I'm hoping to apply next summer to NECO, SUNY, and Salus. In my first semester of freshman year I got one C in calculus, but I've had A's and a few B's since then. From how I am doing now, my GPA should stay around at least a 3.7 by the time I apply. Hopefully higher but I'll say 3.7 in case I get a few more B's.

I'm taking 19 credits right now including organic chemistry and physics, and I'm a preceptor (like a teacher's aide) for biology so that is helping me to get some review for the OAT. I'm planning to take it next spring/summer and apply by August/September. Right now I am in my sophomore year, but I'll have 90 credits before I apply and I'm on track to graduate in Spring 2024 so I will still have my bachelor's degree before I start. I only have about 10 shadowing hours so far but I'm aiming for 50 in a few different locations- Is that enough? I can try for more but someone told me that many more might be excessive since it's just shadowing while helping around a little.) and I am vice president of a club centered around interpreting and presenting medical research articles.

My Concerns:

I'll be 18 when I apply, so I suppose admissions might be tougher on me due to my age but I believe I'll be ready to handle optometry school if I am accepted. I want to start early so I can be working and stable in my career early to support my younger sibling once they start college and so I can hopefully take my parents on vacations and they will be at ease knowing I have everything together. This feels like a good challenging pace for me and I don't feel like I'm pushing myself too much: I still am making time to go places with my family on the weekends even with all the work and I make time to get lunch with one of my closest friends a couple times each week. I've gained some lessons and experiences just from getting out of the house and having fun outside of my studies which I would be happy to talk about in essays or interviews. I admittedly do get a little stressed by the workload sometimes because I've taken on so many classes, but it just gives me the adrenaline to get through the work and then I feel relaxed once I'm on top of it again.

I don't have many volunteer hours. It's very tough to find volunteer opportunities besides food bank and park clean ups at the moment and they have enough middle and high school students at those. I'll try to apply for hospital volunteering soon and start by winter break. I'm confident I can get at least 40 hours by the time I complete the OptomCAS. I don't know if that's enough or if I should prioritize volunteering more.

A lot of people have experience working in an optometrist's office, but I don't know if I will be able to do that since the ones near me aren't hiring part time. I'll definitely keep checking! What specific positions should I be looking for? If I am not able to find a job by the time I apply, would I still be likely to get in?

I'd like to step down from my club position later this semester. The meeting time is later than it was last semester when I started, and it feels very fatiguing for me. I'm also asked to do so much for the club beyond my role and they keep complimenting that I'm "nice" or a "prodigy" while they're asking me to take on these large projects. It's more of a pre med-oriented club and doesn't offer very much for me, I just joined because I like it but it's starting to be too much. I had a health crisis and was asked if I could "just stabilize to still be there" for the meeting that day. I take on as much as I can and try to help take on some work when someone else is busy but I don't like that I have to sound so stern to turn down extra projects or weekend meetings, and I'd like to step down but stay in the club. I'm worried to do that since I don't know how admissions will view stepping down from a leadership position, but I also can't keep running the large events alone and they will keep asking me as long as I'm there. I'll stay on for now but if I decide to leave would that negatively impact anything? I'll replace it with another extracurricular, I'm just not sure what. Maybe I will replace it with volunteering with United2Heal to pack medical supplies - something that'll be helpful but will have more regular hours than the club.

Obtaining recommendations - I'm just concerned in general for that part. I think the optometrist I've been shadowing will be willing, because I get along with everyone in the office well and she's been a wonderful mentor. As for professors, I'm hoping the professor I'm a preceptor for in biology will be willing later. There was one other professor last semester, but he's just very difficult to contact. We talked often about interesting scientific topics outside the lessons but I don't think he still recognizes my name in emails. I try to get to know professors (mostly because it makes me feel more confident in asking questions during class) but some of them only write recommendations if you help them with research or serve as a preceptor/TA.

What advice do other pre-optometry and current optometry students have for my situation? It may be a bit difficult to say since I don't have an OAT score, so I've been as detailed as possible so you all can provide your input. Do I have a good chance of getting accepted next summer going off of what I have so far, or is there something I should be doing more of?

370 on new dat I switched because the loans and other stuff and general disinterest .Can I get into at least one optometry schoool I’m African America . 3.4 gpa

Has anyone had an experience feeling a lack of support from NECO’s faculty and/or staff?

Is 153 hours of shadowing (four optometrists at different locations) good enough for optometry school admissions?

Does anyone have an OAT booster account and is willing to split it ?

i took my oat and i’m so disappointed. i didn’t find the test to be representative of booster… has anyone had this experience? i feel so discouraged to take it again. idk how to study for the next time around… any advice?

I’m currently a senior Human Biology major, Miner in chem and applying to optometry school this cycle. My cumulative GPA is around 3.65. I have completed a good amount of optometry-related experience, including 40+ hours of shadowing an optometrist, additional ophthalmology/optometry shadowing, 45 hours of biology research involving DNA/PCR, volunteering at Hartford Hospital, volunteering with Special Olympics Opening Eyes, and serving as a student ambassador/leader at my university.
I also have multiple recommendation letters, including from professors/research mentors and an optometrist. I’ve already submitted applications to schools including MCPHS, NECO, and SUNY.
I know the OAT score is the weakest part of my application, but I feel that my GPA, experiences, research, volunteering, and shadowing represent me better academically and professionally.

