r/UWaterlooOptometry

I am starting Grade 12 in September and am interested in pursuing optometry.
What are the courses that I can take so I can be eligible to write the OATS exam in the third year of the degree?
I see in the waterloo website theres a BSc degree at Waterloo thats eligible for the optometry course, but what degrees outside of waterloo university would be equally eligible?

Is it generally high in the GTA? Or better to go outside the GTA? Do new grads get jobs straight out of school / get employed by the places you do clinicals at?

Thx!

Hey everyone!
I am currently entering my 4th and last year of my undergrad here in Canada and am considering optometry as a potential career option!

Optometry was actually one of the very first careers I wanted to go for back in high school but was dissuaded after finding out theres only one of two optometry schools in Canada that take only english speaking applicants— but every time I go get an eye check up I always get reminded of that first passion.

In uni i moved programs into a BSc in Medical Laboratory Science degree and just got certified as an MLT.

will this background help at all for optometry school? any transferable skills or knowledge? are there any other Canadian applicants that took the plunge to get certified in the states?

Im currently working as a phlebotomist at a community hospital right now— will that help my application at all?

thank you in advance!

Hi All,

I took the OAT ill-prepared in 2024 and got <300 score. Retook in 2025 and got 370 TS /350 AA but rejected post-interview (88% avg).

Currently studying to take it a 3rd time but hard to study with part-time job.

I know waterloo looks at the best score but Would it look bad if I retake the OAT a 3rd time yet get a worse score?

Would you retake the 370 TS /350 AA?

Hi everyone! I need some advice as a second year undergrad student:

In first year, I ended up doing pretty awful on my first term due to mental health, and ended up dropping a course, which left me at a 82% overall for the term. I still struggled, but did way better in my second term with a full course load (85.5%!). I've finally gotten on meds too, so I think my next term will probably be even better!

I'm currently shadowing an optometrist, but after looking at other people's stats I feel a little bit overwhelmed at what I could do to improve, since everyone seems to have at least an 85% from all their years and insane hours + ecs. I know that acceptance is unpredictable, but I feel like giving up before I even start :( Does anyone have any advice for things I could do to boost my application and have better chances?