Commonly abbreviated as OAT, the Optometry Admission Test is for college graduates who intend to be admitted to or join an optometry program. On the other hand, the Medical College Admission Test, or simply MCAT, is administered to those seeking to be admitted to medical school. You can choose between the two depending on whether you want to be an ophthalmologist or an optometrist.
The Optometry Admission Test
The OAT is a standardized computer-based test done at designated testing centers across the country. The OAT tests your knowledge in biology, organic chemistry, general chemistry, physics, quantitative reasoning, and reading comprehension. The test can be rigorous and you need to be adequately prepared with 2-3 years of college courses. The study also offers free study materials for enrolled students. Many students go on to be successful eye care professionals in the Chicago area. You can find a Chicago eye doctor or optometrist in your area.
The Medical College Admission Test
The MCAT is the test that you take before getting admitted to study ophthalmology. Ophthalmology students need to learn many things on several different topics unrelated to eye care before they enroll for the course. The MCAT is quite comprehensive and tests content knowledge as well as cognitive skills in a range of subjects, including biological science, physical science, and verbal reasoning. Therefore, all students in virtually all medicine-related fields must take the MCAT test before being admitted to medical school.
All standardized tests have prerequisites for admission and ophthalmology tests are no different. You need to take and pass these tests before you’re admitted to medical school. To increase your chances of getting into your ideal program, you should schedule your test ahead of time, typically before the application deadline. Studying hard before the test can also raise your chances of passing the test. Also, standardized tests can be expensive and you may never cancel or reschedule once you’ve registered for these tests.
It is also important to understand the difference between optometry and ophthalmology before you decide which course is best for you. While an optometrist is an eye care expert who specializes in checking vision and eyewear prescriptions such as eyeglasses and contact lenses, an ophthalmologist performs more in-depth eye care, including eye diseases, surgeries, and treatment of eye-related traumas. Healthcare is a wide field and extremely diverse. If you are preparing to pursue a career in medicine, you should be aware of what each of these specialties entails to enable you to make informed decisions.
Optometrists are the equivalent of family doctors, except they specialize in eyecare. They carry out eye exams and identify deficiencies and prescribe the right treatments, including eyeglasses and contacts. Besides carrying out comprehensive eye exams and prescribing eyeglasses, an optometrist can also detect other health-related conditions, including diabetes. Ophthalmologists are specialists who can diagnose and treat a wide range of eye diseases. They can also perform complex surgeries to correct vision and treat complex eye diseases. When your optometrist detects a complex eye problem they are unable to treat, they often refer you to an ophthalmologist who knows more about the problem.
Therefore, as an applicant who aspires to join health professional schools and pursue a career in eye care, you will have to take a test to test your knowledge of different subjects unrelated to healthcare, including problem-solving, verbal reasoning, and reading comprehension among others. You just have to know what tests you need to take and be adequately prepared.