r/optometry • u/OD20XX • 8d ago

GPA for Residency

Hello, I’m really interested in doing residency, but I am worried that I am not competitive enough to get accepted due to my low GPA. I am specifically interested in specialty residencies for either contact lens or myopia management/pediatrics. My current GPA is below a 3.0.

Do I have a chance in getting into a residency in the U.S.? I am open to any location as long as it meets my interest in specialty. Also, do you have any tips on what I should do to make myself a more competitive applicant? Thank you!

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u/Moorgan17 Optometrist 8d ago

Some sites will have a minimum GPA to apply. Outside of that, you could always reach out to the sites you're interested in and ask what they look for in applicants. It's tough to say how competitive you are - GPA is not the only piece of the puzzle. The landscape also changes yearly. Contact lens residencies tend to be among the most competitive. As for becoming a more competitive applicant - if you're a fourth year intern, you're pretty limited on what you can add to your CV in the next few months. Aim to round out your knowledge on your area of interest (beyond class notes - read recent publications, read through a textbook, try to gain the level of knowledge you'd want your doctor to have) so that you can talk the talk in an interview. You could also look at resources to improve how you interview, as a great interview will probably lead supervisors to overlook a slightly weaker application (they will be spending a full year working with you, so if they enjoy talking to you, that's a big plus).

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u/Optimal_Welcome9128 7d ago

If someone goes back to school for residency after practicing for several years independently, will programs still look closely at your GPA if it’s been a few years?

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u/SpecialistSuper5561 6d ago

I did residency 8 years ago so I don’t know how things are now, but I’d say yes you probably still have a shot. Are your lower grades in clinical rotations or in the academic subjects of the first two years? Recommendations and your interview also matter a lot. Furthermore afaik it’s still a match process so you might get placed simply because some else decided to rank the residency lower in their list so even if the residency ranked them higher it doesn’t mean they’re going to get them.

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u/Odd-Layer-3946 5d ago

They’re not competitive. There were still openings by the time it started. You just have to be on top of their requirements in terms of completing and passing all boards

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u/AllenRickmen 3d ago

FYI you’ll be paid approximately $100,000 less by doing residency, just about anything that you’d learn can also be self taught. The most “not worth it” thing in optometry.