[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-292657-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-292657-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","pre-optometry","Pre-Optometry","","Pre-Optometry preparation guidance outlines GPA and OAT benchmarks along with study structure and time expectations. It recommends a 2–6 month, 400–600 hour plan with a study schedule that combines content review and question practice, supported by free and paid resources such as Khan Academy, Chad’s Prep, and ADA practice tests. The document also covers application components, recommended timelines from January through application cycles, key competencies, experiences, and the typical cost breakdown for test registration, prep, applications, secondary materials, interviews, and total expenses.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/pre-optometry/292657/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/pre-optometry/292657.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"8796093062539","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-22","2026-09-17",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",11,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What GPA and OAT targets are recommended for pre-optometry applicants?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"A competitive GPA target is 3.4+ with details given for accepted averages, and a competitive OAT score target is 330+. The OAT target can vary by school.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How long should students study for the OAT, and what should the plan include?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"The plan recommends 2–6 months of study and 400–600 total hours. It should include a study schedule with content review plus question practice.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What are the main parts of an optometry school application?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Key components include biographical information, transcripts, letters of recommendation, a personal statement/essay, experiences (resume), and school selection.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},292657,1789653611,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,95,100,105,110,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":93,"slug":94},70,"exam",{"id":96,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":11,"doc_module":4,"category_id":33,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":26,"language":139,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":80,"read_time":96},8796093062539,"Pre-Optometry  \nCompetitive GPA: 3.4+  \n• BCP, Cumulative GPA-all attempts  \n• Avg accepted: 3.33/3.46  \nCompetitive OAT: 330+  \n• Varies by school  \n200 300 350 400  \n50% 75 % 100%  \n\n| Natural Sciences\u003Cbr>Gen Bio, Gen Chem, Organic Chem\u003Cbr>Reading Comprehension\u003Cbr>3 science passages\u003Cbr>Physics\u003Cbr>Quantitative Reasoning\u003Cbr>Basic Math, Algebra, Prob/Stats\u003Cbr>Total time (with breaks) | 90 mins\u003Cbr>50 mins\u003Cbr>50 mins\u003Cbr>45 mins |\n| --- | --- |\n|  | 280 minutes (4.5 hours) |\n\nPreparing for the OAT:  \nGuide to prepare  \nPlan for 2-6 months and 400-600 hours of study  \n• Create a study schedule  \n• Content review + question practice  \n• All optometry schools accept the OAT and some accept GRE, MCAT, DAT, or PCAT  \nFree resources:  \n•  Khan Academy  \n• YouTube (Chad’s Prep)  \n$ exam prep:  \n• Practice tests through the ADA: OAT practice tests  \n•  CourseSaver  \n•  OAT destroyer  \n•  Kaplan  \n•  Princeton Review  \n• Learn more about the Optometry profession  \n• School Directory  \n• OptomCAS: Optometry Centralized Application Service  \nApplying to optometry school is expensive…  \n\n| Item | Cost |\n| --- | --- |\n| Test registration | $490 |\n| Test prep | $300-3,000+ |\n| Application (1 school) | $180 |\n| Additional schools | $70 |\n| Secondary applications | $30-75 |\n| Interview costs | $100-1000+ |\n| Total cost | $1,000-10,000+ |\n\nExperiences  \n• Community service  \n• Serving the underserved  \n• 150+ hours  \n• Clinical exposure  \n• Shadowing (depends on program; 30-50 hours)  \n• Extra-curricular involvement  \n• Leadership  \n• Research  \nCore Competencies  \n• Empathy and disposition to serve others  \n• Dedication and persistence  \n• Deductive reasoning  \n• Interpersonal communication  \nA well-rounded application shows…  \nAbility to communicate effectively on the application and in an interview  \nBackground, strengths, and what makes you unique  \nPassion and fit for the optometry profession  \nAbility to do the academic work  \nTimeline  \nJanuary-July: Take OAT June: Application opens; apply by July to be most  \ncompetitive July-August: Secondary applications August-March: Interviews and decisions July/August: Optometry school begins  \nParts of the Application  \n• Biographical information  \n• Transcripts  \n• Letters of Recommendation  \n• Personal Statement (Essay)  \n• Experiences (Resume)  \n• School Selection  \nA gap year could make you a stronger applicant  \n• Whether you need to improve your grades, study for the OAT, gain more experiences, or save money for optometry school, a gap year can be a good thing.  \n• Apply when your application is strong; then you won’t need to reapply.","cbCaiqUNdyGi8yYm","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiqUNdyGi8yYm","pdf",301874,"English","# Academic benchmarks\n## GPA and OAT targets\n# Study plan and resources\n## 2–6 month schedule (400–600 hours)\n## Free and practice resources\n# Application overview\n## Core competencies and experiences\n## Parts of the application\n# Timeline and costs\n## Application timeline\n## Estimated total cost","[{\"question\":\"What GPA and OAT targets are recommended for pre-optometry applicants?\",\"answer\":\"A competitive GPA target is 3.4+ with details given for accepted averages, and a competitive OAT score target is 330+. The OAT target can vary by school.\"},{\"question\":\"How long should students study for the OAT, and what should the plan include?\",\"answer\":\"The plan recommends 2–6 months of study and 400–600 total hours. It should include a study schedule with content review plus question practice.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the main parts of an optometry school application?\",\"answer\":\"Key components include biographical information, transcripts, letters of recommendation, a personal statement/essay, experiences (resume), and school selection.\"}]","Pre-Optometry | PDF"]