Things to Cover:

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Things to Cover 1. Required courses 2.
Recommended Electives 3. How to get a Minor 4.
Degree in three years 5. Distance Education Good
idea? Bad idea? 6. When to write the OAT, and
how to prepare for it! 7. Asking for that
Referral Letter 8. What Should I be doing in the
Summer? 9. Visit our website! 10. Questions

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DISCLAIMER The information we give tonight, are
all based on personal experiences. You may not
agree with everything nor do claim to be 100
accurate. Courses change, and peoples opinions
always differ. We ask that you come with open
ears and ask as many questions as you can!

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• FIRST YEAR
• We really wont cover first year, as were
  assuming that at the very least, you guys are
  nearing the end of your completion of first year.
  
• Here are some of the common first year courses
  that you are either currently enrolled in or half
  already completed. We will not be talking about
  thembut we will if you ask us to. -BIOL 130,
  139
• CHEM 120, 123
• PHYS 111, 112 (AVOID 121, 122 unless you truly
  enjoy Physics)
• PSYCH 101
• MATH 127

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• SECOND YEAR
• In Year 2, most of you will be completing these
  courses
• BIOL 140 (Micro)
• STATS 202 (Statistics)
• CHEM 237 (Biochem)
• BIOL 211 (Vert. Zoology)
• BIOL 273 (Human Physio 1)
• CHEM 266 / 267 (Orgo 1)
• -MATH 125 / 114 (Algebra)

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• BIOL 140 Microbiology
• Professor(s) Dr. Trevor Charles
• Breakdown 30 Midterm, 70 Final, All MC
• Tips - Textbook is a useful reference, but is
  not needed
• - Dr. Charles might be using his own
  textbook next year
• - Theres a LOT of memorization, so be
  prepared,
• - You are tested off your notes
• - Lab Quizzes require you to read
  everything in the lab manual!

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STAT 202 (Stats for the Science) Professor(s)
Dr. Peter Balka (Writes the tests) Dr.
Ali Ghodsi (Easy, reasonable) Breakdown For
Ghodsi 10 Assignments, 30 Quizzes, 60 Final
exam (his assignments are really easy, come
straight from the textbook!) For Balka 10
Assignments (best 5 out of 6), 5 Clicker
questions, 10 Test 1, 15 Test 2, 60 Final (his
assignments are a lot tougher, not from the
textbook and involve more theory) Tips - Take
the course with Ghodsi it will be a lot easier.
The textbook is helpful with Ghodsi, but for
Balka not as much since he has his own notes.

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CHEM 237 (Biochemistry) Professor(s) Dr. Dara
Gilbert (Winter) Breakdown Midterm 1
15 Midterm 2 15 Assignment s 4 Online
(10) and 2 Written (10)Final
50 Total 100 Tips Unpredictable
teacher! All midterms are multiple choice now.
Talk to her during office hours. Go to tutorials,
she explains the assignments there.

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• BIOL 211 Vertebrate Zoology
• Professor(s) Dr. Bill Taylor (Relaxed,
  straightforward, approachable)
• Breakdown Lab portion (35) Different
  dissections, weekly quiz
• Midterm (20 MC) Final (45 MC and
  Short Answer)
• Tips - Tests are from the notes only
• - Textbook is NOT NEEDED
• - 830 course, Winter Term
• - Overlap with many other courses

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BIOL 273 Human Physiology I Professor(s)
Dr. Vivian Dayeh (Corny jokes, very approachable,
fair tests) Dr. Bryce
Pickard Breakdown Lab is separate
Midterm 1 (MC) 20 Midterm 2 (MC) 25
Final (MC) 55 Tips - Textbook (Silverthorn)
is a wonderful read read it.

