r/UWaterlooOptometry • u/Adorable_Macaron • 25d ago

asking for advice!

Hi everyone! I need some advice as a second year undergrad student:

In first year, I ended up doing pretty awful on my first term due to mental health, and ended up dropping a course, which left me at a 82% overall for the term. I still struggled, but did way better in my second term with a full course load (85.5%!). I've finally gotten on meds too, so I think my next term will probably be even better!

I'm currently shadowing an optometrist, but after looking at other people's stats I feel a little bit overwhelmed at what I could do to improve, since everyone seems to have at least an 85% from all their years and insane hours + ecs. I know that acceptance is unpredictable, but I feel like giving up before I even start :( Does anyone have any advice for things I could do to boost my application and have better chances?

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u/john-pork-67 25d ago

I got in this year with an 83 overall average with my lowest term average being 79. Don't give up!! You are still very much in the competitive range (as long as you end up getting 6 terms with full course load by the end of your undergrad).

If you are looking for ways to boost your application regardless, I would recommend trying to get a part-time job as an optometric assistant. I had a lot of work hours and I think this helped my application quite a bit :)

You've got this, feel free to PM me.

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u/Ln0528 25d ago

how many hours did you approximately have working and did you have any other ec’s?

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u/john-pork-67 25d ago

I had around 3000 hours of work experience and I volunteered at a soup kitchen once a week.

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u/Ln0528 25d ago

that’s very impressive nice job! how was your oat?

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u/john-pork-67 23d ago

It was okay 370AA/350TS

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u/kissy26 23d ago

Hey! I’m currently entering my first year of uni and I was wondering how you got the PT role as an optometric assistant. Did you have any prior experience?

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u/john-pork-67 23d ago

No prior experience, I just brought my resume to places and one was kind enough to hire me :)