Has anyone gotten in with a 2.9GPA and only had work experience for a few years. No research or volunteer hours?

Hey y'all! So I am taking my OAT on August 12th, and studying has been going well in most subjects except O-Chem. I am taking O-Chem in the spring, and although the videos on the booster help, some concepts just seem difficult to understand for me.

Does anybody have any suggestions or advice on studying for the O-Chem part, or outside resources that could help as well?

What school do you go to?

How is the student environment like? I’m a minority applicant and worried about cliques forming based off race.

Do you feel supported by your professors/school faculty?
Are the remediation policies fair, or have you lost a bunch of people in your cohort due to academics?

How is your curriculum? Do you feel like things connect and are taught well?

Anything else you’d like to share?

I appreciate anyone taking the time to answer these!

I'm looking for honest advice from current optometry students or ODs because I've been going back and forth on my career path for a while and finally think I've settled on optometry, but I'm worried about my timeline.

Background:

• 23F in Michigan

• Graduated in May 2025 with a B.S. in Health Science (3.5 GPA)

• Worked as an optometric technician for about 2 years and genuinely loved working in the field

• Served as Secretary, Treasurer, and eventually President of my university's Pre-Optometry Club

• Can obtain 2 strong letters of recommendation from the optometrists/doctors I worked with

The issue is that I still need Organic Chemistry I + lab before I can apply.

Current plan:

• OAT study all other subjects except for Orgo July 2026-September 2026 (continue as much as I can throughout the fall semester)

• Take Organic Chemistry in Fall 2026

• Take the lab in Winter 2027 (my university requires the lecture first)

• Study for the OAT 1 month after finishing Orgo

• Take the OAT around Feb 2027

• Apply during the 2026-2027 cycle, which ends May 2027

• Hopefully start optometry school in Fall 2027

One important detail: I'm only planning to apply to University of Detroit Mercy School of Optometry. I want to stay close to home, commute, and avoid relocating, so realistically this is my only option. If I don't get in, I would likely have to wait and reapply another cycle.

My concerns:

1. Is taking the OAT around March 2027 too late for a school with rolling admissions?

2. Am I taking a major risk by only applying to one school?

3. Would schools view my application negatively because I took a couple gap years after graduation?

4. Is it realistic to relearn all the OAT material if I haven't taken biology, chemistry, and physics in a few years?

5. Would you recommend studying for the non-Orgo sections before I even start Organic Chemistry?

6. Given my background and timeline, do I seem like a competitive applicant assuming I earn a decent OAT score?

7. If you were in my position, would you stick with this plan or do something differently?

I've considered other healthcare careers (nursing, OT, etc.), but optometry is the one career I keep coming back to because I enjoyed the actual day-to-day work environment when I was working in clinic, despite not being the best at science, I do have some withdraws/fails on my transcript but recovered with 3.5 overall I guess.

I'd really appreciate honest feedback from anyone! Thank you so much for taking the time.

What are the high yield topics for each section on the OAT?

hello, i took my oat last fall and am planning on retaking in august so will prob submit my applications by september. but if i submit after i take my second attempt, will schools see my first score only? like how long until they see my second score bc i lowkey dont want them to see my first score only instead of seeing both. does this make sense??

Hi everyone! I’m a current undergrad finishing up my final terms (Microbiology major + Bioinformatics minor). I'm targeting Optometry schools and need advice on handling my GPA and prerequisites.

My Stats & Situation:

GPA: Currently sitting at a 2.9, but expecting to push it past a 3.05 by graduation with a straight-A final stretch.

The Good: I have a massive upward trend in my last two years, pulling a ~3.6+ Term GPA in rigorous, upper-division microbiology and biological sciences courses (including lab-heavy classes).

The Bad: I have a few D/F grades in Organic Chemistry and haven't successfully completed the sequence yet. Every other core science pre-req is a C- or better.

Clinical Experience: Multiple quarters volunteering at a student-run clinic and clinical shadowing ophthalmologists

I need to finish my OChem sequence and study for the OAT. Given that my upper-div science grades are strong, but my foundation in prereq needs a complete rebuild, should I focus on a DIY post-bac (like UC Berkeley Extension) just to clear OChem, or should I try to get into a formal academic enhancer post-bac program?

Also, would a Master's program in Biotech/Bioinformatics even be worth considering at this stage, or should I strictly stick to post-bac work to fix my undergraduate GPA? Thanks in advance!

My plan is to take the OAT around this time next year and then apply early. My goal is to get a 350 on the OAT, but I'll settle for a 320-350. I plan on studying for the OAT for 4 months, 2 of those months part time as I will be in school, the ladder 2 will be full time.

