when to apply to optometry school/take oats

[gotvish]

hey guys!
i am a jr at UC irvine and am just realizing this is def what i want to do.. now i plan to take a year off in bewteen undergrad and optometry school but am wondering when i should take the oat's and when i should apply to the schools im interested in.. HELP!!!!!!!!!

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[beatnik10884]

From my own experience in just studying for the OAT I would definitely take it soon. The less time you have between your prereqs and the exam the better. I just graduated and applying now for the 2008 cycle, and its difficult having to recap all that info for the exam. As far as applying I would suggest as early as possible...why are you taking the year off?

 

[Oogilily]

I think that schools will accept OAT from 2 years ago at the time of application (contact the schools themselves to make sure). I would agree with the above in taking the OAT as soon as you can after taking the courses that cover the material on the OAT. It helped me a lot with the Biology section. I scored lowest on the physics section, which happened to be the classes that I took the longest time ago. But, make sure you take it late enough to fit in with that 2 year time frame. Ya, and don't take a break, breaks are for wimps (j/k). I thought about doing that too, but I don't wait to get out of school one year later. I just want to get it done and into my career. But, you can always do what you want .

 

[blysssful]

I suppose I have a similar question, but more specific. I'm a junior now, but I switched to Bio from a completely unrelated major. I'm still graduating on time, and I would like to go on to opt school on time (starting fall '09)... but I don't know when SPECIFICALLY to apply. nov? dec? now?

and I can't take my OATs until this summer because I can't take ochem until this summer... is that a problem?

 

[d0rkothee]

I suppose I have a similar question, but more specific. I'm a junior now, but I switched to Bio from a completely unrelated major. I'm still graduating on time, and I would like to go on to opt school on time (starting fall '09)... but I don't know when SPECIFICALLY to apply. nov? dec? now?

and I can't take my OATs until this summer because I can't take ochem until this summer... is that a problem?

oh wow, my situation is really quite similar as yours! i'll be sure to check up on this to read what other people have posted.

 

[eyesarecool]

you want to apply as soon as them applications come hot off the press

 

[Oogilily]

Ya. Dont think that you have to get them in the very first day or else you don't stand a chance. All of mine were in around September 1st. This is about 2 weeks - 1 month after the applications were available and I have received first-round interviews for every school I have applied too. Don't stress too much about it. But, don't wait until like 3 months after.