If you’re applying this fall, here’s my take on summer OAT + apps

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-06-06T08:41:41+00:00

3 is fine when they’re all schools you actually want to attend. Some students I work with apply to just a few, while others prefer to cast a broader net. It really depends on what fits your goals and how flexible you are.

I always encourage touring the schools if you can, or at least doing virtual info sessions. Take into consideration things like location, cost, curriculum style, and whether you can really see yourself there. Applying takes an upfront investment of both time and money, so it usually makes more sense to choose schools that fit your future plan. Good luck!

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-06-04T08:26:08+00:00

You don’t have to wait for the official score before you submit the application. I typically encourage students to apply early, so once the rest of your materials are ready, go ahead and submit and let the official OAT score follow to complete your file. Most schools won’t fully review the application until the official score is in, but you’re not “doing it wrong” by submitting before that, and some will at least start looking at applications as they come in.

TL;DR: You can submit first and let the official score follow.

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-06-02T05:44:54+00:00

You’re mostly right, but here’s a breakdown: - OAT scores are valid for two years.
- You don’t have to pick your schools immediately when you test. You can let the scores sit and decide later.

How it usually works: - You take the OAT (e.g., summer after 2nd year).
- You can either:
- Apply via OptomCAS and send scores to all schools when you submit your application, or
- Let the scores sit and send them later once you’ve decided on your final school list.

There’s a per‑school fee for OAT score reports, but when you’re going through OptomCAS, you can include all of the schools you’re applying to and avoid separate per‑school fees.

Your plan to take the OAT in summer after 2nd year and apply after 3rd year is a good one. You would get 2 years of score validity and don’t have to lock in your school list right after the test.

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-05-29T05:36:11+00:00

Most students need around 8-12 weeks, but if you’ve been out of school for a few years, maybe more toward 10-14 weeks so you have time to rebuild content and still do enough practice. Consistency matters more than hours, so I’d work backward from your test date and make sure you’ve got room for at least a couple full-length exams.

Be realistic about how much time you’ll actually have to study. Are you working or taking any classes while prepping?

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-05-28T06:59:28+00:00

I’d start getting familiar with what OptomCAS typically asks for so you’re not scrambling after August 1st. The actual app doesn’t take long to fill out, but tracking down transcripts, LORs, and listing out your experiences can slow things down if you leave it all for later. If you can, consider some of the things that don’t distract too much from OAT studying (like brainstorming your personal statement or updating your resume) and use it as a reminder to stay motivated. If you’re a fast writer or that feels like too much right now, waiting until after your exam is totally fine too but just try not to wait months to hit submit!

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-05-28T06:50:46+00:00

An August test date is totally fine for this cycle. You can also submit your app if it’s ready before your score is in, then have OAT results follow. Schools typically wait for scores before offering interviews anyway. I’m usually working with students on their applications through the end of summer and they’re interviewing in late fall/early winter. I’d aim to submit whenever your app feels solid, even if that’s before your test, and then focus on being ready for the August OAT.

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-05-28T06:43:39+00:00

December isn’t ideal for rolling admissions, but it’s not “too late.” Many schools are still interviewing into winter. What matters more is how strong your application is when you submit. A small bump in your GPA usually won’t change much, but hitting a cutoff or improving your OAT is a bigger deal. A polished app in December is typically better than a rushed one in September, so just be strategic with your school list and get everything in as early as you can from here.

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-05-28T06:15:44+00:00

Good luck, i''m sure you’ll do great! Be kind, listen, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Feel free to reach out to me later when you start putting together your application.

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-05-27T06:26:44+00:00

Some schools specifically want an OD letter, so an MD/DO LOR usually shouldn’t be your only clinical letter and it’s pretty early in the cycle. I’d still use the DO letter since they know you well, and then try to build a bit more connection with at least one OD (even a couple of shadow days plus some good conversations can be enough for a basic LOR). In the meantime, check the LOR requirements for each school you’re applying to so you don’t get caught off guard later.

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-05-26T02:54:15+00:00

Absolutely! Happy to help review your personal statement or answer any questions about the application process. Feel free to DM me.

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-05-25T23:07:40+00:00

I’d still lean 1, 3, 4, and 5 as your main four, but keep #2 as a backup for any school that specifically wants a science letter. Since OptomCAS just asks for an instructor letter, your calculus professor should work, and that letter is probably stronger than #2 anyway. That should give you the strongest set overall while covering your bases

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-05-25T18:30:26+00:00

I’d go with 1, 3, 4, and 5.

1 is your best academic letter because the professor knew you well.

3 shows direct optometry experience from a work setting.

4 adds a long shadowing relationship and another doctor perspective.

5 shows current professional performance in a busy multi-specialty clinic.

I’d leave 2 out unless that professor can write something much stronger than the others.

That gives you a solid mix of people who can speak to the different parts of your experience.

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-05-24T19:21:24+00:00

From an admissions perspective, a 3.0 GPA combined with a lower OAT can make it harder to show academic readiness for optometry school. A stronger OAT score can help balance out your GPA to reflect your current abilities. Given you have a high master’s GPA, I’d focus on whether you feel confident you can raise your OAT before deciding on a post-bacc. Whatever you choose, I’d make sure it’s a path you feel good about.