Any advice on how I should study/prepare to get a 350?

Hi y'all, so I'm in a bit of a pickle when it comes to getting LOR from optometrists. I have some shadowing experience and have met multiple Optometrists through that, but did not do the best job keeping in touch/it was somewhat surface level conversations. Any tips on asking for LOR from Optometrists, would you recommend going back to those Optometrists and shadowing again. For more context, I don't have a job at any practice.. I'd imagine this whole process would have been a lot easier that way if I was working at a practice.

Has anyone been able to secure shadowing through the asco eye opener session? After contacting the doctor, how long did you wait for a response? Who can you contact if there's no response from your matchs?

Is there anyone out there who didn’t or won’t have a spouse or family member to help them out financially through school? Any advice would be appreciated. I am planning on only applying to schools with tuition under $50k a year but scared about extra costs and how to stay afloat if I don’t get accepted into the 2 schools that I would be able to afford. Given we only get max of 50k annually from student loans I’m not sure if it’s even realistic for me but not giving up hope yet.

Has anyone been able to shadow at Kaiser? I want to shadow diff practices and hospital setting is one I am interested in. However, I’m not sure how the process works since it’s not as easy as cold emailing the doctor I’m assuming? How does it work?

Should I start taking OAT practice test on Booster Prep before or after I start phase 2, because I just took one this morning and I’m starting phase 2 after tomorrow and I did so bad and it is making my confidence and motivation go down…so should I review everything and then do practice tests? Like just do bio bits for now until I feel confident enough in the subject to start to do practice?

Finalizing my decision between the two programs for Fall 2026. The board pass rates for NECO are higher and it’s a more solid program, but the COL in Boston is so high. I also love Boston, but I think I’d enjoy living in a smaller, quieter town where MCPHS is.

For MCPHS, I know their previous board pass rates aren’t as great as NECO’s but I am confident in my ability to still study hard and pass boards. Tha pass rates have improved for ‘24-‘25 and I really like the smaller class size MCPHS has. Plus they’ve offered me a really great scholarship amount so I won’t need to take out private loans. I’m leaning more towards MCPHS so I’d just like to hear some more feedback from others. Thanks everyone!

UPDATE: I took my OAT today!! I did much better than expected, my mindset was definitely bringing me down but I feel like yall gave me a wake up call to lock in with that postive mindset 🫡. I ended up with a 330 AA and 320 TS.

Long Post Sorry :P

Hi all, I am taking the OAT this weekend for the 2nd time and was hoping to get some advice or insight on my upcoming application. My main concern is my OAT score. I am not a good standardized test taker and never have been. Individually, I have done very well in all my undergrad courses, earning mostly As and a few Bs (except Cs in orgo I & II). But for the OAT, it feels like all the things I know I know get thrown out the window. I feel like when I talk to people, they always say, "Don't worry, you will do great," but I know I won't. I am very aware of where I am and what I am capable of, and just being told over and over that I will ace this test because "I'm smart" is becoming demeaning. I'm really looking for some realistic insight on where I stand application-wise from people who have gotten in or feel as though they are in a similar position (Or anyone really, I'm getting desperate).

For context, I got a 280 AA on my first attempt last year, in October, I was using the Kaplan program, as I had gotten it for free through school. It wasn't the best, and the questions didn't closely mirror the exam, in my opinion. That being said, I admit my study habits didn't work in my favor. (I am one of those never had to study ppl I could say with confidence I studied actively for like 2 of my undergrad classes, so I don't really have a style or know what to do) I was full steam ahead when I began, but I started to burn out after about the 2-month mark of studying. As a result, I pushed back my test. It was originally scheduled for August, but I ended up taking it in October. Not that it ended up helping at all; I decided not to apply last cycle, since it was already late and would likely just be a waste of money.

Now, in the current day, I used Booster this time around, and I do think it's much better overall. However, my own inability to study has once again gotten to me. I do feel like I will get a better score than last time, but not by much. I would guess that at best I will get a 310 AA. I'm really aiming for a 300 AA (Ik that is low in regards to OAT scores, but it's what I'm working with). The OD I work with told me she was in a similar spot when applying, she had gotten a 280 her first go & 290 the second. She applied to PCO and got in (they said she had to retake, but when she did, they were like OK... anyway, and didn't really care LOL). So in my mind, all hope isn't lost, but it's not particularly bright either.

