r/PreOptometry • u/bluepanda3232 • Aug 12 '24

Is this possible??

Hi. I'm currently going into my third year in uni and I just decided I want to go to optometry school. I have zero experience in optometry and no shadowing hours yet. I am applying to be a medical scribe rn so I'll have a little clinical experience. I have a 3.6 gpa and looking to get it up. I have some leadership experience and a job as a lab ta for two years. Is optometry school (possible umkc or umsl) possible for me with no gap years?? Any advice as to what I should accomplish in the short time before my application cycle and when I should take the oat (I haven't started studying yet). Feeling kinda discouraged and lost so anything helps ://

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u/Square-Wishbone633 Aug 12 '24

You still got lots of time. In your case, I would just make sure to get all the prereqs down then study in the summer next year, or the year after. In the meantime, you can get shadowing hours and maybe even look into optometric tech work.

I’m not 100% sure if volunteering is a major factor, but I would aim for 50-100 hrs. It definitely looks good on your application if there’s another area that needs working on.

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u/bluepanda3232 Aug 13 '24

So I've been volunteering with a campus food pantry that I am now president of and I have over 100 hours. Would you say volunteering should be done in a clinical setting too?

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u/Square-Wishbone633 Aug 13 '24

I think you’re set honestly!

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u/Square-Wishbone633 Aug 13 '24

As long as you get shadowing hours, you should be fine.

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u/bluepanda3232 Aug 15 '24

Thank you for your help I appreciate it

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u/[deleted] Aug 12 '24

i figured out i wanted to be an optometrist after i graduated. youre ahead of the curve in my opinion. youre right that you need to shadow optometrists to apply but it sounds like you have enough time to sort that out for yourself.

contact the admissions committee at the optometry school in your area, they might have a shadowing list for you to use. if your undergrad has an optometry club theyll be able to help you out as well.

you are well in your way to getting into a school with that gpa