Optometry or not?

Pre-Med & Medical School High School Student Topics
1

<p>Currently, I am a high school senior, and I am contemplating whether or not to try and become an optometrist. From what I know/heard:</p>

<p>Pros:
1. Good salary.
2. Job security.
3. Held in high esteem among public.
4. I enjoy biology/physiology.
5. I enjoy helping others.
6. Takes 4 years after college (short compared to M.D's).</p>

<p>Cons:
1. I heard that it is hard to get into optometry schools (only 17 in U.S., 2 in Ca.)</p>

<p>Right now, my gpa is roughly 3.1. I am worried that my grades in college might not be good enough to get accepted into an optometry school. Any ideas/suggestions? Thanks.</p>

2

<p>To be honest, a 3.1 is really low... but maybe you have really good test scores?</p>

3

<p>I appreciate your input, but I think you misunderstand something. With regards of my GPA being 3.1/high test scores: you do realize that one's high school GPA and test scores are only good for getting someone into an undergrad institution?</p>

4

<p>They're also correlated with your college performance, which may or may not leave some tracks open to you.</p>

<p>Most students see their GPAs drop in college, although there are of course exceptions.</p>

5

<p>Well, here is the thing:</p>

<p>As far as my GPA goes, I only started to really concentrate on my grades in the middle of my junior year. My GPA or junior year was something like 3.35, and right now, my GPA for senior year is 3.85 weighted.</p>

<p>My test scores:</p>

<p>SAT1:
Math: 550
Verbal: 600
Writing: 590
(I am retook the SAT1 in december, so my score might go up).</p>

<p>SAT2:
Math level 2: 600
Biology: 600
US History: 620</p>

6

<p>I'd try to raise the test scores as best as you can, and obviously the GPA can't be altered much now, but it does help that you have a general upward trend towards your senior year... so just give it a shot~ you'll never know unless you try! :)</p>