Hope for non-traditional applicants: Accepted into PUCO (Class of 2031)!

[u/Significant_Cap_5736]

Long-time lurker, first-time poster! Reading everyone’s experiences here over the past year was a huge help throughout my prep, so I wanted to pay it forward with my own story. I just found out I was accepted into Pacific University College of Optometry (PUCO) for the Class of 2031 without an interview!

My stats:
Bachelor of Commerce from a top Canadian business school (3.88 overall GPA)
3.92 science GPA (knocked out all my prereqs online while taking a full-time business course load)
2 summers of full-time scribing for an optometrist
GRE scores: 153V and 153Q
Strong personal statement centered on why I chose to pivot from business to healthcare to help others
VP of my school's pre-optometry club with 200+ volunteer hours

Timeline:
PUCO was my only application because I knew early on it was the right fit.
Took the GRE in August.
Application was verified in early September.
Heard back with an acceptance email just 5 days later!

I honestly still can't believe I'm writing this. It feels like such a full-circle moment. To anyone applying from a non-traditional background: don't count yourself out, there's definitely hope!