How to get into optometry school with a low GPA

Flunking a couple of courses or having a tough year of university can feel like a death sentence 💀 when it comes to applying for optometry school, but don't lose hope! Here are three ways you can make up for a bad GPA.

#1: Do research 🧪

I know research can be pretty polarizing - you either love it, or you hate it. But optometry, medicine, dentistry and others are all fields that depend on it. Showing that you've contributed to the body of knowledge that clinical professions are based on with a publication or two does wonders for your application.

Want to do research, but not sure where to start? Check out this article right here.

If you like the work, go the extra mile and do graduate school. A master's degree generally only takes a year or two and gives your application a huge boost, especially if your GPA is on the lower side. A lot of schools have an adjustment factor to boost your GPA if you have a graduate degree - take advantage of it!

#2: Showcase your non-academic talents 🔥

Awards, scholarships, and extracurricular achievements can outshine a bad GPA. Don't underestimate your talents! What are you good at that you can leverage? Here are a few ideas:

• Play a sport? ⚽️ Join a team and/or go out to a competition.
• Do you sing, dance, play an instrument or like art? 🎵 Teach a class at the local community centre or do outreach work to perform at a senior's home.
• Know how to code? Or do you like organizing team efforts? Enter a hackathon. 💻

#3: Be strategic about the schools you apply to 🧠

No matter how stellar the rest of your application may be, some schools unfortunately don't make it past looking at your grades. So be strategic about which schools you're applying to.

Do some digging into the culture and values of the school, and the types of applicants that are admitted. Does the school chase prestige and primarily academic achievements? Do they a value a breadth of life experience, and not just a perfect GPA?

Focus your efforts on the personal statements for the schools that align most with your application and achievements.

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