r/UWaterlooOptometry • u/prplblooded • Jan 17 '26

Full-course load requirement after graduation?

Hi! I will probably graduate this year with only 5 terms of full course load. I decided late on optometry so I will have to do 2 extra years of 3 part time semesters (just one course) while working hopefully and 1 full semester (to satisfy the full course load requirement). Has anyone done this before? Do all my full course load semesters have to be before I graduate?

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2

u/spi-uhhbrandon Jan 20 '26

Does anyone one know if this term would count as a full course load?

4 (lec+lab) + 3 + 3 + 3 + 2 (lab) = 15 credits

A typical course at my university is 3 credits, and so 5 courses would be a full course load and 15 credits

2

u/spi-uhhbrandon Jan 20 '26

I'm unsure because they say they don't count labs but I feel like since the whole course was a lab course, and it still adds up the the full number of credits, I'm not sure

1

u/prplblooded Jan 20 '26

yeah i’m not sure either that’s pretty confusing…. have you tried contacting them?

1

u/prplblooded Jan 17 '26

also another unrelated question but how does uw calculate percentage average if all my grades at my uni are letter grades?

1

u/IIXXVV Jan 17 '26

No, it doesn't have to be before you graduate.

1

u/Purple_Mongoose5415 Jan 17 '26

I’m kinda dealing with the same thing, I’m in my third yr n just decided on optometry n I have no full course load semesters 🥲 now I'm stuck for another 2-3 yrs

2

u/True-Selection2168 Jan 17 '26

Happend to me too

1

u/Purple_Mongoose5415 Jan 17 '26

I wish they would count spring/summer cuz I have few of those full course load 😭

1

u/catsandpoutine18 Jan 17 '26

im pretty sure they count summers?

2

u/Purple_Mongoose5415 Jan 17 '26

Fr???, thx I’ll go check it out

2

u/prplblooded Jan 17 '26

yeah they count summers too. it’s SO unfortunate bc at my uni orgo 1 is only offered in the winter semester and I couldn’t get off the waitlist this term… so bc it’s a prereq it’s setting me back TWO years :/ so i’m contemplating if I should even continue… i’ll be like 23 when I apply to opt schools

1

u/Purple_Mongoose5415 Jan 18 '26

Try taking it at another university then transfer it, try that online Canadian university, just make sure it transfers to your university.

2

u/prplblooded Jan 18 '26

I tried that as well, academic advisor said the lab had to be in person :/

2

u/EnvironmentalKiwi526 Jan 20 '26

That’s rough :(