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• CHEM 266/267 (Organic Chemistry)
• Professor(s) Dr. Morris Tchir, Dr. Xiangdong
  Fang
• Marking Scheme Quiz (optional 5)
  Midterm 30
  Final 65-70 3
  marking schemes
• Tips - Stay on top of your material, it starts
  off easy, but picks up - 267 is easier
  than 266
• - Use Forseys notes if you can get a
  hold of them!
• - 267 is needed for many US schools, but
  not for Waterloo Optometry
• Note If you do better on the final exam, it will
  be worth 100 of your final mark

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MATH 125 Linear Algebra I Professor(s) Dr.
Uldis Celmins  Breakdown No Midterms!
                     40 Bi-weekly Quizzes (best
5 of 6)                      60 Final  Tips -
Quizzes are very easy as long as you know your
stuff             - Final exam is simple all
questions are based on the quizzes!
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• THIRD YEAR
• In Year 3, most of you will be completing these
  courses
• BIOL302 (Histo)
• BIOL303 (Embryo)
• BIOL 301 (Anatomy)
• BIOL 308 (Molecular 2)
• BIOL 373 (Human Physiology 2)
• BIOL 441 (Immunology)

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• BIOL 302 Histology (Study of Tissue)
• Professor(s) Dr. Mungo Marsden , Erin Spicer
• Breakdown
• Lab Quizzes 5 Midterm 1 20 Midterm 2 25
  Final 50
• Tips - Textbook is not hugely helpful (Not
  needed) - Visual learners course
• - Midterms are 45 slides displayed for
  45 seconds each (no going back).
  Final is 60 questions, 45 seconds each with
  bonus questions . Dont rely on
• colour to recognize things!
• - External histology sites are good
  (Blue Histology, etc.)
• - Study for Lab

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• BIOL 303 Embryology
• Professor(s) Dr. Christian Jacobson
• Breakdown
• Two Midterms (40), Short Answer and Essay
  question
• Final 3/5 Essays (60)
• Tips - Textbook is helpful!
• - Attend class and take lots of
  notes! - Essay format requires you to
  know the information in detail

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• BIOL 301 Human Anatomy
• Professor(s) Dr. Spafford (Lots of Physiology
  Biology 273 will be a requirement as of Winter
  2009 in the future)
• Breakdown Lab portion (30) Cat Dissection
  Midterm (15) 100 questions
• Clicker (5) Final (50)
• Tips - prepares you well for future courses
  (302, 303, 373, 211) - MEMORIZATION!
  Use the textbook, its got great pictures
• - Lab requires more time than lecture
• - Lab helps you a lot!!
• - Final is all muscles

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• BIOL 308 Molecular Biology
• Professor(s) Dr. Vivian Dayeh, Dr. Dragana
• Breakdown
• 2 midterms worth 20 each, 10 assignment, 50
  final exam
• Tips - Readings are not specifically listed, so
  follow the figures given in lecture material and
  read the chapters they are from.
• Miscovic is easier than Dayeh.
• - Biol 428, 431, 434, 435L, 441, 442, 448
• To complete the Biomedical Science program, at
  least 2.5 science elective credits are required
  at the 300/400 level
• Biol 308 can prepare you for these upper year
  courses

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• BIOL 373 Human Physiology
• Professor(s) Dr. Norm Scott
• Dr. Matt Vijayan
• Breakdown
• On Campus
• -Midterm 30
• -Final Exam 70
• -Separate Lab Component 0.25 credits weekly
  session and quiz, 2 lab reports
• Distance Education
• -4 Assignments 35
• -Final Exam 65
• Note Can enrol in BIOL 273 and 373
  simultaneously. Must have instructor consent.
• Tips - Textbook is recommended
• - If you can, take it DE, its easier!
• - The on-campus class is usually a once
  a week evening class

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• OTHER REQUIRED OPTOMETRY COURSES
• We wont go through them, but we have the
  breakdowns if youd like
• MATH 127
• PSYCH 101
• PHILOSOPHY
• ENGLISH

