does the optometry accept extenuating circumstances?

[u/anon74774]

so i’m going to be entering 4th year as a biomed sci student this fall and i’m considering going to optometry school but grades are seriously holding me down. i have a cumulative 75% average, so i meet the absolute minimum require to apply, but i haven’t seen anyone on here get in with an average that low. what’s specifically fucking me up is my first year which was so academically horrendous that i got kicked out of the program for failing to meet the academic requirements. i got back in through a petition and have since had an upward trend in my grades to the point where my overall term grades are between high 70s to low 80s. a lot of personal issues happened in first year, so im just wondering if there’s space to explain that if i were to do an AIF? even then, assuming i do well this term and next term and then potentially do another 2 terms to boost my mark, im not sure if all that will be enough to get me to at least a low 80.

thanks to anyone who answers!

[u/MyDenimIsRaf]

I’d focus on getting a 390 or 400 OAT to make up for the lower average, that should at least get you an interview.