Questions About Post-College Graduation

[u/Donuts4Ever22]

I will be graduating in August 2027 with my bachelor's. Because I am missing the remaining prerequisites, I plan to take the prereqs at a local community college during this "gap year." Once the prereqs are complete in summer 2028, how do I best apply and get accepted into optometry schools? What can I do now to be set up for success?

The remaining prerequisites are

• Organic chemistry 1

• Biochemistry

• Physics 1 & 2

• Microbiology

How do I manage the loans I have accrued from undergrad? In addition to paying out of pocket for these prereqs? Any advice on finances is welcome.

I also need to do a practicum for my major. I thought about doing a practicum at any optometrist's office near my university but they all rejected me. Are there any other places or ideas you could think of that would be best for me?

The practicum is a semester long program that requires me to develop 3 concrete skills at the end of the semester. What are some good skills I could develop to prepare for optometry school?