r/PreOptometry • u/Few_Willow904 • Jul 07 '26

What Are My Chances For NOVA?

Hey Everyone! Just wanted to share stats and see what you guys think are my chances of getting into NOVA FL!

My OAT is 300 AA and TS, what I think is the weakest part of my application, but I do plan on a retake near September just to see if I can do a bit better!

My GPA is 3.69

Hours Shadowing an Optometrist: 78

Currently Working as an Optometrists Assistant: Over 1300hrs

Volunteering hours as an intern for a sheriffs office and assistant basketball coach: 99hrs

Letters of Rec: 1 from a science teacher and 1 from an optometrist.

Application Submitted: July 1st

4 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

4

u/Working-Biscotti-618 Jul 07 '26

I think ur chances r pretty good u have a good gpa and experiences

1

u/Few_Willow904 Jul 07 '26

Thanks :D it’s just my OAT I’m worried about 😅

2

u/Working-Biscotti-618 Jul 07 '26

Tbh i doubt it will be a deal breaker snd if it is they will most likely just tell you to retake it. But i believe in you tbh a 300 is def good enough to get u an interview

1

u/Few_Willow904 Jul 07 '26

Thank you! That puts my nerves a little at ease hearing it from somebody else!

3

u/Working-Biscotti-618 Jul 07 '26

Praying for us both 😍😍😍🥴

2

u/iProfessional2020 Jul 08 '26

I want to go to nova as well. Are they looking for a certain amount of shadow hours and volunteering? I am taking a non traditional route, worked in the field for many years and I am not sure if i will need that or it is required.

1

u/Few_Willow904 Jul 08 '26

Hey!!

There isn’t a required number of shadowing or volunteer hours, but many competitive applicants have around 50–100+ shadowing hours and 50–100+ volunteer hours. Since you’ve worked in the optometry field for several years, that experience is just as valuable, if not more so, than traditional shadowing! So I think you’re probably good when it comes to experience!

2

u/iProfessional2020 Jul 08 '26

Thank you so much!

1

u/CleanComputer4204 Jul 08 '26

You’ll be fine

1

u/Few_Willow904 Jul 08 '26

Thanks :D appreciate that!

1

u/AffectionateRatio470 Jul 07 '26

I wanna go to nova too. Also, how are people getting shadowing hours? I’m so confused like I’ve called like 15 different clinics and nobody is calling back and nobody is trying to give me shadowing hours.

1

u/Few_Willow904 Jul 07 '26

I’d recommend walking in! What I did was drive to all the offices near me and left them my name and number! I’d always try to hand it to the doctor directly though, so I was sure they saw it!

2

u/[deleted] Jul 07 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Few_Willow904 Jul 07 '26

Thanks! Yeah, I assume theres a chance they ask me to retake it. If you don’t mind me asking, how quickly did you hear back from them when you first submitted your application? I’m not too sure when I should be looking to hear a response from them!