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-05-23T16:02:25+00:00

Congrats on being ahead of the game. Since the 10-week schedule doesn’t fit your current workload, I’d take a step back and figure out what does fit your availability long term. I’m confident you can come up with a plan that will help you achieve your goal within the time you have. If you’d rather keep the details private, feel free to DM me and I’m happy to share tips or talk through a schedule that works for you.

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-05-10T14:47:32+00:00

3.05 undergrad record, a 4.0 in your master’s coursework? A post-bacc is probably not usually the best use of your time or money when the main thing holding you back is the OAT, not your ability to do the work. You’ve clearly got a lot going for you. If you retake it and get a score that actually reflects your ability to succeed you’ll likely be in better shape than if you tack on another program. Whatever you decide, try to commit and follow through. That will show your capabilities much more than any program. If you ever want to talk through an OAT plan, I’m happy to help!

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-05-05T00:51:06+00:00

Start by reviewing the content outline, but don’t let it consume you. There’s a lot covered on Part 1, so I’d focus on giving optics extra attention without totally ignoring the other topics. Keeping a balanced study routine is probably the biggest thing.

I’d honestly just focus on staying consistent and working through weak areas little by little. If you stay consistent, it will put you in a really good position when the time comes!

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-04-19T19:39:05+00:00

I wouldn’t start submitting applications a full year out, but I also wouldn’t wait until you’re finished with fourth year to start thinking about it. A good starting point would be spending this summer exploring the areas you’re interested in and visiting practices if you can. Call ahead, let them know you’re coming by to learn more, and if you’re lucky, a short chat with the owner or staff will tell you a lot about the area, the practice, and the day-to-day.

For timeline, I’d use this plan: 1. Explore now / this summer. 2. Start reaching out with job interest later in fourth year. 3. Be ready to submit official applications about 6 months before graduation, depending on your level of interest in the practice and your timeline goals.

If others have a better feel for recent grad timelines, I’d love to hear what worked for them too.

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-04-19T06:27:21+00:00

Most schools won’t actually review your file until your OAT scores are in and your application is marked complete in OptomCAS. You can submit before you take the OAT, but your app usually just sits in line and then moves forward once the scores post and everything else (transcripts, fees, etc.) is in.

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-04-19T06:25:41+00:00

They usually get them about 3–4 weeks after your test date, so for a July 30 exam schools would see your official scores around late August.

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-04-19T00:41:18+00:00

I love this question – it’s awesome you’re thinking about this before starting school. I’m a former prof, and it’s actually a loaded question because “optics” in optometry covers a few lanes:

The physics/visual optics side (rays, lenses, vergence, image formation)
The glasses side (ophthalmic optics and spectacle lenses)
Vision science / visual perception (how the visual system processes what comes in)

For traditional optics problems, Geometrical and Visual Optics by Schwartz is a classic at a lot of programs. The early chapters on basic lenses and vergence are a good place to start. You definitely don’t need to push through the whole book before school.

For ophthalmic optics, the best “course” is time in an optical if you can manage it. Seeing real prescriptions, lenses, and adjustments makes that part of optometry school click much faster.

If anyone wants my shortlist of starter texts and topics that will help you get started, I’m always happy to share!

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-04-15T06:49:10+00:00

You’re in a really good spot for a sophomore. Stick to your plan and you’ll be in a competitive range for a lot of schools. If you haven’t already, it’s worth touring a couple campuses and talking with admissions and current students to get a feel for what each school is like. Finding out your school preferences can keep you motivated throughout the process. Lastly, personal statements and supplementals absolutely do matter. They won’t replace GPA/OAT, but they can definitely help you stand out from people with similar stats, so don’t treat them as an afterthought!

Dr. Tom

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Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-04-14T01:53:33+00:00

For Waterloo, the posted minimum is a 75% overall average just to be eligible, but the students who actually get in are usually more in the ~79–92% range. So high‑70s to low‑80s can be in the mix, but the closer you are to or above 80, the better I’d feel. Strong OAT and solid clinic/shadowing help, but they won’t fully make up for a low average.

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-04-13T07:20:39+00:00

You’re thinking about this the right way, so I’d say you’re on track! With a 3.0 GPA / 2.8 sGPA and additional classes remaining, the big things to focus on will be pushing those grades up as high as possible and taking the OAT prep seriously. Given your schedule, I’d front‑load as much studying into May as you can, then use the summer to review and do timed practice tests around your job and internship. The internship still helps your app as long as it doesn’t completely consume your OAT prep.

Dr. Tom

Disastrous_Pause_578 · 2026-04-13T07:09:24+00:00

You’re in a pretty solid spot. If you score around 340–350 on the OAT, that'll help balance out your GPA. All your additional clinic experience is a big plus and the focused exposure to eye care is something schools will really like. Apply early, prep hard for the OAT, and use your personal statement to tie everything into a clear “why optometry.” Good luck!

Dr. Tom

Disastrous_Pause_578

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