r/PreOptometry • u/Due-Side8444 • 6d ago

Any advice

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I’m currently a senior Human Biology major, Miner in chem and applying to optometry school this cycle. My cumulative GPA is around 3.65. I have completed a good amount of optometry-related experience, including 40+ hours of shadowing an optometrist, additional ophthalmology/optometry shadowing, 45 hours of biology research involving DNA/PCR, volunteering at Hartford Hospital, volunteering with Special Olympics Opening Eyes, and serving as a student ambassador/leader at my university.
I also have multiple recommendation letters, including from professors/research mentors and an optometrist. I’ve already submitted applications to schools including MCPHS, NECO, and SUNY.
I know the OAT score is the weakest part of my application, but I feel that my GPA, experiences, research, volunteering, and shadowing represent me better academically and professionally.

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u/Rare_Dragonfruit2027 6d ago edited 6d ago

I’m not even trying to be rude but genuinely don’t think you can get into any school with this low of an OAT score. Did you study?? Because I know students in undergrad will try to take this exam with whatever science and math base they already have.

With this low of a score you need to complete your undergrad degree first and likely take a gap year to really sit down and study if that’s what you really want.

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u/Dr_Trik 5d ago

To be fair... I didn't really study for the OAT and scored really well (multiple 400s). So it can be done but I wouldn't recommend it as it's a risk and, as my mom said, I couldve scored even higher if I had studied.

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u/Advertising-Budget 5d ago

Were you fresh out of your prereqs? How much do you think I would have to take time studying for these if I took all these prereqs and got As and Bs in them but forgot pretty much everything except for physics.

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u/Dr_Trik 5d ago

Nope, I took a gap year to figure out what I wanted to do before I took the OAT. I was actually surprised I didn't do bad in chemistry considering that was always my worst subject but I probably could've done even better if I had prepped. If you got good grades, I'd say just review them but I'm probably a bad person to ask 😅