Who here got declined into Optometry School ?

[samwY]

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Although this is a touchy subject, to those who did not make it into some or any Optometry Schools:

What were your grades and OAT scores, how many recommendation letters, did you work in a clinic, any volunteer work, any optometrist letters? Etc.

Since low GPA applicants still get into optometry school, I am curious what people who got declined had to show but still did not make the cut.

 

[rpames]

I was accept the first-go-round, but I new a guy in undergrade that was reapplying. He was non-traditional and actually worked for and OD for a few years full time before going back to school. He had good letters and plenty of work experince, but his GPA needed to be brought up. The schools told him to take some upper level bio and chem courses and try again. I don't know what happened to him. I guess I'm just saying GPA can play a big roll. He had something like a 2.8 or 2.9. I know those who got in with worse, but there are always exceptions.

 

[TPMOH]

I was declined 3 times from OSU and once from SCO (got accepted 4th try at OSU). Here were my #'s

GPA 3.36

OAT Academic Ave 360

OAT Total Science 370

 

[samwY]

Why would they decline you with 3.36 GPA and 360 OAT score. 😕

Did they decline you with those grades? or were they lower AT THE TIME you applied and you brought it up to those grades enough to impress them and accept you?

 

[TPMOH]

No, those were my grades and scores at the time I applied. SCO said my interview score was not very good- the only thing I remember was that the guy told me I was very articulate, but I was fidgety- I do talk alot with my hands- must be my Italian blood. OSU gave me various reasons- 1st was that I didn't visit enough optometrists. So, I did a bunch of shadows of OD's and got more rec letters. The next time they told me I need to work on my interviewing skills- then it was that the committee wasn't confident that I could handle the rigors of the optometry program. Well, I got a 3.38 in my 1st yr of OD school (the one C in Pathology hurt my GPA). However, the 1st time I applied was for fall of 1997- OD school applications were at near record highs at that time, though- I think it was harder to get in then.

 

[stompy]

TPMOH, mind if I ask you which undergrad institution you attended?

 

[TPMOH]

I attended Ohio State as an undergrad.

 

[rpames]

If I were declined that many times, I would have said, "Screw YOU! I'm going to dental school."

 

[yOyOYoo]

Wow TPMOH, that is true determination and desire. I respect that.

 

[3rdMolarRoller]

If I were declined that many times, I would have said, "Screw YOU! I'm going to dental school."

Dental school is a whole different ball game my friend. I know of a reverse story. My friend was rejected twice from dental school and got into 10+ optometry schools. Sure he applied to a lot of optometry schools but he was desperate. Dental school admissions hate people that switch over because they couldn't get in any where else. Oh well, all professional schools are hard to get in to.

edit: I was not saying dental is harder than optometry just mentioning that some of the pre-req are different like exposure to the field, etc...

 

[exmike]

If I were declined that many times, I would have said, "Screw YOU! I'm going to dental school."

I'm pretty sure that on average dental schools are harder to get into than optometry school, so you probably wouldnt be saying that.

 

[maxwellfish]

I'm pretty sure that on average dental schools are harder to get into than optometry school, so you probably wouldnt be saying that.

I think it was a little joke

 

[rpames]

I think you all read in to my statment too far. What I was saying is that he should have been accepted with those number. To qualify my next statement I will inform you all that I worked at a medical school for 2 years. I know of many student who were accepted into medical school with a GPA equal to, if not a little less than the one stated above.

And another note, lets not start a whole..."dental school is harder than optometry school, blah, blah, blah."

 

[rpames]

I'm not attempting to start a fight our anger others on this board, but here is a link to a school that lists the average GPA's of all the Dental school (not to mention all other types of health programs). http://www4.wittenberg.edu/academics/biol/requirements/pre_allied/dentalschool.shtml
If you look at these numbers, you will notice that these numbers are relatively similar to those of optometry school. I took the average GPA of all the DDS/DMD and found the average of them, 3.37. I did the same for all the OD schools, 3.33. I guess you were both right, dental school is 0.04 harder to get into than optometry school.

This was meant in hummor.

 

[Reality check]

you gotta be kidding me huh? 4th try to get in to become an optometrist? you are nuts. What is so special about OSU that turned you down 3 times? I find it hard to believe with your credentials you were rejected that many times. Why Ohio?
To get rejected nowadays from OD school admissions you have to be a total moran or simply very stupid. Who would turn you down for $25-30,000.00 tuition a year plus living expenses? Perhaps a few state schools?
What a waste!
You should have applied to Medical school since you were so motivated and persistent on becoming a doctor. I find your story hard to believe. Optometry admissions has become a joke.
My opinion. 👎 to optometry-a waste of a profession

 

[thenderson]

reality, you're a joke....i'd love to meet you on the street some day....you are the type of person who needs a good ass kicking.......look me up if your interested....

