I totally bombed it but I ended up doing better than I expected, although not as competitive as I wanted. And I felt better because the exam was like a huge cloud hanging over my head, in the midst of me trying to stay focused on my final classes so I can pass and graduate in May 2010! I guess if I were in your situation, I would take the exam (b/c it actually is a huge weight off your shoulders) rather than push the exam back. Also, I am not sure, but I think you might be risking Waterloo getting your OAT scores after their deadline because it could take time for Prometric to mail the scores off to your designated schools.

 

[ShermenMermen]

Thanks for the input. Since I did not receive an interview at Waterloo I have contacted several US schools and they have suggested that it would be best to write it when I feel completely ready. I will be writing it in early January. I will in turn have a brual Christmas break but hey, it's worth it.