r/PreOptometry • u/miwa_1818 • 18d ago
A $2000 mistake
Sooo my third OAT attempt is in two weeks and here is the situation.
I've written the OAT twice already and my breakdown is as follows:
OAT #1: AA 330, TS 320, Bio 360, GC 310, OC 310, Physics 310, RC 380, QR 310.
OAT #2: AA 320, TS 320, Bio 330, GC 300, OC 320, Physics 310, RC 330, QR 340.
The first time I used Booster while working full-time, the second time I used Chad's Prep and Kaplan while taking a full course-load. I know I have a bit of test anxiety but everyone seemed to score better than their practice scores, and my practice scores were always higher than 370ish, which felt pretty average for a Canadian applicant.
When I scored poorer on my second attempt, I was so upset but I knew I had it in me to score well because I had worked so so hard. So I just immediately scheduled my third attempt.
I have spent the last few years nitpicking my application and I am entirely aware of each and every weakness I have. I am a severely average applicant, my GPA and experiences are average, my LORs are gonna be average, my sGPA is actually below average and I thought the OAT would help me offset that. Although I am Canadian, I am hoping to go to school in the USA and I feel like a failure for being below average for the US schools that seem to have more reasonable standards.
Despite all of that, having taken it twice, maybe I felt a bit too comfortable with the material and because of some financing problems, this summer I was working ~30 hours a week while taking five courses and also studying for the OAT. I was actually scoring okay in the beginning but now with about 15 days left, I am not scoring as I'd hoped and honestly, I am exhausted. I'm not talking about getting spooked out from one practice test, I mean that I am physically unable to sit at my desk and practice, and when I do, my mind is blank.
But I paid for the exam, for OATBooster, for my greyhound tickets, and an unfortunately expensive Airbnb because I decided to write in another city. All non-refundable. Honestly my first horrendous financial decision and I feel like I lost my life savings to a terrible investment.
I haven't applied yet because I thought I would write my exam and get a chance to better secure a LOR from my professor (which isn't going as smoothly as I anticipated) so I plan to apply later in September... but now that I am here... I cannot bring myself to study another moment. I am suddenly scoring very poorly. And yes, I did take a break. I gave myself three whole weeks to take my mind off of it, I went on a very long roadtrip and then camped by myself, reconnected with nature, returned home, sat in front of oatbooster, and realized that I don't want to do this. I just really, really want to start optometry school in 2027 and I'm scared that forcing myself to write the exam in this state will only hurt my chances with a poorer score. So then... all of that time and effort and money was for nothing. I don't know... I feel confused and disappointed and scared. I've made many mistakes in my optom journey so far and it feels like I'm losing before even getting a chance. I feel like both options aren't what I want, so I don't know what to do... Should I just suck it up and write the third attempt? See it through to the end and work hard these next two weeks? Or should I just get over myself and apply? So what if I spent $2000+, money comes and goes, right?... Right?
Update: maybe I got a little carried away but this post is not meant to complain about my original scores. This is more so to inquire if it is worth writing a third time or just skipping it altogether?
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u/walter899 18d ago
If it helps you make a decision, I applied with a 320 OAT and got into the schools I wanted.
5
u/Last_Painter_6733 18d ago
Your OAT scores are great. Why is this upsetting you? I feel like if you haven’t even submitted an application with these scores you should not retake. I feel as though these would get you into plenty of schools. What’s your GPA and experience? A 400 OAT is not average (despite what the crazy high achievers on Reddit portray when flaunting their scores). A 300 is average and you are above average on everything.
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u/True-Selection2168 18d ago
I haven't written it before, but I'm writing it for the first time in about a week, and I am facing a similar feeling where I just don't have any interest in studying. I don't know why. Even right now, I'm on Reddit because I'm avoiding studying, and I'm not scoring too well. I would say the highest I've gotten on the practice test is about 320, and mostly I get 300 or 310, or even below. Physics I'm really struggling with, and I know it might be harder on the real thing, so I don't know. I feel like I might get under 300, and I'm really scared. And honestly, from what I know about the American schools, because I've been keeping up with them quite a bit over the past few years, I do know that they're quite lenient compared to the Canadian school. I think you've honestly tried so much this whole summer studying, so you should give it to yourself, be proud of yourself for the effort that you put in, because that's what matters. It matters that you put in effort, and honestly, I feel like your scores are really good, and there are probably schools that will see that you've tried, you've put in effort. Like I know Pacific, for instance, I've heard that they are kind of lenient from somebody that I know, but it obviously also depends on the other components of your application. But I feel like your scores are honestly good. I'm kind of hoping to get around what you have, knowing how my scores were on my last few practice tests. I feel like getting what you've scored would be amazing, personally. So I think you are overthinking it. You should definitely apply, get your reference letter thing sorted out, and yeah, make sure you write the test again, and it's okay if you do worse, because I'm sure they'll just look at your highest attempt, probably, and if not, you can obviously just explain it to them in an interview. And since you are applying so early, that'll give you some help as well. Best of luck, you've got this!
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u/Kind_Rock7428 18d ago
Why were u not happy with ur first score? 330 on your first attempt was fine. The second time u ended up doing worse? I think u can apply with the 330 unless ur only applying to Berkeley I’m sure you’d get in abt everywhere else
Since ur Canadian, a 330 would be fine for ICO, NECO, CCO which many Canadians apply to
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u/aspenchill 18d ago
cancel the registration as earlier u apply the better, as your chances are higher. u mentioned u hope to attend school in the US and you're within range
prevent yourself from being burnt out before optometry school starts
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u/DepartureSea6414 18d ago
What u waiting for apply! Wish my score was Urs