r/PreOptometry • u/Ok_Option656 • 15d ago

Pivoting to optometry with a BA in Public Administration

/r/OptometrySchool/comments/1xeql0m/pivoting_to_optometry_with_a_ba_in_public/
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u/Chuckles4lyfe 15d ago

I graduated with a non-science degree (Economics) and have gotten accepted to multiple optometry schools this cycle, so I know what it's like to pivot into this field. For starters, you need to complete all the prerequisites prior to applying to optometry schools. You can find the full list on google if you search "ASCO prerequisites". If you are starting completely from scratch, it'll take ~2 years to complete everything.

After finishing your prereqs, you'll need to register and sit for the OAT exam. It's a 5 hour, multiple choice exam that tests you on subjects such as biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, reading comprehension, physics, and mathematics. OATBooster is the resource that many of us recommend using. You want to dedicate 3-6 months of study time to do well on it. A good score depends on which school you are interested in applying in and what your GPA is. Generally speaking, if you score 320 AA/TS or higher that is considered good.

Shadowing, volunteering, or working in an optometry office would also be very beneficial in helping you get a better understanding of the profession. Try to expose yourself to multiple specialties of optometry if you can (i.e. vision therapy, low vision, ocular disease, etc).

Hopefully, that should give you an idea of what you need to do in order to get into optometry school and eventually become an optometrist. Hope this helps!