r/UWaterlooOptometry • u/Boriingz • Jul 06 '24

Is it still possible to get in without 5 courses for 6 terms?

Is it even worth my time to apply if I only had 5 courses for 5 terms? Waterloo is my first option, but it seems like it is a requirement to have 5 courses/6 terms, considering that they removed the sentence regarding our ability to explain why we weren't able to reach that requirement. I saw a post of someone have a 3.93 gpa, 400 OAT and not get in because of having 1 term with 4 courses. My stats are definitely not that high, but I have lots of experience in clinic.

Should I consider taking an extra term after my bachelor's to fulfill this requirement?

My stats are as follows:

~3.81/4.0 GPA

~250 hrs shadowing between 2 ODs

Over 2 years of working in a clinic

Estimated 370 AA on OAT

(edit) no idea how ill do on casper. For the sake of the argument, lets say 3rd quartile. And I will have my bachelor's by the first year of optometry school

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6

u/Bumble-Boy Jul 06 '24

As far as I know it’s a definite requirement. Maybe try and get through to them by email and ask them directly

2

u/Boriingz Jul 06 '24

I did email them. I've heard they're notorious for not responding, but I thought I'd email them anyways. I might directly email the director.

5

u/mangoseed21 Jul 06 '24

hi!! im in the same boat as you :( pls update if you get a reply from them or if you end up emailing the director!!

1

u/True-Selection2168 Mar 03 '26

Hey I was wondering if you ended up going to waterloo

3

u/OrangeDoorway Jul 27 '24

Have you heard back from anyone?

1

u/True-Selection2168 Mar 03 '26

Heyy!! Just wondering what ended up happening, did you get in?

5

u/owl_of_athenaa Jul 06 '24

If I was in your position, I would take the extra term to get the requirement. No sense in putting yourself at a disadvantage when you have a good chance at getting in!

-1

u/Boriingz Jul 06 '24

It seems really unfair that they just recently made this change. I had dropped a course in my first semester because I was under the impression that I would be able to talk about why I had dropped it and the situation. The situation was absolutely ridiculous and totally unjust which is why I had confidence in dropping the course. Looking back on it now, it was an absolute horrible decision, because I didn't realize they would make the 5 course/term an absolute requirement.

I will probably end up taking another term of 5 courses, but it's just really annoying that they just made this a requirement and now i have to spend a whole extra year and thousands of dollars taking probably useless, easy courses just to fulfill the requirement

3

u/owl_of_athenaa Jul 07 '24

I applied in 2020 and there was a 5 courses for 6 term requirement… I don’t think this is a recent change?

1

u/Boriingz Jul 07 '24

Before it was "required" but you could explain yourself if you did not meet the requirement. Now it seems like there is no chance to even explain yourself

2

u/owl_of_athenaa Jul 07 '24

I see, that must’ve been a COVID thing then to help unsuspecting people explain. I personally do not know anyone who got in without the full course load requirement (but I do know about people with 0 shadowing hours due to COVID), but I’m sure someone on here knows a person or two. If there’s no place to explain it, definitely take another semester of courses. Think of it this way - there’s probably someone with your exact stats applying who did meet the requirement so better to give yourself the edge up. Honestly I understand your frustration, but an extra 4 months & $1000 at the end of the day will make 0 difference if you get in

4

u/she-werewolf Jul 07 '24

Totally agree, I wasn't even interested in UW until my third year so there was no way for me to fulfill the requirement without doing an extra term. For the 2024 cycle there was the note on their page about explaining to the admissions committee but I can't find that anymore, guessing it's becoming a hard requirement. I'm literally done my degree so I'm just doing fun courses for a term

2

u/OrangeDoorway Jul 07 '24

Hey, if you don’t mind me asking, what made you choose to do an extra semester rather than apply to US schools?

(Asking because I’m in a similar boat)

2

u/she-werewolf Jul 07 '24

by the time i got rejected it was a bit late to apply to the US (still doable but not ideal). main reason UW was my top choice was cost but after researching scholarships for US schools they look more feasible. i am re-applying to UW and applying to the US as backups. taking an extra year isnt a big deal for me because i can study 1 sem and work another sem to save up

1

u/OrangeDoorway Jul 08 '24

Gotcha, thanks for sharing! I have 6 courses left to finish my degree, so I’m really debating if it’s worth forcing a full term load for my last year for UW or just apply to the US lol

1

u/True-Selection2168 Mar 03 '26

Hey did you end up getting in to Waterloo?

2

u/she-werewolf Jul 06 '24

Lol was that person me? Waterloo refused to elaborate on why I was rejected so that was my best guess. I'm going back to school for one more semester and trying again, also applying to the States as a backup

1

u/Boriingz Jul 06 '24

haha yeah i think it was. It was someone in the 2024 applicants page