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• RECOMMENDED ELECTIVES
• The following courses are some we have taken that
  are not only interesting but have helped out our
  GPA
• -SCI 206, 255
• REC 280
• SOC 101, 249
• CS 100
• RS 100A and B
• PSYCH 207, 211, 253, 257, 213,
• ANTH 101
• ECON 101, 102
• GERMAN 101 (or any language), FRENCH 151 DE
• PHIL 220DE
• ENGL 109DE, 210F , 140R
• SMF 204
• HRM 200

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GETTING A MINOR -Most minors require 5.0 units
worth of the subject -Most minors require being
in an Honours academic plan -Most minors require
the basic 100 or 200 level courses, and at least
5 other 300 or 400 level courses Biology Minor
-Successful completion of 5.0 units of
biology -At least 2.5 units must be 300 or 400
level -SCI courses do not count -Minimum
cumulative average of 60 in Biology
courses -Mandatory biologies for course plans DO
count -If in biomedical science, you already
qualify for a minor in biology

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• FINISHING IN THREE YEARS- All American schools
  highly recommend if not require an undergraduate
  degree.
• Because, many Canadian students often apply to
  Optometry schools in their third year, many of
  them opt to complete their undergrad career in
  three years.
• - At Waterloo, the general science degree can be
  completed in three years with the following
  requirements. This degree leaves you with a BsC.,
  but without the Hon. , but it is sufficient for
  American schools
• - You can get an honoury Honors Bachelors of
  Science degree if you complete Optometry school
  at Waterloo.

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DE A GOOD IDEA? OR A BAD IDEA?

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PREPARING FOR THE OAT -Take it the summer after
second year -You need to have it written by Dec
31 -Do LOTS of practice exams -Use Kaplan
(which are harder than the actual OAT), the
Pre-Opt. versions, TopScore Pro, or online
versions (free and cost) -You can also study
using an MCAT book if you want, but make sure you
cover all of the areas to know for the OAT ? the
MCAT also covers some things you dont need to
know

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PREPARING FOR THE OAT -You can also use your
course notes from high school and university (but
they sometimes go into way more detail than you
need to know) -The physics section is not that
bad! I dont like physics and I still found it
easier than I expected -If you took Physics
121/122 then make sure you study
electricity/magnetism, and optics, since that
course doesnt cover it -Dont let one bad
section while writing the OAT hinder your other
sections? forget about it and move on! Dont let
one question bog you down either, if you cant
get it, skip it, tag it, and come back to it?make
sure you guess!!!

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• ASKING FOR THAT REFERRAL LETTER
• - Set yourself a part Its a huge plus if the
  professor knows you by name. If you have a prof
  in mind, ask lots of questions in class, go to
  their office for extra help ? Make sure they know
  who you are! - Ask EARLY and keep hounding
  them. Give them a deadline and make sure they
  reach it.
• Make sure the professor has actually taught you
• Be Organized Provide a folder with a cover
  letter, resume, transcipt, previous referrals,
  envelopes and stamps, and a list of deadlines for
  them.
• Say Thank You If you get in, send them a card or
  a gift basket! Theyre a big reason as to why
  youre in.

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• WHAT SHOULD I BE DOING WITH MY SUMMERS?!?! - If
  you have not had any experience working in an
  Optometrists office, or and job shadowing, THIS
  IS THE TIME TO DO IT!
• Most american schools will not even consider (NO
  MATTER WHAT YOUR AVERAGE IS) if you have not had
  any experience
• - Getting experience is a must for getting into
  Loo as well
• STUDY FOR YOUR OATs! Now that the exam has been
  computerized, you can schedule your exam during
  the summer. Its extremely difficult to study for
  the OAT while you are bogged down with midterms
  and finals, so get it done and over with!
• HAVE FUN! Remember, once youre out as an
  optometrist, you will no longer have summers.
  University is the best time of your life, make
  sure you balance your life out with some
  relaxation! Take a vacation, go clubbing, be
  active )

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Visit our website uwpreopt.clubs.feds.ca
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Any Questions?