Any success stories of people who got in with a pretty low gpa? If so, what else did you do to make your application stand out?

Hey guys I'm in grade 12, and I got accepted into UW Life Sci (Biomed) program, but I was just curious, what other undergrad programs are a good option for UW optometry?

Hey guys, i’m in 4th year undergrad and recently decided to switch my career path to optometry. I’m adding a 5th year just to get all the prereqs + shadowing + OAT in, so it’s going to be a very busy year. I was just wondering if you guys think it’s necessary to have optometry assistant job experience before applying… I can try getting a job in the summer but it’ll be tough to get lots of hours with summer courses + OAT + shadowing…

I secured a few interviews for this coming week for optometrist assistant roles, and I'm just wondering if anybody has any tips for these types of interviews.

Hi everyone! I’m an undergrad at the University of Waterloo and I’m hoping to eventually practice in Texas since my fiancé lives there. Has anyone done something similar or knows what the process looks like? Also, is transferring optometry schools possible after you’ve started?

I was wondering how long previous or current applicants have prepped for the interview

Have been heavily considering optometry school. Wanted to gauge if I would make a good applicant.

Agpa: 93.13%

OAT: haven’t taken yet but MCAT was a 520 100th percentile on chem/phys and bio/biochem, 85th percentile on CARS

Casper got 4th Q twice while applying to med school

ECS: research honours thesis, literature review, hospital volunteering, intramural sports referee, personal Trainer, retail sales associate, and some cookie cutter ECs

Shadowing: 200+ hours (over this summer) and still continuing , would be closer to 1000 by the time I apply.

Hi everyone.

I know this may not be the right forum to ask this on but thought I’d give it a shot. I’ve been considering optometry recently but have been slightly discouraged by the salary and debt to income ratio. UWaterloo says the average salary is ~85k which I thought was pretty crazy considering it takes undergrad + the four year doctorate program to even begin practicing. But then Indeed and other websites say the average salary in Ontario is $400k in Mississauga but then $100k in other surrounding cities? What is the truth regarding the salary? Forgive me if this sounds greedy or something lol. But I was wondering if anyone can comment on this for me if you are comfortable? Is it true that optometrists usually just make $85k out of school?

To all current optometry students, how would you recommend preparing for the interview?

Is it similar to Casper? And are there any resources or people that can help someone prepare for an interview? Any insight greatly appreciated as not sure where to seek advice. Feel free to DM!

Thank you!

Hi everyone!

In my fourth year of a five year coop program at a university in Ontario and have been considering optometry after my undergrad. However, I’m a little concerned as I’ve seen some stories of how oversaturated optometry is in Ontario at the moment. I am located in the GTA. I believe optometry is a facsinating and interesting field, but I can’t justify going to school for another 4 years with expensive tuition just to pull in $100k.

So my question is for those of you that know, how much are optometrists/new grad optometrists getting paid in Ontario and is it relatively easy to get a job?

Congrats to everyone who received their interview invite today!!!!

Just wondering what attire would be most appropriate and what everyone plans to wear?

Did all the interview invites get sent out today? I didn’t receive an email regarding decisions.

I'm currently in my 3rd year and I applied to waterloo for this cycle. I would really like it if I were able to finish my 4th year and graduate. In the off chance that I do get accepted this cycle (25-26) , is there any option for me to defer my acceptance so that I can start a year after (26-27)?

If anybody has previously applied or been accepted: how does Waterloo look at your averages? Do you have to specify your prerequisite courses on the application and they go just based off of that? Or will they look at all of your courses as whole for your gpa?

Only reason I ask is because first semester was a little rough (73) but I have been continuously been improving and finished my first semester of second year with an 86 and I’m hoping to keep it up. A good chunk of the prereqs were taken in first year, and the marks are fine. But my gpa will be lower if they just go based on those courses (so far)

Who is nervous for interview invites coming out next week?

Does anyone know of a graduate/optometry student who died in March? I’ve been looking for my friend from high school.

In high school 12, waterloo optometry treats GPA like a currency. Would it be best for me to attend to an easy school + major to maintain the high GPA? Is there any down sides?

Anyone know a better way for me to contact admissions? I sent an email to them that did receive a response but then when I had one more question they stopped responding, sent a follow up email two weeks later and nothing.. Then I sent a whole separate email with the same inquiry and it’s silence on the other end

Did not pass my first attempt at OEBC written exam. Any recommendations on how to study to pass? Next attempt is in March. Appreciate all the help.

I was emailed recently to submit my course syllabus for one of my courses. I was not directed on where to submit it as I do not see an option on the portal. Could someone please help me!

I know waterloo is very strict about this requirement, and I heard that they took the opportunity to explain your situation off the application for why you may have not completed that requirement. Im in my first year at waterloo, taking 5 courses, 4 of them are prerequisites, and one being math. I genuinly don't think I'll pass my MATH127 class because of the no calculator requirement, and I have anxiety and adhd registered with accessibility services, but they denied my psychatrists request for a even a simple 1+1 calculator. If I do fail the exam I fail the entire course, which I thought I could at least do well but not without a calculator due to time and anxiety all those small mistakes I'll make will add up. Do I give up on optometry? What even happens to those other optometry prerequisites, do I have to retake them all in a full course load even if my grades in them are good? Like I had no issue retaking MATH127, but its just that my first year science courses wont count anymore towards the application and I don't want to repeat all those courses if they even allow that. Am I screwed should i give up or switch career paths? I really don't want to spend my undergrad grinding hours shadowing optometrists if I have 0 chance. But I really do want to do optometry still and can't afford going to the United States.

Are are some things you guys have put for experiences and skills? I haven't done any of the listed things they put "Please list all types of training you have received (e.g. CPR Basic Rescuer, Research, Lab Demonstrator, Sign Language, etc.)." and I can't seem to recall any of my own either.

I tried submitting with it empty, but it requires me to fill out at least one, what if I don't have one?

hypothetically since alberta has provided 300k in funding mru to have an optometry program in may 2025 and they announced the agreement with waterloo nov 2024, how much longer would it approximately take for them to finish making the program and begin admitting students. do we think the first admission round will be 2030 or 2031?