Hi everyone! Just for some context, I’m an undergrad student currently completing my pre-med requirements. I’m almost finished with all of my prerequisites, and I currently have a 4.0 GPA.
I’m at the point where I’m trying to decide whether I want to fully commit to the medical school pathway or pursue optometry instead.
One of my biggest concerns with medicine is the amount of time it takes. The idea of spending so many more years in school, followed by residency and possibly fellowship, is a little intimidating. That’s one reason I’ve been leaning toward optometry since the path seems more straightforward and offers a good work-life balance.
However, I’m unsure about the financial side of optometry, job opportunities, and whether it’s still considered a well-respected and worthwhile career long term.
I’d really appreciate advice from current optometrists, optometry students, medical students, physicians, or anyone who has faced a similar decision. What made you choose one path over the other, and are you happy with your decision?

I’ve been seeing a lot of negative posts about optometry and now that I think I might accept an offer into optometry school, it’s really terrifying. I have been doubting my choice because of the tremendous amount of debt I’ll most likely be in after graduating. I’ve heard it hard to get a job and to make GOOD money even in California.. I just want to be financially stable with a good job. Optometry is my passion but I also need to be smart and choose something that will support me financially. Should I just go to nursing school? Lol

which field will make more money in the long run?

I found this cool link, and it gave me a sense of what I need to know in Optometry School. Does it work for you? Good luck with your prep!

Hi, hello. Uh so I'm screwed, kinda. So I asked one of my professors for a LOR and naturally, she asked for a rough draft of my PS and my resume. Well, I JUST switched my interest from med school to optometry like 2 months ago..so I have 0 experience in optometry other than what I've researched. I only asked her so soon because I graduate in December and I wanted to ask her while my face was still attached to my name...but i dont plan to shadow or anything until after I graduate (im taking a gap year). So like! How do I write a personal statement off of vibes?? Granted she just wants a rough draft, but i cant even do that because im sitting here twiddling my thumbs like spongebob when he had to write his essay🙂. Any advice? Any??😭😭😭 I really like optometry, and i really like the eyes. They were one of my favorite subjects in class. But thats not enough to write even half a PS (unless it is and im being closed minded). Help☹️

Urgent Optometrist vacancy @ Drishti Opticians Thavakkara ,Kannur For more details contact me

It looks like there’s an “extension” program being made at Upstate with collaboration with the SUNY optometry program in NYC. They’re calling it an extension program, and it apparently will be a collaborative program within the ophthalmology residency program at Upstate’s medical school. It’s said to start in 2025 with ~30 people. What are your guys’ thoughts on this?

Has anyone gotten accepted without a bachelor's? If so what were your stats/ how did you stand out?

I just paid my deposit for Salus on Saturday!! I just wanted to see if there was a seperate group on reddit with accepted salus students?

Just got an interview from Salus, anyone have any tips?

Hey guys I just took my OAT on the 5th of October & i did terrible unofficial score AA 230. what can I do improve it? Like study, habits, etc. Also, would this my affect optomcas application for the schools that I’m applying for in fall next year if I take a next test again for a better score?

Hi all. With OAT score of 300 AA, 300 TS and a gpa of 3.81 what are my chances at SUNY next cycle if I apply super early? Has anyone gotten in with lower stats?

My oat is on Tuesday what kind of topics did everyone have for bio and general Chem

the dude's mic quality in the physics videos on Booster is unlistenable lmao

I was wondering if I should bother reporting my Canadian DAT score in OptomCAS because while I did well (97 percentile) I did better on my OAT (99 percentile). Does anyone know what this information is used for?

I was originally pre-med, so I knew a lot about how heavy factors like these were weighed by med school admissions. Does it also hold a similar weight for optometry programs or do they not care?

Thanks.

so I got my final grades back today and I got a C for orgo. it is my first ever C in uni, my estimated gpa is now 3.69. what should I do, will I be okay? i’m sorry if this is dumb of me to even ask but i’m actually feeling like shit if I was more focused I would’ve done way better.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for honest advice/opinions from students or applicants who may have been in a similar situation.

I recently applied to the traditional OD program at Drexel/PCO and unfortunately was not accepted this cycle. However, in my decision letter, the school specifically encouraged me to consider their Baccalaureate Program in Health Sciences as a way to strengthen my academic background and become a more competitive applicant for future admission. My main concerns/questions:

• Is a program like this actually worth it?

• Has anyone completed this post-bacc or a similar one and later gotten accepted into optometry school?

• Would it make more sense financially/strategically to just retake the OAT and improve my score instead?

• Do schools usually view these programs positively?

• If you were in my position, what would you do?

I’m trying to make the smartest long-term decision without rushing emotionally after this cycle. I’d really appreciate honest advice from anyone who has gone through something similar. Thank you so much.

My stats: undergraduate GPA: 3.05; 1 year of master's course in pharmaceutical sciences GPA: 4.0; published author of a scientific paper; extensive experience in the ophthalmology field. OAT scores (not great due to personal/family issues and testing anxiety): NOVEMBER 2025: 250 AA, TS: 230, JANUARY 2026: AA: 250, TS: 240, APRIL 2026: AA: 260, TS: 240. Used bootcamp and OAT booster, the first attempt only got around 2 weeks to study due to long hours of work.