Will I get into SUNY Optometry?

[deleted848155]

I am a junior Neuroscience major. I decided that I wanted to become an optometrist this past fall semester. I went to a community college as a freshman where I took biology and chemistry and starting my sophomore year I began to attend school at a high ranked 4-year university.

My overall GPA is about a 3.3 and my science GPA is about a 3.19.

Pre Req grades
Bio 1: A- (Community College)
Bio 2: A- (Community College)
Chem 1: B (Community College)
Chem 2: A (Community College)
Psychology: A (Community College)
Orgo 1:B
Orgo 2: B- (I was pledging =/)
Orgo Lab: A-(I was pledging =/)
A&P 1: B- (I was in the hospital for about 3 weeks this semester)
Microbio: B (I was in the hospital for about 3 weeks this semester)
Physics 1: A-
Psychology-Stats: B
Humanities: A

What kills me is that I have a C from my first semester in my 4-year institution in an anthropology gen-ed and then while I was pledging I took a 500-level molecular genetics class and received a C. I am currently taking a "Genes & Heredity" class to prove to schools I can understand the similar material as genetics and I'm actually doing fairly well. I am currently taking Physics 2 and yes, I did great in Physics 1, but this class right now is KILLING me. I don't anticipate getting higher than a B- maybe B if I do really well this next exam. I am currently a Calculus-Based Physics 1 TA.

The semester I pledged, I did pretty crappy. The following semester I was going to save myself, but I was in the hospital for about 3 weeks before I was diagnosed with mono which I was put on bed rest for another couple of weeks. I also have a W from this same semester because my father was falsely diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo surgery and it was all too much to handle because he was incredibly sick and we weren't sure he was going to make it. I currently work at a corporate optometrists office as an Optical Assistant. I plan on taking my OAT this semester.

Extra Curricular:
2nd-Year Resident Assistant on campus
Part of a National Co-Ed Pre-Health Fraternity
Optical Assistant
Member of Pre-Optometry Club
Youth Group Leader
Social Media Intern
Public Speaking Consultant
Physics Teaching Assistant
Currently am running a glasses drive.

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[pstifter]

You need to kill the OAT or I would say probably not.

 

[rubeyco2018]

SUNY has very high standards. They are probably one of the toughest schools to get into. You have the grades and I don't think a C is going to kill your chances. Only thing is, you need to make sure you do awesome on the OAT as well.

 

[JAB1215]

I am going to be attending SUNY this coming fall and was very nervous about getting accepted as well! Although you have some C's and a W on your transcript, your GPA is pretty good (my GPA was only about a 3.4 & I got accepted). I went to a lot of admissions workshops at SUNY before applying & the admissions representatives were very accommodating to students' stories. I would definitely let them know the circumstances that occurred during the time you took those classes. There is also a question on SUNY's application asking if there is anything that you would like to explain on your transcript- so I would definitely take that opportunity to explain everything that had been going on with you. The admissions representatives at SUNY are also very approachable & helpful, so you could also always reach out to them for advice as to how you can strengthen your application. SUNY also really stresses shadowing experience, so if you haven't shadowed an optometrist you definitely should. You should even shadow multiple optometrists who practice in different settings, in order to demonstrate that you know the profession really well. Also, as everyone has already said, do really well on the OAT- definitely put a few months worth of studying in in order to kill it. If you do well on the OAT & explain your situation, I really don't think SUNY is impossible for you

 

[jonizzy]

Probably not, I'd be sure to take the time and really, really do well on the OAT (Ideally 350+) which is easy with proper planning.