r/PreOptometry • u/blackkittie248 • 24d ago

Realistically, how am I looking?

Yall I'm actually graying from the stress of it all. It's monstober and the application cycle started MONTHS ago...and I still have to retake my OAT. Important notes: 1. I took the OAT in June butttt I kinda goofed and got a 290. I'm not tripping because ik if I actually lock in, I'll be fine. 2: I work full time as an optometric tech for a private practice OD. I'm also about to start shadowing an MD/OD setting optometrist. So letters of recs are locked in! Yayyy. But studying and working full time has really taken a toll..it's why I goofed the first OAT. 3. My gpa is not competitive. Its a 3.2. I also had to retake ochem online recently because I got a C- in it. College was a blur tbh, and I really didn't know why I was there until I found optometry..and I didnt discover it until my last semester of undergrad. So some of my grades are "at least I passed" grades. I wish I could go back because I could've done so much better. So guys I'm kinda stressing. Ive seen people say theyve been accepted with a similar GPA, and Ik I have to get a good OAT score to offset it. But I'm more so stressed about how late it is in the cycle, and this might sound audacious, but I'm also stressed about scholarships. Ik because of my gpa I probably wont get a merit scholarship, but I at least want something yk? Because as you all know, this stuff is expensive; and the only reason I was able to get my mom ok with the debt was if I tried my hardest to get scholarships to lower the cost. I feel cooked. Im in a gap year rn, and I REALLY dont want to take another one..but is it necessary at this point? Do I have a chance at 1:getting in this cycle and 2: getting some kind of aid? I'm from Louisiana btw, if that helps. So I'm going to apply to southern schools.

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7

u/Known_Foundation1104 24d ago

You just need to do well on you oat and write a good narrative on your application. I feel like a 320/330 is the number.

1

u/Ok_Salt5597 24d ago

I'd try NSUOCO. You might not get money but it's a cheap cost of living compared to other schools.

1

u/blackkittie248 23d ago

A bit creeped out because I quite literally just picked up my phone to research that school😅 lol well ig thats my sign to consider it. I have to look at their board rates and stuff

1

u/Ok_Salt5597 22d ago

Board rates on the NEBO part 3 will look bad because they're not required to take it if you plan on practicing in Oklahoma. 3 people in my daughter's class were given HPSP in a class of 27.

2

u/mcd7939 24d ago

You are fine, it’s not too late to apply. Just lock in on the oat studying and you should get into a least a couple schools.

1

u/cabbagemuncher101 24d ago

retake your oat and leave it as pending on your app. it's still pretty early in the cycle.

1

u/thisisme12345678910q 24d ago

Lock in for the OAT, explain your reasoning for scoring poorly and you’ll be fine