 

[samwY]

it is quite sad that Reality Check (hyprocrital name) is always commiting his own time for catering his own obessive suffering 👎

 

[ByrnBabyByrn]

I wouldn't go so far as to agree with Reality Check's comments but I have a friend who has spoken with head of admissions at SUNY (Dr.Johnston) and he says that the number of applications to the school is down 25%.

Apparently, SUNY is making efforts to attract and recruit more students including renovating the school's building and coming out with a new brochure for the school.

 

[cpw]

Reality --- you can make any comments you want about OD school admissions, applications, etc..... but attacking users is not allowed. You have been warned once before... continue to do so and you will be removed from the site.

usually, you can make some interesting points (when you actually have basis for them), but the blatant attacking of other users must stop now.

Thanks...

 

[docvisionX]

"To get rejected nowadays from OD school admissions you have to be a total moran or simply very stupid."

You know, I try not to be nit-picky, but this doesn't help your case--it's *****

 

[Reality check]

cpw -my apologies if I offended anyone. I didn't mean to attack my colleague from Ohio personally but I lost my cool when I read his statement. I was staggered from what he said he had to go thru to gain admissions to OD school. Not fair to him and that set me off. I should have been more diplomatic about it and expressed it politically but couldn't.
Thenderson- who are you? Are you threatening me? How dare you speak in that context? What was it that humiliated you or degraded you and made you speak in such manner? I have better things to do than to look you up so you can give me an " ass kicking."
PS- no disrespect to you but how many times were you rejected from OD school until you gained admissions?
you better hope we never meet.

 

[thenderson]

reality....applied to one school and was accepted....send me a pm if you'd like to get in touch...see ya

 

[TPMOH]

Wow, I would have never guessed that my OD school admissions misfortunes would lead to a possible brawl and bloodshed! Someone asked the question, so I thought I'd be honest and let some of the prospective students know that the numbers aren't the only thing that matters. OD school was more competitive in the late 90's when I got rejected than it is now, but of course I still think I deserved to get in the 1st time.

 

[Eyegirl2k7]

Thenderson,
I got your BACK!!!!
Luv,
Eyegirl 😀

 

[Reality check]

The only thing you got your back on eyegirl 2k7 is your remedial on your proficiency exam that you failed (according to you). How was your drinking and letting off steam at Lincoln park last week? You got alot of growing up to do little girl.

 

[cpw]

okay.. that's the last straw....

 

[xmattODx]

okay.. that's the last straw....

Out of fairness the threats of physical violence probably ranked as bad as what Reality Check did, no? Any reprimand for those people?

 

[samwY]

Matt, why cause more ruckus? It's done.

Go browse this entire forum, 20+ pages, and you can see the negative and bothersome reality of Reality Check. All he does is talk down on Optometry, give bad advice to pre-optometry students, and try to get on people's nerve behind is pathetic monitor. You'll see why he's banned and should be thanking CPW for banning him.

Back on topic please.

 

[xmattODx]

Matt, why cause more ruckus? It's done.

Go browse this entire forum, 20+ pages, and you can see the negative and bothersome reality of Reality Check. All he does is talk down on Optometry, give bad advice to pre-optometry students, and try to get on people's nerve behind is pathetic monitor. You'll see why he's banned and should be thanking CPW for banning him.

Back on topic please.

I'm not trying to cause more ruckus rather point out unfairness. RC has a lot of harsh things to say about optometry. Most of them are true to a large extent. Optometry is a profession divided - and is going down the wrong path. Many, perhaps most, new grads are disatisfied with the profession. Many students while in OD school realize that they were misled by the academic institutions and that their education is not worth the tuition paid. I appreciate what RC has to say. Like with any internet forum you just need to take what is written with a grain of salt. I don't care if (s)he remains banned at least reprimand those who have threatned (albeit - impossible to carry out) physical violence.

Cheers,
xmattODx

Edit to add: I was denied acceptance to OD school on my first application. I applied after three years of undergrad to one school and didn't do enough observation (they required 40 hours and I only had like 8). The next year with my degree and the required observation I was granted admission to the same and only school I applied to. Persistance is often looked upon favourably when applying to OD school, some schools even look upon applying to many schools with favour as it shows a real desire to do optometry.

 

[samwY]

thanks for the info.
I'm going to apply to at least 5 schools in hope that will better my chances of being accepted. When you say observation do you mean shadowing or what? I have two years of pre-opt courses to take and I want to do more than what they ask for in terms of extra stuff. Any advice on that will be appreciated.

Sammy

 

[J.opt]

Does the amount of observation hours usually come up during interviews?

 

[HighlyFanatic]

depending on the school, yes observation hours does come up