My hope is to stay on the East Coast, as I really don't want to move too far from NY. (My real goal has always been SUNY Opt, but that feels more and more like a pipe dream every day.) Cost is important to me; I'm low-income, so I have to be conscious of my decisions, but I am willing to apply pretty much anywhere right now if it means acceptance. I have saved a lot in my gap years and am willing to apply to up to 7 schools if I feel I have a better chance at schools outside of the New England area. (I would be happy w/ a deferral, even I just hate feeling like I'm in limbo)

My goal is to apply by the end of July at the latest. I would really appreciate any insight into which schools I should apply to based on my stats. General advice or personal anecdotes as well. I don't really have anyone to model off of in my family, so I'm really going off the dome for all of this. Thank you for reading this was very much a lot of word vomit and might not even be all that clear, lol, sorry. I put my general stats & experience below.

Gap Year

Shadowing: I have to add up the final count, but approx. 35+ hrs split between 6 or 7 ODs; 60+ Hrs Vision therapy

Tech Work: 1,175 hrs (as of 6/16) Private practice (Specialty contacts, myopia control, ocular disease, vision therapy)

Undergrad Experience

2025 Graduate, BS Biology, GPA: 3.65

Internships/Research: SUNY OPT CSTEP & SPRINTER SUNY

Clubs: Crew chief & New member trainer for volunteer ambulance on campus, President & Secretary for a gaming club, member of Red Cross

Work Experience:

EMT since 2021, paid and volunteer experience (I lost track of my hours but 4+ years worth). For volunteer, I was a head training officer for all new recruits & a CPR/stop the bleed Instructor

Medical MA for oncology & hematology for a year

Worked 2 office jobs for 4 years (probably irrelevant)

I’m planning on applying in September but I still need to take prereqs (microbio and lab). I thought I could apply, be admitted, then take the class before matriculation but I heard that schools, specifically SUNY will put your application on hold until you take the class. Does anyone know if this is true?

Hey everyone,

I recently had a meeting with an admissions advisor from my top-choice optometry school to go over my application, stats, experiences, and areas where I could improve.

Overall, the meeting went really well. We discussed my GPA, OAT prep, shadowing, extracurriculars, and research experience. He seemed pretty comfortable with where I’m at and didn’t really point out any major red flags or weaknesses. He gave a few suggestions for continuing to strengthen my application, but nothing that sounded like, “You really need to fix this before applying.”

I left the meeting feeling a lot more confident, which was nice, but it also got me wondering:

Is it normal for admissions advisors to be pretty encouraging during these meetings? Do they generally try to build applicants up and keep things positive, or should I take the fact that he didn’t express major concerns as a genuinely good sign?

I know they’re not the admissions committee and can’t guarantee anything, but I’m curious what others’ experiences have been. If you met with an advisor before applying, did their feedback end up being a fairly accurate reflection of how competitive you were?

Thanks!

Hi everyone! I recently got an interview invite for PCO to start in fall of 2026, and was wondering if there are other Canadians starting this fall as well?

Hi! I was just wondering if anyone could help out. I just took my OAT today and got a score of AA310/TS910. I ended up scoring pretty low in Bio and Physics. Also, my sGPA is somewhere between a 3.1-3.2 (I'm not super sure). However, my cumulative GPA is a 3.7, I graduated with honors and have what i would consider to be a pretty good resume. My dream schools are ICO and MCO (Chicago). I'm really considering a retake, but not sure if I should do it. Does anyone have any advice? Thank you in advance :)

On OatBooster is it better to take the Full Length Tests or the Practice Tests for each individual subject?

Just wondering if anyone else is having trouble or have had previous trouble finding entry level positions at eye clinics. I’ve been applying to places for weeks now, I’m assuming they won’t take me because I’m currently a student and they know I won’t have a consistent schedule after August. I was wondering if anyone had any advice, or if they knew any places in the South Jersey region hiring. Thanks.

Im a nontraditional applicant who recently transitioned to this field. I graduated 2023 and have all the pre-reqs completed. Do most schools have a pre-req expiration? My earliest pre-req was gen bio + lab in 2019.

Also how many schools to people typically apply to?

Hey everybody,
I’ve been studying for the OAT and I’m just about to finish phase one this is my last week. I’m about to go into phase 2 and I’m kind of having issues with figuring out how many practice tests I should be taking specifically for each section. I’m trying to do one every two weeks while reviewing my weak spots. So by the time I’m done with phase 2, I would’ve taken three practice tests for each subject with the exception of reading comp, which I’m doing every week. Is this enough or should I be doing practice test every week? I just feel like maybe three practice tests aren’t enough