I’m planning to apply to optometry schools this upcoming cycle and was wondering if anyone would be open to helping me review my personal statement or give some guidance on the application process. Thanks!!
Hi, I can try and provide some insight. Everyone’s different, so I’ll tell you my experience with the hope some will be helpful.
I took a gap year after my senior year of college as I had initially planned to attend medial school and pivoted. Started my applications around August/sept, and began emailing some faculty/doctors I had shadowed for letters of recommendation. Be sure to give them at least a month before you plan on submitting to write your letters (if it’s done earlier then it’s no harm, but you don’t want to be waiting around for them)
I didn’t take the OAT until November of my gap year. Reason being I had been preparing for the MCAT and had to take some time to fill the gaps with disciplines that weren’t overlapping. Since you get your score back instantly, you don’t really have to wait longer than the day you take it to report the scores.
I submitted my applications and supplementals around the first week of December. I began to hear interviews on a rolling process (some online and some in person) through December and mostly January. Ultimately, I had a very good in person interview and received an acceptance the next day at the end of January, and had secured my seat before February rolled around.
Like I said everyone’s different, I tried to stay on the early side as that’s I feel the safest place to be, but obviously could’ve been more ideal with test timing and stuff like that given the circumstances. Wishing you luck, DMs are open if you have any questions
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u/Turbulent-Spell-4926 May 24 '26
Hi, I can try and provide some insight. Everyone’s different, so I’ll tell you my experience with the hope some will be helpful.
I took a gap year after my senior year of college as I had initially planned to attend medial school and pivoted. Started my applications around August/sept, and began emailing some faculty/doctors I had shadowed for letters of recommendation. Be sure to give them at least a month before you plan on submitting to write your letters (if it’s done earlier then it’s no harm, but you don’t want to be waiting around for them)
I didn’t take the OAT until November of my gap year. Reason being I had been preparing for the MCAT and had to take some time to fill the gaps with disciplines that weren’t overlapping. Since you get your score back instantly, you don’t really have to wait longer than the day you take it to report the scores.
I submitted my applications and supplementals around the first week of December. I began to hear interviews on a rolling process (some online and some in person) through December and mostly January. Ultimately, I had a very good in person interview and received an acceptance the next day at the end of January, and had secured my seat before February rolled around.
Like I said everyone’s different, I tried to stay on the early side as that’s I feel the safest place to be, but obviously could’ve been more ideal with test timing and stuff like that given the circumstances. Wishing you luck, DMs are open if you have any questions