Tell us about your overall academic performance, so far. Where have you excelled, and where could you improve?
The interviewers want to know how your undergraduate program has prepared you for attending their optometry school. Discuss what interested you the most, and where you had the biggest challenges. While attending undergraduate studies, you likely learned some core skills that would be transferable.
Think about what you learned:
- Time Management
- Creative Thinking
- Proposal Writing
- Public Speaking
- Presentation Building
- Independent Learning
- Academic Research
- Self-Motivation
"I am very proud of my achievements during my undergrad education. Those courses added so much value that I will bring to my graduate program. My best courses included X, Y, and Z. I feel that I excelled in these because they are related to the specialty I plan to end up in. As far as areas of improvement, I think that I can better myself in terms of time management. I overextended myself last semester with volunteer opportunities and my study time suffered slightly. Now that I have identified the reason behind my time management challenges, I will only see improvement, moving forward."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I am proud to have excelled in high-level courses and completed my bachelor's degree. However, I think I could improve my OAT scores.
Rachelle's Feedback
This answer is a good start; however, it's best to be as detailed as possible so that your interviewer does not have to probe with lots of follow-up questions. For instance, which courses were your high-level courses? How could you have improved your OAT scores? What action are you taking now to ensure you perform at your best?
Anonymous Answer
As it is seen from my transcript, I have a strong GPA, which I take much pride in, however, that's not to say that those grades came easily. I put in a lot of work and dedication in order to get those grades. Sure there are some classes that might have been less challenging than others, that being said, I still put just as much effort into those classes as I did in the harder classes. I have excelled in many science classes such as biology, chemistry, orgo, and physics. However, I know that I could have done better in my calculus classes since I did receive a B. The classes that I excelled in and need improvement have taught me how to improve my time managing skills and use the time wisely, while studying the material.
Marcie's Feedback
Nice! It's great that you have a strong GPA, and you've done a good job explaining to the interviewer that it took plenty of hard work to earn it. How come you excelled in the courses you mentioned? Are you naturally more inclined in those areas? Are you more interested in them? If so, mention this. Also, why was calculus a bit more challenging for you? What steps did you take to get the B and what would you have done differently to reach an A if you could go back and do it all over again? Adding a few more details will further strengthen your response. Great job!
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